MV DOULOS – The Historic World’s largest Floating Book fair returns to Philippines

Watch out this January as Firebrands visits MV Doulos! Please stay tuned updates on when we will visit Doulos.

Press Release

Almost 6 years after its last visit, the MV Doulos is coming back to the Philippines!

Preparations are currently underway to bring the ship into Bacolod port on the 19th of December 2006. With a stock of half a million books featuring around 6,000 titles on display and for sale, The World’s oldest ocean-going passenger ship recorded in the Guinness book of Records, MV Doulos, hosts the largest floating book fair in the world! A large selection of books is in English, and a smaller selection is devoted to Tagalog literature. MV Doulos is scheduled to visit 4 different ports in the Philippines, and will stay in the country for almost three months. MV Doulos schedule are as follows;

1. Bacolod (20 December 2006 – 1 January 2007),
2. Manila (5 – 22 January 2007),
3. Cebu (26 January – 19 February 2007),
4. Batangas (23 February – 5 March 2007).

MV Doulos is also home to 350 people from over 50 nations who have dedicated their 2 years time as unpaid volunteers and effort to learning about serving people from different nations and cultures. A number of different cultural events are being organized for this visit to the Philippines. There will be a lot of programs on board and on shore for different ages and interest. After its previous visits, the Doulos and it’s staff and crew are looking forward again to meeting, learning and sharing their lives and experiences with the people of the Philippines!

Got any Doulos experience before? 

Happy Birthday January Celebrants!

May you have many more birthdays to come!

Erika Wei
January 8, Monday (18th Birthday)

January Birthday Celebrants

May you have many more birthdays to come!

Erika Wei
January 8, Monday (18th Birthday)

We Want the World to Know

Firebrands Tropa

Recent pictures

Brznf's birthday celebration after service at the Estero.



December 17, 2006



Hillsong United concert - November 21, 2006

More photos here...

Happy Birthday December Celebrants!!!

May you have many more birthdays to come!

December 14 - Richard Angliongto
December 17 - Brznf Yu
December 31 - Mark Angliongto

FIREBRANDS Youth Ministry Presents

"THE NOISE WE MAKE"

The Firebrands Christmas Concert

December 16, 2006, 5PM with Pre-concert Party @4:15PM

Binondo Full Gospel Family Center, 107 Tytana Plaza Veronica St. Binondo, Manila

Entrance Fee: P20.00

For more details please contact 09178997051

Section 2 Youth Department presents
KINGDOM COME
Youth All-out Praise And Worship (APAW) 3
November 26, 2006, 4th Sunday, 2:30-5:30PM
United Bethel Church, 413 Manga Avenue, Sta. Mesa, Manila
Entrance Fee: P10.00
For more details please contact 09178997051 or visit http://s2youth.blogspot.com

New Firebrands Format

These are pix from last Saturdays Fellowship. Starting this Satuday we will have two fellowships (large group) and two Carecell (small group) meetings alternately every month. Firebrands fellowship is every 1st and 3rd Saturday at 5PM, for Carecells, ask your D-group for schedule. Go firebrands!

Happy Birthday October Celebrants!!!

May you have many more birthdays to come!

October 16 - Betty Ong
October 30 - Jutstine Joy See

Happy Birthday September Celebrants!!!

May you have many more birthdays to come!

September 6 - Glady
September 11 - Patrick
September 24 - Carrie

What the World Will Never Take A Success!

Praise God for a successful APAW Concert! We will post videos soon...! Thank you for all who supported the concert!

Firebrands Youth Fellowship presents
“What the World Will Never Take”
A Youth All-out Praise and Worship Concert
August 5, Sat, 5PM @BFGFC with Pre-concert Party @4PM

This is a youth evangelistic night – Grab this opportunity to invite your friends and classmates! Please include us in your prayers. We also need help in funding our promotion.

Happy Birthday August Celebrants!!!

May you have many more birthdays to come!

August 17 - Lawrence Tan
August 17 - Pastor Zaldy
August 19 - Abigail Lim

FIREWALL: Firebrands Wallpaper!

Dress up your desktop with one of these stylish Firewalls. Click the image below and save away...

Happy Birthday July Celebrants!!!

July 2 - Aiza Ong, Andrew Carreon
July 5 - Xandra How
July 12 - Kenneth Custodio
July 14 - Jerald Co, Lovely Rafael
July 15 - Johan Ang
July 16 - JM
July 23 - Rosalie Ang
July 30 - Beverly Galvez

June 17 - Zarah Lim
June 21 - Jennilyn Chico
June 26 - Kimberly Lim
June 29 - Zarah See

Fathers Day 2006

This is the Fathers Day video greeting we made for the Sunday Service last June 18. All star cast!!! Starring Professor J. Santos!

Independence Day Outing Tanay 2006

Last June 12 was a fun day for the youth as we went to Tanay, Rizal for a day of swimming, feasting and rapelling.

PICTURES here, VIDEO (in progress) here.

Youth "Last Hirit" Outing

Youth "Last Hirit" Outing
June 12, 2006 (Monday/Holiday), 8-5PM
Sacramento Valley Resort, Tanay, Rizal
Fee: P200 (non-working)/P300 (working) [entrance/swimming/transpo/food]

Meeting place and time: 5:30AM, BFGFC

Firebrands Official T-shirt

AT LAST!
The Firebrands' Official T-shirt is now available for only P100.00. It comes in two colors: Black w/ Gold print and White w/ Red print.

IBA NA ANG ASTIG!
Contact Richard Angliongto for reservations and details.
*limited stocks only

Ifugao Mission Trip: Upclose

Praise God for a successful mission trip held last May 15 to 20 at Kiangan, Ifugao. Thank you for your prayers and concern.

UPCLOSE Pictures

The Horn Sign

An informative rocker from http://thejesusrocker.blogdrive.com

"To some it means 'rock on', a sign of a true rocker or to identify with the rock scene. Some rockstars of back then even thought it was a sign for two more songs when the crowds waved it for them. But it's not just the symbol of rock because we got even popstars doing it or those who aren't rock... I see it everywhere, in pictures, on mtv, concerts etc. Everyone does it. Should I? Should you? Yes I've seen many Christians do it too & artists, should they?" (quote from the blog)

Ifugao Mission Trip

When: May 15-20, 2006
Where: Kiangan, Ifugao
Headed by Ptr. Alvin & Angie Tud, Bethel Christian AG
Fee: P2000 (food & transpo)
Activities: Vacation Bible School & Youth Conference.

S2 Youth APAW 2: All for Love

May 28, 2006, 2PM @ The Lord's Assembly

Lenten Season Devotional Thoughts

"On Him they laid the cross, that He might bear it after Jesus."
Luke 23:26

We see in Simon's carrying the cross a picture of the work of the Church throughout all generations; she is the cross-bearer after Jesus. Mark then, Christian, Jesus does not suffer so as to exclude your suffering. He bears a cross, not that you may escape it, but that you may endure it. Christ exempts you from sin, but not from sorrow. Remember that, and expect to suffer.

But let us comfort ourselves with this thought, that in our case, as in Simon's, it is not our cross, but Christ's cross which we carry. When you are molested for your piety; when your religion brings the trial of cruel mockings upon you, then remember it is not your cross, it is Christ's cross; and how delightful is it to carry the cross of our Lord Jesus!

You carry the cross after Him. You have blessed company; your path is marked with the footprints of your Lord. The mark of His blood-red shoulder is upon that heavy burden. 'Tis His cross, and He goes before you as a shepherd goes before his sheep. Take up your cross daily, and follow Him.

Do not forget, also, that you bear this cross in partnership. It is the opinion of some that Simon only carried one end of the cross, and not the whole of it. That is very possible; Christ may have carried the heavier part, against the transverse beam, and Simon may have borne the lighter end. Certainly it is so with you; you do but carry the light end of the cross, Christ bore the heavier end.

And remember, though Simon had to bear the cross for a very little while, it gave him lasting honour. Even so the cross we carry is only for a little while at most, and then we shall receive the crown, the glory. Surely we should love the cross, and, instead of shrinking from it, count it very dear, when it works out for us "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."

Congratulations to the Graduates!

Highschool
- Jerald Co (HCHS)
- Andrew Carreon (LRA)
- Yna Reyes

College
- Zarah Jane Lim (UST)
- Aldrich Chua (Metro)

March Birthday Celebrants

Happy Birthday! May you have many more birthdays to come!

14 - Daryl Tan
24 - Annie Hernandez

Your birthday? Tell us.

Youth All-out Praise And Worship

BFGFC Youth Ministry presents
a Youth APAW (All-out Praise And Worship)
entitled
"All For Love"
February 18, 5PM, BFGFC

Guest speaker: Ms. Mimi Elli
- A worship leader and the youth leader of Caloocan Bethel AG

Be filled and be refreshed! Invite your friends for this special concert event.

February Birthday Celebrants

Happy Birthday! May you have many more birthdays to come!

3 - Teresa Cua
26 - Kevin Tan

Your birthday? Tell us.

Carecells: "Too Busy Not To Pray"

Most of us have trouble finding time to pray. There's church and school and neighborhood and job and friends and recreation. And then the crises hit! Time for prayer seems impossible to find.

As a pastor, Bill Hybels knows hundreds of people with schedules like this. Yet in his own life he has made the hard discovery that prayer doesn't happen on the run. He decided he was too busy not to pray. This quarter in Youth Carecells will discover the ideas in Too Busy Not To Pray that will help us to learn to slow down to be with God as well.

Join us in Youth Carecells today, "Livin' Large in Small Groups"
Saturdays, 4:30PM-6:30PM
Binondo Full Gospel Family Center

Memoirs of a Preacher's Kid

By: Kimberly Lim

Have you ever felt all alone? That nobody, not your parents, friends, sibling, or even your “bestest” friend, could understand the situation or problem you’re struggling with? That every night before you go to sleep, you cry your heart out until no more tears come out of your eyes because of that heavy load you’re carrying? Well guess what… somebody cares!

Yes, this is another cheesy article about experiencing God but I hope you would find my case interesting and learn something from it.

First, let me introduce myself. I grew up in a Christian home, fact is, I’m what you call a “preacher’s kid.” You can assume that I’m already familiar with spiritual stuff like miracles, answered prayers, visions, etc. Nothing really surprises me anymore. I’m one of the most indifferent people you’ll ever meet when it comes to spiritual stuff. I grew up with all these things happening around me, but instead of making me more passionate for Jesus, it just made me bored! I even questioned God why I became like that. How come I didn’t experience the enthusiasm that new converts (those who didn’t grow up in a Christian home) experience? How come God doesn’t speak to me personally?

This all changed one night. It was the most depressing period in my life. You see I have this friend whom I’m very fond of. We were very close, but as time passed, we both grew apart from each other. I always tried to keeping touch with this friend but it seemed that she’d only contact me when she needed something. I got really depressed over this. This may seem shallow to some people, but imagine someone close to you treating you like that and you cant seem to get angry at this person. I wanted to just forget about this friend but I couldn’t. I didn’t bother telling this to my parents and sister because I know they won’t understand my situation. So I prayed and poured my heart out to God. I asked Him why He was letting me go through this. What lesson am I going to learn from this? Then suddenly, He answered, “Child, can’t you see that this situation is so familiar?” I suddenly realized what I was doing to God all those years that I’ve known Him. I was ignoring Him and taking Him for granted, calling upon Him only when I needed something. I felt so ashamed so I asked for forgiveness and thanked Him that He finally opened my eyes.

From that experience, I learned that God definitely knows what every person feels and that even if it’s “mababaw,” He still cares. He’s always there, waiting for you to open up yourself to Him. He knows your every aches and pain and maybe even cries if He sees how heartbroken you are.

From then on, my prayer life improved compared before. As for my friend, we’re OK now, we still keep in touch, although not as often as before. But it’s okay because I know that Jesus is always there for me and I know that having Him as my best friend is way much better than any person in the world.

Where is My Passion?

By: Lawrence Tan

Have you ever felt tired and spiritually burned out? What do you think causes these things to happen in your life?

It’s amazing that God called me to be his minister. Imagine how privileged I am to work for the one who created the heavens and the earth? But there are times when I feel loaded with things to do, making me feel tired and burned out. It’s not good to say we are losing our passion for serving God, but it is happening in our spiritual life. Sometimes I ask myself, “Why am I so much ‘on fire’ after a retreat or a camp?” Can you relate? During the last leadership retreat I attended, God impressed in me the answer to these questions. God revealed to me that we are not doing our service for other people, but for HIM, the GREAT and MIGHTY GOD. We must not feel discouraged if no one is appreciating us because GOD is smiling on what we are doing, for His glory.

We must face the reality in this life. When we are sinning, ask for forgiveness and our Father in heaven will forgive us, just like the prodigal Son. Always remember that God is the strength of our hearts. In Him, we can find the strength we need when we feel down and burned out.

In conclusion, I want to share this scripture that God has revealed to me – “Always be joyful. Always keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

New Year, New Season!

by Patrick Tan

Hi there, a blessed and happy new year to you my friend. The week-long vacation is over, balik eskuwela and work na naman tayo. Praise God for year 2005, I believe that every victory and challenge we faced last year, personal man or as a group, has taught us something right? Ano ang nadiscover mo about God? About sa sarili mo? Kung hindi mo pa ito nabigayn pansin, I encourage you to take time to stop and think about how God has been faithful to you. For me, I praise God for His abounding grace and faithfulness in my life and the youth in season and out of season.

Three things I want to share with you as we face the New Year. First, evaluate the past and take the good things and the lessons you've learned. Modify your strategies that didn't quite work as expected. Second, while we should never forget our victories, huwag tayo mag-dwell dun. May nabasa nga ako, ang sabi "Those who talk about past victories hasn't done much today." Ibig sabihin, huwag tayong makuntento (in a positive sense) na hanggang dun na lamang ang kakayanin natin. Set higher goals and always excel for the Lord. Lastly, of course we must not dwell on past failures. Fear ang nakakapagpa-paralyze ng drive natin to conquer the unknown. This year is different from last year, sabi nga sa Bible, "His mercies are new every morning” (Lam 3:23). Kahit ano pa sabihin ng mga manghuhula about your kapalaran, walang katuturan yun dahil ang taong nagtitiwala kay Lord ay hindi napapahiya sabi sa Kanyang Salita (Romans 10:11).

We have lots in store for 2006 in our youth ministry. First, balik 4:30PM Saturday na ang lahat ng cellgroups natin. I encourage you to come on time so we can worship together. We're also bringing back the band and APAW (All-out Praise and Worship) in February. And for this year, we are going to have a discipleship program. I want you to read carefully. Bali each of the youth leaders will be open to disciple 1-3 youth once a week. Una, we need to realize the importance of discipleship, dahil una sa Matthew 28:19 na sabi ni Lord "go and make disciples..." and pangalawa, it is our destiny, to become like Jesus Christ. And I believe in our leaders that they will impart that to you. Sa discipleship program na ito, matutunan ng isang batang Kristyano ang basics sa pagiging isang disciple ni Jesus. Ang kagandahan nito, one-on-one ang pagtuturo, ibig sabihin mas mabibigyan focus ka kaysa kung gagawin as a group. Ang hinihingi lang naming leaders ay commitment and willingness to really become a disciple. I hope you take this opportunity for growth this year 2006. This is the year for growth!

Patuloy nating alalahanin ang mga pangako ng Panginoon sa atin sa Kanyang Salita. Huwag nating iasa sa ibang tao ang paglago ng ating sariling spiritual life, yan ay partnership ninyo ni Lord. Ibig sabihin, may part ang Lord, may part ka din. We will also do our best to help you grow. Let us hold fast to our faith and excel on it in every way! Walang iwanan sa Panginoon, walang bibitaw. Jesus Freak tayo. God bless you friend.