Latest News

Thu May 10 23:05:37 2012

See the Burke video (with the music removed because it must be copyrighted). Click here for Chrome, Firefox or Opera or here for Internet Explorer.

Tue Mar 27 21:37:01 2012

See their update with prayer requests.

Thu Jan 19 18:31:25 2012

VINCE AND LORI BURKE - SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 2012
WHAT DO WE DO?
WE HAVE SERVED AS FULL TIME MISSIONARIES IN MANILA SINCE 1992. WE HAVE BEEN SERVING THE FILIPINO CHURCH SINCE 1997. I BEGAN AS ELDER FULL TIME WITH CHRIST COMMISSION FELLOWSHIP (CCF). I WAS TASKED TO TRAIN YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND BEGIN A YOUTH MINISTRY INITIALLY. WE ENGAGED IN EVANGELISM…DISCIPLESHIP. I WAS PRIVILEGED TO PREACH, TEACH, DISCIPLE AND TRAIN LEADERS IN 7-8 CHURCHES IN OUR NETWORK. I ALSO AM INVOLVED IN A REGULAR BASIS IN 4 CHURCHES NOT PART OF CCF…ON 4 DIFFERENT ISLANDS: CAGAYAN DE ORO AND DAVAO MINDANAO, CORON PALAWAN, CEBU CITY, LUZON – MANILA
I SERVE ON 3 BOARDS: OUR MISSION – FIRST LOVE INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES PHILIPPINES; AWANA PHILIPPINES; CCF ELDERS
WE GET TO TEACH BIBLE STUDIES: BANK (ASIA DEVELOPMENT BANK); OFFICES ; SCHOOLS; HOMES; MILITARY, GOVERNMENT; LOTS OF RETREATS
WHAT ARE FUTURE GOALS AND INITIATIVES?
OUR PLANS ARE TO RETURN TO MANILA THE SUMMER OF 2012:
TO MENTOR CAMPUS MISSIONARIES
TO HELP DEVELOP SHORT TERM MISSIONS FOR FILIPINOS
TO TEACH AND WORK IN GLOBAL LEADERSHIP CENTER (GLC- IN-HOUSE BIBLE SCHOOL)
TO MINISTER TO SATELITE CHURCHES AND NON CCF CHURCHES
TO RAISE UP, TRAIN AND SEND FILIPINOS TO TEACH ENGLISH IN HARBIN, CHINA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MISSION HILLS CHURCH OF DENVER
WHAT HAVE WE BEEN DOING SINCE AUGUST 2010?
WE VISITED CHURCHES AND GOT OUR KIDS SETTLED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE PLACES
WE VISITED CHURCHES AND SUPPORTERS IN TEXAS, MADISON, WI. AND CHICAGO
WE HAVE EXTENDED OUR HOME ASSIGNMENT FOR THESE REASONS: LORI’S TRIAL IS STILL PENDING; KELLY AND VINCE III GRADUATE IN MAY; WE HAVE DEBT.
I WENT TO MANILA WITH PASTOR TERRY JARVIS, MISSIONS PASTOR AT MISSION HILLS CHURCH IN DENVER, CO. HE HAS ASKED ME TO HELP HIM RECRUIT AND TRAIN FILIPINOS TO TEACH ENGLISH IN CHINA. WE HAD MANY PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS DURING OUR VISIT. I PREACHED IN BOTH CCF CHURCHES. WE ARE ACTIVELY PURSUING THIS ENDEAVOR NOW ON THE STATESIDE END. WE MAY MAKE ANOTHER TRIP TO MANILA AND CHINA IN MARCH 2012.
WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR JANUARY TO AUGUST 2012?
WE ARE CURRENTLY ON HOME ASSIGNMENT, STAYING IN DENVER, COLORADO, WE HOPE TO RAISE MORE SUPPORT THIS YEAR…WE HOPE TO VISIT 2-3 CHURCHES IN CALIFORNIA IN FEBRUARY-MARCH. WE CONTINUE TO CARE AND PAY ATTENTION TO MY DAD WHO HAS CANCER; ESTABLISH THE KIDS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE PLACES, (ALL OVER THE U.S.); WRITE, (I HAVE BEEN IN DIALOGUE WITH A VERY POPULAR SINGER IN THE PHILIPPINES WHO WANTS TO WORK WITH ME TO PUT MY WORSHIP SONGS TO MUSIC). WE HOPE TO IMPROVE UPON OUR COMMUNICATION WITH SUPPORTERS. LORI CONTINUES TO MARKET HER FLOUR SACK BAGS WITH SOME DEGREE OF SUCCESS. WE HOPE TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF STORES SELLING LORI’ S WARES. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF FLOUR SACK SALES THIS YEAR AND HOPE FURTHER INCREASE WILL HELP SUPPORT DOZENS OF FAMILES IN THE PHILIPPINES.
BURKE PRAYER REQUESTS 2012
1. Vince's dad had cancer and is undergoing chemo treatments. Pray for his salvation.
2. Lori Burke was hit while sitting in her car at a red light six years ago. She was injured and underwent treatment and therapy. The insurance company of the man who hit her has refused to cover all of the medical expenses. A trial was set for November 2011. Apparently the judge delayed things, as it appears to us so far, indefinitely. We are having trouble with the lawyer, not returning calls etc. Please pray for a positive closure to this problem. In January 2012 we will “turn up the heat,” with the lawyer and do whatever we can to speed up the trial
3. Pray for God's best for the Burke kids...
 Kelly, (age 28), is a graduate student at the New York Academy of Art…she graduates May 2012
 Tami , (age 26), is working in Chicago hoping to go overseas soon.
 Vince III, (age 22), is a Senior at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. He graduates May 2012.
 Julie, (age 20), is a student at Moody Bible Institute in Spokane, WA. She hopes to transfer to MBI Chicago in Fall of 2012 for her third year.
4. Pray for Vince and Lori, as we prepare to return to Manila, Philippines in the summer of 2012.
• We hope to raise $1000-1500 more support per month. This will accommodate more travel for ministry purposes in other parts of Asia
• We will need to find a home and car upon our return to Manila.
• We will begin new ministry mentoring twenty Filipino campus missionaries.
• We will be part of a team that will prepare and teach in our Global Leadership Center, (ministry training school)
• We will continue to minister in various islands of the Philippines.
• We will engage in training and leading teams of Filipinos to other countries for short-term missions ministry.
• We will continue our ministries of teaching, preaching, discipling and leadership training.
• We will lead a short term group from Plano Bible Chapel in Manila in July 2012. Plans are currently underway for this endeavor.
5. Pray for Vince and Lori to have hearts for God and solid spiritual lives.
6. Pray for the Burke children to prosper spiritually, find a godly mate, and
serve God with their lives.

Sat Dec 24 16:09:00 2011

You gotta watch this Merry Christmas from the Burke kids:

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/83OZoVTELGL6C9sGsLhd.

Sat Dec 17 20:01:35 2011

HELLO AND MERRY CHRISTMAS,
WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR LORD'S BIRTH AGAIN, IT NEVER GROWS OLD. WE HOPE YOU AND YOURS HAVE A SUPERB HOLIDAY SEASON. MAY YOU BE RICHLY BLESSED. I HAVE ATTACHED TWO VERSIONS Version 1 Version 2 OF OUR CHRISTMAS CARD-PICTURE-LETTER. I HAVE ALSO ATTACHED A COPY OF A BIBLE READING CHART, FOR READING THRU THE BIBLE IN A YEAR, HOPE ITS HELPFUL FOR YOU. I AM GOING TO READ THRU THE BIBLE AGAIN NEXT YEAR. I MAY TRY TO READ THRU COMMENTARIES BY A GOOD FRIEND TOM CONSTABLE AS WELL. TOM WAS AN ELDER AT THE CHURCH I WORKED AT IN PLANO. HE WAS ALSO A PROFESSOR AT DALLAS SEMINARY WHILE I WAS THERE. HE HAS A GREAT WEBSITE WITH FREE ACCESS TO EXCELLENT NOTES ON THE WHOLE BIBLE. HERE IT IS: http://www.soniclight.com/
WE WISH YOU THE BEST FOR 2012. TAKE CARE
IN HIS GRACE
VINCE AND LORI BURKE

Mon Nov 21 17:07:16 2011

See their recent email.

Thu Nov 3 16:11:28 2011

A short note from October.

Thu Sep 22 22:49:54 2011

See a recent thank you note.

Mon Sep 19 13:31:19 2011

Dear Friends and Family, September 2011
There are lots of things going on right now, and I want to share them with you. I have felt all kinds of privileges as of late. This seems to be the word that often comes to mind. A big event recently in Tami’s life was her solo bike trip from Chicago to New York City. She had a great trip, none of our worries about her traveling alone materialized, thankfully. On the contrary she was wonderfully treated by so many…did you get a look at her blog. Here is the link: http://www.wix.com/tamiburke/bike?ref=nf I am proud or her, she is a good kid. I am in the Philippines now for a short trip. I was able to get a multi-city ticket for the same price as a ticket to Denver to Manila. So, I spent the weekend with Kelly in Brooklyn. I got to be in NYC on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, how's that for cool? Actually, cool isn’t the best word, but incredibly meaningful is close. We were able to bike all over NYC. On my first night we were able to attend a 9/11 concert by the New York Philharmonic, for free. Tickets were given first come first serve. We were miraculously able to get 2 tickets 10 minutes before the show at the cancelation table…our seats were four rows back…what a privilege. Kelly took me to Brooklyn Tabernacle for church on 9/11 after attending the memorial service at ground zero. Wow. In the afternoon we heard the testimony of the last survivor pulled from the rubble of the towers after they collapsed, she was the last person pulled out of the twin towers 10 years ago. What a privilege for me to be able to be there and hear her. I got a grand tour of Kelly’s school, what a great place. I’m very proud of her and her work. Both Vince and Julie are back in place at school. I am proud of both of them, they worked so hard this summer. I left NYC on 9/12 to Manila. I have a pastor friend from Denver who wants to recruit Filipinos to teach English in China. He arrived in Manila on the 16th from Denver. I am and will be very busy speaking at CCF and connecting my pastor friend to the right people for his China project. I spoke to our youth meeting on 9/17. I will speak today, Sunday the 18th at our South side church, then at prayer time on Tuesday night 9/20. I will connect him with as many people as I can while he is there from 9/16-21. After he leaves I will speak at our North side church, 4 services totaling 20,000 people, can you believe it, what a blessing and privilege. I leave on the 26th for Dallas where I will share with two of our supporting churches. Phew. Pray for me as I try to crank out the sermons now so I can enjoy my time here as much as possible. Pray that my pastor friend has a profitable trip and that this China endeavor opens up in a great way. After all that I return to Denver, then we hope to see some closure to Lori's trial thing November 1. We need prayer. I'm not mooching but if you could pray for our financial situation, college is a killer. Also could you pray for Lori's trial, pray it comes and goes November 1. Thank you for your prayers and support. We would love to hear from you. If you can give us a call in the states at 847-620-9688 we would love that. Drop us an email at vinceburke60068@yahoo.com. God Bless. In His Grace,
Vince and Lori Burke

Mon Aug 8 14:55:17 2011

DEAR FRIENDS AUGUST 2011

Hello and Greetings and a Big Hug and a huge Thank You from Vince and Lori Burke, still in Denver. We have a really big prayer request for now...since Lori's trial is pending we are staying at least until November. We need housing beginning September 1. We have some leads, but nothing definite yet, please pray for a good solution to this need. Pray for all of our kids, to succeed in the Lord's eyes, to find a mate who loves the Lord, to prosper spiritually and make good choices. Pray for our health. Thank you for your support, financially, relationally and emotionally, as well as in prayer.
I, Vince will be traveling over the next few months. I will head to Madison, Wisconsin and Chicago area August 8-16 to share in the retirement service of my spiritual father, Dick Sisson. In September I will take a short trip to Manila for a cool ministry opportunity. We have been attending a great church here in Denver and have come to know the missions pastor, Terry Jarvis and his wife. They spent 30 years with Operation Mobilization in Europe and are now working in this church in Denver. The church is starting a business in the city of Harbin (simplified Chinese: 哈尔滨; pinyin: Hā'ěrbīn; Mandarin pronunciation: [xɑ́ɻpín]), is the capital and largest city of Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China. The business will be a school to teach English as a second language. As we talked about this opportunity, I got real excited because he had already been thinking of recruiting Filipinos as teachers because of the fact that they are Asian and already speak English. I told him that the church we work with in Manila, Christ Commission Fellowship, (CCF), would be the perfect pool to recruit from. In any case, he would like me to bring him to CCF this September 2011 and see about the possibility of making this kind of partnership happen. So I will be flying to Manila to assist Terry in establishing this opportunity September 12-26. Once I get back to Manila more permanently, if this were to push through, I could assist in making it work. I will arrange for Terry to meet with all the ministry heads and/or teams of small groups, church planting, leadership training and missions to not only discuss the China opportunities but also to learn from CCF. I thought the opportunity and philosophy of the whole endeavor sounded right in line with CCF and an exciting opportunity. After Manila I will fly to Texas to speak in one of our churches. Thanks for your prayers about this.
We would love to hear from you. Give us a call at 847-620-9688. If you are ever in, near or passing through Denver, please give us a call. Drop us an email at vinceburke60068@yahoo.com.

Thanks so much for your prayers on our behalf.
God Bless.
In His Grace,
Vince and Lori Burke

Tue Jul 26 16:04:00 2011

See a short note.

Tue Jun 7 17:18:05 2011

This annual report gives a summary of their past year.

Sat May 14 17:22:17 2011

Here is a short note.

Mon May 2 11:36:24 2011

Hi Y'all,
This is just a short one...with three short prayer requests...
1. Tami is moving to Denver with us for the next few months, pray for her as she decides on her next step. I am currently in Chicago to help her move.
2. Lori's trial has been delayed...again...ugh. Pray that we can get this resolved before our desired return to the Philippines, (August 2011).
3. My sister, Joyce Bennett called me at 5:30 a.m Chicago time. Her husband had just been rushed off to the hospital in very serious condition. It was not good, I picked her up and we hurried to the hospital. He was already gone by the time we got there. His name was Guy. He had a stroke after an accident at work about 15 years ago. As a result of the stroke, he was confined to a wheel chair and suffered constant pain. Sad story. Pray for us as we make cremation arrangements and attempt to help my sister as she grieves. There will be no services in keeping with Guy's requests.
Thanks a bunch
In His Grace
Vince Burke

Thu Mar 24 19:12:47 2011

See the quarterly update.

Wed Jan 12 20:45:09 2011

Dear Friends and Family January 2011

I had a panic attack wake-up the other morning. It was one of those wake-ups when your worry list seems a bit more pronounced than normal. My thoughts ran...“We gotta get health insurance, my knee is buggin me, I wonder if our retirement plan is gonna be adequate, kids in college, kids future, Lori's trial, health, our future etc...” I've been there before, but this attack was unexpected. Fortunately, I had devotions soon after I got out of bed. Providentially, I happened to be in Matthew 11:28-30. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” God has come through before, so, we will trust Him to continue being faithful. Thank you for your part in that regard. Let me share a few highlights of the last few months, followed by a couple of prayer requests.
NOVEMBER 2010: Lori and I took a trip to Chicago for Thanksgiving. It was great to shoot up to Madison to visit with Dick and Carol Sisson and share with the warm folks at Gateway Community Church in Middleton. We really enjoyed a reunion at High Point Church in Madison as well. We haven't spent Thanksgiving as a family with my brother, Dad and sister for about 5 years, so this was a welcome event for all of us. I was able to speak to the folks at the North Side Gospel Center in Chicago just before Lori and I returned to Denver.
DECEMBER: All of our kids were able to join us in Denver for the Christmas season. Great stuff. We even got to go skiing, Vince III was our only snow-boarder. Vince III also turned 21 at the end of the month. Tami turns 25 this January. Wow, we be getting old. We didn't have a white Christmas in Denver, no problem with me. The kids are back in school and work, so let me share some prayer requests...
1. My Dad turns 80 on February 19, 2011. I will head to Chicago in time for this milestone. Please continue to pray for his health and salvation.
2. Vince III continues at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He applied for an internship-job with College Works Painting as branch manager. I guess its a hard job to get. He had to get through 4 interviews...which he did, and got the job! He will need a car for this position, so we are praying for wisdom in that pursuit. Please pray with us as we seek to get a good used car for him.
3. I will try to be a part of two missions conferences in Chicago in tandem with my visit for my Dad's 80th. One will be in Chicago at South Park Church. The other will be at High Point Church in Madison, WI. I hope to see some of you Chicagoans and Madisonians that I haven't seen yet.
4. We need to raise more support before we return to Manila in August. I'm not sure how much yet...please pray for this mathematically challenged guy to have wisdom in determining just how much...and how to go about getting it. I am better at prayer than math, so I guess that's good.
5. We have no health insurance currently. It's hard to get when you are only in the states for a year or so...one of the quirks of our quirky life. Pray for both Lori and I as we seek to get physically refurbished before our return to Manila.
6. Lori's trial has been postponed until April. Ugh. I am not sure our lawyer is motivated for such a small potatoes case as ours. It looks like the other side has reached our for a settlement again. Please pray for closure and victory.

I guess I have tortured you enough with these things. Thank you so much for your ongoing love, attention, faithfulness and generosity as it concerns us. We are so grateful.
In His Grace
Vince and Lori Burke

Wed Jan 5 20:36:53 2011

See a letter from September and a biography.

Sun Jan 2 20:53:43 2011

See their Christmas card.

Tue Dec 21 16:41:12 2010

Here are newsletters from November and December.

Biography

First Love International Ministries; P.O. Box 15836

Loves Park, Illinois 61132-5836

(815) 229-3065

e-mail: vinceburke60068@yahoo.com

HOME AREA: Chicago, Illinois

HOME CHURCH: High Point Church, Madison, Wisconsin; North Side Gospel Center, Chicago, Illinois

EDUCATION: Vince: New Tribes Bible Institute, Waukesha, Wisconsin (Missions); Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois (B.A. - Missions); University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin (Communications); Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas (M.A. - Biblical Studies. Lori: Dallas Bible College, Dallas, Texas (Missions).

FAMILY: Kelly - September 13, 1983, Tami - January 14, 1986, Vince III - December 29, 1989, Julie - October 30, 1991.

CONVERSION: Vince became a Christian at the age of 17. He was invited to a high school youth meeting, and the Lord opened his heart to respond to the gospel. “The Lord changed my life so dramatically I created a stir with all my friends and family.”

Lori’s father, a missionary, talked to her one day about salvation when she was 4. she decided then that she wanted Jesus to pay for her sins, and she wanted to live in heaven with Him after she died.

CALL: Shortly after Vince was saved, he began to be educated and inspired about missions. The emphasis on missions in his church, North Side Gospel Center in Chicago, was strong. He gave his life to the Lord for world missions at this time.

Lori about 12 when she realized her responsibility for her relationship with Christ. At that time she decided she wanted Christ first in her life, before anyone or anything else. To her, this also meant doing what He wanted to with her life, and she was willing to work overseas if He had that plan for her.

FIELD EXPERIENCE: Vince was chaplain at Faith Academy and pastor of the campus church from 1992-1996. His duties included preaching, teaching, and counseling MKs. Lori was involved in counseling MK girls, leading Bible studies with them, and reaching out to neighbors in the community. Since 1996, Vince and Lori have served with a Filipino church in Manila that has grown to 30,000 members with church plants all over the Philippines.

When the Burkes returned to the Philippines from home assignment in 1997, they moved to a new full-time ministry in Manila. Vince and Lori began working with Christ Commission Fellowship (CCF) reestablishing the relationship begun in 1996. CCF has grown to 30000 members with an aggressive and effective evangelistic ministry. Vince’s role is to serve as one of the pastors involving preaching, teaching weekly Bible studies, and speaking at various retreats. He was also responsible to recruit and train the young adults and parents to work with the high school ministry. Vince and Lori will continue to be involved in leadership training and discipling with and through CCF. Lori has been actively involved in the CCF ministry with Vince. She has leading roles in women’s ministry and has had success in some livelihood projects in the community as well.

After a brief furlough, the Burkes returned to Manila in January of 2002 with First Love International Ministries. Vince continued as consultant for the youth ministries at CCF. He also continued to serve as one of the pastors. As a member of First Love ministries Vince and Lori are engaged in additional ministries. The Burkes have been asked to develop the Asian field in the following ways.

1. Develop a ministry of exhortation aimed towards waking up believers from their spiritual slumber. This can be done through pulpit supply and retreats.

2. Organize and lead evangelistic outreaches and retreats into unreached areas of the Philippines and Asia. The green light has been given to take teams of Youth and young adults to other parts of the world…specifically Thailand and Kenya involving Filipinos with First Love ministries.

3. Develop a discipleship/mentoring ministry geared towards lay businessmen who demonstrate a heart for evangelism and missions.

4. Be available as a "pastor to missionaries" and Asian pastors, through counseling, encouragement and hospitality. This can be done in mission retreats, marriage and enrichment weekends.

5. Develop a national pastor and church planter curriculum. Be available to teach module style courses throughout the Philippines and Asia.

6. Build a First Love missions team of full-time workers and assist them in developing a support team.

NEW & CONTINUING MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES:

1. New discipleship classes with 3 small groups: people within Christ Commission Fellowship Lori is ministering to 2 groups of women from CCF.

2. Preaching and teaching opportunities inside and outside CCF.

Teaching in numerous sessions with Philippine Military, Immigration, Bible study with executives at Asia Development Bank.

CCF is currently involved in evangelistic seminars for the entire police force of the Philippines using the Purpose Driven Life materials.

The Burkes are currently on home assingnment, staying in Denver Colorado. Vince's dad has cancer. All of the Burke kids are in college or working, so they are empty nesters.

The Burkes hope to return to Manila in August of 2011.