Bay Area Balikat (BA Balikat) is pleased to welcome those attending Balikatan’s 28th conference at UC Berkeley, July 1-3, 2011. Please join us in praise and prayer on Balikatan’s Prayer Day on June 26.
(Standing L-R: Mark Buenafe, Alejandro Juarez, Joey Alcordo, Vincent Nigro, Rene Juarez; Sitting L-R: Norms Buenafe, Leni Juarez, Lilia Salazar-Nigro, Norma Andres, Luz Lacerna, Angel Ilan. BA Balikat members not in photo- Lynn Aguilar, Amy Javelosa-Rio, Melanie Juarez, Butch and Jenjen Kagawan, Dan and Isabel Quita)
PRAISE AND PRAYER
1. Praise God for the 99 registered attendees. Two may register late and a few others are visiting for a day or so. Pray for safe travel whether flying from as far as the Philippines or Singapore or driving from LA or Oregon.
2. Praise God for many who are attending Balikatan for the first time, mainly from the West Coast. Pray that they may feel welcome and that this will be the start of their future conferences. Pray too for the Lord’s guidance on forming Balikatan West.
3. Praise God for the faithful founders and members of Balikatan, many of whom are flying from the East and Midwest. Pray for happy reunions of “old” friends.
4. Praise God for His faithfulness through the years, both to the individual members of Balikatan and the organization as a whole. Pray for continuing good health, healing for the sick, and physical strength/ energy during the conference.
5. Praise God for our speakers: Miriam Adeney, Ph.D., Leni Juarez, Ed.D., and Eric Tadeo. J.D. Pray for wisdom as they challenge us to be faithful disciples and witnesses of the Lord in the US and Canada while they expound on Acts 1:8 and talk about What Do We Offer, What Do We Encounter, and What Do We Render. Pray for open hearts and minds for all.
6. Praise God for our panel members who will be sharing their testimonies on God’s work in their lives. Pray for guidance as they speak.
7. Praise God for the Board members’ hard and faithful work on Balikatan’s business matters. Pray that the business meetings will be productive, that each member will participate actively, and that decisions be made in accordance with God’s will.
8. Praise God for the presence of many pastors and missionaries at the conference. Pray for the missions presentation on Sunday morning attended by five agencies: Medical Ambassadors of the Philipines, MEANS, International Student Ministry, Asian School of Development and Cross-Cultural Studies, and OMF/ Bible School of the Philippines.
9. Praise God for the auction items donated by various individuals. Pray for generous hearts that we may be able to raise funds through the auction for IVCF Philippines.
10. Praise God for the ministry of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship of the Philippines and the participation of Dolores (Di) Fernandez of ISCF and IVCF Management and Phebe Pendon of NCF. Praise God for Erickson Velardo, outgoing National Director and the confirmation of the incoming National Director, Pastor Ferdinand Juni, as well as the leadership of the Board of Trustees.
ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE BALIKATAN BOARD
Balilkatan Board 2011 (Left-Right – Jojo Remigio, Valerie Malabonga, Edna Bargan, Landy Ancheta, Tess Askowitz, Lilia Salazar-Nigro,and Lillette Cruz)
1) In order to ensure that our corporate name is consistent with what is in our US incorporation papers, please note that we should use our legal and official name “Balikatan ng mga Kristiano, Inc.” properly (with “Kristiano” rather than “Kristiyano” ). Kindly observe this protocol in all our formal and informal communications with our alumni, friends, supporters and stakeholders.
2) In addition, please note that several business-related materials are available on our website (http://balikatan.org). These materials include the Balikatan Vision Statement, minutes of 2010 Balikatan annual corporate meeting, committee reports, and Balikatan membership form. These same materials will also be sent via email to the 2011 conference attendees. The Board requests that you review these materials and print them to bring with you to the conference for discussion. Your own printing is highly appreciated as it saves Balikatan money.
3) Finally, we have 3 positions open for nomination. Please submit your nominations to Lilette Cruz, Nominations Committee, at lettecruz2002@yahoo.com.
Let us also praise God for the arrival of Kai Leiton Koontz on June 16. He is 7.1 lbs and 19 ½ inches with lots of dark hair. Kai (rhymes with sky) means sea in Hawaiian. Kai is the son of Lani Chinn-Koontz and Bryan Koontz. Lani is the eldest daughter of long-time Balikatan members Leiton and Lisa Chinn.