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UPDATE from WCG PHILIPPINES Web site: http://www.wcgmindanao.org August 16, 2002 Bacolod Church Men's Retreat -- A Time of Renewal Twenty five male leaders of the Bacolod City Church led by Visayas Area Superintendent George Escara, spent their weekend last Aug. 9 - 11, 2002 at the Governor's Mansion in Mambucal Mountain Resort. The occasion was a retreat conducted by Dr. Reynaldo Taniajura, Southern Luzon Area Superintendent, upon the invitation of the local leadership. With the year's festival celebrations in the horizon, the men felt the need to be spiritually prepared to celebrate the one and only gospel - Jesus Christ. Foremost in the minds of everyone was the desire to be at one with Jesus and be united in Him. Everything came out to be a real blessing to everyone - the down-to-earth confrontation of sin and its consequences. The Holy Spirit's disclosure of unresolved hurts and spiritual bondages, and the resulting brokenness paving the way for total surrender to the healing power and loving embrace of God. The natural setting afforded us a peaceful communion with God and a fitting respite from the hassles of daily living. The sumptuous meals provided a genuine physical rejuvenation in addition to the spiritual rejuvenation we can all truly thank God for. That retreat was one "heaven-of-an-experience" we wil not forget in one lifetime. As Dr. Rey would aptly express it: "Simply amazing.!" --Regino Ong Dagupan Brethren Completes 2 Modules of FCL-1 QUEZON CITY, Philippines -- Ten servant-leaders of Dagupan City church completed two modules of the Foundations of Christian Leadership (conference 1) Aug. 10-11. The two modules are Understanding the Church and Mobilizing Small Groups. On the second week of September, they hope to cover another module on Building a Spiritual Movement. In addition, they are interested in going through and using the BASICS Discipleship material. BASICS is one of the discipleship materials for small groups distributed by the Samaritan Strategy Movement of the Philippines, of which the WCG is a member, associated with the Food for the Hungry Philippines and Harvest International. --Arlan Aquino 4SL Seminar in Davao City Church
As area superintendent for Mindanao, it is my hope that our Mindanao brethren may be equipped and exposed to several evangelistic methods for them to choose from and use whichever fits them best. We plan to have an Evangelism Explosion clinic next after this 4SL seminar before the year ends. Except for some of our pastors and leaders, the majority of our Mindanao brethren do not have any exposure yet to the various evangelistic methods that are available within the evangelical community. At this early stage, I can already see some spark of enthusiasm among the Davao City brethren because of what they have learned thus far in this seminar. --Len Joson Pastor Oscar Baslao Ordained as Elder
New Pastoral Team for Tagum City Church
WCG Laoag City Celebrates 20th Year Anniversary
Mr.
Angel Padron Sr. gave a short profile of the Laoag City Church. He said,
it is a small church pastored by eight (8) pastors in the span of 20
years. There were 32 baptisms for the church from 1967 to 1996. As
of today, there are only fifteen (15) active members of the 32 baptisms.
The best highlight of our celebration was the baptism of three (3) new members
– Mr. Rolando Salantes, Maria Angelica Tayamen and Mark Daniel Tayamen, which
was done by Mr. Ortiguero assisted by Mr. Padron and Mr. Tayamen. We believe
that though Laoag City Church is small, we are slowly but surely transforming
into mature Christians, growing in beauty and sturdiness with the passage of
time. --Merly Tayamen & Angel Padron Sr. Bucay Church Celebrates First Year Anniversary On Sunday morning, August 11, we drove from Laoag City to Bucay, Abra to be with the Bucay brethren on their 1st year church anniversary. This outreach church was raised by the efforts of our San Fernando, La Union brethren. It has about 22-30 in attendance every Sunday.
On this occasion, we had the dedication of their church building. Our Hamilton, New Zealand brethren pastored by Robert and Noreen Thompson provided the initial funds to buy the construction materials for the church building. The members did all the work in building this simple church building. It is still unfinished. Our
brethren are already using it though for their Sunday worship services. As funds
are available, we will continue improving the building. Our next project is to
have a deep-well drilled complete with pump and elevated water tank. Once the
well is finished, our members will benefit from it as well as most of the people
in the whole community. That would be a good way to make our church visible and
make a difference in the community. We plan also to have men and women
comfort rooms built adjacent to the church hall. Our Hawaiian brethren
headed by Gary Crowell pledged to support the Bucay project. --Jerry
Ortiguero "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you." (2 Thessalonians 3:1) |
Last
Sunday afternoon, August 11, 2002, was the first session of the Four Spiritual
Laws (4SL) seminar being conducted by the Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) for
our local church in Davao City. Pastor Lucivar Laurico, CCC field director for
the Visayas & Mindanao, gave the opening remarks after which, the
brethren learned about "How to experience God's Love and Forgiveness"
and "How to present the Four Spiritual Laws." The seminar will
continue for three consecutive Sundays.
Oscar
Baslao, pastoral team chairman of the Davao City Church was ordained as an elder
during the regular worship service of the local church last August 11, 2002. Mr.
Baslao has always been part of the local leadership and has been serving this
local church for many years now. With the approval of Messrs. Randal Dick, Bill
Sidney and Eugene Guzon, I had the privilege to ordain Mr. Baslao as an elder
with the assistance of Mr. Marcial Billacura, our retired pastor and elder in
the Davao City Church. --Len Joson
With
the passing away of Mr. Pacito Abanes, our local church elder for Tagum City
Church, I have requested Mr. Paulino Garcia Sr., to take the lead as pastoral
team chairman for our local church in Tagum City. The brethren gladly clapped
their hands after we have prayed over Mr. Garcia as the new leader last August
10, 2002. He will be assisted by Messrs. Monico Eltagonde and Bonifacio Lacsado
as part of the new pastoral team. All three of them are ordained deacons and
long-time members of the church. --Len Joson
The
Laoag City Church celebrated its 20th year anniversary last August 10, 2002. Mr.
Pedro Melendez officially established the Laoag City Church on August 7,
1982. Mr. Jeremiah Ortiguero, northern Luzon Area Superintendent and his
wife, Lal, were our special guests. It was also highlighted by the
presence of Mr. Wilfred Martin, a long-time member and deacon of Laoag City
Church who migrated to Honolulu, Hawaii with his family years back.
I
made an announcement on how the Bucay Church will now be governed—through a
pastoral team. The pastoral team members are: Angel Padron, Senior Pastor
for Ilocandia; Arsenio Blanza, chairman; Alex Gutierrez, Odilon Adame and Regino
Torres as members.