by Roberto Nino, General Secretary, ALJC-Philippines

We rejoice with unspeakable joy and give God the glory for the successful conclusion of the 2009 General Ministries Conference held in Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila last April 16-19, 2009. 300 delegates from Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon were blessed to attend this historic event. Travelling 48 hours in buses and 36 hours in ships due to unexpected port delays, pastors, ministers and workers still were drawn to the fire of Holy Ghost revival in this once-a-year gathering of God’s people. Just to personally see and hear Robert Martin preach the Word of God, along with ML Walls, RB Bingham and Mark Naimy was a life-changing, once in a lifetime experience for ministers and saints craving for God’s Word and direction for their lives. God’s anointing was so heavy upon these men of God as they preached the Word drawing us all to worship God. Life will never be the same again for those 12 souls who received the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues for the first time during the altar calls. To behold the beauty of the Spirit of the Lord poured out in the midst of true worship is indeed 1000 times better than the best things of the world. It sets you free, makes you laugh, dance, jump, sing or shout for joy such as what can be felt in every worship service last conference. No wonder David was content even just to be a doorkeeper as long as it is the door of God’s house. Heaven’s touch could be felt in every part of the conference, from seminars to business meetings and election of general officers and national department directors. God again has revealed his will when the following ministers were elected: General Superintendent, Mark Naimy; 1st Assistant Superintendent, Renato Arimas, Jr. (Visayas); 2nd Assistant Superintendent, Alan Malunes (Luzon); 3rd Assistant Superintendent, Juan Sanguenza (Mindanao); General Secretary/ Treasurer, Roberto C. Nino Jr; General Youth President, Alexis Nino; Women’s Esprit President, Liane Java; Home Missions Director, Eldeflor Amores; Evangelist Director, Jules Verne Arendon; Church Growth Director, Arnel Espino; and Christian School Director, Ernesto Java Jr. In addition to that, six ministers were ordained. Three were issued General License, and other applicants for local license were likewise approved. Please join us in prayer for these newly elected officials that the Lord’s guidance and provision may lead them to the next level of accomplishment God has planned for ALJC Philippines to reach.

During the board meeting, ML Walls passed the baton of leadership to Mark Naimy as the new General Superintendent of ALJC Philippines. Lots of future plans were discussed, but foremost was the future establishment of district centers for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Plans to conduct a four month Bible Training Course were set so that the Naimys can allocate a four month stay in each district along with local teachers to train workers and future pastors as well as visit local churches soon after they return in September. There is a need to purchase a lot and build classrooms for each of these centers. The World Missions Department through ML Walls has already purchased a lot in Kabankalan City, Negros Occ. for such purpose in Visayas area. A building for a church sanctuary has already been started there but more funds are still needed to finish it. It can be used as classrooms during weekdays. We are optimistic that this will result in more laborers to the Lord’s harvest prior to His soon coming. To this end, we covet your earnest prayer and financial support to the Naimys so that they can initiate the necessary step. Your help will surely make a big difference.

We appreciate ML Walls along with the World Missions Board for financially helping us, for providing us solid godly leadership during those challenging years and for seeing to it that ALJC Philippines would be provided with capable and Spirit-led leadership. We thank Mark and Debra Naimy for responding to the call of God in the Philippines giving up their comforts and personal pursuits for the sake of souls and the Kingdom. We likewise thank all the pastors, ministers and members of ALJCPI who supported the 2009 General Conference especially the former officers who through their unselfish and dedicated efforts ALJC has become what it is today. Heaven knows words and space here would not be enough to express our gratitude. We give honor to General Superintendent Robert Martin for his passion for souls and for all the sacrifices he made along with others just to be able to come and minister the Word of God during the conference. We were blessed beyond measure by the messages he preached, and we look forward to his next visit again in the future, the Lord willing. Our knees will daily be glued on the floor to pray for God’s guidance and anointing on him, his family and ministry as he leads the entire ALJC organization in marching forward to a glorious future and to go into all the world and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that those who are lost will be saved.

We thank the 2009 General Conference committee composed of Cubao church and headed by Pastor Alan Malunes for planning, facilitating and providing manpower, services and materials for all conference needs. We appreciate the Cubao Church for their invaluable contributions which made the conference a memorable and worthwhile experience. The Lord will surely reward their efforts with blessings. Worthy of commendation here as well was the generosity of host pastor, Reverend Augusto, and his wife Emily Catuncan along with Dimetrio Torres, chairman of Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, for allowing us to use the Grant’s Apostolic Institute compound and school building facilities to house both the Filipino and US delegates as well as the church sanctuary for seminar venues. Special thanks to Brother Toto and Bicutan staff for providing service vehicles to pick up and send home delegates to and from the port. Emily Catuncan went even further by cooking delicious foods and preparing meals for all US brethren during their entire stay in Bicutan. Without such display of generosity and service, we would be at a loss on how to accomplish such enormous tasks.

No two conferences are exactly the same. God makes billions of things that are similar but not identical as each blade of grass differs from one another and each man’s fingerprint or eye scan differs from that of the others. So is each anointing for each conference unique and must be treated with reverent awe and praise. Though way beyond our human understanding, God accomplished His purpose in us revealing our inadequacies each time He drew us nearer to Him so we will be made perfect, complete and rapture ready. The best is yet to come. See you next conference.

Roberto Nino is the General Secretary, ALJC-Philippines.