By Joyce Porcadilla, President of General Baptist Bible College, The Philippines

Happy new year! We do hope all of you had a blessed Christmas celebration and that you are excited to embrace whatever the Lord has in store for all of us this 2017!

Here at GBBC, Christmas has always been a grand celebration. We started off with our annual Christmas missions outreach in a very remote elementary school where the students and staff of GBBC held a Christmas program, served a meal, and gave out gifts. This was held on December 6th. It is always encouraging to see our students voluntarily put their resources together and share their blessings to the pupils and their families, as well as teachers of the said elementary school. But more importantly, it was a great blessing to see the joy in them because of the love they felt that no matter how simple the celebration was, we were able to make known to them the real meaning of Christmas and the reason of the season we are celebrating—Jesus.

Furthermore, on December 12th, the college students went around the neighboring communities to share the Christmas story through giving out candy canes. The students had the opportunity to share the Gospel and pray for and with various families and even those they met along the streets.

Before we finally ended year 2016 and before everybody went on a brief Christmas break, the entire GBBC family came together on December 14th for its annual Christmas program dubbed as “Christmasensation 2016,” with the theme, “Christmas is Within Us.” It was truly a celebration with friends and family, but above all a grand celebration of the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. The program was highlighted with various musical presentations that revealed the true meaning of Christmas, giving emphasis on God’s amazing love towards us that caused Him to give us the greatest gift we could ever receive. As we have received and experienced that love, GBBCians made sure that we also share and demonstrate that love to others.

Now that the Christmas break is over and we are all back here in school for a fresh year, we are thankful that the Yeomans family arrived on January 1st. While they are still adjusting and settling in their new abode, we look forward to work with them and we are pleased to welcome them to their bigger family now—GBBC family.

As this new year has just started, we are busy again as we gear up for GBBC’s 52nd founding anniversary celebration. It will be on February 7th to 10th. Our theme for the celebration is based on this school year’s theme, “Growing Bolder and Braver Conquerors.” Prior to that, on February 4th and 5th, the college students and staff will be going to the different churches to give an update on GBBC to keep our churches informed of the on goings of the school so that they will know how they can continue to pray for the ministry at GBBC.

We are so thankful that for the past 52 years, God has truly been faithful to GBBC through all of you. We are keenly aware that without your support and prayers, GBBC wouldn’t have existed this long and because of that we continue to train and equip leaders who are making a difference around the Philippines and in some parts of the world. By God’s grace, we envision GBBC to continue to produce leaders who will make an impact and will make Jesus known in all nations.

We give thanks to our Almighty Father for the vision of those who planned for this institution and for the commitment and dedication of all who served together at the time of origin, for those who have served so faithfully in leadership positions as Board of Trustees, Administrators, Teachers, and Staff Members, for those who have willingly given of their efforts to teach, encourage, counsel and sponsor. We will forever be grateful to all of you!

Please continue to pray for us as we prepare for this big celebration, especially as we travel to the different churches and share God’s word as well as give a report to the churches, that God’s travelling mercy be upon us and His provision, direction and protection over this week-long celebration.

Thank you once again for being our partners in this amazing ministry that God has entrusted upon us! May we all have a blessed and fruitful 2017!

Yours in Christ,
Joyce C. Porcadilla