UPDATE
from WCG PHILIPPINES 
UPDATE
from WCG PHILIPPINES
The official e-mail weekly newsletter of the Worldwide Church of God in the Philippines
Web site: http://www.wcgmindanao.org October 11, 2002
Over 600 Brethren in Baguio Celebrate the Feast
More
than 600 brethren from various places in the Philippines including 4 overseas
guests attended the feast in Baguio City. Regional
Director Bill Sidney and former Regional Director Guy Ames both gave messages on
the first and second day of the feast respectively. It was a jam-packed nine days of well-balanced activities that
promoted worship and fellowship.
There were also various activities for different age groups: a talent show where various local churches presented a number or two; a dance night; a praise and worship concert organized and presented by the members of the Raised To Praise team of Quezon City church; and several seminars on counseling, leadership. Various meetings were also conducted by the national office regarding pastoral administration, financial policies and procedures.
A
Q & A session was also facilitated by National Director Eugene Guzon where he answered questions
regarding our goals and objectives as a WCG denomination here in the
Philippines. A communion service
was held on Sunday morning prior to the regular service which many of the
brethren partook of for the first time. Messages
on God’s attribute of faithfulness were expounded which encouraged and edified
the brethren.
A feeling of nostalgia and euphoria swept over the brethren during the feast such that many are planning keep the feast here in Baguio for 8 days next year. Plans are underway to make Baguio City a central festival site for all the Luzon churches next year. We here in Baguio church will continue to host the celebrations of our annual traditional festivals because they are good for the church spiritually, physically and emotionally --Jerry Ortiguero, Area Superintendent, Northern Luzon
Bukidnon Brethren Take Condensed World Mission Course
Some
31 Bukidnon brethren (and 1 from Iligan City Church) attended the first half of
the Condensed World Mission Course (CWMC) in Kiara, Don Carlos, Bukidnon
conducted by Dr. Rey Taniajura this weekend. I had the opportunity to introduce
Lesson 2 of the course while Pastor Joel Alisbo also participated as facilitator
for the course.
This is the second time that the CWMC has been conducted in Mindanao. The first CWMC was held in Davao City a few months ago. Next week, a team of CWMC facilitators from the WCG Cebu pastoral team will conduct and complete the last half of the course for the CWMC students. The heart for missions is surely developing in this area.
Evangelistic Worship Service Concluded Ipil Feast
Inspiring
worship services and a fun-filled family day were the activities held in
observance of the year 2002 Feast of Tabernacles. The feast was started with a
combined praise and worship service on September 22, 2002 at Ipil, Zamboanga
Sibugay. An evangelistic worship service at the beach was also conducted last
September 29, 2002 at Barangay Bogabongan, Leon Postigo, Zamboanga Del Norte. It
was attended by friends and relatives of our Bogabongan brethren and the Ipil
Church membership. The group was welcomed by Bro. Joel Vigilia, assistant pastor
for Bogabongan. Pastor Bert gave the evangelistic message. Bible Stories and
Christian songs for children were also taught by the Sunday school teachers. The
brethren shared a sumptuous meal after the service, enjoyed swimming at the
beach and refreshed at Mainit swimming pool. --Geoffrey & Sarah Balatero,
Church Leaders, Zamboanga Sibugay
Maramag Church Invited as Mentor for Talaandig Tribe in Bukidnon
Maramag,
Bukidnon - Rey Balistoy, one of our leaders in the Maramag Church, befriended by
chance one of the Talaandig tribal elder, Jimmy Tugot who is (along with his
tribe) a recipient of a tract of land to be returned to them by the government
in recognition of their claim on the land as their ancestral domain. It is about
four kilometers from Mr. Balistoy's home. According to government census, there
are 135 families now who have returned to this tribal community after several
decades of being displaced in various places.
As
a result of further meetings and ocular visit to the tribal community, Chieftain
Jimmy Tugot, formally asked the help of Mr. Balistoy's local church, the WCG
Maramag Church, to take care of their spiritual needs and well being. The
Maramag church now is looking forward to build cell churches in this tribal
resettlement area. Please pray for this mission field. They will be needing
around 150 Cebuano bibles to start with.
Presently, we have an outreach Bible study (OBS) in Bantuanon, Lantapan, Bukidnon (Bantuanon OBS) composed mainly of Talaandig tribesmen. It has an average attendance of 16. They meet regularly every week at the residence of Datu Saluyahan. Our church leader in-charge of this group is Olive Eturalde. --Joel Alisbo, Senior Pastor, Bukidnon
Missionary
Baptizes Two in China, Small Group Begun
I received a report from one of our tentmaker/missionary in China that two individuals were baptized last September 30, 2002. The report also included the good news that another two Chinese individuals professed acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. A small group has started meeting regularly, the report added. Please remember our missionaries in these areas as they reach out "to seek and save the lost" in the 10/40 window. "To seek and save the lost" is the WCG Philippines' main purpose and reason for being. It is exciting to receive these reports. Please e-mail me if you want to pray for and know the missionary's identity. --Len Joson
Quotes from "Thought-Provokers" (Reviews You Can Use, March-April 1996)
"I keep telling people that there's not one door in the world closed where you want to witness for Jesus. It may be closed for an organization or for a Bible society, but that doesn't mean the Bible can't get in. Show me a closed door and I will tell you how you can get in. I won't, however promise you a way to get out.
"We don't ever guarantee that we can get people out. We have lost a number of our [Open Doors] people, usually national workers, who were blown up, tortured, or killed in a number of countries. It's a dangerous game, but nonetheless, the doors are not closed. Jesus said in Acts 1:8 to go. He didn't say, ‘Go if the doors are open,' because they weren't. He didn't say, ‘Go if you have an invitation or a red carpet treatment.' He said, ‘Go,' because people needed his Word. And that's how we look at the world.
"We [Christians] need a new approach to missions — an aggressive, experimental, evangelical, no-holds-barred approach. . . . A pioneering spirit. But we have to do it with the support of the home church" (Brother Andrew, Christianity Today, 11 December 1995, 46).
"We face a growing wave of Muslim fundamentalism, fed by a number of things. Until the end of the Second World War, seven-eighths of the entire Muslim world was colonized by so-called Christian nations. The Muslims lived under constant humiliation. They could not solve their own problems.
"Even today they are divided and disgusted with their own weakness. From this division, a radical faction has emerged that wants Muslims to go back to their roots. It's a revival movement, very much political because in Islam there is no separation between church and state. And because they are the only guys with an ideology, I think they have a future. They have a faith for which they're ready to die. In comparison, we Christians have lost that kind of faith. . . .
"Let's face it: we are not willing to die. Not for Jesus and not for anything" (ibid., 45–5).
"The first building block toward a visionary church is to establish our core values and beliefs. We may need to distinguish between what is absolutely primary and essential and what should be placed on a secondary tier. . . .
"The visionary church with a clear sense of values and beliefs is much more than a fellowship of compatible people who enjoy one another's weekend company. We are believers with a mission distinct from service clubs and social agencies, as important as they are. We are the people of the cross. As such, we must prepare ourselves to bear the cost of discipleship" (Carnegie Samuel Calian, "Building a Visionary Church: An Organizational Theology for the Congregation," Theology Today, January 1996, 487–8).
"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)