PaoloPunzalan.com

Just wanted to let you know that I’m back home.

My doctor, Dr. Cheng of Medical City discharged me noon today. The symptoms of Kawasaki are gone. My coronary artery is slightly enlarged with some water in it. But we are trusting God for complete healing. We were told that it usually resolves itself. It won’t resolve itself because God will…

Good thing is that we can do the 2D echo to monitor my heart as outpatient so I don’t have to stay in the hospital and eat hospital food which is not my most favorite.

To all who prayed with mommy and daddy and helped us through this challenging time, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

God is awesomely good.

We switched to small group ministry model at Victory some time ago because we realized that discipleship cannot happen in a crowd.  Back in Shangri La days, the church grew by huge numbers yet we weren’t sure how many were effectively being discipled.

Even Jesus had his small group of guys he was coaching and mentoring.

It has been the strategy we felt was applicable and effective.  Strategy is defined as a plan of action inteded to accomplish a specific goal.  Any strategy should be simple and easy to implement.

Understandably, we are open to other strategies if we see that something will work better but at this point, small groups is the way to go.

Why do we feel it’s applicable and effective?

1. Small groups help us engage people for Christ.

• Many are willing to first attend a small group environment before coming to church.  “Some want to belong first before they are willing to believe.” (Andy Stanley)

2. Small groups equip every member to be a minister.

• Ministry is not limited only to those who are in “full-time”.  Ephesians 4:11-12 tells us that the full time ministers job is to equip the people to do the works of ministry.

3. Small groups empower more people to serve.

• Church has looked like a basketball game all too often – 10 players badly needing some rest, while 10,000 people who badly need some exercise, watch .

4. Small groups help establish authentic community.

• Discipleship is relationship.  We’ve heard that all too often.  It’s relationship with God, with other believers and with the rest of the world.  Small groups help establish authentic community with fellow believers.

5. Small groups offer maximum flexibility.

• Small group meetings can be anywhere – Starbucks, Pancake House, basketball court, office, at home… anywhere!

6. Small groups allow us to be better stewards of what God has given.

• With small groups going on in many different locations, the need to have huge facilities will be at minimum so we can re-channel the funds for other ministry opportunities.

7. Small groups remove major growth limitations.

• One of the major limitations to growth for churches is venue limitations.  Our Ortigas church meets in a very small space in a mall yet has more than 8,000 people.  How can this be?  Small groups!

So… what do you think?…  Let’s go!

For some divine reason, I just know that God has something in store for our youngest, Joaquin. Found to have 2 big tumors in his brain when he was 4 months old in his mommy’s tummy which miraculously disappeared within 2 months and now to this – suffering from a condition doctors call “Kawasaki”. God really must have something for this kid.

With the ongoing ordeal our youngest is going through, I remembered Pastor Jim Lafoon’s statement years ago that never left me. He said, “When the devil attacks my camp, I go into an all out war against him and I bombard his camp with everything I’ve got!”

Jenn asked me this afternoon at the hospital on my way out if I was going to preach at the 5 and 7 pm services. I said, “Yes. You bet!” Did I have I have a well crafted message prepared? Not really, but I was absolutely ready to fire away!

On my way to church today, I was fired up! I wasn’t going to take things sitting down. When the enemy attacks our camp, I am going to go on all out war against him – I will pray, preach with all my heart, serve God with everything I have till the very last breath.

“Paolo, are you not afraid announcing an all out war against the enemy?” Absolutely not! You can give this blog link to him to read, send him my podcast and tell him personally for all I care but what I know is that greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.

My favorite kids pastor, Bill Wilson once said, “Hit the devil with whatever stick you have in your hand. Whatever he throws at us, we can use to throw it back to him.”