Hell is Real

Lyrics to Life Itself : by.Aaron Shust

Lyrics to Life Itself :

by.Aaron Shust

Who is Christ?

Who is Christ? Christ “messiah” (mashiach) or the Anointed One. Is God became man (John 1:1–8) 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. He became flesh meaning Jesus Christ became a man like us to die on the cross to purchase us in heaven so that’s why I can say that Jesus in my Savior not my Religion.

Jesus Christ came down to earth to save us of our sins and not to promote a religion, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; NO MAN cometh unto the Father, BUT BY ME.” — Jesus Christ (John 14:6) Christ Jesus is the only way to heaven.

W.W.J.D (stories for teenagers)

                   ARE YOU MAKING THE RIGHT

                   DECISIONS IN LIFE?…

                                              Let these encouraging stories of other

                                                                       teenagers inspire you!…

 You face a lot of tough decisions every day.

decisions about family, friends

temptations, honesty, school, your

future, and a whole lot more.   

So, waht’s the best way to  make the

right decisions? Find the answer in this

collection of true-to-life stories where

other teenagers have been challeged

by asking “What Would Jesus Do?”

It’s tough when your bestfriend has

become more popular and you feel left

behind or when you fall at the start of

the most important race of your life.

That’s the kind of stories you will read

about as you discover hoe other

teenagers have done the right thing,

even when it was hard to do, because

they figured out what Jesus would do.

By reading these true-to-life stories,

you’ll learn from other teenagers just

like nyourself. You’ll discover that you’re

not alone and, while many of them have

experienced some of the same tough

decisions you may face today, they have

decisions you may face today, they have

turned their loves around for the better

by asking, “What Would Jesus do?”….

Jesus Save My Soul (christian testimony)

Something was wrong with my life. I was fourteen. I had enjoyed a wonderful upbringing in a loving family, attended church, worked a part-time job, made decent grades in school, planned to attend college, played lead drum master in a successful rock band, and was very unhappy. Despite the shiny future ahead of me, I felt a deep sense of hopelessness within me. I wasn’t sure what meaning or purpose my life had. I couldn’t bear living with such sadness every day. What was I to do? I began to pray.

A local Christian minister had made an impression on me once when I visited his church. There was something very different about this man that caught my attention. I could tell that he loved people. He went around the community helping the sick, poor, troubled or anyone with a need. He loved people with what seemed like a superhuman love. I wanted to get to the source of this love.

He took the time to sit down with me and answer all my questions about God from the scriptures. He explained that Jesus Christ was a real person sent from God to take the punishment for my sins and that He was actually alive today. I received Him into my life and discovered that He would literally enter me and live in me, my body being a temple for his Spirit. I had just begun a relationship with the Creator of the universe.

The fact that I had believed the words of Jesus and put them into practice made all the difference imaginable. My life took on purpose and depth as I experienced the Savior through faith. Many years of discovery followed. I witnessed powerful miracles as well as painful trials as a Christian. I remain convinced that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and is still alive today.

–Gerald Bonilla

 Dont waste your time coz Jesus my soul!… (=

Lukewarm Christianity

ukewarm Christianity is defined in this way:

Ye are neither heathens nor Christians — neither good nor evil — neither led away by false doctrine, nor thoroughly addicted to that which is true. In a word, ye are listless and indifferent, and seemed to care little whether heathenism or Christianity prevailed. Though they (the lukewarm Christian) felt little zeal either for the salvation of their own souls or that of others, yet they had such a general conviction of the truth and importance of Christianity that they could not readily give it up.¹

I like this definition because it speaks to the heart of the problem; where zeal for the things of truth lack, apathy tends to prevail. I’ve battled spirits of apathy in my life for as long as I can remember. Whether I refuse to take seriously my role and responsibility as a husband to my wife, or a father to my children, or refuse to take ownership for my relationship with Christ, or refuse to love His beloved the way He’s demanded I do. I’ve also been apathetic about my lifestyle liberties, where dabbling in this or experimenting with that was ok, because grace ushers me back into good report on the other side of my apology. But at some point in my life, I chose to exchange apathy for zeal, or lukewarm Christianity for a truth driven lifestyle, or… Pink Christianity for Red Christianity, and an Abandoned Lifestyle!

Lukewarm Christianity - Pink Christianity
We sum up the terms “Lukewarm Christianity” or “Cafeteria Christianity” or “Christian Apathy” by using the term “Pink Christianity.” Pink, because though Christ bled red blood on the cross, we’ve diluted and numbed down the truth of that sacrifice to the color of Pepto-Bismol. We’ve done this by our bad societal compromises, by believing false identities about ourselves as well as others, and by excusing injustice in our lives, churches, and neighborhoods on the basis of “tolerance.” Beloved, Christ did not die that we could live a heathen lifestyle rooted and grounded in nothing to spend eternity with the Almighty Lord. Rather, He died for love, that we might find freedom from the bondage of death as it is expressed in every form of addiction to the temporal and fleshy things of this life, as well as it is expressed in mortality.

Shedding the pink in your life starts with daily choosing to live atop the foundation of truth. Truth is only found and specified in the Holy Bible. In this text, I’d like to give you two (among hundreds of) simple truths that will go a long way for you, as you pioneer a life that refuses to live under the heavy yolk of Pink Christianity (lukewarm Christianity).

Lukewarm Christianity - Simple Truths
First is the truth that your relationship with Christ is your responsibility; it is your journey. Our Lord appointed the Holy Spirit as a helper in this journey, and He also gave some as Apostles, some as Prophets, some as Teachers, some as Pastors and some as Evangelists, for the building of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11). You have helpers all around you, but you gravely misunderstand this faith if you believe it is a helper’s job to spoon-feed you the depth of revelation and intimacy needed to shed the Pink in your life, and adopt the truth found in the color red.

Second is that living according to a truth-driven lifestyle is a fundamental necessity for anyone hoping to shed the pink in his/her life. When we say “fundamental,” we mean to say that nobody can sustain a zealous life comprised of intimacy with the Father, authority before man, and relevance in this age devoid of a daily choice to not be swayed off of the rock of truth. We must teach ourselves to believe that lifestyles outlined to us by the Apostles of the New Testament of the Holy Bible are not polite suggestions. They are requirements of the faith.

Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare: What is it?

Spiritual warfare exists in the unseen, supernatural dimension, where God is all-powerful and Satan is in revolt. As any Christian soon discovers, although spiritual warfare is unseen, it’s absolutely real. The Bible speaks of spiritual warfare in many places, but most directly in Ephesians 6:12, where Paul speaks of putting on the full armor of God:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Spiritual Warfare: How Do We Go Into Battle as Christians?

Spiritual warfare is an image that many of us would rather reject. However, since the Bible uses terms of warfare, it’s best that we accept God’s imagery, so that we’re properly prepared for real battle. As Christians, we’re going through more than a mere “struggle” on earth – and its seems that war imagery captures this reality better than anything else. Since it’s warfare, God instructs Christians to use a very specific set of armor and weapons in Ephesians 6:14-18:

Throughout the Bible, you will find examples of God’s weaponry in action. For instance, King Jehoshaphat sent out praise singers in front of his soldiers to cause disarray among the enemy; Joshua used singing and trumpets to bring down the great city of Jericho; and what better example of using faith in battle than David fighting Goliath with a slingshot. Of course, the lesson in all these examples (as in all spiritual warfare today) is that it’s only God who allows us to claim victory over evil!

Spiritual Warfare: Be Strong in the Lord

Spiritual warfare is a reality of the Christian life. But remember, we know the ending – our side wins. Since the Devil has already lost, he has nothing to lose in trying to take as many people with him in defeat. Therefore:

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11).

True Meaning of CHRISTmas

he historic record of the birth of Christ can be found in Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-20. Unlike any other baby, the one born that night in Bethlehem was unique in all of history. He was not created by a human father and mother. He had a heavenly pre-existence (John 1:1-3, 14). He is God, the Son—Creator of the universe (Philippians 2:5-11). This is why Christmas is called the incarnation, a word which means “in the flesh.” In the birth of Jesus, the eternal, all-powerful and all-knowing Creator came to earth in the flesh. 

Why would God do such a thing? Why would he come as a baby, instead of appearing in power and majesty? Why make himself a true man and live among us, when he knew full well how terribly he would be treated?

It was LOVE! It was necessary, if you are to be saved!

Watch this exciting NEW on-line video which clearly explains how Jesus Christ was born and why—starting at the very beginning, at the dawn of Creation…

Try our fun challenge!

Emmanuel: A Christmas Reflection

                            The boy’s name Emmanuel \e-mma-

nuel\ is pronounced ee-MAN-yoo-el. It is of Hebrew origin, and its meaning is “God is with us”. Variant of the Hebrew name Immanuel. Biblical: a name-title applied to the Messiah, Jesus.

It is time to leave for the Christ Mass. The painted plaster figures of Jesus and Mary and Joseph stand serenely in the soft glow of tiny multicolored lights. Nearby shepherds and sheep stare in timeless, frozen adoration. On the windowsill wise men of three races wend their way, moved forward inch by inch by little hands each day. For a quiet moment, between the bustle of buying and the apprehension of giving and receiving, hope happens, prayer is answered, peace seems possible.

Of course, a couple thousand years ago it could not have been more different. The village square was packed and alive with vendors hawking their wares, animals bleating in their pens, villagers bustling about their business, visitors seeking their way, con artists flim flaming the unwary, tax collectors levying duties, dogs gleaning scraps, Pharisees and Sadducees preening, parsing, praising and shaming and, around the perimeter, Caesar’s soldiers and Herod’s spies securing the interests of the state.

Unnoticed, into this cacophony, this offal assault of cooking, animal and human body odors, this blur of non-sanitized activity, a carpenter with calloused hand led his near-term, pregnant teenage wife. Anxiously they sought a place to stay while they registered for a census. Every place was full but a pious innkeeper, noting the woman’s condition and being observant of the law and not wanting to commit Sodom’s sin of inhospitality, suggested they might stay in his inn’s barn, an offer they accepted with relief and thanks.

Then, as the ancients so delicately put it, “her time was accomplished and she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger.” Maybe because men told the tale or because time mellows memory, we are left to fill in the details: the pain, the screams, the blood and messiness of childbirth in the midst of the smells and roughness of a barn. Did Joseph gently and firmly hold Mary’s hand in his rough own as is expected of modern metrosexual men? Or like most men in most ages did he wait outside, his masculine superiority thoroughly threatened by Eve’s strength, waiting until things had quieted down and were cleaned up before cautiously poking his head through the door to see how mother and child fared? Old icons hint at the latter. They show Joseph sitting off in a corner, holding his head in his hands, wondering how he got involved in this scenario.

Who helped? Who was the midwife? Did the inn owner’s wife come bearing hot water and clean cloths? Perhaps it was a cousin or two in this Bethlehem of Mary’s ancestors. Instead of gritty details, Matthew and Luke write a retrospect of mythic embellishments, worshipful shepherds, caroling angels, and adoring Zoroastrian priests whose gifts make our lotteries look meager by comparison.

Every Christmas tugs us between human reality and lovely mellow myth and mystery, between the conflict that surrounds us and the peace for which we yearn. Modern tanks and soldiers in Manger Square confront the chanting of ancient prayers in Bethlehem’s Church of the Holy Nativity repeating a never-ending loop of oppression and hope. We seem caught between the contradiction that befuddles and the consistency that binds.

But could it be this is the point? God enters our life dead center neither ignoring the nasty and frivolous nor denying the glory and the power, but being with us in the wholeness of our humanness. Once again, do we not dream with Joseph, “‘They shall name him Emmanuel,’ which means, ‘God is with us.’”?

THE FREE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE

ALL THIS I DID FOR THEE.

I CAME … because of “your” sin

I DIED … to pay for “your” sin

I AROSE … to keep “you” saved eternally

I CAME … because of “your” sin.

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: ” Romans 3:10

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners;” I Timothy 1:15a

I DIED … to pay for “your” sin.

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, heing now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Romans 5:8 & 9

“In whom we have redemption through his blood? even the forgiveness of sins:” Colossians 1:14

I AROSE … to keep “you” saved eternally.

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:27 & 28

“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” I John 5:11

YOU MUST REPENT … admitting you are guilty, that you cannot do “anything” to save or help save yourself, and that you need Jesus Christ.

“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3

“Let the wicked forsake his way. and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God. for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 55:7 & 8

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done. but according to his mercy he saved us,” Titus 3:5a

“But to him that worketh not, but believcth on hhn that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:5

YOU MUST TRUST … putting your “complete” faith in Jesus Christ to save you.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. And being fully persuaded that. what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” Romans 4:20 & 21

“To declare, I say at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:26

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:08.

WHAT IS YOUR DECISION?

I CHOOSE TO TRUST JESUS AS MY SAVIOUR.

“He that believeth on him is not condemned:” John 3: 18a

“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:10

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

I CHOOSE TO REJECT JESUS AND KEEP MY WAY.

“… but he that believeth not is condemned already. because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3 :18b

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15

Signs of End Times

SIX SIGNS GIVEN BY JESUS TO INDICATE HIS COMING AND THE END OF THE AGE

Signs of the End Times

#666 Why its the end of the world as we know it.

SIX SIGNS GIVEN BY JESUS TO INDICATE HIS COMING AND THE END OF THE AGE

In Matthew24:3 Jesus was asked, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?”  Jesus told his apostles to look for  the following signs prior to his second coming and the end of the age.

1.  FALSE PROPHETS AND CHRISTS

Matthew 24:5 “For many will come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and will mislead many.”

Matthew 24:11 “And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many.”

In the last several years many have claimed to be the Messiah.  Jim Jones and David Koresh are examples of these false christs as well as countless others who are not as newsworthy.  These false prophets are a prelude to the ultimate false christ, the antichrist.  Many New Age groups, some even NGO’s working for the United Nations, are anxiously awaiting the antichrist, preparing the way for his acceptance as the head of the hierarchy of gods and the one who will usher in world peace.

2.  WARS

Matthew 24:6 “And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.”

 

Rumors of wars in all areas of the world now occur frequently thanks to instant media coverage and the availability of a multitude of 24-hour news sources.

 

Matthew 24:7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.”

 

More people have been killed in warfare in this century than at any other time in history.  As the death toll rises in the Middle East, more and more countries work feverishly to develop devastating weapons of mass destruction.  Add to that the expanding threat of terrorism and unpredictable dictators such as Saddam Hussein, and the potential for the outbreak of war exists in nations, kingdoms and places across the globe.

3.  FAMINES

Matthew 24:7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.”

 

As white, Christian farmers are driven out of Zimbabwe in increasing numbers, and foreigners move in to replace life-sustaining crops with poppies that now supply 25% of the worlds drugs, famine spreads across the African continent.  The undernourished are not limited to Africa, however.  A large portion of the worlds 5 billion people suffers from a shortage of food.

4.  EARTHQUAKES

Matthew 24:7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.”

 

The number and intensity of earthquakes this century is at a level higher than any other time in history.  A staggering number of seismic events occur around the world daily.  The earthquake seismic monitor IRIS shows all major earthquakes for the last year.  Indicated by yellow and red circles, the seismic events of the last 15 days provides strong evidence of the fulfillment of Matthew 24:7 in our day.  By contrast, in the years from 1890 to 1900 there was only one major earthquake in the world.

5.  TRIBULATIONS

Matthew 24:8-9 “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.  Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of my name.”

 

Christians are under attack throughout the world today.  In the United States Christians still enjoy freedom to worship God without suffering much more than ridicule, hatred, or discrimination at work and school.  However in many other countries such as China, Sudan, Africa, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Russia, and many Muslim nations, Christian suffer much greater persecution and often times death for their faith.  During the tribulation this suffering will be worldwide and will continue even to the point of martyrdom.  These first 5 signs will increase in intensity and severity as the tribulation approaches, much like the birth pangs or contractions of a pregnant woman worsen as the delivery time approaches.

6.  THE GOSPEL WILL BE PREACHED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.”

 

This prophecy has already been fulfilled through television, radio, missionaries, the translation of the Bible into many languages, and the internet.  People all over the world now hear the message of Christ from missionaries who have the means to travel the globe, and via technology that allows us to communicate with people on the other side of the world right from our own homes, churches and offices.

Occult signs and symbols

Satanism:

How can I overcome temptation?

Question: “How can I overcome temptation?”

Matthew 5:29 has some excellent advice. “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw if from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” That sounds pretty severe! Sin is severe! Jesus is not saying that we literally need to remove body parts. Cutting out the eye is a drastic measure, and Jesus is teaching us that if necessary, a drastic measure should be taken to avoid sin.

Steps to accept Christ as a Savior to your life….

1. Knock and it shall be opened. Yet, because we are all born sinful, we are unable for our own whimsical or deep reason–or in our own strength and morality–to please a perfect God; so we accept Jesus when the Holy Spirit calls you–not merely our thinking and reasoning it out, but realizing that it is based on God’s provision and His gift. In fact, Christianity is not just a volunteer religion. (Jesus called his disciples, they generally didn’t come to him already determined to follow him.) In the same way we cannot merely “accept” Jesus, but we can receive what he gives us through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does call us–all to repentance and to follow God–through the preaching of God’s Word and accepting the Good News (Gospel). Those who do not believe have rejected God’s free gift, those who do believe only have faith because it is the free gift of God (grace).
2. Taste and see that the gifts of the Lord are Good. Believe that God loves you; He has shown this by giving His Son as a face your punishment and die in your place as your sacrifice for all you’ve done wrong and for all your sins.
   • Admitting that you have sinned is a prerequisite to accepting Christ, and the hardest step to take. Once you understand that we are and you are a sinner and that all have sinned, turn to the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness by repenting of your sins.
   • Repentance is the decision to turn away from sin and to turn to God and obey him. Once you have done this, every other step will fall into place. If you still have a hard time with this concept, trust Jesus as Lord over you as well as Savior.
3. Know that the Bible is God’s Word to mankind, written by people God chose to write it. The people who wrote the Bible were inspired by God to write it.

4. Know the Bible teaches that all people have sin in their lives. Sin is anything that displeases God.
   

   Romans 3:23 (NIV)

   “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

   That means ‘everyone’. Sin separates us from God, who is perfect. The payment we pay for sin is death-permanent separation from God.
   

   Romans 6:23 (NIV)

   “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

   
   

5. Know that a free gift of God is His son Jesus as your representative and as your ransom.
   

   John 3:16 (NIV)

   “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

   Belief is trust and faith that God is who He says He is. He provided the payment for our sin by His own son’s death.

6. Understand the difference between heaven and hell, and how Jesus can help you avoid the latter. All sins, past, present and future were forgiven by Christ at the cross.
   

   Hebrews 10:10 (NIV)

   “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

   
   

7. Know when Jesus was nailed to the cross He bled.
   

   Hebrews 9:22 (NIV)

   “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

   Jesus died to pay for the sins of man.

8. Talk to God in your own words. Say this prayer to God, and really mean it, “God, I know I’m a sinner. I know I’m not perfect. But I want You to come into me life. Be my God for the rest of my life. I turn from my sin now. Help me to stay with you all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen”

9. Congregate regularly with other Christians who can help you grow in your new life.
10. Follow Christ’s teachings.

Evangel Family Church

Their first step into Philippine soil elicited no instantaneous applauses, nor hurrahs! “Kids…” the Philippine A/G District Superintendent amusingly muttered under his breath as he circumspectly surveyed the four would-be missionaries: Pastor Toh Nee Lim, Lily Ang, Andrew Kwong and Jerry Tan, all of whom were commissioned by Evangel Singapore to spearhead its first mission church in Iloilo City, Philippines. This initial response however, did not dampen the zeal for God’s call upon their lives. But much like King David, they gave God their youth and allegiance…not counting the costs!

Uprooted from their homeland, they would plunge headlong into a nation and culture totally unfamiliar to them. Yet God’s love poured out upon their hearts, would eventually lead them to embrace this foreign land, it’s people and heritage. In time, they would learn to speak the local vernacular “Ilonggo,” complete with Singaporean accent. As well as develop a keen fondness for native Filipino dishes such as “adobo” and “pinakbet.” They not only came…but became one with the Filipinos!

THE INITIAL YEARS
For their first service at the Amigo Terrace Hotel, they had an initial attendance of five. Nonetheless, zeal for God’s house would urge them to tirelessly witness and gain souls for the Lord. Along the main thoroughfare of the city, they boldly proclaimed God’s salvation to anyone who would grant them a listening ear. Souls would be added to their church, and God did multiply this burgeoning church plentifully. In time, certain re-assignments…and a blossoming romance between Pastor Toh Nee Lim and Lily Ang would bring about certain changes in leadership. After tying the knot on June 4, 1988, Pastor Toh Nee and Lily Lim were then officially appointed to pastor Evangel Iloilo. Out of this union came forth two adorable daughters, in the persons of Joy and Jan Lim.

In the subsequent years, however, they would endure a great testing of their faith. Discord brought about by critical and insubmissive leaders of the church, would bring about a division that caused many others to stumble and leave Evangel Iloilo. Marred by bitterness and discouragement, they found their only solace in God. They emerged out of this dark episode by God’s grace, equipped with valuable insight on leadership that would prove useful in their future ministry.

By 1992, as the church steadily grew, the necessity for a larger place of worship could no longer be delayed. It was a major step of faith, yet they believed God…and the providence came. And truly God honored their faith, by leading and directing them, to a spacious place of worship within the city’s vicinity, located at the 3rd flr., of the Lucky Plaza Bldg, Quezon St. And here Evangel Iloilo would dwell for the next 12 years.

HIGHER GROUND
In these twelve years, God would prune and refine the church. For Rev. Toh Nee and Lily Lim, trials and challenges dogged them every step of the way. Yet as the Potter’s hand continued to break, mold and shape them… He was preparing them for an even far greater task. By 1999, God would envision Rev. Lily Lim, with the burden for a great harvest of souls from this city. Thus consecrating herself to the Lord, she would engage in a one week full fast, subsisting on water and fruit juice alone. In desperate prayer she bombarded heaven with the pleas for the salvation of this city, and claiming the many souls therein as inheritance. By year end, the church would have indeed grown from 300 to 500.

The beginning of 2000, saw a fresh wave of faith and vision sweep over the church. Seeking a far greater harvest of souls for God’s kingdom. God inspired Rev. Lily Lim with a new innovation in evangelism, which later came to be established as the G12. Similarly patterned after Jesus Christ’s method of discipleship. It involved one head, overseeing 12 potential contacts, nurturing and instructing them in the ways of the Lord. Furthermore, the quality of the leadership base was the most essential factor in this strategy. Thus, key leaders were screened and chosen, basing on their track record of commitment and spirituality. As one entity, the entire church would indeed arise for the occasion, united in one heart and mind, with one mission…SOULS!

Presently, the total G12 workforce comprises of 113 leaders and workers, involved in the task of evangelism and discipleship. And since the introduction of this strategy the church has steadily expanded from 500 to 1,200 in the succeeding years. Yet, it is to God that we humbly give all the glory and honor!

The advent of the G12, brought in a steady influx of youth and teens into the church. Rev. Toh Nee and Lily Lim, seeing the vast potential in this group of people wasted no time in reinvented the youth and teens department. Drawing them to the salvation knowledge of Christ through even radical methods. Nonetheless, no matter how revolutionary the tactics… the core still centered around Christ’s saving love and grace. Now, from this generation we see God raising up for Himself, a holy people…zealous for God. Percentage wise, they make up majority of the G12 leadership, and are actively involved in it’s creative department, where music, dance and drama are involved…could they be far behind? Yet beyond their many antics, and nonsense at times, they have become the life of the church. After all, deep down their hip façade…beats a heart for God!

Soon enough, even little boys and girls were found to be of profit to God’s kingdom. The values of commitment and spirituality would similarly be ingrained in their young minds and hearts. Some as young as 7 and 8, have taken the solemn step of water baptism, desiring nothing but to commit their lives to Jesus. They would actively participate in the elaborate Christmas and Parent’s Nite presentation, staying up even in the wee hours of the night as they practiced, with nary a complaint. Presently, they too are being trained in the rigors of evangelism…and if they bring one to Christ…then they are entitled to a pet fish, bird or rabbit, as reward for their evangelistic efforts. These are our future G12 leaders in the making. And it is heartwarming to see that young as they are…they too could bless God’s heart, in their own special way.

NEW VISION, NEW LAND
In the last 17 years, God would faithfully lead Evangel Iloilo from one phase to the next. Presently, He is directing this church to a higher dimension of faith. Last year, God revealed to Rev. Toh Nee Lim, the vision for a permanent place of worship, and a center for revival in the city of Iloilo. Such an enormous task…was countered by enormous faith, as the entire church caught the vision. God’s divine intervention would distinctively be evident each step of the way, from the purchasing of a 3,000 sq. mtr. land, to the building of it’s walls. Many perils were encountered during the initial stages of construction; lawsuits, death and bomb threats summarily issued by the surrounding community. Yet, it was Jan Lim’s tragic vehicular accident, which prompted the entire church to take up the cudgels…to fight the fight of faith, and see Him work a wonder.

  
Sunday Service at Evangel Family Church, Iloilo City

And as God leads us to this new land, through unfamiliar terrain and unknown dangers. Yet, by faith we shall abide with the vision, moving in step with God, choosing to follow where he leads us. Choosing to remain His humble servants, now and evermore.