Council of churches urges Filipinos to become 'instruments of peace'

The head of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches or (PCEC) urged Filipinos on Christmas eve to pray, like St. Francis of Assisi: "Lord make me an instrument of thy peace." In a statement, Bishop Efraim M. Tendero, D.D. National Director of the PCEC, quoted Philistines 2:3-4: "Having become His children, we should be instruments of peace. This means we should do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility we should count others more significant than ourselves. We should look not only to our own interests but also to the interests of others." Tendero, who is also the executive director of the Philippine Relief and Development Services, said that Christmas should also be a time for Filipoinos to give glory to God and to bring peace around them as written in Luke 2:14. "Amidst all the merrymaking, gift-giving, and feasting that we indulge ourselves in, we need to refocus our celebration on two things: giving glory to God and promoting peace around us... "This peace is more than the cessation of strife. It is one that springs from enjoying the fullness of life that Jesus has promised. We can experience said peace by recognizing Jesus as our Savior and Lord." The bishop also reminded Filipinos to think whether or not all the things he has done in his or her life was really meant to give glory to God. "Let us then pause and ask ourselves this question: Are all the things that I'm doing in my life today results in giving God the recognition that is due him? Whether we are serving in the government or managing our own business, or fulfilling our civic and domestic responsibilities, all our endeavors will only have value if they please Him and exalt His name," he said. The PCEC is the largest network of evangelical denominations, local churches, and parachurch and mission organizations in the Philippines. - GMANews.TV