This issue is written while I'm at the 19th National Workers' Conference of CEF Philippines. One hundred twenty three staff and committee members from all of the branches of CEF in the Philippines were present. Also, present were my assistant Rev David Ra and Miss Joy Sidro, Prayer and Publicity Secretary. This trip was memorable as well as exciting.

Memorable in that this is the first time I celebrated my birthday on a trip. Exciting because we have to be evacuated as a result of the worst fire next door to where we live at the Faith Retreat and Conference Center in Boracay. This was the worst fire in the history of Boracay.

Remember the Regional theme: "The Coming Christ for the Coming Generation"? Tying that with what I was asked to speak at the Philippines' conference on ‘Vision in Our Eyes; Fire in Our Hearts". As I spoke from the book of Joshua, it almost came to life at the conference. While teaching on "Be a Leader People Follow", I gave a quotation from John Wesley. He was asked why people seemed to be drawn to him. He answered, "Well, you see, when you set yourself on fire, people just love to come and see you burn." That's exactly what happened on the fine evening of January 21 just at dinner time. A fire broke out in a restaurant near the beach area and in no time, was spreading wildly coming closer and closer to where we had the conference.

I went back, grabbed my passport, air-ticket and camera and rushed to the beach area to survey. Soon we took all our belongings, gathered together to pray and beg God to spare the place where we live. Someone said: "Vision in our Eyes, Fire in Boracay!" People indeed just gathered to watch helpless as the fire raged fiercely. What a lesson!

As we were gathered like lost sheep, waiting for instructions, it reminded me again of Joshua gathering the people to cross the Jordan. Text messages went flying in the air as loved ones and the national Board members called to find out if all were safe. Getting the 120 plus delegates out for safety was not as easy as what I expected but it was done orderly. Can imagine Joshua to deal with two million Israelites? What a challenge!

The whole ordeal took more than three hours before the fire subsided and we recalled all the delegates from the safety of the beach back to the Conference center. It was indeed a lesson made real by this experience.

God told Joshua to be strong and courageous. At the end of Chapter 5, He said: "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." In other words, we are told to walk in holiness. This spoke much more to the delegates than any illustration that could be given. Yes, as a region, let's have Vision in our Eyes – for the Coming Christ; Fire in our Hearts – for the Coming Generation! May our God of the impossible be with you this New Year.

Rev Tan Cheng Huat
Regional Director
CEF AP Family News
Jan-Mar 2005