General Baptist Bible College

P.O. Box 80726

Libby Road, Puan, Davao City

8000 Davao City

PHILIPPINES

March 5, 2010

Dear Friends and Supporters,

                Warm Christian greetings from General Baptist Bible College!

                Another school year is about to come to its close. And as we are approaching graduation, allow me to share with you some of the highlights of school year 2009-2010.

                This year, the General Baptist Bible College is on its 45^th year of training and equipping generations for Christian service. This was marked with a 3-day celebration on February 10-12. It was such a momentous occasion as we looked back at how GBBC started in 1965. In retrospect, there are so many things that we are thankful for and as we look forward and prepare for the coming years, we are keenly aware of the immediate challenges before us. We are so thankful that through the years, the Lord has been so gracious and faithful to GBBC.

                As the school year 2009-2010 started in June, we had a good increase in student population. This school year, we have a total of 427 students in the basic education department up to the tertiary level. This means we have been ministering to a total of 427 lives and souls, not to mention the parents, guardians and relatives of these young souls. What a great blessing!

                With this, we have been able to start 12 cell and Bible study groups. The faculty and staff have been utilized to facilitate and lead these groups. Each group meets once every week after class hours. It’s been such a great honor and privilege to be part of the lives of these students and to actually see them grow spiritually and in the knowledge and love of Christ. Last December, through the monetary gifts that we received, we were able to give out new NIV Bibles.

                As our student population has increased, we are working so hard to raise more funds and we are trying to save up to be able to build additional classrooms to be able to accommodate more students. Last year, through your generosity, we were able to complete a 2-classroom building which is now being used in our secondary level. This school year, we are pleased to let you know that our course offering/curriculum has finally been completed. Thus, we are operating totally in all levels. Praise the Lord!

                Right now, aside from our efforts to put our resources together to improve our facilities and to build additional classrooms, we are constantly working towards the improvement of the quality of education being provided to be able to really cater to the needs of our students. It is our goal not just to provide quality Christian education but to also assist the students become effective and efficient servants of God and for them to be responsible in their daily walk with the Lord. It is obvious that we will have a much bigger and greater opportunity to minister to more and more people if we can accommodate them in our classes. If we have more classrooms, then this means that we can accept more students to enroll in our school. The challenge that we have been faced is that due to the lack of facilities, we are forced to limit the number of students that we accept per class. Thus, we have seen the great need for additional classrooms. So we hope and pray that you can help us in any way in this endeavor. Any amount is definitely appreciated.

                Come March 31, we have nine (9) students who will be graduating in our college department. Please pray for their preparedness and for God’s leading in their lives as they will go out to the field and do the harvest. Nine (9) may not sound like a big number but we do certainly believe in the power of multiplication. So please include them in your prayers as they are about to embark on another journey with the Lord. This time it will be outside GBBC.

                At present, the faculty and staff together with the students are very busy coping up with the remaining lessons in class and complying with all the requirements needed to complete this school year. We are excited for the ministry opportunities awaiting us come summer break, especially for the students who will be going home to their respective home places. It is our prayer that the Lord will continue to use all of us wherever He will lead us this summer. As for the staff, we will still be on campus as there we will be offering summer enrichment classes. The said summer classes are not really part of the curriculum. These are just special classes for the student’s personal development. The classes are voluntary in nature.

                Likewise, we are anxious of what the next school year will bring. We are praying for a very good number of students as well as a very dynamic staff who could help us make things happen here at GBBC. With this, we are hoping and praying that you will continue your support to us, that is through your financial assistance and your prayers. We are anticipating for additional or new students so that would mean, we will also be needing additional sponsors. So we hope and pray that as early as now, while the next school year hasn’t started yet, you can start praying about it as the Lord will lead you to give and support us in our student sponsorship program and in our other needs.

Indeed the ministry here at GBBC continues to grow. And as it grows, we are aware that with it lies an even greater responsibility and challenge to keep it going and growing. As a mission school, and like any other mission schools, the challenge mainly lies on its financial stability. It is our prayer that individuals, families, groups and churches will be willing to give sacrificially for this ministry. We hope that you can sincerely and prayerfully consider yourselves to be one of our giving partners. If you have been sponsoring a student or if you have already been supporting us, it is our prayer that you will decide to continue such sponsorship next school year and in the years to come. We certainly need people to help us carry out the mission and vision of GBBC that was cast upon us 45 years ago.

                The Lord has certainly blessed our institution in so many ways all these years. As we celebrate God’s faithfulness for all these blessed 45 years, we thank you for the support you have extended to us financially and morally. We sincerely thank you for always keeping us in your prayers. We are encouraged all the more to strive harder to make things better here at GBBC knowing that there are people like you who have never left us in this cause. With the social, political, and most of all economic struggles that the world and our country most especially has experienced these past few years, we are thankful because the Lord has remained faithful.

                On a more personal note, allow me to thank you for the trust and confidence you have given me. I thank all of you for being a major part of this institution and for allowing me to be a part of it as well. I thank you for all your prayers and continued support. I sincerely appreciate all your efforts and for uplifting me through your prayers!

                On behalf of the students, faculty and staff, thank you for your partnership in this ministry. May we bring back and offer all the glory and honor to our Almighty God! We celebrate God’s faithfulness in the 45 years of GBBC’s existence because and through all of you! May we continue to work together towards a common goal in the furtherance of the ministry here at GBBC! God bless us all…

Love in Christ,

JOYCE C. PORCADILLA       

President

For more information about GBBC and its student sponsorship program and other special needs, you may email me at porkyjoyce76@yahoo.com.

You may send in your support and donation to:

General Baptist International Missions Office, 100 Stinson Drive, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901

or to

General Baptist Bible College, P.O. Box 80726, Davao City 8000 PHILIPPINES.

Please do not forget to put GBBC on the memo line of your check. Thank you very much.