Letter from Pastor Rey Awatin - Tribes In Asia for Christ

Dear Rev. Thomas,

Happy CHRIST filled New Year!

I thank God that your continues support to the ministry. Year 2008 is a tough one for us. However, thank God we survive. With your help, we are still running with a vision. Despite, the grim forecasts about the world economy, with Christ, our hope is glorious. No matter what happen, He got the whole world in His hand.

In spite of what happened last year, we never look down. In fact, we are planning to build two churches. One in village Alaoa, Tineg, Abra, around 400 km north of Manila. This will be the first church to build in Tineg, Abra. We are the first group who saturate the 10 village of Tineg, Abra by foot. It is the neighboring province of Apayao. Therefore, after we finished our mission to Kabugao, Apayao, we survey Tineg, Abra. Now, we can see the fruit of our labor. This church we plan to build will reached out to three villages. Each village will take 3 hours, 4 hours and one-day walk.

Abra currently has the highest amount of rebel activity in the Philippines and hardly a month goes by without clashes between the New People’s Army (NPA) and government forces. In 2002, a US helicopter was flying over Abra Province and vas hit by the NPA.

Abra is known as the killing capital of Cordillera” because of the political killings and ongoing communist insurgency. Intense political rivalries exist within the region, which boasts a large number of private armies. Between 2005 and 2006, 118 deaths were attributed to political assignations, including the deaths of congressmen, councilors and village chiefs. These were gunned down by political rivals – often with the use of hired hit men. It is believed that some of these armies are being maintained by politicians, and between the 2004 and 2007 elections, the number of private armies increased from seven to thirteen.

Understandably, it is very difficult for missionaries (especially foreign missionaries) to work in this region as they run the risk of being taken hostage. Like the lady missionary of Youth with the Mission ( YWAM) in 1999. This is why Tribes in Asia for Christ has taken up the challenge of bringing the gospel to the Itneg tribes of Abra. TAC started to work in Tineg in Abra in 2001. There are 10 villages in this (Tineg) area and most of the villages cannot be reached by vehicle. The volunteer missionaries have to travel by foot for 2-3 days from Apayao. At present, there are three established churches in Tineg. We have a number of students deployed in other villages of Abra for the purpose of evangelism.

Thank God for the donation of land to be used for constructing a church building. We only need to bulldoze the land area and afterward we can start building a church. Village Aloao, our target area, was divided into 3 small villages with a distant of 30 minutes to 45 minutes walk. Now, we have four workers in this village and soon they will reach out to neighboring villages.

Another target area is the Dumagat tribes of Rizal, which is 40 km north of Manila. TAC was reaching out to this area since 2007 through Bible Study outreach and finally we got a couple who wants to stay and minister to our target area. The place is village Anipa, San Rafael, Montalban, Rizal. The place was accessible by foot for 2-3 hours from San Rafael, Montalban.

Although the place is quite near in Metro Manila but Last quarter of the year, New People’s Army ( NPA) clashed between government forces and on January 3, this year, six policemen where ambushed by the NPA, one was killed, 3 where captured, 2 was wounded.

We are planning to survey the area to walk from Montalban, Rizal to Quezon province to find out how many villages that needs to evangelize. It will take us 4-7 days walk to complete our itinerary.

Please pray for God’s provision to build two churches. One in Tineg, Abra, and the land will be donated but we have to pay for the bulldozer which is US $ 700 and another church to build is in Anipa, San Rafael, Montalban, Rizal. Here we have to buy a small piece of land to build a church building. A piece of land cost us US $ 1,300. Two churches with a pastors house would cost us US 12,000 each.

Hoping and praying that you will continue to run with a vision with us this 2009. God bless you.

Yours for the tribes in Asia,

REY AWATIN

Pastor Rey and Tribes in Asia are on our support. However more is needed.
Pastor Rey has established a blog that he mainatains from Asia.

Http:/tribesinasia.blogspot.com

I hope you visit it and see the video. Bro. Rey has been a blessing to me for more than ten years.
Pastor Tommy

Watch Night Service was a big sucess.

Thanks to all who came out to the watch night service.
Rev. Travis Osborne, ast. pastor at First Perpetual preached the first message,
Rev. Russell Clark, Pastor Macedonia preached the second message, Rev. Delennon Stowe preached the final message. In between the preaching we had singing and worship. We had Keith and Steve Parkers group Bluegrass, Country Gospel Bnd play as well as various singers. 47 Persons were in attendance as we sang, preached and prayed out 2008 and prayed in 2009.
Thanks to all those who prepared the food and for Darlin Martin and Jocelyn for preparing the fellowship hall.

Watch Night Service Weds Night pm

Watch Night Service 8pm.

First Perpetual Baptist, Rev. Julien Crowe
Macedonia Baptist, Rev. Russell Clark
Lakeview Baptist, Rev. Thomas Maxwell
Asbury Baptist, Rev. Delennon Stowe

Blending together at Lakeview to preach out the old year and pray in the new.

Music, Preaching, Fellowship and Food.
Come be with us as we worship together.

"Uncle Walt" Walton Alewine

My Great Uncle Walt graduated on to Heaven last saturday night and we had his homegoing service this afternoon.

Dr. Williams and Rev. Tucker did an outstanding service. They allowed me to do the Graveside service.

J. Walton Alewine

Date: August 30th, 1922 - December 27th, 2008

Obituary: (Courtesy of Strickland FH Hartwell Ga, Arnold Strickland Owner)
Mr. Walton Alewine, age 86 of 55 Homestead Rd, Hartwell, Ga., died Saturday, December 27, 2008 at his residence. Born August 30, 1922, in Elbert County, GA, he was the son of the late John Reece Alewine and Sara Lou Moore Alewine. He was a US Army veteran having served in the European Theater in World War II and also had retired from Bellcraft Mfg. where he worked as a spreader in the cutting room. Mr. Alewine was a member of the Hartwell First Baptist Church and a faithful member of the Doc Adams Sunday School Class for 30 years. Survivors include his wife of 51 years: Rubye Lowe Alewine; daughter: Sherrye A. Parham and her husband Anthony of Bowersville; sisters: Ida Almond of Bowman, Rose Lee Caudell of Vanna and Ruth Alewine of Lavonia; grandchildren: Darrian Parham, Crystal Johnson, Jessica Martin, and Megan Parham and eight great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by brothers: Thomas Alewine and Frank Alewine; and sister: Helen Lovinggood. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of the Strickland Funeral Home of Hartwell. Rev. Steve Williams and Rev. Carter tucker will officiate. Burial will be in the Nancy Hart Memorial Park. The body is at the Strickland Funeral Home ~ Hartwell Chapel where the family will receive friends Monday night from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The family is at the home. Memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

What a day of memories we shared before and after the funeral. Thanks for letting me have a small part in Uncle Walts homegoing service. Psalms 118:15 "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his godly ones" NASB
As his senior pastor Rev. Carter at 1st Baptist Hartwell put it. No one enjoyed a Sunrise better than he nor did anyone hate to see the sunset. Thank God when the sunset here it rose forever on the other side. Fanny Crosby put it this way, Blesses assurance Jesus is mine oh for a foretaste of Glory devine.." Uncle Walt had the foretaste as God had prepared him through his faithfulness and obedience for that which was to come.
He is in Gods presence today seeing that sunrise forever. Until we meet again, See ya Uncle Walt.

Josh ask Katrina to marry him from 1000 feet up.

Friday Night we hosted a Christmas drop in for my Wifes family. Joshua our oldest Son planned on asking Katrina to marry him. Josh, Jake and I spent some time Thursday Night spelling out "Will U Marry Me? in ten foot letters in the front yard.
Josh had a friend, Baron, a pilot was to come to the drop in posing as a cousin. With my wifes father having 20 siblings, it was not unheard of to have a cousin that not many people knew. Baron came in and mixed with the family. We advised our guest of what was happening and everyone played along. After the food was served, Baron gave out an invitation ot Josh and Katrina to go up in his plane to see the lights. Politely he announced his flight plans and asked if anyone else wanted to ride. Of course no one took him up on it but Joshua and Katrina. Once they left the house and reached the airport, about 2 miles away, we turned on our light display. Baron took them up and flew over the house. Katrina saw the sign as they flew closer she read it out loud in the plan. Then Josh gave her the ring and waited for the response. Yes was the answer. We are looking at a May Wedding. They returned to the party where a hearty congradulations was given by many at the party.

A continuing thought...

The Holiday Rush...

The rush is on. We buried our sister-in law Teresa, 52, this week. She went to be with the Lord on Sunday having fought a valiant battle against Cancer.
Heather and Richard are enroute back to Oak Island Washington.
Out prayers go out with them for a safw journey.