PMI Missionaries
Rene & Lani Quimbo
Ministry Area: Philippines
Responsibilities: Study center, evangelism, Muslim outreach
E-mail Address: renequimbo@yahoo.com
Project: The House of Hope
Rene and Lani graduated from Covenant Seminary in May 2000, he with his M.Div. degree, and she with a Master of Arts in Theological Studies. Their family now lives in Cagayan de Oro, on the island of Mindanao, in the southern Philippines.
"The Portal Study Center" is a ministry to high school and college students and professionals and is also the base for a growing number of ongoing Bible Studies and short seminars on Christian living.
In August 2001, Rene and Lani established the "House of Hope Ministry Center", a ministry to the Bajau tribe, a very poor Muslim group that is shunned by almost everyone.
The Quimbos oversee programs for the Bajau people such as literacy classes, a daycare center, regular education, a clinic, and cell group meetings. There are also a number of livelihood projects, helping Bajau men and women to earn a living rather than begging in the streets. Similar programs are offered to a mountain people called the Higaonon tribe at the "Hillside Learning Center", established in 2004.
Latest Report: (updated 7/24/2010)
Dear Friends,
This quarter covered the long vacation of our country's school system. For those who were not taking summer classes in high school and college levels, it was time to help around the house, the family's business, farm, or find a summer job to prepare for the coming school year's expenses. For those actively involved in the church's summer programs, they prepared themselves to (1) help teach Daily Vacation Bible School not only in the church, but also in the various ministry outreaches, (2) attend retreats/camps, (3) participate in summer short seminars, and (4) contribute to discussions in planning meetings in the various ministry centers concerning the programs for the next school year.
The first week of April, we busied ourselves with a seminar to prepare DVBS teachers. We learned by heart the DVBS theme "God's Big Backyard", over-all and daily objectives, songs and dances, and daily projects and activities. It took us several days to prepare materials that would be used to meet the needs of a total 200 DVBS participants. We encouraged the teachers to be always prayerful, and committed to each DVBS participant, with a heart to lead each participant to commit his/her life to Christ whenever he/she is ready to do so. Because we were to conduct DVBS to 4 different people groups in 6 different venues, the teachers needed to be creative in their methods of teaching, using different projects/activities that would be culturally appropriate and relevant to each people group, and in some venues, had to be bilingual (Tagalog and Sinama) in the case of Bajau Muslims in Cagayan de Oro City and Bajau/Tausug Muslims in Zamboanga City.
During the second week of April, we held the DVBS at House of Hope Ministry Center for the Bajau adults, youth and children. We had a total of 41 participants. It was the first time that we had adult participants. It was a bit noisy with their small kids in tow, but both teachers and adults had fun learning memory verses, songs and dances, and practical ways to apply each day's lesson. Please pray for the influence of Christians (from non-Muslim background) who live in their midst. Eula and Nids (ministry volunteers) decided to stay in the ministry center during school days so they could tutor the Bajau elementary and high school students and assist our co-workers in any way they can. The Bajaus need to see committed Christians live out their faith in Christ in the ordinary, daily circumstances of life.
The DVBS in Kiraba was held during the third week of April. Over 60 youth and children participated. These kids were a real delight to the teachers—they were so enthusiastic, sang and danced heartily, and were fast learners. Let us pray that they will continue to be enthusiastic especially that their weekly Bible study will start as soon as the next school year opens.
Since we had smaller group of youth and children who preregistered for the DVBS in Camp Evangelista and in Molugan, El Salvador City, we decided to hold their DVBS in the same week. We conducted the DVBS in Camp Evangelista in the morning and in Molugan, El Salvador City in the afternoon. We had 25 and 30 youth and children DVBS participants in Camp Evangelista and Molugan, El Salvador City, respectively. Mostly coming from Roman Catholic background and belonging to middle class families, the kids were a bit laid back and spoiled. It challenged the teachers to be reasonably strict, while continuing to focus the kids on the subject matter at hand. The perseverance of the teachers was incredible—for them, it was an enriching part of the teaching ministry. Please pray that these kids will learn to appreciate and will gain a deeper understanding of God's truth as they continue to study the Bible weekly throughout the year which would begin as soon as the next school year opens.
On the third week of May, the DVBS at Hillside Learning Center up in Lacolac was held. Sixty-seven youth and children faithfully attended our daily sessions. In the middle of DVBS week, during the night, gunshots were heard. We did not hear any screaming. Early the following morning, two sisters in the Lord came to the center. One was crying informing us that the gunshots we heard that night were sprayed on their house, hitting her husband (a member of our church council) on the head. They were all sleeping in one bedroom—the couple, their teenage son and a grand daughter who were both attending the DVBS. Her husband died on the spot. Despite screaming for help, none of their neighbors came to their rescue, all feared for their lives. No one was arrested, and although there were talks of who did it, no one was brave enough to stand as witness. The family left the village the day after the burial, the immediate neighbors (on the left, right, and just across from their house) all left the village on the morning after the incident, even before the dead was buried. The incident left the villagers with a big question in their mind: will we ever be safe in our neighborhood? Despite this wicked and sad event, we concluded our DVBS with a joyful celebration of God's faithfulness to His people. The kids sang and danced, recited their memory verses, played games, and proudly displayed their DVBS projects on their wrist and neck. The last 3 days of the DVBS included a time for the participants to respond to God's offer of salvation through faith in Christ, and praise God with us, all the first time DVBS participants prayed to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. Please pray that God will strengthen these new believers and find refuge in Him.
The second week of June, we conducted the DVBS in Arena Blanco, Zamboanga City. Thirty-eight youth and children, and 10 adults attended the DVBS. God gave us boldness to proclaim His word to the all-Muslim DVBS participants in this Muslim community. We asked that He will give us DVBS participants who will come and finish the program. We were pleasantly surprised of their response to the story of Paul's conversion, and the story of the miraculous catch of fish. They said that Jesus Christ is God because only God can do miracles. On the last day of the DVBS, 9 participants prayed to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. Hallelujah! God gave us more than we asked for. We were encouraged by the verse that says "Before they call I will answer, while they are still speaking I will hear (Isaiah 65:24). Just before our arrival, there were shootings in the vicinity of the ministry center. We had a hard time getting to the area as vehicle drivers refused to take us there because of the recent shooting incident. Several families in the community had already evacuated. We stayed there for 2 weeks. We conducted DVBS during the first week, and on the second week, we started the day care classes and adult literacy class for the new school year. Kaka Bebing and Ita (residents in the community) who came to Cagayan de Oro City for a month-long training on teaching day care and adult literacy class (which we conducted at the House of Hope Ministry Center) committed to teach these classes this school year. This is such a big help to us in the ministry. It will also be a great opportunity for growth for both of them as they experience the joy of partaking in God's kingdom work. The day after we left the area, the elementary school near the ministry center was bombed. As of this writing, the peace and order situation between Muslims and non-Muslims in Arena Blanco and neighboring barangay, Mampang, has deteriorated. Please pray for peace.
Randy Mayfield and Igor Yaremchuk's visit first week of May brought a lot of excitement not only to our churches but other churches as well in the city and other provinces. They were the speakers of the Church Leadership and Outreach seminar that we coordinated and hosted. More than 150 Christians attended the seminar. It met the real need of the participants for practical help concerning leadership issues and outreach concerns of their respective churches and fellowships. The day after the seminar, we still received calls inquiring if there was still a seminar that night.
A series of planning meetings concerning the coming school year's ministry programs were held at the Portal Study Center during the first week of June. We have decided to pay weekly home visits to church members who have members in their household not taking part of any growth activity of the church. Our college students are also encouraged to vigorously invite their classmates to a Bible study at the Portal or in their school campus. May the Lord honor our desire to serve Him effectively where He has called us.
The prayer walk in Lacolac brought us to 48 homes. One of the families we visited stopped coming to church about 3 years ago due to some misunderstanding. The path to their home is quite challenging. The family resides by a small creek and one had to go down the steep, crude, slippery path. It was a miracle we arrived at their home without any accident. The family must have appreciated our efforts, because instead of leaving their house or hiding from us (which they normally do when we meet anywhere), they warmly welcomed us—a pot of young corn was quickly prepared to cook on their stove. After we sang, studied some Scripture passages, prayed for the family, and shared a meal of young corn, we started our way up the steep, slippery hill. The Sunday following the prayer walk, several young men from some homes we visited came to attend Sunday school and worship service, and now they are regularly coming for prayer meeting on Saturday afternoons. Please pray that God will continue to use the quarterly prayer walks to draw men to Himself.
Thank you, dear partners, for journeying with us through city streets, mountain paths, and water ways. The various ministry centers and their different programs have brought us up and down these routes, growing in understanding of God's heart and plan for each ministry, and learning effective means to minister to them in their life's unique circumstances. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to respond to God's call, we are forever grateful to each one of you. Your prayers and financial gifts put feet to our commitment to stand in the gap for people who needed the touch of the Great Physician. God bless you.
Yours in Christ,
Rene and Lani Quimbo
Presbyterian Mission International
12330 Conway Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63141
Telephone: (314) 434-4044
Fax: (314) 434-4819
