Update from WCG Philippines

A weekly e-mail newsletter from the Worldwide Church of God - Philippines

April 14, 2006

Bulacan Youth Summer Camp 2006 Culminates with 108 Baptisms

It was team work from the very first day to the third and last day of the camp retreat. As expected, the WCG Outreach team with the pastoral team of Sta. Maria church of Bulacan arrived first in the area to make the initial physical arrangement and registration preparation for the first ever WCG Youth Summer Camp in Falcon Crest Resort, Bgy. Partida, Norzagaray, Bulacan. The support group from the ConAgri Food Corporation who co-sponsored the camp retreat arrived next with their donations of dressed chickens. (They also pampered us with ice cream on the third day). The campers and staff from the WCG churches in Sta. Maria, Lawang Pare, Minuyan, and Pulong Paraiso came almost simultaneously with the counselors and worship team from the Clayground and Sta. Rosa churches. These groups outside Bulacan area came with NCR & Central Luzon Area Superintendent, Pastor Rex de la Pena. A few minutes later, WCG National Director Eugene M. Guzon also arrived with his selected staff.

At about 4 pm on the first day, April 5, 2006, worship service began immediately after the assigned team completed the registration and dorm assignments of the 114 stay-in campers and staff. Valuable lessons on human relationships were learned from the team building portion of the retreat. It became apparent with the closer interactions between campers and their respective assigned counselors even long before the ‘lights off’ was announced.

On the second day of the retreat, 167 youths, better known as SKs or Samahang Kabataan from seven surrounding Baranggays in Norzagaray arrived to join the retreat as stay-out camp participants. They were invited by the Outreach team with the concurrence of the National Director. Lieutenant Colonel Noel S. Clement, the current AFP Commanding Officer in Bulacan, was also invited and spoke about the AFP approaches to eliminate lawless elements and thus fortify peace and order in the province of Bulacan. Pastor Audie Santibanez, who came with his wife, spoke about two ways of “Knowing Jesus”, which was the theme of the camp retreat. ND Eugene M. Guzon and AS Rex de la Pena also spoke about the Biblical ways of knowing Jesus, which further deepened the desires of the youth to know more of Jesus Christ. At exactly 6:30pm that evening, “The Passion of the Christ” was shown to the campers and SKs. As we observed, none was able to hold tears as they watch the grueling pain, Jesus suffered from the hands of the Roman soldiers. They knew in their hearts that was because of us all. That scene convicted almost all of them. After the show, AS Rex de la Pena and Pastor Gerry Demition of the Outreach team, spoke about the unsurpassed passion of Christ and the need of every human being to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. They then made an altar call. None remained seated when they were asked to stand as affirmation of their acceptance of Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

The third and last day of the camp retreat began with much apprehension. Would those who responded to the altar call came to publicly manifested their acceptance of Jesus? The Outreach team knew the answer because they could feel the hearts of those young men and women who asked them to be counseled. Some of them were the 24 new participants who came and sought counsel that same day from the Outreach team. Before lunch that day, 101 SKs together with 7 campers made public testimonies of their new-found faith in Christ, through baptism. The ceremony was conducted by WCG ministers led by the National Director. The Outreach team had said: The seed of faith has been planted. Shall we not water them to grow? –Edgar Tabudlong and Orly Osillos, National Office

Check our photo gallery for more photos on this event. 

First Mindanao Joshua Generation Conference Held

About 70 youths, youth leaders and pastors participated in the heartwarming Joshua Generation Conference held last April 8-9, 2006 at WCG worship hall in Cagayan de Oro City. The participants came from different local congregations in Mindanao namely: Davao, Quezon, Kiara, Maramag, Jasaan, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Lanipao, Ipil, and Zamboanga. 

The Conference was ably facilitated by the energetic Youth Leader and Area Superintendent for  Metro Manila, Pastor Rex Dela Peña. The participants crafted and presented their vision & mission, strengths & doable things for the youth ministry in their local congregations. It was encouraging to hear the desire of our young people to serve and help the youth ministry of their local churches. 

After the afternoon worship service with the Cagayan de Oro brethren on April 9, 2006, the participants gave some touching testimonies on how the JoshGen Conference have renewed their zeal to get more involved in ministry. The Conference ended with a communion service by partaking the bread and wine. The Area Superintendent for Mindanao, Ptr Len Joson, thanked Pastor Rex for a job well done and encouraged the participants to help serve in their local congregations --Ayana Manriquez

Check our photo gallery for more photos on this event. 

Mindanao Youth Retreat on June 10-11

As a result of the first Mindanao JoshGen Conference, a Mindanao youth retreat has been scheduled for this coming June 10-11. Arrivals will be on Saturday morning and departures will be on Sunday afternoon. Pastor Rex Dela Pena will be the retreat facilitator. Venue will be in Bukidnon. All youths in Mindanao are invited to join this retreat. --Len Joson  

SEP Luzon on May 7-14

A few more days to go and it is SEP time in Mariveles, Bataan!  The applications forms are slowly trickling in!  Send your application forms now with your picture and your P500 pre-registration fee to the National Office through your local church pastors!

The theme for the SEP in Bataan is "I Can Shine In Jesus!" - and we expect campers from all over Luzon to participate from May 7 - 14. We have 2 confirmed staff applicants from overseas who will join us and share their expertise in our camp.

Plan now for basketball, volleyball, swimming, Christian Living classes, dorm sharing, intense praise and worship, one-on-one counseling, dance classes, cheerdance and other exciting activities.  --Rex Dela Pena

SEP Mindanao on April 19-23

For this year's SEP Mindanao 2006, the venue will be at FTC, Luan-luan Spring, Quezon, Bukidnon. Please send all camper application forms to me no later than April 3. Only the first 100 campers will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis. Only those accepted will be allowed to join the camp. A camper application form can be downloaded on this site. Tuition fee is Php1,000.00. Our camp director for this year is Pastor Joel Alisbo. This will be another exciting youth summer camp!

Crossway Ministries Conducts Graduation for 8th Batch of EE Trainees.

Last March 19, six people which all came from the youth ministry, received their EE certificate and EE pin as the final mark of their successful completion of the 13-week Evangelism Explosion training. EE training had been a major tool in equipping Christians to be able to reach out to those who have not heard about the Good News and to extend to those people the delight and how good it is to experience God in our daily lives. These young people, namely: Dick Dawal, Jamie Garcia, Zerah Mercado, Roselle Joy Fajardo, Jay Lord Tan, and Pamela Tan, now carry with them a very valuable tool to help them reach out to others--be it their families, peers and co-chruch attendies. This also gives joy to Crossway Ministries, as it certainly lifts up and aids the fulfillment of the mission it upholds: Christians Reaching Out to Share Christ and Show His WAY. Prior to the presentation of their certificates, the graduates presented a short play. And as a finale, all those who have completed EE training, including those that have previously graduated concluded the ceremony by singing an offertory song "People Need the Lord."

As early as now, the EE ministry is encouraging everyone who are interested to join the next batch of EE trainees in Crossway. The start of Crossway Ministries EE training for Batch 9 is tentatively dated to start on May 28th (last sunday of May). For those who wish to sign up for this batch may contact Mrs. Jane Garcia (EE ministry head). --Josel Marcos

Thanks from the Docken family

On behalf of the family, Abby Williams, the eldest of the children of Arthur and Marie Docken, thanks all the brethren who prayed and sent words of encouragement for Art Docken during his illness. Mr. Docken is buried in a military cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri -- a beautiful spot overlooking the Mississippi River. --Pastor Pete Melendez

This Week's Comments from our Readers/Websurfers

"What a wonderful thing to see people surrender to the Lord and having them baptized. Truly God has been using His servants/laborers who responded to His command for the harvest. Nurturing these people is a challenge to all of us. But with God's guidance, we can do it." --From USA

"Thanks for this update. More blessings!" --From Agusan del Sur

For comments, suggestions, to submit and share an article,  to subscribe or unsubscribe, write to Len.Joson@wcg.org. These updates can also be accessed and viewed at www.wcg.org/ph.  WCG - Philippines: National Office Address: #60 Matahimik St., Teachers Village, 1101 Quezon City, Philippines. Telephone No. (632) 426-22-94. When sending articles, please send preferably  text format only and photos as attached files in jpg format.

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)