Update from WCG Philippines

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

April 28, 2006

98 Campers, 21 Baptized, at Visayas SEP 2006

Praise God for the 98 campers and 48 staff that enjoyed the wonderful place and activities that God gave them in Opadas Resort, La Libertad, Negros Oriental last April 9-16, 2006. The campers arrived on April 9 full of excitement. After the registration it was welcome night. The following three days were the physical activities of basketball, volleyball, dance, cheer dance and swimming.

The following days were Christian living classes. The campers were separated into two levels. Level one is for the 15 years old and below, the level 2 is for the 16 years old and above. It is so, to cater the needs of the campers. The staff have their own group, they had fun and more bonding happened during their time. The highlights of the camp were the night hike, the cross, footwashing, threading, sunrise service and the baptisms. 21 young souls committed their lives to Jesus

On the sixth and seventh day of the camp, Christian living classes handled by pastors and leaders were Career Symposium, Personality Development, Self-esteem and Livelihood. There were also devotionals and praise and worship every morning and evening before the beginning of the activities.

Ptr. Rex dela Peña, his wife Sheila and Maritess Santillan were there to help out. Amidst cries and goodbyes the Visayas camp was ended with a happy note by the camp director Ptr. Terrence Santibañez. --Vee Dequito

91 Campers, 38 Baptized, at Mindanao SEP 2006

This year's youth summer camp in Mindanao was held from April 19 to 23 at the Farmer's Training Center, Luan-luan Springs, Quezon, Bukidnon where our new local church, the Quezon, Bukidnon Church (established last January 2005), meets for worship services. Some 91 campers attended coming from various places in Mindanao. 38 of these youths accepted Christ into their lives and got baptized. Of the 38, two were rebaptisms after having realized that they were once too young and did not really understand it yet when they were first baptized. Of the 91 campers, there were about 30 who were non-WCG members and many of them also got baptized. The zeal of these youths for the Lord was very inspiring to behold.

As part of the Summer Enrichment Program (SEP), a drug awareness symposium was also incorporated where an authority on drug abuse showed and explained the various kinds of drugs and its effects on humans.

During his welcome address, the barangay captain thanked the Worldwide Church of God because he felt honored that their place was chosen as the camp site for the Mindanao-wide youth summer camp.

A missions awareness class was also incorporated as part of SEP. This was handled by our missions coordinator for Mindanao, Joel Alisbo, who also was the camp director.

It is interesting to note that a few weeks before the camp started, the youth counselors and some campers on their own initiative, agreed among themselves to pray daily at 9:00 p.m. for the success of the camp. They called themselves the "Prayer Circle." They communicated through text messaging daily praying for various SEP concerns. God surely blessed the camp again this year. They plan and in fact have continued with their "Prayer Circle" even after SEP up to now. They also continue to communicate up to now through our youth web page, the Youthoughts. 

The camp ended with an emotion-filled communion service with much crying and hugging as the campers bade goodbye to one another. 

Please check our photo gallery or click this link for more photos of this event. --Len Joson

WCG – Manila South Conducts Vacation Bible School in Calamba City

The Worldwide Church of God – Manila South conducted a 5-day Vacation Bible School (VBS) at the home of Mr-s Ardel Magararu located at Villa La Prinza Subdivision, Bagangay Prinza, Calamba City from April 17 – 21, 2006 at 9:30 AM to 12:00 Noon.

For the four (4) levels, attendance ranged from 65 pupils to 81. Five of the participants came from the neighboring barangay of Barandal and the rest were from barangay Prinza particularly from Villa La Prinza Subdivision.

The theme for this year’s VBS is HOME PLANET - CARING FOR GOD’S CREATION.  It’s the appreciation of God’s Gift, our Home Planet, and HIS greatest GIFT – JESUS CHRIST.  Scriptural Basis is Col 1:16 “All things were created by Him and for Him.” 

Every morning, from Monday thru Friday topics are as follows: on day 1 – Knowing your Creator more intimately by examining His Magnificent creation; day 2 – Managing Wisely God’s resources; day 3 – Gives importance to Helping the Needy as one of man’s important duties on earth; day 4 – Teaches about Living in Harmony in a community; and day 5 – focuses on Honoring the Savior of the world.  The program of instruction includes lectures, group singing, dramatization/role playing, & memory verses.

Graduation was held on the afternoon of the fifth day, April 21, 2006.  Eighty-seven participants graduated from all levels, presented by the respective teachers as follows: Beginner (Sis Maritess A Beruega) – 22 ; Primary (Sis Mary Ann B. Guerrero) – 25; Secondary (Sis Gemma C Venus) – 21; & Youth (Mrs Virgie P Magararu) – 19.  Selected participants were also recognized and received ribbons. The highest award for each level received a medal.  All the graduates received their certificate of completion together with the HOME PLANET Workbook and a souvenir photo of their respective classes. 

Pastoral Chairman Nomer Venus gave the message during the opening and closing ceremony and exhorted the participants to continue on what they have learned.  When it was ended, the kids are looking forward for next year Vacation Bible School with so much anticipation and enthusiasm. --Ardel Magararu

Forestry Church Discipleship Retreat

Forestry Church held its fourth Discipleship Retreat on April 8-9, 2006 at the Touch of Grace Prayer Mountain in Antipolo City, with 18 church leaders and members in attendance. This year’s retreat theme was: “Mga Kaloob na Ispiritwal: Alamin at Gamitin”, which had five sessions conducted by the pastoral team members Ptr, Roman Saynes, Ptr. Nic Santiago, Ptr. Romy Velasco, Ate Luz Pangilinan and Jing Saynes. 

Speakers not only stressed the importance of valuing and using each one’s spiritual gifts, but, most importantly, that love should be its motive (an exegesis of 1 Cor. 13). Forestry members were thrilled as they discovered their individual gifts during the spiritual gift survey session, and they were later affirmed and encouraged on how to make use of their gifts in order to glorify God and to serve the Body of Christ. 

The two-day retreat’s varied activities include icebreakers, praise and worship, individual prayer room time, small group sharing, joint group fellowshipping and group drama presentations. The event concluded with awarding and souvenirs distribution and a communion service at the site. --Jing Saynes

Visayas Prayer and Evangelism Seminar

More church community prayers and more evangelism are two of the “ends” or objectives that the Worldwide Church of God - Philippines would like to pursue in 2006 and the years to come. In order to fulfill this objective, Eastern Visayas Area Supt. George Escara facilitated a two-day retreat seminar from April 8 to 9. Twenty three pastors and leaders form Negros, Samar, Bohol, Toledo City and Cebu City attended.

The seminar was a time of refreshing and reinvigoration for the attendees. A time of remembering that more things are accomplished by prayer than we can even dream of or imagine. Prayer is the channel by which God releases his power on evangelism.

The seminar participants not only learned by listening. They learned by having more extended time praying for one another and for the work of the Lord that included prayer and evangelism. --Ranulfo Suan

Mountain of the Lord’s House Fellowship Dedicates Its Worship House

Cotmon, Polangui, Albay – Cotmon Church, now named “Mountain of the Lord’s House Fellowship” dedicated it’s newly constructed worship house on April 12, 2006. The building is situated on top of a mountain in Barangay Cotmon, an indigenous community in Albay. 

In the said occasion presided by Southern Luzon Area Superintendent Dr. Rey Taniajura more than 80 people filled the worship house and listened to an exposition on Micah 4:1-5, a fitting message regarding the mountain of the Lord’s house.  A communion service followed. Adding to the joy of the occasion, four children were blessed and dedicated to God and one brother submitted for baptism, Mr. Santiago Lontayao.

With Dr. Rey were assistant area superintendent for Bicol, Dr. Joe Manzano, Pastors Dave Oloya of Legaspi City and. Lando Alivio of Aroroy, Masbate. Orly Osillos, a staff of the national office was also with Dr. Taniajura. Pastor Rolly Buagnin is senior pastor of the Mountain of the Lord’s House Fellowship of Cotmon, Polangui, Albay. The pastoral team of Cotmon church, headed by its chairman and senior pastor Lando Buagnin would like to thank all the generous donors who contributed and helped in the building of its worship hall. --Salve Buagnin

Southern Luzon Area Superintendent Visits Churches in Bicol

Legaspi City -- Dr. Rey Taniajura and his wife June traveled across Bicol peninsula for an 8-day church visit. During the visit, Dr. Taniajura presided over the graduation of the first two batches of the Sycamore Tree Project graduates in two prison facilities, Tigaon and Iriga City district jails of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. The Sycamore Tree Project or STP is a program of Prison Fellowship International on restorative justice. Dr. Taniajura also introduced the first four subjects of the pastoral team orientation program for pastoral team members and conducted a staff meeting for the Summer Enrichment Program to be held in Pili, Camarines Sur on May 22 to 26.

The first church area that was visited by Dr. Taniajura and his wife was Daet where the pastoral team orientation program was also introduced. The following day, April 10, Dr. Taniajura held a meeting with the leadership team of the evangelical churches in Camarines Sur on the possibility of holding Haggai Institute area seminars in Naga City in July. The meeting, where area assistant superintendent Dr. Jose Manzano also attended, was held at the newly built Greenhills Christian Fellowship church in Naga City.

Together with Dr. and Mrs. Manzano, Dr. Taniajura also visited Donsol and delivered a message to around 30 brethren of the Pleasures of the Lord Church, whose senior pastor is Oscar Jimenez Donsol is now becoming a popular tourist destination as the whale shark capital of the world. On April 12, Dr. Taniajura and Dr. Manzano dedicated the newly-built Cotmon church now named as the “Mountain of the Lord’s House Fellowship”.),  During the dedication service four children blessed and one baptism was conducted. 

In Legaspi City church, Dr. Taniajura conducted services on Maundy Thursday where a communion service was held and also on resurrection Sunday. At the Sunday service a consecration ceremony was conducted for newly designated senior pastors and pastoral team members. --Myra Narido

 From Pleasures of the Lord Fellowship

Donsol, Sorsogon - On April 11, 2006 Area Superintendent for Southern Luzon, Dr. Rey Taniajura visited the fellowship in Donsol (now base church in Sorsogon).  37 brethren and kids flocked at the house of PT Chair and Sr. Pastor for Sorsogon Churches Oscar Jimenez where the church meets in a late afternoon worship service.  Dr. Rey expounded on Jesus’ description of Christ’s disciple, one who takes up his cross daily (Luke 9:23). 

With Dr. and Mrs. Taniajura are Drs. Joe and Gie Manzano, Orly Osillos, and Ptr. Lando Alivio.  In lieu of an actual experience of whale shark interaction, which was not possible because of the hectic schedule, the group just had view of Burias Pass and the China Sea at Woodland Beach Resort in the morning and watched video show of Whale Shark interaction. --Oscar Jimenez

Update from Magallanes, Sorsogon

It’s amazing how God works and called his people into his church. A year ago Mr. Nestor Omoto, a former lay minister gathered his neighbor into his home at Brgy. Sta. Elena, Magallanes, Sorsogon to study the Bible. Around January this year, he met Mrs. Berdin a long time acquaintance and remember that there was a monthly bible study in her home a long time ago. He then started asking questions regarding our doctrines and beliefs. Mr. Genesis Berdin (a long time WCG member) gladly shared with him and his group God's word during weekly bible studies.

Soon they were asking about baptism which led to the baptism of six (6) new brethren conducted by Ptr. Greg Glova and Ptr. Cesar Delgado last April 23, 2006, namely Mr. Nestor Omoto, Anecita Omoto, Nestle Gregorio, Jessie Gregorio, Adela Fruto and Marife Laroga. Also three others, namely Manuel Madrid, Resurrecion Rodriguez and Rowena Rodriguez who are already baptized in the Lord Jesus Bible Church in Metro Manila signified their intent to join and affiliate with our church and were gladly welcomed by Ptr. Greg.

As of this date, the total number of baptized member of the WCG OBS at Magallanes, Sorsogon is nineteen (19) plus seven (7) new people regularly attending the bible study at Mr. Omoto’s home. Please include them always in your prayer. --Ptr. Greg Glova

Davao City Church Elder Receives Ph.D. in Development Administration

Dr. Catalino "Boy" Garcia, an ordained elder and assistant pastor for the Davao City congregation, received his Ph.D. in Development Administration last April 8, 2006. He is currently the Administrative Officer at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Region 11 and at the same time, he is also the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts of the Samal Institute in Samal Island. Dr. Garcia continues to serve the Davao City, Tagum City and Digos City local congregations. He has also recently started a new outreach Bible study in Samal Island with a regular attendance of about 15 to 20. Congratulations Pastor Boy!

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)