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The Latest News |
| 1/15/2026 | Happy 30th "Paperversary" (when Elvie & I signed our marriage license, 7 months before our wedding 1/15 & 7/6, 1996). UPDATE ON PAUL'S HEALTH (1/13/26): Just over a month since my heart attack (Myocardial Infarction, 12/11/25), pneumonia & UTI (2-week hospital visit), the heart doctor is letting me do limited exercises, which will prepare me for a stress test in February, a week before our return to the USA. The heart attack was Stage 2, which is Cardiomyocyte Necrosis: some heart muscle cells died, but small vessels remained intact. The chest x-ray and blood tests showed pretty normal levels in the blood except slight anemia (low hemoglobin: 109 instead of 140-170), for which I will be taking iron. Regarding the partially-collapsed lung, "complete re-expansion of the subsegmental atelectasis, left…Pulmonary vascularity is now normal". Atherosclerosis of the aorta is again "appreciated". Thank you again for praying! Please pray that, even though the cancer "hormone block" medication causes sweats, back to back with chills, that God will relieve me of this bothersome effect. God is truly our Great Physician! Praise God for the new community library being built at BCA's orphanage. Its construction is halfway completed. Due to the humidity in the Philippines (and especially on Samal Island where the orphanage is situated), the shelves are made of iron bars and termites are excluded due to Solignum treatments around the base of the building. Please pray for the newest missions team which has just arrived from Utah: Pastor William & his wife, Dr Theresa. They will be presenting seminars for church leaders and also doing general checkups for many of the hundreds of children in this ministry. "Discipleship is part of our Christian Growth!" As the Auburn, New York missions team came for their 8-day visit to the Philippines, Pastor Jim's seminars on discipleship were the high points. However, the 12person team also visited both rural and urban churches, helped students to try on and be fitted for their Christmas shoes at the mall, and put in hours of work at the orphanage & BCA's new community library, sorting books! Since PJ's family was on the team, we also spent some quality time with our grandson! Elvie quickly removed Baby Azzy from my shoulders when I forgot about my heart condition and couldn't resist lifting him up over my head. Also two members of the team offered to sponsor some poor children who are still on the waiting list to be enrolled at BCA! One of the many groups blessed by the team's visit from classroom to classroom in the school, was Teach Trisha's 3rd-Grade class. As the team knocked and then entered the classroom, the students, in unison, stood up and recited, "Good Morning, class. Good morning visitors. We hope you enjoy your visit." And then they sat down. A few minutes later, as the team exited the classroom, they noticed the sign over the door, which not only mentioned the grade level, but the book of the Bible which the school has chosen for the room. In this case, "Grade Three: Chronicles." Trisha continued her lesson, pairing-up the students to assist each other in their reading abilities. This was to help those students who have slow reading comprehension to take it slow and improve by pronouncing every word carefully. The words in each story had both monosyllabic words (like "Mom" & "school) as well as multisyllabic words (like "brother" & "mango"). Since this was the first time the students had seen these particular readings, each partner could tell if carelessness was made: like skipping through challenging pronunciations. The fun part was, after the first person in each pair had read the assigned paragraph, the second person came up with a question on the paragraph, such as "Identify the Main Idea", or "Sequence the Events" or even "Predict an Ending", to stump the other. It really made both members of the pairs have to pay attention to the mini-story. Gathering the class together after half an hour of this assignment, Teacher Trisha asked, "Vennes, could you share something interesting that you learned from this assignment?" Vennes stood & said, "Well first, my partner Aaliyah is a much better reader than me. But second, that even though 'banana & bandana' sound alike, they have totally different meanings. I can't imagine trying to eat a bandana!" About to close the reading lesson & go on to Math, Trisha added in, "There is a spiritual lesson here on pronunciation. Some people think that GOD is ODD because He loved us enough to come down to earth & die on the cross to pay for our sins. But actually, JESUS will PLEASE US as we give back to Him our very lives every day in what we say, do & even think!" Until next time… Let the islands…rejoice! Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/6118435 Present Need: $369 for: Vehicles' expenses: BCA Bus "M": -motor oil $46, BCA Bus "Ph": starter repair $34, 2 sets of tie-rod-end & wheel alignment $70, repair of alternator, repair of carbon brush & I.C. $62, motor oil $6, BCA Bus "Fi": gasoline $32, starter $44, rubber cups $4, replaced clutch lining, pressure plate & overhaul of transmission $70, sand paper $1. Ongoing Projects:
LOOKING AHEAD: 2025 Christmas gifts for 610 BCA students: black shoes for school uniform. Needed: 610 x $20 = $12,200 Raised: $5,987. Still needed: $6,213 |
Churches, Schools & "Safe House" (orphanage): Barner Christian Academy: PHILS: PO Box 82,224 Davao City, Philippines 8000. USA: 18 (or #5) Eileen Drive, Rensselaer, NY 12144 OUR ACTIVE MINISTRIES:
Rev. Paul, Elvie, PJ and Briana & Azariah, & Abigail Barner USA Landline: (518) 434-6216 GINGER |
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| 1/1/2026 | Happy New Year, 2026! UPDATE ON PAUL'S HEALTH (1/2/26): every day gets a little stronger. Thanks for praying. The medication is working. Next visit to the doctors is Tuesday (1/6). Until then however, cannot leave the house. Body & muscles still sore for the long stay in a hospital bed. Still go through three or four shirts a day, with profuse sweating, even in air conditioning. Praise God that 2 former BCA students are becoming teachers on our very own campus of Barner Christian Academy! One has passed her govt licensure exam and will begin next week. The other is from our orphanage and will begin next year! Please pray for strength and endurance for the Auburn, New York missions work team (arriving this Sunday), as they adapt to jetlag and also to the 90 degree heat, coming from very cold and snowy winter weather, with temperatures well below freezing, & highs around 10 degrees, typical of a harsh winter in Central New York. Also, their internal clocks will be off kilter, since they'll be on the other side of the world where night is day and day is night. "On the 12th day of Christmas, the hospital gave back to me…my nose!" It has been very good to be back home these past seven days. When I was hospitalized, as the days came closer to Christmas, I noticed, on my 12th day of confinement, it was "Christmas Adam" (the day before Christmas Eve, since Adam was created before Eve). 12/23 marked my 12th day in the hospital, and finally, the four-inch tube, which fed me through my nose for 2 weeks, was finally being pulled out. It reminded me of growing carrots when I was a child. A really long one would just come and come until its roots were removed. As the hose made its exit, and as the strong putty which had held it in place pulled off (with some of my skin too), I felt up with my hand. "Ah, I finally have a nose again!" Over the past week, thankful parents of BCA students have come over to the house to help scrub and clean up. Sicne we have been out of the country for over a year, there have been mouse droppings in the cupboard and other grungy stuff. Our infant grandson will be here in less a few days, so we are making the place "child friendly". The parents & Elvie also are transforming it into a hygienically safe place for me to recuperate from my illnesses. When New Year's Eve arrived, even though I am supposed to stay inside, as midnight approached, we couldn't help but to go out and join the neighbors in their loud banging, yelling, horns honking, motorcycle engines revving up, loud karaoke and radios and tape decks blaring, firecrackers booming, & plastic horns screaming, all to usher in the new year. Even our son PJ joined us online, although back in New York, he still had another 13 hours before the calendar changed form '25 to '26. New Year's Eve is NOT a quiet place in the Philippines! I also did my part, gently banging a small hammer against a frying pan while I sat on a stool in the road. A few days later our daughter Abby was over at the school, opening huge boxes that we had shipped over the ocean this past 16 months. She separated out books, school supplies, stuffed animals, and other items, so they could be put into heir proper places. The timing couldn't be better, as many of the stuffies will be given out, one to each child, by next week's New York missions team, after they arrive. Also on the BCA campus, Nurse Anilyn was preparing her clinic for the influx of students next week when school classes resume after the Christmas break. She swept, dusted and sanitized with spray alcohol, all the shelves and bed and floor and even the walls themselves. Next, she arranged on the shelves the new medicine that she'd ordered form the School office to be bought at the pharmacy. Let's see…there is mentholated minty efficascent oil, which she will be rubbing on the backs and sore muscles of students…especially Little 3rd-grade Jacob. He is a regular, due to his frequent tummy aches! Now, there is capsicum, for Renzhea's toothaches. She has definitely GOT to stop being fed candy by her grandma. The blood pressure cuff is in place, for the frequent visits by teachers and staff as well as a few parents too. Once a month, Nurse Anilyn will go through the entire staff to check everyone's BP, registering it in her little black notebook. They ranged all the way from one of the bus drivers (105/68) to the cook (151/89). Oh, I still remember the mom who died a few years ago of a heart attack while climbing down the school stairs. She never made it to the clinic. Then there is the gauze pads and medical tape. Angel's mom is on dialysis, and occasionally her wound dressing splits open during morning prayer meeting, dripping blood all over the gym floor. And the hundreds of adolescents…well, it is obvious that scrapes are almost a daily event. Gotta put the mercurochrome toward the front of the shelf, definitely. Anilyn reached down into the medicine bag for the next item: four bottles of cough syrup. They'll definitely need this after the break, since the kids are bringing in germs from their respective family reunions over the holidays. Especially Alleiah, Ayesha & Kaiden. Let's see: cold compresses (for sprains), a new coconut-leaf broom (for outside and inside the clinic), and…and…now where is it? My most important medication for these kids? I know it is here somewhere…Ah-ha! My greatest cure-all! Anilyn reached down and pulled out…her clinic Bible. This is different than her own Bile, as she wants to keep this one in the clinic at all times, even when she is absent. She reached over and slid her fingernail alongside the bookmark to open to James 5, "…and the prayer of faith will make the sick person well." Nurse Anilyn closed the Bible and clutched it to her chest as she prayed to the Great Physician Himself, tracing class by class, and student by student for the hundreds of children who have been placed into her care. "Lord, I feel so very unworthy to care for these precious children, the leaders of tomorrow. But as with everything You have called me to, I thank you for the privilege. On Monday, Lord, may they be healthy and strong as they are introduced to the American team which they will be meeting for the first time." In Jesus,' Name, Amen. Until next time… Let the islands…rejoice! Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/6118435 TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH: A. PJ's latest Late Night Worship: PJ Barner CHRISTMAS #482 THE GIFT GOES ON (FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN) • JOYFUL MEDLEY (HOW GREAT OUR JOY / JOY TO THE WORLD) Merry Christmas from the Auburn Alliance Church Choir! 8 minutes, 59 seconds. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1173382391672344 Present Need: $300 for: Vehicles' expenses: BCA Bus "N": engine oil $13, gear oil $5, BCA Bus "M": diesel gas $150, 2 tubes vulcate & sew interior $12, relay $4, clearance light $2, electrical tape $1, change oil expenses -oil filter $15, BCA Bus "Ph": gasoline $100, repair flat tire $2. Ongoing Projects:
LOOKING AHEAD: 2025 Christmas gifts for 610 BCA students: black shoes for school uniform. Needed: 610 x $20 = $12,200 Raised: $5,027. Still needed: $6,973. |
| 12/30/2025 | Happy 1st Birthday, Azariah Barner! (our grandson) 12/5/24. 12/30 (update) After 2 weeks in the hospital (mostly ICU), the twelve doctors were able to clear out the infections in my body & lungs, so I could breathe & eat on my own again without intubation. Nurses removed the restraining straps, tubes, monitors, gadgets and IVs from me and sent me home (in the Philippines) for a month of bedrest. (finally, I could drink water again!) Tests showed the partial blockage is still in a vein to my heart, but since it is in a sensitive area, they did not operate. Plus, they did not want to compromise my ongoing cancer treatments. I will see the heart doctors again next week. Please keep praying that God will clear that troublesome calcium buildup out of the vein to my heart. I am now on heart meds for that purpose. Thank you so much for you who have prayed and sacrificially assisted in the expenses of this ordeal, Paul. 12/11 PAUL HAD A HEART ATTACK. Upon arriving in the Philippines a few days ago, Paul was having severe pains in his lower chest cavity, and trouble breathing. At the hospital, the doctors found that he has 3 health challenges right now: #1-heart attack. After observations of a few days they may do an angiogram and then possibly (though not likely) an angioplasty. Calcium has built up over the years on his heart's blood vessels, and they need space for the blood to get through to the heart. #2- Pneumonia. His lungs have a lot of liquid in them and Paul is on oxygen to clear out his lungs. This is conceivably caused by #3-Uirinary Tract Infection (UTI). While shivers and trouble breathing have been occurring since November, this is the first time that the pain was extreme enough to convince Paul to be hospitalized. Please pray: first, for Paul to get well, and second, for the procedures to not get too expensive (it is already over $20,000), since Paul's USA health insurance does not cover hospitals in the Philippines. UPDATE ON PAUL'S PROSTATE CANCER: even though the cancer is very widespread throughout my prostate & bones (with "innumerable lesions in the musculo-skeletal system"), the hormone blocker should do the trick for the next few months, but we need to come back to NY in February instead of June, and have a checkup with the oncologist at that time, for more tests. The medicine needs the time to try to diminish the cancer that has spread, since it is already Stage 4. Thanks for your prayers. I have now changed my flight date. When the doctor told me, "no caffeine…no soda….no orange juice" I responded, "That'll sure change things!" Please pray for the Philippine ministries, as we are now back in Davao after our long American speaking tour. We will be focusing on preparation for the work projects for the two American teams coming out in January. What a blessing it will be to get these much-needed things finally done! Praise God that on Sunday (12/7), both Elvie & I visited Renewal Church in Chicago, Illinois, with PJ, his wife Briana, their son Azariah, Abby & her roommate Sarah. Before and after worship, we shared with many about my cancer, and they in turn prayed for strength to do the work God has called us to. "Hallelujah!" The grand finale of Moody Bible Institute's annual "Candlelight Carols" Christmas concert, featured Handel's landmark piece in "The Messiah". The concert had featured over half a dozen music groups, including the orchestra, of which Abby is the president. After the concert, I noticed that the college's president, Dr. Jobe, had a moment when he was not surrounded by guests. So, I made my way to the front and congratulated him for an incredible performance. He recognized me as Abby's dad, and I requested he pray for our trip back overseas the next day. "Anything in particular to pray for?" After mentioning my prostate cancer, he said, "Then let's pray right now." And there, in the middle of the concert hall, as everybody was leaving, the president of the Moody Bible Institute laid his hand on my shoulder and prayed for God to place His healing touch on my body! God is sooo good! Sunday evening, our kids saw us off at the airport in Chicago. But since PJ's train ride back to New York was close to that time, they zipped out to take a train to the other end of the city. When they arrived, the gate had already closed. But we were all praying for them, and the lady dispatcher, hearing one-yar old Azariah crying, radioed ahead to the engineer to have them hold the train until this young family of three could board. Praise God! Meanwhile on the other side of the planet, BCA's bus driver Ben was waiting for students to board his bus. In the morning, he picked up students from Delapina, Villapark, San Nicolas, San Vicente & Buhangin. After dropping them off, he did his second trip of the morning, back-to-back with the first. Then it was time for errands. With over 600 students in BCA, there is often a relative or church member who has died, gotten married, or has other need for flowers. So, off to the flower shop he went. This time for the funeral of Mr. Capito, the dad of four BCA students. He arrived back on campus just in time to get back for the afternoon pickups of students. Later, as he parked the bus, he got out the grease gun and lubricated the joints of his "faithful steed", before bringing the teachers to the funeral, and singing with them during their part of the ceremony. Next day, Tuesday, Ben needed to, between runs, drive Faith, one of BCA's secretaries, to the DepEd (Department of Education), to submit documents. While waiting for her, he found a place downtown with a hose and scrubbed the dust and grime off the sides of his bus. A shiny bus reflects on its driver and passengers. After Faith texted him that her errand was finished, he picked her up and drove her to the bank, since Pastor Paul had sent Faith an email that we finally had enough in the bank to write a check for the month's salaries. Just in time, enroute back to the school, they spotted one of the other BCA buses stranded along the side of the road. Since many of BCA's buses are over a quarter of a century old, they often break down. Yet the drivers always look out for each other and have tow ropes to help out On Wednesday, since the school guard was needed at the orphanage (out on nearby Samal Island) to help with construction of BCA's new "NCL: Neighborhood Christian Library", Ben took his place guarding the school's gate until the next bus-run was due to begin. He also dropped-off the transfer forms for those students whose families had moved and the new schools needed the students' records; plus, he swung by the bookstore downtown to pick-up some office supplies for the faculty & staff, plus others for each grade level of the students. On Thursday, in-between runs, Ben assisted the parents in transporting full shipping boxes that had arrived from the USA, carrying them from the top floor to the bottom floor. One of the other drivers was driving the bus to carry these 6 huge boxes out to the orphanage. It was just to be a week later when these boxes would be opened by Elvie and me, after our plane lands. Inside these boxes are much-needed school supplies, children's books, evangelism tools and stuffed animals which will be distributed to each child this Christmas. Elvie and I had shipped these boxes from various points across North and Central America (including Alaska) these past 16 months on the "western side" of the planet. Ben also zipped over to BCA's guesthouse, since the plastic PVC toilet pipe had cracked and needed replacement. On Friday, the "extra duty" for Driver Ben was to bring the treasurer and secretary to two different lawyers, to research the status of BCA's clearing of the deeds so that construction can resume in both the city campus's multipurpose building and also for its new tribal campus in the mountains. He then dropped-by the Motor Vehicles building to pick up the renewed annual registration for one of the buses. Before his evening run, he headed up to the roof of the school. The roof is cement and flat, and we have twelve-inch-deep soil there where vegetable plants are being grown. Ben was sure to pull weeds and also to water the plants and rearrange the dark net which protects the plants from burning in the heat. Before heading home for the weekend, Ben rode his motorcycle to the BCA guesthouse where the Barners' black pickup truck has been parked for the past 16 months, while they were on speaking tour in the USA. He inserted the key into its ignition, and everything worked fine except the air conditioning. With the heat often topping triple digits here in the tropics, this would definitely need to be worked on before their return on Thursday. …all in a week's work for one of BCA's four bus drivers! Until next time… TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH: A. PJ's Late Night Worship Master list - PJ Barner: actor · singer · director. YouTube: #300-201: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLItygvjoq26FzOhEZ3k41BCzNbiSZ-qw2 B. #400-301: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLItygvjoq26EAnhq36C3vdyKCuYefKUop C. CHRISTMAS #479 - Happy Birthday Azi! Tune in every Tuesday! AWAY IN A MANGER Our son turns a year old this week! The gift of a child is so precious. As we look into our son's eyes, we imagine what Mary must have felt holding her little baby, the savior of the world. https://www.facebook.com/reel/705322158934836 Present Need: $300 for (installment #169 of 400) $120,000 3-story, flood-proof (9-foot-high backfill) raised parking garage/ school chapel & teachers' apartments next to BCA's present building. $39,300 remaining. Ongoing Projects:
LOOKING AHEAD: 2025 Christmas gifts for 610 BCA students: black shoes for school uniform. Needed: 610 x $20 = $12,200 Raised: $4,927. Still needed: $7,073. |
| 12/25/2025 | Merry Christmas! (12/25/25) UPDATE ON PAUL'S HEALTH (1/1/26): Continued bedrest and heavily medicated. Alternating frequently from chills to profuse sweating. Each day gets a little stronger, but still cannot go outside, nor bathe himself, in concern for falling or otherwise losing consciousness. (I am trying to write a book…already on chapter 3!) Praise God that, during the visit of the Auburn, New York missions team (which arrives on 1/4/26), they will bring two of the BCA classes to the shopping mall to help them choose & try on their new black shoes, which are the special Christmas gift from their sponsors for 2025! Please pray for fifty of the pastors & church leaders (from our 31 churches) who will be participating in a series of seminars these next two weeks. From the Auburn (New York) team, Pastor Jim will be teaching discipleship and the next week the seminar speaker will be Pastor William from a Baptist church in Utah. "We'll get you home before Christmas!" After 2 weeks in the hospital, I couldn't wait to get home. One by one, the nurses, each day, had removed another appliance from my life support system. Finally, on Tuesday, December 23, they removed the intravenous and all the needles which connected it and other "stuff" to my arms. "You can leave in about five hours," informed one of the doctors, "once we have you checked out, and have released your prescriptions and medications." Inside, I was thinking, "Praise the Lord, that I was able to escape without needing an MRI!" I get claustrophobic easily, and the enormous MRI machine slides you into this freezing, tiny tube, where for an hour you stare at your surrounding cocoon while it clicks and burps, taking pictures of your brain. There in the hospital bed, I asked Elvie, "Could I have a bath? I feel so grungy, and my body aches from lying down for so long!" Against her better judgement, Elvie helped me take my first few steps in twelve days. Oh, the warm water felt so very good on my skin, as Elvie scrubbed away the hours & days of innumerable needle pokes & probing tests & bandages & lethargy. "Oh, I feel a little dizzy," I whispered to Elvie, after she'd dressed my newly-cleansed body in the bathroom. Suddenly, she cried out to our friends outside in the room, "Help! Pastor Paul has passed out!" strong arms lifted unconscious me and carried me over to the chair next to my bed. There, I woke up and passed out a few more times. Finally, I awoke from my dream and said, "Oh, that felt good! And it was a nice nap, too!" The doctor didn't think so. None of the docs did. And Elvie was still shivering in worry. "You may have had a seizure. We will have to take an MRI! Oh, and it looks like you will not get home for Christmas after all. Maybe by the New Year?" I asked sarcastically (frustratingly under my breath), "WHICH new year?" Fortunately, it was not a seizure. They only found scar tissue from a mini stroke which I had suffered 15 years ago. However, I actually was released on Christmas Day, as they outlawed me from moving too quickly, saying Elvie has to bathe me for awhile. Since our home has no hot water heater, each day Elvie boils water on the stove in prep for my bath. Meanwhile at BCA the students were having their Christmas celebrations, and Teacher Chona led her 2nd graders in their carefully prepared dance presentation. Every day for the past few weeks, between lessons, the children would practice for this very special day. Each time, as they improved, their excitement, energy and joy became more and more evident. "Remember for whom you are performing," Teacher Chona advised. "You are performing for your parents, for your fellow classmates, and especially, for your Savior Jesus, whose birthday it is!" This comment hit home with the kids, for birthdays, in fact all holidays, are a high point in the lives of almost all Filipinos. They love to celebrate, and what better way was there to celebrate, than to honor another year for the celebrant Himself? Chona's 2nd-Graders came into class each day anticipating their practice time. With this in mind, Chona used the practice times as a reward for performing well in their other subjects. On Monday last week, practice time was sandwiched between the subjects of English and GMRC (Good Manners and Right Conduct). GMRC had been reintroduced into the Philippine Core Curriculum during COVID, as the Department of Education felt a deeper need to focus on universal values, ethics, and social behavior. Previously, it was taught as part of Values Education Curriculum. During COVID however, students had become socially inept with interpersonal interaction declared illegal to avoid spread of the pandemic. Now, the increased emphasis on respect, honesty, and good citizenship was welcome at all grades, especially those of high school. Since the Christmas dance practice and performance were based historically on tribal dances, they fit into her Makabansa subjects. In Makabansa, Filipino students learn more about being Filipinos by engaging and unifying, especially younger students: connecting their understanding of their country with their own well-being and creativity. The students would be graded on their performance. Last Monday morning was Chona's schedule to give the weekly Bible lesson for her fellow teachers before the students arrived on campus. Confident that this established a deeper, more personal connection with God, Chona entitled her devotional, "Trusting in God's Plan". Referring to Proverbs 3:5-6, she encouraged complete reliance on God, not human intellect, promising His guidance in return: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight". It was a reminder for them to always trust God in all their ways and they will never go wrong. He will lead us in the right path. He guides us in our journeys through life. "The Lord wants us to always trust him at all times. Right now, as our school's dear founder Pastor Paul, struggles to stay alive in that hospital bed, we know that his true strength comes, not from the body God has given him, but from his precious Lord & Savior Jesus Christ!" After weekly flag raising exercises, Chona's thirty 2nd graders followed her, single file with hands on each other's shoulders, into their classroom, up the six stairs and behind the stage-left. In her English subject, Chona had them practice reading the Christmas story from Luke 2 in the Bible. She then passed out worksheets, to answer simple questions to help them in their reading comprehension. In GMRC, she discussed how Jesus is the Good Shepherd in Psalm 23. Between the two classes though, was the practice. They even had reserved the stage at that hour so they could practice as a type of "dress rehearsal". Once their performance was complete on their very, very special day, the 2nd graders chanted together the song, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!" Then to each of the students, Chona gave a special, wrapped-up treat. Until next time… Let the islands…rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH:
Present Need: $300 for (installment #170 of 400) $120,000 3-story, flood-proof (9-foot-high backfill) raised parking garage/ school chapel & teachers' apartments next to BCA's present building. $39,000 remaining. Ongoing Projects:
LOOKING AHEAD: 2025 Christmas gifts for 610 BCA students: black shoes for school uniform. Needed: 610 x $20 = $12,200 Raised: $5,027. Still needed: $6,973. |
| 12/18/2025 | UPDATE ON PAUL'S HEALTH: Bedrest & homebound for at least a month. Heart not strong enough for flying until late February (plane pressurization). Heavily medicated. Follow-up doctors' appointments (cardiologist, pneumatologist, urologist & neurologist) on January 6. I cannot self-bathe, but I can feed myself, and am breathing freely. No strenuous exercise allowed, which is making my muscles painful. Lost 25 pounds. I have grown quite the beard, though ?? Praise God that gifts were sent through Christian Aid Mission over October & November for this ministry: $45: BCA Children's Emergency Medical Fund (for life & death cases of BCA students, ages 2 through 22); $6,759: Student sponsorships; $81 special gifts for students; $72: BCA's Jericho Free-Lunch program; $2,139.30: construction of high school classrooms, plus evangelistic outreaches by former BCA youth. Praise God as well, that to date, all my hospital expenses have been covered by loving friends globally, through "Go Fund Me" and other means. One doctor friend in the USA has an atheist buddy who heard about the need and also gave! Please pray for the missions team which is arriving from our son PJ's church in Auburn, New York, Sunday, January 4. Their tentative schedule is as follows: SUN: church, get settled & unpacked. MON: BCA flag raising, visit each classroom & clinic, teach. TUE: Christmas shoe shopping at mall with BCA students, visit three churches for stuffie gift-giving and children's Christmas performances. WED: BCA morning prayer meeting and discipleship seminar for pastors, parents and staff. More stuffie gift-giving and church visits. Take barge to nearby Samal Island. THU: Work at BCA's orphanage, sorting & shelving books in BCA's new community library there. FRI: Pastors' Discipleship seminary taught by Pastor Jim on PJ's team, for pastors and church leaders in BCA's ten churches on the island. SAT: Take barge back to mainland and visit jungle for outreach among tribal people (especially children). SUN: Church. Pastor Jim speaking. PJ & team leading music. Pack. MON: Return to USA. Please also pray that Elvie heals form her sore throat & laryngitis. Caring for me in my illness has taken its toll on her too. "I was once your BCA student!" I heard the voice, while strapped down by hands & feet in the hospital bed. The feeding tubes which passed four inches through my nose & down my throat, plus large plastic intubation assembly (in my mouth) to help me breathe, made me look more like Frankenstein than human. Elvie did the talking, since I was unable. This nurse-in-training was not assigned to me, but once she had heard that a Barner was in ICU Room #9, she just had to come over and see for herself. "I graduated from your school. From a poor family, we could never have had the funds to pay for me to attend elementary or preschool. But with the head start you gave me, after graduation, I continued on to nurse's training!" Seeing her there in her lavender nurse uniform and white cap, my faced beamed what my mouth could not express. A shy med-tech student also visited, who had schooled for free at BCA from 5 grades of preschool (Playschool, Nursery 1 & 2, Kinder 1 &2), right up through 6th grade, for a total of eleven years. In essence, I had known this young lady since she was born. She is like a daughter. (She had graduated before we were enabled to open high school grades). Their precious, humble family of seven had lived in a tiny roofless shack, open to the sun, rain & stars. During my 15-day hospital stay, Elvie & Abby & I prayed for/with & sang to doctors, former students, and "watchers" for fellow patients. One Muslim dad, in tears, approached Elive regarding his daughter. "Her illness is similar to your husband's, except that her sepsis has spread to the brain and she is incoherent. She does not even know who I am! Please pray to your God!" Without hesitating, Elvie held the hand of this devastated unbeliever and prayed for our God, through His Son Jesus Christ, to place His healing touch upon this man's daughter. Elvie had a virtual church in that waiting room, as "watchers" would stay in beds there around the clock, day after day and week after week, until their patients either died or were released. Reading the Bible together, crying together and singing together, we gained a reputation. In fact, when I was scheduled for my angiogram, which if necessary, would have been immediately followed-up by heart surgery (angioplasty), the last thing the nurses heard as we were wheeled out of the ICU room were three songs form our cellphone on YouTube: "Final Countdown…We Are the Champions… & The Hallelujah Chorus" (with full orchestration from a church in Texas!). When I had come into the hospital on December 11, I was "Patient Barner", but when they wheeled me out on Christmas Day, the doctors referred to me on the PA system as "Pastor Paul". Meanwhile at BCA, every morning the students arrived on their school buses, and immediately gathered into small groups around the school gym, to pray for my survival and recovery. In tears these precious children, from preschool through high school, poured out their hearts in praying for my heart to function properly, the pain to subside, and the poison to be released from my lungs. The more they prayed, (along with thousands like you globally), the less I had to ring the bell for the nurse to come with a suction hose to clear out the phlegm that had, for the thousandth time, clogged the intubation apparatus which dominated my mouth and face, causing gagging reflexes in the back of my throat. Parents and teachers, bus drivers and others from the church joined the growing army of BCA juvenile prayer warriors in the BCA gym. In the hospital, one of the doctors commented to Elvie, "You are praying people. Keep doing what you are doing, because it is working! By the way, can your beautiful daughter sing for us again in that angelic voice of hers?" Thank you too for lifting me up during this trying time. I have already read three novels since coming home. While the medication has my overworked glands sometimes pouring with sweat, and then, just a few minutes later shivering with cold, and while the black & blue marks from IV on my arms, diaper rash & bedsores gradually subside (but not quick enough), we know that…Hallelujah! We are the Champions through our Precious Savior Jesus who fought for our souls at the cross of Calvary, and continues to intercede for us every moment of every hour of every day of our lives, until we see Him face to face on that sweet and grand, glorious day! Until next time… Let the islands…rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH: A. PJ's latest Late Night Worship: CHRISTMAS #480 - Christmas Karol-oke Tune in every Tuesday! HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING • O COME O COME EMMANUEL • SILENT NIGHT After inviting the Auburn Alliance Church Christmas Choir to our house for rehearsal, we finished the night with hot cocoa and karaoke! PJ Barner 3 minutes, 10 seconds. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1353152922615035 Ongoing Projects:
LOOKING AHEAD: 2025 Christmas gifts for 610 BCA students: black shoes for school uniform. Needed: 610 x $20 = $12,200 Raised: $5,027. Still needed: $6,973.
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| 12/13/2025 | Update from PJ Hi friends! We have an emergency. My dad is in critical condition. As many of you know, Dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer in November and began taking a hormone blocker. To attend to some ministry matters before his scheduled return to the US for treatment in February, he and Mom traveled to Davao City, Philippines on Dec 7. We saw them off at the airport; he was feeling well, only experiencing some mild hip pain from the cancer. Within 24hrs after arrival, Dad had a heart attack. He is now in the ICU at Davao Doctor's Hospital with a severe, non-cancer-related infection that went to his blood which caused heart damage and possible pneumonia and other complications. He is medically unable to travel back to the US. He has been in the ICU for the last two days. They've been monitoring him closely. Dad told the doctors he couldn't breathe. His oxygen levels dropped drastically and he needed to be intubated. Mom had to sign the consent form for intubation, and the doctors immediately rushed her out. She is understandably terrified and weeping right now. The last words he was able to say to her were, "I love you. I love you. Now I can sleep." He is fighting for his life right now. The procedure was completed but he is resisting the intubation even after 6 sedations. UPDATE: He is able to sleep, his body can rest and get the oxygen he needs. The situation is compounded by the financial pressure. We must pay over $1,000 a day in cash for his critical ICU care here in Davao due to having no insurance coverage in the Philippines. This cost is unsustainable for us.
Any donations are appreciated! If you feel called to send support, here are several options:
Thank you so much for reading all this! Our deepest thanks to everyone who has donated and prayed! I will post another update as soon as we have one. Thank you for lifting our dad up to the Great Physician. You can receive more up to date information from PJ and Elvie on Paul's Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/paul.barner.5 |
| 12/12/2025 | Update on Paul's Medical Condition Paul was recently diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. He is on a hormone blocker to stop the cancer from advancing. Paul and Elvie decided to go back to the Philippines to be able to take care of some things before he would return in February for treatment options. He was not feeling any symptoms from the cancer besides some hip pain. However, the day after he got to the Philippines, he became very sick, not necessarily related to the cancer. He is in ICU right now in Davao with urosepsis, he had a heart attack at some point and pulmonary congestion and other issues. They have to pay over $1000 a day while he is in the ICU at the Doctor's Hospital in Davao. He cannot travel back to the US unless his condition improves. |
| 12/4/2025 | Happy Bonifacio Day, Philippines! (11/30/25) Please pray for plans for our return to the Philippines next week. A gift of $1,000 was given by a Japanese friend at a church we spoke at recently. These funds, along with others given for the same purpose, will be used to finish constructing the "community library" building and shelves at BCA's orphanage. This library will provide Christian books for neighbors to read, and theology books for the local pastors to study. Praise God that on Sunday (11/30), both Elvie & I visited New Beginnings Alliance Church in Poughkeepsie, New York, giving the Missions Moment, on how thankful the thousands of children have been for their free schooling over these past 28 years since we opened the Barner Christian Academy, with some who have become professors, pastors & engineers. Pastor Denes brought out from Genesis 6:5-8, reasons why Jesus came to Earth on that first Christmas morning. Praise God also that our daughter Abby, since she couldn't fly back to New York (from Chicago) for our family Thanksgiving, joined her roommate's family in Indiana, and also helped lead the singing Sunday in that Indiana church! Abby will also perform in Moody Bible Institute's "Candlelight Carols" this next weekend (12/5&6). Praise God as well that our annual family Thanksgiving get-together lasted two days long, and was filled not only with food, but with rousing games and singing and discussion of everything under the sun and also praying for each other. Also, my lifelong friend Wally joined us too, since he had driven up more than 6 hours from Virginia, and his own family's gathering was the next day. "Paul, you have cancer." As Paul's prostate PSA levels have gradually increased over the years, his New York doctor (Bob) began to be concerned. After a multitude of tests (MRI, Ultrasound, CT & PET scans, biopsies, etc.), medicine was prescribed. During our family Thanksgiving, I informed my siblings, who agreed to pray for my recovery. On Sunday, as our last speaking engagement (of 120 churches, this 16-month furlough), I mentioned, in passing, the prognosis. After worship, many came up to both Elvie & I, informing us of their own treatments and success stories regarding prostate cancer. Some even gathered around us and held our hands, praying for God's intervention to eradicate the disease so that I could get back to training for my next Ironman race, this coming August. Meanwhile overseas in the Philippines, Ernesto, the intern pastor whom we have installed at BCA's orphanage, gave his own report. "We are preparing for your return next week, Pastor Paul & Madam Elvie!" Ernesto told how the orphans keep hearing every day, "Double time! Double time!" as they attempt to cut the grass and pull the weeds on the 5-acre property and in the garden at BCA's orphanage. Each evening, Pastor Ernesto leads the group Bible study time, as he has scheduled each child to have his or her turn to present what God has shown them through scriptures that week. Yet in the middle of their time together one day last week, they could feel the ground shaking! Immediately they all hit the ground, and just stayed laying on their stomachs, away from any falling debris, to finish the lesson! There had been a multi-church youth rally & concert (of over a hundred youth, both in-person and online) a few days ago. They had asked Elvie and I to send a five-minute video of greeting and guidance on how to raise a Christian family. Since they had requested not only Elvie and I, but also our son PJ's family, the Barners had a combined total of ten minutes to share our faith in how God has directed us to lead our kids the way God wants us to. However, while some of our orphans were present at the youth concert, Ernesto's son Prince and couldn't make it, since he had been chosen by his school to compete in a drum & lyre contest. Then, God helped the kids to meet some of their financial needs when they harvested the fruit of the 50 coconut trees on the orphanage campus. The total income was $30, and they tithed $3 for giving to the poor. Ernesto also stayed up all night to prepare a Bible message for the monthly Pastors' rally, about 3 hours away on the other side of the island (in Tukunga), for which he was chosen as the speaker. His title was, "Committed in Service" from Proverbs 16:3-4. Finally, Pastor Ernesto's wife Nena, while the kids ae at school, leads a Bible study for women. They rotate which home they will meet in, and the other ladies, mostly unbelievers, are being led by the Holy Spirit closer and closer to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ! Until next time… Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/6118435 TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH: A. PJ's Late Night Worship Master list - PJ Barner: actor · singer · director. YouTube: #300-201: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLItygvjoq26FzOhEZ3k41BCzNbiSZ-qw2 B. #400-301: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLItygvjoq26EAnhq36C3vdyKCuYefKUop C. #478 - Happy Thanksgiving! Tune in every Tuesday! THANKFULNESS SONG We're teaching Azi to say thanks everyday! PJ Barner is with Briana and Azariah Barner in Auburn, NY. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1507807873606770/?s=fb_shorts_profile&stack_idx=0 Present Need: $$303 for: Printers- repair $55, School building maintenance (carpentry & painting materials) $248.
Looking Ahead: 2025 Christmas gifts for 610 BCA students: black shoes for school uniform. Upcoming (General) Schedule: November-December, 2025: Paul & Elvie's 2025 USA Speaking/Visiting tour: (tentative): NOV & DEC, 2025: NY, IL, Philippines |
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January 14, 2026
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