Dave & Tina Brooks

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Dear Friends,

We still wait the ultimate fulfillment of this promise when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord and He will reign on Earth forever. But evidence of peace is already being felt in people's hearts.

Recently, some high school students who accepted Christ last year were required to attend a show for one of their classes. That meant asking their parents for money for their fare and ticket. Some of the students thought of not going to the show at all and just use the money to "gallivant" instead.

But one of the students was conscience-stricken and said, "We're attending a Bible study and we're thinking of cheating our parents?' The others agreed it wasn't right and decided to use the money as intended and attend the show as they were suppose to do. Afterward, they said they felt peace in their hearts because they did the right thing by not cheating the parents and fulfilling their class requirement. Their consciences were clear. That's peace! That's the peace Jesus gives when we put off the old self and put on the new. This is what we want to see, values being changed, because these students will eventually occupy strategic positions in our corrupt society. We hope they will become agents of change.

In November, about 280 sophomore students at a local high school found peace with God when the high school team shared the gospel. The team: Tina, Jerry Francisco, Lea Gammad, and Joan Tapit continue to follow up the students once a week using REACH's Dilemma of Choice and the Assurance lessons. The students' English teacher, Marlon Callueng, summarizes and reinforces the lesson the next day in their class as part of values formation.

We thank God for opening the doors again this year through the principal's permission and the school librarian's willingness to let the team use the library each week.

We also thank you for your prayers and gifts so these students and the students reached last year can enjoy the peace that Jesus brought when He was born, died and rose again 2000 years ago and broke the power of sin and guilt. It's our prayer that God will pour back the blessing to you in overflowing abundance and joy and meet all of your needs. From us and on behalf of the students, thank you so much.

* The Assurance verses include Assurance of Salvation (1 John 5:11,12), Assurance of Answered Prayer (John 16:24), Assurance of Victory (1 Corinthians 10:13), Assurance of Forgiveness (1 John 1:9), and Assurance of Guidance (Prov. 3:5,6).