CREW TRAINING

The CREW Training, which was moved from May 28, 2010 to June 4, 2010, was astonishingly different because of three things. First, it was held for the first time at the Cornerstone Church Santiago Main. Second, we had an eating fellowship in celebration of Ptr. Mark's 41st birthday an hour earlier before the training. Third, the message was so powerful, significant and sensible for the Cornerstone Church leadership - the STRATEGIES OF WAR.

The Cornerstone Church Office (CGCPI Headquarter) at the main church was ransacked by a thief (or maybe thieves) two nights before we had our CREW training. The flat screen monitor of the office's computer, keyboard and mouse were stolen and all the other doors (main hall, kitchen, kids room) showed signs of attempt to forcibly open. This incident caused discouragement to the leadership staff but nevertheless, this never hindered the celebration of Ptr. Mark's birthday and the CREW training on the following day.

Praise the Lord! We had a simple celebration of Ptr. Mark's birthday before the CREW training. All the leaders and staff brought meals and menus to share. The highlight of the celebration was the showing of video clippings of birthday greetings from Ptr. Mark's family, close friends and associates in the UK, particularly from Fraserburgh, Peterhead and Rotherham. This was absolutely a big surprise for Ptr. Mark. When my wife, Jane, and I went to the UK, we both have planned to take secretly video birthday greetings from Ptr. Mark's family and friends, which we intend to show on his 41st birthday celebration to surprise him. Praise God the video was smoothly done and shown to the delight of Ptr. Mark and the CREWs even if it was just prepared by Jane and my sons, Daniel, John and Dandan the night before the CREW training. We hope to post this video on the blog this week.

After the eating fellowship, all the pastors prayed for Ptr. Mark, then, we proceeded to the CREW training with Ptr. Mark as the speaker. He spoke about the BRITISH ARMY STRATEGIES OF WAR. To win a war, we must know who we are fighting. We must know our enemy. We can overcome our enemy by THE BLOOD OF JESUS, PRAYER, PRAISE, THE WORD OF OUR TESTIMONY and by wearing THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD.

As leaders, we must be disciplined amidst conflict, need time to re-evaluate, re-strengthen, re-group and rest, must be able to encourage and sacrifice for each other, must have an offensive action, must have the element of surprise, must maintain confidence and morale, must have good administration and communication, must have cooperation and must be flexible to change.

As we go on our journey as Cornerstone Church, we need to be like the "Men of Issachar" - 1 Chron 12:1-2,22-23

ALL GLORY BELONGS TO GOD FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE CREW TRAINING!

Posted by:

Ptr. Danny Mangadap