The said program rooted after one evening devotional in the middle of February, when Arts and Design Com-mittee Head Arwenn Berago suggested on holding a dawn worship the coming Sabbath of that week. This has been supported by the Religious Committee Head

F rom the time when many new faces were accepted in the

MAS-AMiCUS family this year, the organization has been embracing a greater share of opportunity in handling the big number. The dawn worship has since then been re-implemented.

H eeding the call to go out to the world and pro-

claim the character of Jesus, the Movement of Adventist Students - Ad-ventist Ministry to College and University Students (MAS-AMiCUS) Iligan City District conducted the Sendong Outreach III last June 12, 2012 at a reloca-tion site in Luinab, Iligan City. About 35 volunteers, armed with the love of the Father, shared tempo-ral and spiritual blessings to the Sendong survivors.

The program was initiated through the donations of SDA breth-ren from different places all over the world includ-ing Korea, Thailand, the Philippines and the US. The volunteers distrib-uted liquid detergents, dishwashing soaps and other cleaning and wash-ing utensils. Other than that, whole wheat loaves of bread were also given to each family in the site. The volunteers did not also miss the oppor-tunity to fill the spiritual needs of the brethren

by sharing the love of Jesus through songs and the spoken word to the older family members, while conducting a sepa-rate program for the

B u s i n e s s N a m e

A u g u s t 2 0 1 2

V o l u m e 1 , I s s u e 2

Members wearing the warmest smiles as they sang for the birthday

by Jan Lumancas

Marck Jason Tagapan upon understanding that this is a medium to increase knowl-edge in the Word of God. “This event will also create fellowship with the new members and at times this might be their opportunity to get involved in every part of the program,” Tagapan com-mented. On that Sabbath dawn, the members of the organization woke up for the dawn wor-ship. They walked a distance from their boarding houses to reach the agreed venue, Mindanao Sanitarium and Hospital College Villa now named Adventist Medical Center and Colleges (Iligan City) Villa. In between 4:30-5:00 AM, singing of scripture songs and action songs were done to awaken minds from deep slumber. This also in-cluded acquainting with the members especially the newly-accepted ones. The succeed-ing parts were those typical in handling devotionals.

Alleviated and blessed by the event through God’s leading, the organization agreed that this program should continue every Sab-bath dawn, same place, same time. On the other hand, the aubade—another one of the programs of the organiza-tion, has been reactivated, as well. It can be recalled that this program turned to almost disappearing when only two or three members did the aubading. With additions of zealous mem-bers currently, there are now more members who have actively participated in reviv-ing the program. For the first few months after the acceptance cere-mony, there were at least 15 members in view who regu-larly participated in the aubades. They have now produced printed lyrics of the birthday songs to aid those who have not memorized them.

children. The day ended with hearts filled with grati-tude for GOD’s goodness to both the volunteers and flood survivors.

by Jibe Labenz Nebato

MAS-AMiCUS reactivates

dawn worship, aubades

Members at the entrance of the relocation site, waiting for the signal to

come in and begin the distribution

Opinion

The President’s Corner

Pinpoint A

n O

pen

Let

ter

An

Ope

n Let

ter

Karen Crystal Lasta is the President of

the MAS-AMiCUS ICD for 2010-2012.

O ne erratic notion commonly held by both pro-fessed Christians and unbelievers alike is that which views God as directing the universe in a

scripted sense, as if “everything happens for a purpose” under the scripted will of God. This fatal idea apparently roots from an allegedly Bibli-cal standpoint. But, under this misleading view, “all things work together for good” (Rom.8:28), wrongly understood, would now come to mean that bad things are indeed necessary for good things to happen. If this was truly the case, then sin would have been a blessing, because it was sin that caused the suffering, and if suffering was in fact meant for good. Needless to say, this idea strikes a deadly blow to our understanding of the will, character and purposes of God. On one hand, it says that God’s goodness is dependent on the existence of bad things. On the other, it makes up for us an excuse to our own bad choices, justifying them in the most-quoted “everything happens for a purpose,” as if God approves Robinhood’s stealing for the poor just be-cause “the end justifies the means.” The fact, is, God’s goodness is so great that despite —not because of, but, in spite of—the bad things, His good-ness prevails. This then means that God’s will is not a script of events set on a timeline, as if God makes a movie out of our experiences, making fun of the ups and downs of our sin-saturated lives. Instead, God’s will is a principle that embodies His ideals but also allows for our own choices to be executed at our own freewill. In a word, God’s will is God acting always according to His character of love. So, bringing it home, you’ve got delays, postpone-ments, cancellations and the like. Then you accuse God that perhaps, after all, these were what He willed. But, remember, you had a choice, while God had maintained an ideal independent of that choice you have now made. So, weren’t those bad things actually the fruition of your own will? Yes, they were, exactly! Nevertheless, because of His infinite love, mercy and goodness, God then acts on a new, ideal, good plan after you have acted according to your own bad choice. Hence, it is then, that despite—not due to, but despite—your bad choices, God’s goodness will still prevail. Once again, the point is pinned.

I have seen your struggles and successes by the grace of God through 19 years of ac-companying you in every ministry MAS has

engaged in. Your number has grown abundantly since my first encounter with you in 1993. You have grown a lot spiritually! You have been zealous. Unlike before, you have become well-versed students of the Bible. I witnessed your vicissi-tudes to find the excellence in Christ. It passed through a point of spiritual lethargy yet it was all but a process. One situation that I can’t forget was when I was then the head of the Personal Ministry in the 1990’s. The youth conducted a Revelation Seminar; most of them were MAS. Disappointed of zero baptism, ilang president nihilak. He-hehe... I learned a lot while I was holding you, the youth. I thank God that you are now recognized by the NCMC (formerly NMC), and the ICSDACC. From Real Done, Chokie, Irvin, and Elmond’s presidency to the present, and the days of (Elder) Mars and Guerrero’s advisory, I saw your progress in seeking God’s standard. Though I am now assigned to another ministry, I will still support you, MAS-AMiCUS. Excel! Sure! Forever-more! — Kuya Ellie J.

P a g e 2

The Epistle

EDITORIAL STAFF (S.Y.2011-2012)

Jan Lumancas Editor-in-Chief

Apryll Eunice Comison News & Feature Editor

Phoebe Mnemosyne Athena

Galleposo Marck Jason Tagapan Rodrick John Villones Marian Mae Montero Myra Joy Montero

Marveluz Blessie Ensencio Jibe Labenz Nebato Karen Crystal Lasta

Ace Virgil Villaruz Kisha Hallazgo Contributors

Jan Lumancas Layout Artist

Marveluz Blessie Ensencio Cartoonist

V o l u m e 1 , I s s u e 2

Opinion

NewsFeature DYING TO LIVE

Marveluz Blessie Ensencio

“ There is nothing, save

the selfish heart of

man, that lives unto

itself.” - Desire of Ages,

page 20.

In order to become that

“nothing” and learn how to

depend on Christ and live

for others, the retreat

themed “Dying to Live”

was held at Laperian,

Tukuran, Zamboanga del

Sur last May 11-13, 2012.

The retreat’s main

purpose was to impart to

the 66 young people from

Pagadian, Tukuran, and

Midsalip the idea that man

needs to be dead to self

that Christ may live in him.

It was based upon Paul’s

writing in Galatians 2:20,

“I am crucified with

Christ: nevertheless I live;

yet not I, but Christ liveth

in me: and the life which I

now live in the flesh I live

by the faith of the Son of

God, who loved me, and

gave himself for me.”

The dying-to-self idea

was more amplified by

examining its necessity to

certain topics which the

youth can relate to. These

topics were music, media,

health, relationships,

witnessing, excellence,

practical duties and devo-

tional life. Satan has

always been devising a

lot of deceptions on these

topics so that the youth

may dwell in selfishness

which is the opposite of

love. He who exclaimed

“I will be like the Most

High” wanted to put the

same spirit unto the fee-

ble minds of the youth

that they may go accord-

ing to their cravings and

their base passions, thus

forgetting what God’s

will is.

After the retreat, both

the retreat team and the

participants were blessed

knowing that most of

human’s distresses and

pains are caused by his

selfishness and that all he

has to do is submit the

self into subjection to the

will of God. Their prayer

is to impart the same light

to other young people

that all may come to the

call for dying – dying to

self and living in Christ

Jesus.

Volunteers discussing practical duties with a small group of youth attendees

P a g e 3

News

S ix MAS-AMiCUS ICD members revisited Simpak

Adventist Institute of Technology (SAITECH) in Simpak, Lala, Lanao del Norte, March 24, Sabbath, to hand the promised Bibles and inspired books to the students who have attended the spiritual retreat there initially conducted. Each of the 17 Bibles and 13 denomi-national books, com-ing fresh from either store shelves or from years of treasured use, were individually wrapped with hand-written, personal dedi-cations on the inside-

cover pages. Along with the books were also g iven chu rch-clothing including polos, blouses, skirts and whole dresses, also donated by ICD memb er s a n d friends. A short program was made before the actual gift-giving on sundown. The students, most of whom were gradu-ating, wore grateful smiles as they felt truly cared-for through the gifts they knew would draw them nearer to the love of our Sav-ior Jesus.

T h e E p i s t l e

N CMC MAS-AMiCUS just turned over the keys to the newly-elected Execu-

tive Committee Members S.Y.2012-2014, July 13-15, 2012 during their Leadership Training Seminar & Induction Program. Arwenn Berago of the Iligan City District was elected president at the NCMC level. Other members of the new EXECOM com-ing from ICD included Jeremiah Mc Cleo Bala, Sweet Dawn Etulle, Clendelyn Jane Bala and Marveluz Blessie Ensencio.

F ollowing the footsteps of her mother organization at NCMC, MAS-AMiCUS

ICD is about to turn over the responsibili-ties of the District Officers S.Y.2011-2012 to those of the present academic year. The Turn-Over Ceremonies will be conducted during the General Assembly 2012, August 12, 2012 at the Iligan City Adventist Ele-mentary School Multi-Purpose Hall.

ICD volunteers hand Bibles to SAITECH students

by Karen Crystal Lasta

News-Bits

Movement of Adventist Students - Adventist Ministry to College and University

Students (MAS-AMiCUS)

Iligan City District Officers S.Y.2011-2012 S.Y.2012-2013

President Karen Crystal C. Lasta Jeremiah Mc Cleo D. Bala

Vice President

For MSU-IIT Chapter Daughter Mee R. Hallazgo Marck Jason B. Tagapan

For Mixed Chapter Raisha L. Altubar Jerome A. Alterado

For High School Chapter Rustom C. Gomez Hazel Mae B. Echavez

For Naawan Chapter Barrene Mae C. Pasco Shiela Mae D. Vidal

Secretary Abigail R. Cuyacot Apryll Eunice E. Comison

Associate Secretary Riden Sinampaga Eunice Lauren I. Mariquit

Treasurer Ruby Jane C. Paglinawan Sweet Dawn R. Etulle

Committee Chairpersons

Auditor/Budget, Finance and Solicita-

tions (BUFISCOM) Earl Von F. Lapura Mizraim R. Balatico

Religious Affairs (RELCOM) Marck Jason B. Tagapan Jibe Labenz L. Nebato

Outreach Activities (OUTCOM) Jeremiah Mc Cleo D. Bala Daughter Mee R. Hallazgo

Shepherding (SHEPHECOM) Clendelyn Jane D. Bala Marveluz Blessie T. Ensencio

Music (MUSICOM) Aires May F. Ecoy Oliver P. Amantillo

Publication (PUBCOM) Jan T. Lumancas Rodrick John L. Villones

Information (INFOCOM) Marveluz Blessie T. Ensencio Clendelyn Jane D. Bala

Arts and Design (ADCOM) Arwenn D. Berago Jan Rhais L. Amantiad

NEWSTART (NEWSTARTCOM) Sondel Melmark R. Hallazgo Xenia Gay J. Calunod

Income Generating Project (IGPCOM) Jennifer Grace S. Molina Celestial P. Amantillo

Food (FOODCOM) Rodelyn J. Robles Perejean D. Bernabe

Celebration (CELEBCOM) Xenia Gay J. Calunod Izzy J. Calunod

Alumna-Adviser Lorrenne C. Caburatan Sanegen S. Saladaga

Youth Pastor-Adviser Pastor Rufy B. Ocaya Pastor Rufy B. Ocaya

Iligan City District Members in the

NCMC MAS-AMiCUS EXECOM

President Arwenn D. Berago

Vice President for Iligan City District Karen Crystal C. Lasta Jeremiah Mc Cleo D. Bala

Secretary Jibe Labenz L. Nebato

Associate Secretary Sweet Dawn R. Etulle

Religious Committee Chairman Van Russ Jade P. Dionisio/

Marck Jason B. Tagapan

Social Committee Chairperson Clendelyn Jane D. Bala

P.I.O. Cyhdar G. Racho

Artist Jerome A. Alterado Marveluz Blessie T. Ensencio

P a g e 4 V o l u m e 1 , I s s u e 2

“ The path of men who are placed as leaders is not an easy one. But they are to see in

every difficulty a call to prayer. Never are they to fail of consulting the great Source of

all wisdom. Strengthened and enlightened by the Master Worker, they will be enabled to

stand firm against unholy influences and discern right from wrong, good from evil.”

– Christian Leadership, p. 8

P a g e 5

T h a t y e m a y b e s i n c e r e & w i t h o u t o f f e n c e . . .

. . . T h a t y e m a y t h e r e f o r e , G O .

LiteraryAttempts What does this world have to offer after all?

-Anonymous

The suffering of this world seems tough,

But heaven will be cheap enough.

Enterprises beyond our dreams

Will surpass all earthly schemes.

Why should we seek fame or wealth,

Be full of pride and sinful self,

Since our Saviour offers more

When we go through heaven's door?

If we really want success,

We will allow our God to bless.

On this earth we're learning how

To die to self here and now.

If we are willing to submit,

And will openly admit,

God has plans much better still.

When we learn to do His will.

In Bait -Asian Quartz

Once there was a stranger

Who knew not any plan

A wanderer sore with none for fare

With none as guide a hand

He walked a step but slipped

Down the shadowy deep

A blind nomad with none to pick

With none to pull him quick

Strange was his lone despair

Stranger than he’s been long

Within ‘twas known no man’s to bear

Within a groan too strong

For strangely did he knew

Too well from life grown past

A Man, stranger in His world too

With none His faith to grasp

A light! Alas! ‘twas seen

A light not from within

A call so high and yet so sweet

A call without the scene

That stranger-Man more strange

Than the stranger he was

Has walked a step so steep but gained

A foot to hold him fast

So strange a story mere

Yet known of every ear

That longed to hear the lightly cheer

The Stranger lone owns dear

So strange no more the tale

Of what you truly are

A wanderer sore with none to bail

With none to free the bars

The strangest thing though ‘s that

The Stranger stands on wait

To free you once you own up fast

The wanderer you’re in bait.

P a g e 6 V o l u m e 1 , I s s u e 2

When All Took I -The Quantum

The telescope took I, and viewed the stars above Then pierced the light so swiftly; should I now believe the Beloved? No! And the microscope grabbed I, and sighted busy ants Then loud their wisdom heard I; would I be filled that for which I pant? Not yet! And quick the stethoscope seized I, and rubbed the heart in grudge Then warm the love found I; could I humble the proud prejudge? Never! And none else in my scope found I, to see evidence and only deny What more could the stars testify? The ants and the heart so hard to let die? The faith I’d always bid goodbye The faith speaking to me so nigh To rest upon evidence so illogical to pass by A choice to cast down the imagination been lifted too high.

P a g e 7

“ I’m a newbie and I am different.” Sounds familiar? Probably you have encountered the phrase in your thoughts and have felt

the feeling of being someone “different.” That was what I felt oftentimes until that day. It was March 3, 2012, Saturday, 7 PM at the Iligan City SDA Central Church, when the night was filled with mixed emotions. Amid the excitement, confusion aroused when we real-ized that having the Macarat Church for a venue for the ceremony was yet uncertain. The situation caused us to know more about MAS-AMiCUS and because of that, a new kind of relationship with God started to grow in us—the kind that practices faith. The church board’s meeting was done and we were blessed by God to finally have the Macarat Church as our venue for the accep-tance ceremony. It was a 20-40-minute travel from ICSDACC going to the Macarat Church. We arrived past 8 PM so we just had our night worship and then we set up our tents and bed. The cross-training welcomed us in the morning of Sunday and we were blessed to have such spiritual development activities. We discov-ered and learned a lot of important things, lessons that we will treasure and keep. Indeed, we thirsted for the word of God. As the MAS-AMiCUS theme song was played and hands kept shaking our hands, a feeling of success and belongingness crawled into the deepest part of me. After hearing God’s spoken word through His servant, our very own MAS-AMiCUS president, Batch Zion was declared as official members of the move-ment. Praises be unto God! Hallelujah forever and ever! May God continue to bless the MAS- AMiCUS! Let us all grow in faith. Excel! Sure! (by Anonymous)

We Shouldn’t Be Alive

“ Terrifying was the sound of my panoramic view that I could just only mumble: the LORD is my Shepherd.”

This non-Adventist struggled with the logs

repeating this phrase when an unknown force wrapped her. Eyes closed, still reciting, not bothered by the grasp at all, until she felt the earth’s cushion. And lo! She will-fully closed her eyes again upon seeing a huge snake around her body, wavering her rights to the snake. “Okay, he saved me; I’ll be his meat.” Upon reciting Psalms 23:1, the snake freed her and swam beneath. Many stories such as these witness the power of our God over nature. No one can ever question the credibility of the victim by her way of exclaiming it to her rescuer. The Lord is not sleeping. All you have to do is call. In times of terror and perplexity, your character will show its “wheat or tare” trait. A backslider assisted his wife in climbing through the roof when they were no more confident of their two-storey house. Uprooted trees, houses, and even people crying for help carried by the rushing current was visible to the couple, causing them fright, which was even worsened by the sound of roaring winds and angry waters. They crossed from roof to roof just before debris smashed the houses until from every direction there could be found no escape. And again, another racing log projected to their last refuge. The wife could no longer bear her fear that she cried, “Virgin Mary! Black Nazarene, help us!” He immediately rebuked his wife. “ Ayaw ana, sa Ginoo dritso…Ginoo, ayaw intawun ipaanhi ang troso sa amua!” Within a millisecond, the wood propelled to another direction. This very miracle brought his relationship with God an extreme gratefulness to the Lord as the story was relayed by his relative during a church testimonial. Well was it too with a youth leader, who at that time was in the Riverside Church, located at the mouth of the river, worshipping first the Lord along with four friends before finding their way through the ceiling. The church was wrecked. Pushed by the jet streams of mud, his feet stomped on a roof and he went his way like surfing in the river. Imagine the rationality why the roof did not sink until he had reached the sea, and it was only after transferring to a log that the roof submerged. Surviving the rolls and debris that were similar to a two-storey building in height before covering him, he comforted himself by the good memories he had with his Adventist friends. “How I wanted still to be with the youth in servicing the Lord! I would like to see the youth grow in Christ, and You know Lord how sincere my de-sire is,” pleaded the boy. He has had a backpack on his back with the church’s money, and his salary that added to his buoyancy. But, completely determined, he dropped all the valuables and swam to the surface as he saw his friend, and assisted other humans who survived the rage. With a wave following another, bringing him down the deep, gulping mud and seawater, he hopelessly said, “Kung mamatay, patay.” With full effort he reeled to the surface bringing 50 percent hope of being alive and found his way to the dry land. (Continued on page 8)

Feature T h e E p i s t l e

Stories

…We Shouldn’t Be Alive from page 7 God’s miracles aired every space the sound waves could reach. Even an elderly attested to His great power that he believes that they were sought by an angel. His wife whimpered that she could not take it no more; her aged muscles were exhausted. “Don’t lose hope. God saves His servants from pesti-lences; just have faith. I promised to you before we were married that if you will die, we should die at the same time.” A man came and helped them in getting out of the mud then conveyed them to a safe ground away from their house. He was about to thank him when that man disappeared into thin air. Before that Man left, he had spoken this statement: “Kamu nay bahala sa inyung kaugalingun tay hah kay naa pa koy adtu.an…Pangandam nlng mo kay naa pay umalabot na mas labaw pa niini.” Not just peo-ple of this faith have beheld God’s miracles, but even the non-church-goers. And many people were thank-ful for God had delivered them. By faith, they knew that it was God’s hand who protected them during the typhoon Sendong.

(by Apryll Eunice Comison)

Comics P a g e 8 V o l u m e 1 I s s u e 2

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