My News Update as YWAM Staff (June to Oct 2024)

James Ephraim Tabilla
Nov 1, 2024
6 min read

As a Teaching Staff for Bible School for the Nations…

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing James 1:2-4 (English Standard Version)

We started preparing for Bible School for the Nations (BSN, under University of the Nations) around April of this year (2024). Even then, we were already being challenged by various circumstances. One staff member was missing because she was still in Fiji. One school leader had to go to South Asia for outreach, and another had to return to the United States for the funeral of a loved one. Another staff member went to Japan for outreach.

A few weeks before the school started, we were finally able to gather as a team to fully prepare. A week before the school began, one of our staff members got married, and again, two (out of five) of the BSN staff had to leave to help. We were barely prepared just days before the school started and only finished preparing the classroom the day before. Two of the five students had to cancel due to visa issues.

I was also plagued by various illnesses, something unusual for me. In April, half of my face became paralyzed, but it returned to normal after I visited the doctor and took vitamins and medicine. In May, I had a high fever, followed by blisters on my nose, gums, and lips. In June, I had a lung infection. From August to September, I suffered from a severe skin infection and another lung infection. By the end of the school, I had taken so many antibiotics that I even started to have blood in my stool.

We also faced a significant financial challenge as a school, with only three students enrolled. This is the reason why the students opted to not go to outreach. They did see God provide all throughout the lecture phase.

In August, one of these three students had to leave the country (and couldn’t return) due to visa issues caused by his previous employer. I tried setting things up so he could join online, but he couldn't finish due to technical difficulties.

Throughout it all, as a new staff member, I had to depend desperately on the LORD to study and teach about David and the end of the Southern Kingdom (1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, and Psalms), Nehemiah, Hosea, Zephaniah, Galatians, 1 & 2 Peter, all while coaching one student through Malachi and Philemon.

There were countless sleepless nights and many moments of relying on God’s wisdom and grace to ensure that the three (and then two) students could learn the beautiful story of God’s love from Genesis to Revelation.

I can say that I grew significantly as a teacher, missionary staff member, and person through this BSN experience because the LORD was ever-present, guiding me through it all. God is truly good.

As Part of the Church Planting Team…

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,... Colossians 1:9 (English Standard Version)

We’re in a season where the parents of the four families faithfully attending church are facing financial difficulties that require them to work, often on Sundays. As a result, attendance at both Bible studies and Sunday services has decreased among parents. Thankfully, we’ve seen an increase in faithful attendance from some youth.

When we began the Saturday Youth Nights this year, we weren’t entirely sure how to approach teaching and discipling the young people, who were children during the pandemic but are now mostly teenagers. We decided to follow the teaching guides and lessons offered by YWAM BELT. Many of these teens come from non-Christian homes and are exposed to ungodly influences as if they were the norm.

After months of teaching them core biblical principles from Genesis to the Gospels using BELT materials, we were amazed at how well they retained biblical truths about God and His love, their identities as God’s children, sin and its destructiveness, God’s grief over sin, His kindness shown through Jesus’ death on the cross, salvation in Jesus, and living in freedom from sin.

Now, these faithful teens are being trained to lead worship during Youth Night and Sunday service, as well as to participate as M.C.s or lead in prayer.

We’re currently teaching them the BELT materials for Transformation of Character (part 2 after Transformation of the Heart Series). This is focused on helping them be transformed in character by studying each 12 bible characters from Old Testament to New Testament.

YWAM BELT Together

But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:13-15 (English Standard Version)

Before YWAM Together, all the YWAM BELT elders and missionaries gathered for three days (Aug 30 - Sep 2, 2024). The goal was to connect, update one another, review what God has done, and discern what He desires to do in the coming years through the expanding ministry of YWAM BELT.

Here are the three main things I achieved by attending:

I connected with the YWAM BELT family from around the world, which broadened my perspective on potential international outreach locations.
I gained a deeper understanding of YWAM BELT's foundational vision: to see God’s Kingdom expand on earth through the transformation of individuals, families, churches, and communities by the Word and Spirit of God. YWAM BELT is highly focused on teaching the Gospel, encouraging people to live transformed lives rooted in the Gospel, and equipping them to teach others about the Gospel that transformed them. The ministry includes teaching, seminars, mercy ministry, oral Bible translation, and more, all designed to teach, disciple, and spread the Gospel. It seeks to promote Bible engagement to many.
New missionaries joining the YWAM BELT ministry were introduced to its various ministries, allowing me to explore many potential ways to contribute to this mission of preaching the Gospel to all nations (Matt. 28:19-20).
YWAM BELT Philippines was established.

As Part of the YWAM Philippines Media Team…

I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. Psalm 118:21 (English Standard Version)

During YWAM Together, God spoke to some of the YWAM staffs in YWAM Philippines to start a media team. This was an answer to my prayer for a team (after managing the YWAM website on my own for few years). I am now part of a 7-person team responsible for managing the YWAM Philippines website, social media presence, and more projects to come.

I have also completed updating the staff IDs for the 332 YWAM Philippines missionaries. This involved approximately 100 hours of reviewing hundreds of details, editing each ID, and rechecking them for errors. Additionally, there was a significant waiting period for the submission and confirmation of information from over 47 bases across the Philippines. The grace of God became my strength. (2 Tim 2:1)

As Discipleship Training School (DTS) Staff…

A few months ago, I was one of the people God clearly spoke to about joining the staff of the upcoming Discipleship Training School (DTS) in January (2025). It’s been five years since I last staffed a DTS (in 2019). We already have three confirmed students, and five committed staff members (plus one partially committed). All of the base staff are committed to supporting in the background and assisting with discipleship as well. The theme of our school will be “Race Ablaze to Raise a Blaze” from Hebrews 12.

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, …18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; …22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, Hebrews 12:1,18,22 (New International Version)

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Please pray for the preparation of the January DTS, especially for all the school and base staff.
Please also pray for provision. We willingly contributed our personal funds to support the BSN so it can finish well, which has put us a bit behind in covering staff fees.
Please pray that the seed of the Gospel planted in the hearts of the Pongian families will grow and bear fruit.

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