GOD IS IN THEIR STORIES
Stephanie Niecole Petalia
Stephanie Niecole Petalia is the middle child of Lanie Petalia, a single mom whose husband left her for another woman. Lanie is not receiving any support for her and the children; she gets by with the help of her small business which is selling street foods. Through the help of New Life Cornerstone Family Worship Ministry in Bago City, Lanie came to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. She has been attending church with her children, serving God by cooking meals for Read To Grow children and making friends with the other ladies of the church. At last, Lanie found a family and home in the Church!
All her children are recipients of Child Education Care. Lanie received a livelihood grant from MEANS so she could buy a cart for her street food business. Lanie and her three children were baptized at New Life Church in 2022.
Stephanie Niecole attends every activity of the church and has volunteered to help children in Read to Grow sessions. Despite being busy with church activities, she has many times been awarded a certificate of recognition for being an excellent student. This school year, Stephanie Niecole got a perfect score in numeracy test and has gotten excellent grades in all her subjects.
Niecole is 9 years old, Grade 3 at Bago Elementary School. Her two brothers, also recipients of Child Education Care are James, 13 years old, Grade 8 and Jashfrey, 6 years old and in Kindergarten.
Praise the Lord for He has fulfilled His promise in the Bible that He will take care of those who have been abandoned. “When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me.” Psalm 27:10
The Twin Sisters, Andrea and Aisha Erido
Both came to know the Lord Jesus Christ by attending New Life Cornerstone Family Worship Ministry, out of curiosity. They wanted to know why their youngest sister, Kayla, who is 10 years old has been going there frequently. It didn’t take long before they heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They became followers of Jesus Christ and were baptized with five other young people. While attending church services, the pastor and his wife discovered that they have many skills and talents. They play the guitar, they sing, good at dramatic reading and poetry reading and are teaching children in Read To Grow. Their family is poor with only their father working as a blacksmith. Often times, they would go to bed with empty stomachs and would go to school the next day, still hungry from not having eaten dinner the previous night.
MEANS has gifted them with one sack of rice and to earn some money, we have requested them to create some short videos for MEANS. Tbe twins and the youngest sister have become recipients of Child Education Care. Andrea and Aisha recently graduated from high school. They are 18 years old and plan to pursue an education degree in college. The youngest, Kayla, is 10 years old.
MEANS has granted the twins a scholarship to attend IVCF Philippines Kawayan Camp in Davao City from July 18-August 2, 2023. The 15-day training camp is designed to develop students’ leadership skills and to deepen their knowledge about what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ in today’s broken world. The camp curriculum will include teachings in theology and doctrines, holistic spirituality, practical Christian living and evangelism and missions.
Thank you our dear donors for your partnership with us. As I am writing this, I remember John 10:10. It dawned on me that there are 2 mission statements in this verse and the Lord Jesus has revealed them to us:
“The thief (devil) comes only to steal and kill and destroy (1st mission statement); I (Jesus) have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly (2nd mission statement).” John 10:10 (Italics are mine)
Let us all continue to serve Him with joy in our hearts, determination in our will to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is the one who saves us so we may always experience life to the full.
Author: Lina Padilla – MEANS Board Chair
MEANS 
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