The Best Investment: A Story of God’s Blessing

belleI first found out about the Every Nation Building Phase 2 when the project was first assigned to me as a Project Coordinator last year. It’s one of my responsibilities as one of the administrators of Victory Alabang.

My husband, Francis, and I wanted to be involved in the building project because we thought it was a worthy investment. So we committed to be part of the Every Nation Building Project for the next two years. We wanted to participate in what God is doing in our nation, and beyond. Since my husband is a campus minister, we also believe in training the next generation to make disciples.

Since we began giving, God has blessed Francis and I in so many ways after. But the biggest blessing we received came in the form of abundant financial provision. After one year of giving to the Building Project, my husband and I received five times of what we gave in a year. The person who blessed us with this amount told us we could this amount for future investments also.

Francis and I are so blessed to be part of the Every Nation Building Phase 2 Project. We really believe it is a good investment for the future. It feels good to participate in this endeavor, and I know the resources we allot towards this project will never go to waste.

Concrete Pouring ceremony held for the Every Nation Building Phase 2

Last August 14, 2013, the Every Nation Philippines family celebrated a significant milestone in the construction of the Every Nation Building Phase 2 project when a concrete pouring ceremony commemorated the start of foundation-laying activities at the construction site.

Representatives of Every Nation Philippines wrote Bible verses on four fresh concrete slabs to symbolize how the Word of God was solidly at the heart and literally in the foundation of the Every Nation Building Phase 2. Victory founding pastor and Every Nation Ministries co-founder Steve Murrell wrote “Matt 28:18-20” in the fresh cement, followed by Victory Philippines Bishop Manny Carlos, who wrote “Rev. 11:15.” Every Nation Philippines Director for Administration Ms. Jiji Concepcion wrote “Rev. 7:9,” and Pastor Joey Bonifacio finished up with “Ps. 2:8.”

As the concrete poured into the hole earmarked for the ceremony, Every Nation Philippines raised up a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s faithfulness.

God’s Greater Generosity: A Story of God’s Abundance

 hinolan_jennyIn November 2012, I found out about the fundraising efforts of the Every Nation Building Phase 2 Project through my home church, Victory Fort Bonifacio. I wanted to participate in giving, but was initially a bit hesitant because of the two-year commitment I had to make. Despite that, I trusted God to come through for me; I was confident that He would provide for everything I needed.

Come December, my superiors informed me that I was one of the candidates slated for promotion. Out of the twenty candidates selected nationwide, there were only four slots available. I was not expecting to be promoted, and I prayed for God’s favor on this.

After six months, God answered my prayer. I received my promotion! What’s more surprising is that I received a number of bonuses from my annual appraisal and actual promotion. In short, God blessed me with the full total of my two years’ worth of giving to the Every Nation Building Phase 2 Project on one payslip. Imagine that! I had not even completed my two-year commitment yet!

hinolan_familyMy family and I are so blessed to be part of the Every Nation Building Phase 2 Project. We have witnessed God’s faithfulness to us in the past, through providing for all that we need. That’s why I encourage each of you, none of us can never out-give God. The more you give, the more the blessings He gives you.

We don’t have to be afraid to give to God’s purposes here on earth, because what He gives in return is so much more than what we can ever expect.

Praise God for His faithfulness!

God’s Economy: A Story of Over-and-Beyond Provision

Early in my life, I knew how faithful God could be with regard to providing for my needs. Since I was a college student, I saw how He showed Himself as a Provider. Raising my support as a campus missionary was an even bigger challenge for me, but I saw how God came through.

True to His nature, He provided more than what I expected. As a campus missionary, I witnessed how my monthly support doubled after I stepped out in faith to give to my home church’s building project a few years ago. I have seen over and over how good and faithful God is!

I guess you could say I had another opportunity to take part in what God’s doing through Phase 2 of our Every Nation Building Project.

In December 2012, I started praying to take part in the building project, and I started my monthly commitment as 2013 started. I was in faith that God would provide for all my needs.

I haven’t completed my pledge to the Every Nation Building Phase 2 Project when I witnessed God’s faithfulness yet again. Earlier this month, one of my ministry partners arranged a meeting with me. They received a big bonus, and wrote out a check for my support—amounting to 200% of my pledge amount to our building project.

I couldn’t believe it! God did it again!

Financial investors teach us to make financial investments to help our resources grow. Yes, there’s merit in making these kinds of decisions, but I believe that God is the best investment that any of us could ever make.

God has a different economy. What we sow, we reap. I sometimes wonder if what I do will bear fruit. But I realize, it doesn’t matter. He is a faithful God!

———-
Joash Paunil is a campus missionary with LifeBox Philippines.

"We can never outgive God!": A Story of Trust in God's Power to Provide

by Mel Techo

mel-oleinAs a We are honored and happy to share our testimony on how the Lord showed His faithfulness to us.

As pastors, the nature of our work takes us all over General Santos, from house to church to campus and to our community. The hectic schedule took its toll on our previous car, which was now breaking down consistently and costing us a lot in repairs and maintenance. So my family and I began to pray for a newer and bigger car so we can ferry more people and carry bigger load.

My wife and I began saving for a brand new — or even a functional second-hand — car. We saved through the months and by April 2012 we were blessed with a big amount. With our extra savings, we were scouring and searching the market for the best buy.

As we prayed and searched, however, the Lord spoke to us, and told us to give all of our vehicle savings to the church, sowing the biggest bulk of it to the Every Nation Building Phase 2 Project. Without any delay, we wrote the check and gave it to Victory Philippines’ Development Office. Giving it felt so good!

Two weeks after, a good friend of mine called us and told us that the Lord has prompted him to bless us an amount to buy a car!

We were so amazed and surprised by what just happened, and so we looked and searched for a good vehicle. We were able to find a Toyota Innova 2006 model in great condition. To top it all off, the person who blessed us with the amount called again and told us that he would shoulder the shipping costs of the vehicle from Manila to General Santos!

The Lord has proven that we can’t outgive Him. We never can and never will! Truly, He is faithful!

The Awesome Faithfulness of God: A Story of Abundant Provision

Wally and Leah Castro were in faith to be part of the Every Nation Building project in spite of financial challenges. When they were faced with setbacks, the Castros believed in faith that God would provide for their giving—and He did much more! Read this story of God’s faithfulness in the midst of the trials that surround us.

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"He provides more than what we give": A Story of Total Trust in God's Provision

by Jeck F. Maog

Jeck MaogWhen I first heard of the Every Nation Building Phase 2 project at a building banquet at Victory Fort last November 2011, I was excited to be a part of it, but also a bit hesitant to make a public declaration to pledge. At the time, I was more than a year into believing God for promotion at China Bank, and, while I never doubted God would deliver, I wasn’t completely sold on the idea of formally pledging.

Nevertheless, I decided in my heart that I wanted to participate, telling God I would give my entire gross increase for one year if and when I got promoted.

I received my promotion a month later.

So I began giving to the Every Nation Building Phase 2 Project, starting January 2012, giving online through the project’s credit card facility because it was easy and automatic.

Two months into giving, my father was diagnosed with cervical spondylosis, a condition that stresses out the spine. He needed immediate surgery on the C1 and C2 parts of his spine. The next few months were a draining time for the entire family, financially and emotionally, but God always provided, and my giving to the Every Nation Building Phase 2 fund wasn’t affected.

In September 2012, I received another increase, this time, the result of a favorable performance appraisal. I was soon prompted by the Holy Spirit to raise my giving to Php10,000 per month, increasing the monthly pledge by Php1,300, plus a one-time Php11,700 to cover the first nine months of 2012. Before I could even question where I would get this money, the Holy Spirit reminded me of my recent increase, and the nominal amount was so much more than the additional Php1,300. When I sat down to compute my increases for the year — for the promotion and for the performance appraisal — the total increase, net of tax, was still more than the Php10,000 the Lord asked me to give.

I continued to give, and the Lord continued to provide.

When 2013 started, I decided to give the remaining balance of the 25-month pledge, and the Lord paved the way for me to be able to sell some of my stock options at a 150% profit. Despite big credit card payables, I gave the remaining Php120,000 happily in one lump sum. I then paid all my credit card bills.

Knowing I am contributing to something bigger makes me happy and contented. I told myself,

We cannot boast of whatever we give to the Lord’s work.
He is the one who equips us for it.
Everything we have comes from Him.
We are merely GIVING BACK to him
a very small portion of what He gives us.

The author (third from right) with friends from her Victory group

The author (third from right) with friends from her Victory group

In retrospect, I realize once again that the Lord provides more than what He asks of us to give. In my case, He provided twice as much, well in advance. It is a joy and privilege to participate in His work, and I will always be thankful for the love and presence of a God Who so generously, amazingly, audaciously provides.

"It has really been an amazing life!": A Story of Audacious Faith

dads1When Eduardo “Dads” Valencia first heard of the Every Nation Building Phase 2 project, God spoke clearly to him, giving the virtual executive assistant a sum that took him a bit by surprise.

“He wanted me to pledge Php250,000,” the KIDS Church volunteer at Victory Fort recalls. “I thought to myself, ‘That’s already half of what I’m earning! That would be really crazy!”

For Dads, it didn’t seem possible. He was renting a place in Manila, away from his senior citizen-aged parents in Bulacan. “I have debts to pay,” he says, “and a girlfriend I want to marry someday. I support my parents. Giving Php10,000 a month for the EN Building Phase 2 would have meant I wouldn’t be able to live decently!”

Despite his trepidation, Dads decided to take God on, and pledged the full Php250,000. He believed God wasted no time, and by January 2013, his finances life read like a laundry list of blessing.

“My boss in Canada decided to hire me directly,” Dads smiles. “He doubled my salary and allows me to work from home. At the same time,” he adds, “I became the part-time virtual assistant of another person, the CEO of a non-profit organization, for an additional two hours of work daily, but with very good pay.”

He pauses, then lets a wide grin break across his face. “God tripled my salary. And I don’t need to pressure myself anymore to work abroad,” he adds, “just to do the things I want to do and attend to all my responsibilities.”

dads2“(Pledging to the Every Nation Building Phase 2) is a faith goal that may seem too impossible in my own human perspective,” Dads says, “and yet God has put the desire in my heart with this specific amount. He told me December 2012 that He would -” Dads then quotes from Isaiah 30:23 “- send me rain for the seed I sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful.”

Another lopsided grin.

“I am simply amazed and overwhelmed by how God works!” Dads exclaims. “It has been really an amazing life since I have surrendered my life to Jesus one year ago. Now I am believing that He will make it really possible for me to be true to this pledge and continue with my commitment of giving Php 250,000 for the EN Phase 2.”

——-

Editor’s Note: Two weeks ago, Dads Valencia received payments from both his jobs. He has given the first installment of his pledge to the Every Nation Building Phase 2 project.