THE PYROS TORCH
ISSUETWELVE
The Pyros Torch is a
publication of The
Pyros Youth Ministry
of Word International
Ministries Los
Angeles.
WIN Silicon Valley youth
Froilan Vicente kneels
down in worship.
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THEPYROSTORCH
Soul Anchor 2009:
Taking A Stand
By Bruce Mao
Soul Anchor 2009: Taking A Stand is a camp
that will never be forgotten. Over 220
people arrived at Oak Glen not knowing
what to expect or how they would be
changed, but each and every one of them
left with a resounding declaration to take a
stand for their friends, their community, and
our God. Words cannot begin to describe
just how mightily He moved through all
those young people in the five days that
they spent up in the mountains, but rest
assured, they all descended from the
mountains with their swords and their
shields ready to go into battle.
Camp began with an emphatic message by
Pastor Mark Briones on Monday night,
preaching from 2 Chronicles 2:17-20, stating
that the battles we encounter are not our
own, but God’s. After the message, four
campers rose from their seats, walked to the
altar, and kneeled before God’s throne as
they newly committed their lives to Christ. It
also left the young people release their own
battles to the Lord and allow Him to conquer
our fights and struggles in the world.
These phenomenal messages kept rolling as
Pastor Erwin Tanjuaquio from WIN San
Francisco/Bridgepoint spoke to the campers
on Tuesday morning about Washing,
Waiting, and Warring... washing our minds
clean of the things of the enemy, watching
what our minds receive, and warring against
certain mindsets that draw us away from
God. During the afternoon, workshops
dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression,
as well as financial management, were in
session; Rachel Briones and Sandra
Cordero spoke to those in high school and
below while Fedelyn Rapinan and Pastor
Lyndon Aldaba of WIN Los Angeles spoke to
the college students and young
professionals.
Later that night, Pastor Carlos Gamez, Jr.
preached to all the campers about building
up their shield and sword to fight against the
enemy by living, breathing, and studying the
Word of God. The message left the
campers jumping to their feet and setting
forth shouts of praise.
continued on page 2 ➤
 On Wednesday, Pastor Alex Cabansagan of Jesus
ISSUETWELVE
Christ My Lord and Savior Ministry in San
Francisco began with a powerful message,
encouraging the campers to lift their battles to
God, but at the same time, do their part to fight
the good fight. He motivated each youth group
not to leave any of their own behind, to stand up
for each other, and to unite and create a
protective barrier around their brothers and sisters
to deflect and protect against the enemy and his
ways. The hears of all envisioned victory as an
unbreakable unit over every obstacle the world
will inevitably throw at them.
Pastor Mark Briones speaks to the leaders after a session.

Our International Music Director at WIN Orange

County, Pastor Priam Guiuan, and his wife, Sister
Marlyn Guiuan spoke to the campers about true
worship in another workshop. Their message
stressed that worship is not just about playing
instruments or singing songs, but it is a lifestyle
that should be apparent within us. Worshipping
God takes place in all that we think, speak, and
do. The session concluded with a time where the
campers ran circles around the gym, all the while
singing praises to Him. Another high point was
the water baptisms that took place in the late
afternoon; dozens of campers made a public
statement of giving and committing their lives to
Christ. Pastor Rex Waga of WIN Northeast
Houston preached during the night session on
how to listen to God, think godly things, and what
we should concentrate on as we grow in our faith.
The last full day of Soul Anchor 2009 was ushered
in by a message from Pastor Chito Cordero from
WIN LA that was established in being “ground and
centered.” It was highlighted by an activity where campers
were split off into pairs, and while staring intently at one
another, one had to scream as loud and hard as they could
at the other, while the second had to attempt with all their
might to keep as straight a face as possible.
Needless to say, it was a refreshing reminder to stay
grounded and rooted in our faith in God when staring, in our
case, at the face of the enemy. The afternoon was then
marked by a series of workshops where Sister Tess Cordero
spoke to the college kids about the power of the tongue
while Pastor Neil Lewis of WIN Inland Empire spoke about
our divine purpose to the younger campers. Subsequently,
Rachel Briones, Rizza Aldaba, and Rocky Apura (speaking
to the fourteen and younger) and Jessie Romero and his
wife, Lizette Romero, shared their personal testimony and
message on sexual purity that left the campers resolved to
live a pure life in all aspects of their lives. A towering
continued on page 3 ➤

Campers dance in celebration of a newfound freedom.

Two young people lay down their burdens on the cross

during the Sexual Purity workshop on Thursday afternoon.

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ISSUETWELVE
Youth Leader Pauline Guiuan lies face down in adoration.
wooden cross was then brought in as each camper
was given a heart-shaped post-it, where they could
write anything they need to surrender. The night
culminated with a breathtaking time of worship and
a stirring message by our WIN International Director,
Pastor Babes Paulate that centered on the theme
verse and spoke of each camper, now knowing that
they are in the loving hands of a living Father and
geared up for a battle that looms when they
descend, to take a stand for their homes, their
schools, and ultimately, their God. As the night
ended, each cell group came together and prayed
mightily not only for their homes and schools, but for
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Campers celebrate their new lives after water baptism.
each other, symbolizing their unity as brothers and
sisters in Christ.
Soul Anchor 2009: Taking A Stand will go down in
history as arguably the most powerful camp to date.
Each of the 221 campers who came left transformed
and ready for a battle. In the five days that was
spent in the mountains of Yucaipa, a proclamation
was made by each camper to worship the living God
and to live for His glory. Two months have passed
since then and our stance has not changed. As
soldiers of God, we will continue to rise up, and take
a stand for His Name.
The faces of Soul Anchor 2009: Taking A Stand.
 Have Fun In The Son
Soul Anchor Campers
ISSUETWELVE
By Gigi Pons
Pyros hits Huntington Beach with their flip-flops,
swimsuits, umbrellas, and lots of food! August 22,
2009 marks the 6th annual Soul Anchor Camp
Reunion. Joining with Pyros were several Southland
WIN churches, such as WIN Orange County, WIN
Inland Empire, WIN San Diego, and WIN Los Angeles,
who also held their annual Family Day at the beach
with the campers. Some Bay Area youth were also
present, accompanied by Pastor Erwin Tanjuaquio of
WIN San Francisco.
After driving down Beach Boulevard, the campers and
their families began unloading their beach gear and
their pot bless food around before lunch, and soon
enough, three long tables were filled with food,
desserts, and drinks. Barbeque was being grilled,
fruits were being munched on, and chip bags were
being opened as the people waited for everyone else
to arrive for lunch to be served. After Pastor Lyndon
blessed the food, the people feasted and
fellowshipped with one another underneath tents and
umbrellas. Marielle De Pasion said, “It was a blessing
to see the adults and youth come together for more
than just food; they joined together for games and
activities, like tunnel-digging.”
As the sun began to disappear, covering it by the
clouds, the heat remained in the air and between both
generations as they competed with each other in
three-legged-races, and in a Filipino interactive game
called patintero. Brother Paloo Guiuan, head of
Gideon’s Sword, WIN LA’s Couples Ministry said,
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THEPYROSTORCH
Paolo Manuel
and Joanna
Cordero of WIN
LA sing along as
Kristy Guiuan of
WIN Orange
County and
Nathan
Estanislao of
WIN San Diego
play the guitar.
“This activity allowed the youth to enjoy the same
games we played as children and for us older folks to
feel young again.” Two generations, the youth and
the adults, bonded through this activity, bringing both
together in endless laughter and memorable
moments.
The evening was lit up with bonfires all across the
beach, as the youth sang fun songs that caused even
other people close by to sing along, while others were
digging up an adventure. Nearby, Brother Willy
Cardeno and his children, instigated digging a large
hole in the sand, which later several young people
joined in digging up a second hole which eventually
connected, creating a sand tunnel. Digging the tunnel
was certainly enjoyable and what was unforgettable
about it was seeing all three generations of different
WIN churches come together for this random yet fun
activity.
The Lord truly used this special day to not only bring
back campers together to remind each other of what
great friends we have in Christ, but to also delight in
the joy that God has put in each one of us.
Paul Guiuan of WIN LA
digging a tunnel.
 The Fireside
ISSUETWELVE

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us

throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us
run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Hebrews 12:1

We need to be constantly reminded that God has called each one of us to run a race that has
been marked out for us. There should be a strict awareness to make consistent choices that will
enable us to be in the right place and the right time so that we can fulfill our God-given purpose.
Each one of us is born with a God given DNA, a destiny that God placed inside of us to do great
things in His kingdom. But in order to achieve this, we need to remember the great men and
women of faith who passed on and those who are still among us, cheering us on as we run the
race God has marked for us. These are a special group of fans—veteran “runners.” They are
“witnesses to the life of faith”—specifically, the Old Testament “runners” that the author
highlighted in Chapter 11: Noah, Abraham, David, Peter, Paul and John. You will be encouraged
to see that these people had weaknesses, fears and all kinds of problems, yet God worked
through powerfully to advance his plan because they stayed in the race.

We need to let go of everything in our life that will hinder us. If we are honest with ourselves, we
know what these things are those things or areas in our lives that weigh us down. Get rid of your
baggage, “the sin that so easily hinders our progress” from “every weight that slows us down.”
The author implies that even things that are not overtly morally wrong can be baggage that we
need to lay aside—because they simply don’t fit into the course/race God has set before us.

We need to run with perseverance. It is a marathon—not a sprint.  It begins the moment you
receive Christ and it lasts until you die or Christ returns.  It’s not how fast you start the race, but
how consistently you run. It is a steeple-chase marathon; it is filled with obstacles, including
opposition from people who aren’t in the race and don’t want you to be in the race, and from a
culture that says to live for self instead of for Christ.

I don’t know where I would be today without the veteran “runners” God put in my life early and in
my Christian life.  They inspire me by their example to sell out to God’s race instead of living for
myself.  They gave me insight me into the specific race God has placed before me.  They
challenged me to throw away anything that hinders the race I am called to run. 

God calls us to excellence and He wants us to give our best, to go for the gold in our Christian
lives. Run the race, run knowing there is a great cloud of witnesses cheering us on, throw away
everything that hinders us, run with perseverance and let us all FINISH THE RACE GOD HAS
DESTINED FOR US!

— Pastor Mark Briones

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 Faith Shines In San Diego
ISSUETWELVE
A Mission Trip That Will Be Remembered
By Marielle De Pasion
Nearly a month after Soul Anchor 2009: Taking A
Stand, the last national youth camp until 2012,
National Youth Coordinator and WIN Los Angeles
Youth Pastor Mark Briones assembled a team of nine
to minister at WIN San Diego on August 8, 2009. This
team comprised of Verna Abante, Rizza Aldaba,
Stephanie Bautista, Marielle de Pasion, Paulo De Villa,
Debbie Guiuan, Ivan Manuel, and Paolo Manuel from
WIN Los Angeles and Jonathan Dizon from WIN
Orange County. WIN SD’s Nathan Estanislao also
accompanied the praise team.
The team set out early that Sunday morning to WIN
SD’s new church site, meeting up with Pastor Mark
Briones and his wife, Rachel Briones and daughter,
Ashley Briones, who had gone to San Diego earlier
that weekend. Joining them as well were Louise
Dandan, Kelsea Guevara, Sis. Sylvia Sajo and her
family, and the Manuel family from WIN LA.
The service began with an inspiring time of praise and
worship led by Debbie Guiuan and Rizza Aldaba. The
team was blessed to see the passion for the Lord,
rekindled at Soul Anchor 2009, still burning brightly
within the youth of WIN SD as they wholly engaged in
glorifying God.
Preceding the sermon was a powerful testimony in
line with Pastor Mark’s preaching. After learning of
her husband Conrad’s stage four cancer, Malou
Wjangco ceaselessly prayed for healing while trusting
in God’s faithfulness. Her prayers were answered and
her husband was healed. Pastor Mark delivered a
Pyros enjoy a time of fellowship
in sunny San Diego.
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THEPYROSTORCH
“...every word
God says is true,
every promise He
makes will be
kept, and every
trial we face has
a purpose.”
Pastor Mark Briones
Debbie Guiuan powerfully leads the
congregation to a time of worship.
timely message that relates to this time of recession
and state of worry in the United States, reminding us
of the faithfulness of God. Through multiple verses,
he reminded us that every word God says is true,
every promise He makes will be kept, and every trial
we face has a purpose. All present were reminded
that trust must and should be placed in God, even in
trying times. With this message resounding in them,
both youth and adults responded to the altar call with
the desire to place their faith completely in the Lord
once again.
After the service, the team, along with Nathan
Estanislao, Ashley Briones, Sis. Sylvia Sajo and her
family, and the Manuels, remained in San Diego for an
afternoon of fun and fellowship as they ventured
around the area, visiting Mount Soledad, Belmont
Park, Mission Beach, and La Jolla. It was indeed a
successful and humbling mission trip that will be
remembered.
 CROSSPOINT Continues to Ignite Hearts
ISSUETWELVE

By Rizza Aldaba

A few weeks has passed since camp, and for most

people, it’s almost time for school and the challenges
Crosspoint is definitely a great tool
that God uses to reach out
❞
that come with it. This summer’s Crosspoint Youth to our generation.
Rally, held at WIN Los Angeles on August 21, was Stephanie Bautista
geared to prepare everyone spiritually for what the WIN Los Angeles
next few months will hold.

Promptly starting at 7pm, emcees Joanna Cordero
and Bruce Mao warmly welcomed all the guests who
came, asking everybody to introduce themselves with
one another. Around 150 people came in attendance,
from youth and leaders from our Southland WIN
churches in Inland Empire, San Gabriel, San Diego,
and South Bay, invited guests, and even a handful of
youth from the San Francisco Bay Area. A number of
parents also came to support the rally.
Right after, the Pyros Youth Band led the
congregation in a time of corporate worship,
gathering a tremendous response as hands were
lifted and lives were renewed again. Pastor
Richmond Go of WIN San Gabriel, the speaker of the
night, shared on being a kingdom influence in the
world, cracking a few witty stories here and there.
After the preaching, Pastor Mark Briones called for an
altar call and asked the pastors and parents to pray
for those at the altar.
The rally stirred hearts and truly opened eyes and
doors to those who have never experienced
something like it. Stephanie Bautista shared,
“Crosspoint is definitely a great tool that God uses to
reach out to our generation. I invited my friend to
Crosspoint and it was such a blessing usher him into
God‘s presence.” Those who have attended before
could tell the difference. “Crosspoint was amazing;
it’s like camp all over again. I really felt God’s
presence and the anointing of the Holy Spirit in the
midst of everyone. I am so blessed to have
experienced it,“ Louise Dandan said. With thirsty
hearts quenched, it was indeed a powerful event that
strengthened the youth and adults alike as they face
another season in their lives.
Pastor Mark
Briones of
WIN LA
praying over
the youth
during altar
call.

Youth listen to Pastor

Richmond Go of WIN
San Gabriel preach
during Crosspoint.

7 THEPYROSTORCH
ISSUETWELVE
Words cannot truly
describe the picture of
poverty, but it was like
walking into a scene of
Slumdog Millionaire, with
barefoot and naked
children walking around in
the rain, homes built from
cardboard walls and tin
roofs, and with a dirty
canal that runs through
the community.

Witnessing Seeds of Hope Grow

A Personal Account
By Joanna Cordero

From July 14th through August 14th, I was blessed to
be able to return to the Philippines for ministry,
vacation, and family time. Accompanying my father,
Pastor Chito Cordero, WIN Inland Empire’s Pastor
Neil Lewis, and my sister, Sandra Cordero, I spent
time visiting and connecting with WIN Cebu and WIN
Bacolod. Towards the latter part of the trip, Sandra
and I were privileged to visit WIN Manila’s outreaches
in the slum area of Tondo, specifically in Parola and
Vitas.
We spent three days in Cebu to fellowship with the
members of WIN Cebu and attend the anniversary of
the church, and three days in WIN Bacolod for a
teaching seminar. Both churches were planted by my
father before I was even born. Many of the core
members of the church, whom we have not seen in
many years, knew my sister and I since we were
babies. It is a blessing to see that the young
professionals and youth of the church over twenty
continued on page 9 ➤

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THEPYROSTORCH
ISSUETWELVE years ago are now pastors or church elders.
One of the most beautiful things I discovered
about Word International Ministries is we are
part of the WIN family no matter where we are
in the world. The members of the churches
showered us with blessing through their
hospitality and generosity.
In Bacolod, we travelled to the rural area of La
Carlota where WIN Bacolod has outreaches.
In La Carlota, WIN has a beautiful training
center for pastors in the middle of a beautiful
tropical forest. In order to get to the center,
you must cross rushing water through a bridge
made of bamboo. The gorgeous center is
complete with bamboo walls and floors, with a
beautiful view of the mountains and river. At
the center, we were privileged to witness the
graduation of the first batch of pastors to
complete their training. These pastors will be
used to reach out to the rural communities in
Bacolod.
As wonderful a time we had in Bacolod and
Cebu, the real highlight of the trip was visiting
the city of Tondo in the districts of Vitas and
Parola, where the poorest of the slums in
Manila are. Words cannot truly describe the
picture of poverty, but it was like walking into
a scene of Slumdog Millionaire, with barefoot
and naked children walking around in the rain,
homes built from cardboard walls and tin
roofs, and with a dirty canal that runs through
the community. In Vitas, the church workers
conduct a children’s church in a condemned
building deemed unsuitable for living by the
city, where many of the children and their
families live. The class runs every Saturday,
with about 50 young children. Almost all of
the children are not in school because they do
not have the money, and many of them are
sick, but have no funds to pay for treatment.
As my sister was taking pictures, all the
children and many adults were fascinated, as
many of them have never seen a camera
before. One man approached Sandra and
asked her to take a picture of his baby
because he had never seen the image of his
son on a camera before. The day we visited
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THEPYROSTORCH
was their annual gift day, when the church
gives each child a grocery bag of staple items
for their families, funded by Seeds of Hope.
The amount of each grocery bag is about $7
when converted from pesos, but each child
was overjoyed and grateful at the simple gift.
If the churches in the United States invested
more into Seeds of Hope, the supplying of
groceries to these families could happen more
often.
One child excitedly stood up and said in
Tagalog, “I thank God because I was able
to eat three times today!” Another child
exclaimed “I was able to eat
chocolate!” ...I realized that we take so
many things for granted living so
comfortably in the United States.
We left Vitas and headed to Parola, another of
WIN Manila’s outreaches. The Parola
outreach has been established for seven
years, and the Lord blessed them with a
beautiful center in the midst of the slum. It
was so striking to witness because amidst all
the darkness of the slums of Parola, the Lord’s
house truly is the shining light, an oasis from
the destitution that surrounds. We visited
while they were also conducting children’s
church. I was delighted and yet devastated as
they shared their praise reports of the class.
One child excitedly stood up and said in
Tagalog, “I thank God because I was able to
eat three times today!” Another child
continued on page 10 ➤
ISSUETWELVE exclaimed “I was able to eat chocolate!” As
simple as these praise reports were, I realized
that we take so many things for granted living
so comfortably in the United States.
After praise reports, they had a simple Sunday
school-type praise time. They sang a Tagalog
song that we also sing at WIN LA called
Salamat, Salamat, a song about bursting with
thankfulness to God for His love and all the
things He has done. I broke down into tears
when the teacher said in Tagalog, “Yes, life is
hard, but life would be so much harder if you
didn’t have Jesus in your heart.” I could not
hold back my tears as I realized that if these
little kids who do not have much of a chance
for a better life can praise God with joy, there
is ALWAYS a reason to praise and worship
God. My heart was both broken and enlarged
that day, and my life is forever changed. It
was so amazing to see that even in the most
desperate and dark place, God's hand still
moves. When I looked into the eyes of those
kids, I saw God's beauty and truly felt God's
heart for them. They are so precious to God,
even though they are so marginalized and
ignored by the rest of society.
I am so thankful for all the blessings God has
given us, and the comfort of knowing that we
will always have more than enough to eat, a
The children supported
by Seeds of Hope.
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THEPYROSTORCH
“Yes, life is hard, but life
would be so much harder
if you didn’t have Jesus in
your heart.”
Seeds of Hope teacher in WIN Parola
house to live in, opportunities to further
improve our lives, and so thankful to have met
the most precious people and children I have
ever had the pleasure of meeting. Please pray
for these kids and their families that they
would be able to get off the streets and have
enough to eat and attend school so that they
can leave poverty behind. Please pray that
God would raise up more workers, leaders,
and financial sponsors. The people are so
open to accepting Jesus, but there is not
enough workers or financial resources to help
them as much as they need. Please pray
about sponsoring a child through Seeds of
Hope. For just $30 a month, you can send a
child to school and help meet their spiritual,
educational, and nutritional needs.
For more information about sponsoring a child
through Seeds of Hope, please contact Sis.
Cynthia de Castro at cynthiadec@yahoo.com.
ISSUETWELVE
“Always stay grounded in the Word. Always look to God
and know that He is by your side no matter what.”
Kristy Anne Guiuan

Kristy Anne Guiuan:

Musically gifted, God inspired
By Tiffany Francisco

Kristy Anne Guiuan, the eldest daughter of WIN
International Music Directors Pastor Priam and Marlyn
Guiuan, has played a big role in the Word International
family since she was a child. “I grew up with WIN.
I’ve been with WIN basically my whole life, so about
eighteen years,” Kristy comments. She has taken part
in multiple WIN churches, as God led her family to and
fro various churches. “I started in WIN LA then moved
up to the [San Francisco] Bay with WIN Silicon Valley,
then back to LA and now currently taking part of WIN
OC,” Kristy shares.
Though Kristy had only turned 18 on August 29th, she
has accomplished many things throughout her life.
Kristy devoted herself and her talents to God at the
early age of twelve. Since then, Kristy has been a
participant in many church and youth events, such as
Crosspoint and the yearly national youth camp, which
she has attended for five consecutive years. At the
age of fifteen she was one of the youngest people to
be a youth leader, regarding the youth ministry as
“another important part” of her life.
The support and help of her friends and family has
spurred her on in everything she does, especially her
parents. “Seeing them so involved in the church and
seeing how they love what they do inspires me. My
parents would take my sister and I on their different
mission trips from Canada to the Philippines and I’ve
witnessed the lives they’ve touched. It inspires me in
so many ways, seeing how much they love God and
seeing how they are being used by God,” Kristy says.
Her life has been blessed continuously. She beams
about the blessings God has showered her family. “I
thank God for blessing my family with a new house in
Anaheim because it is now closer to our church and
now we can be more involved, not to mention that it’s
close to my school.”
As an incoming freshman at Cypress College, she still
commits herself to her faith in God. Kristy is a key
member of WIN Orange County as a part of the Music
Ministry and one of the few youth leaders who attend
the WIN OC church.

She also plays a huge role in the music ministry, being
able to sing and play many different instruments, such
as the guitar, piano, bass, and alto saxophone. “The
Music Ministry has always been a big part of my life. I
was able to go the Philippines and take part in the
WIN Global Gathering in 2007,” Kristy says. “It was a
great experience.”
As young as she may be, Kristy serves as a great
example for the younger, and even older, youth. Her
passion for God has kept her faith as strong as ever.
She gives advice to those who are struggling with
their faith: “Always stay grounded in the Word.
Always look to God and know that He is by your side
no matter what.”

11 THEPYROSTORCH
THEPYROSTORCH

THESTAFF
WRITERS DESIGN & LAYOUT
rizza aldaba verna abante
joanna cordero paolo manuel
marielle de pasion
tiff francisco
bruce mao ADVISOR
gigi pons pastor mark briones

THEPYROSTORCH
530 s. benton way
los angeles, california

www.pyros.rocks.it

12 THEPYROSTORCH