Update from WCG Philippines

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

June 2, 2006

149 Campers, 49 Baptized at Summer Enrichment Program in Bataan

With the theme “I Can Shine with Jesus!” 149 campers and 47 staff participated in the 2006 Summer Enrichment Program held in Luzon Baptist Camp in Mariveles, Bataan.

Exciting classes in archery, basketball, volleyball, swimming, Dance and Cheer dance were facilitated by chosen and trained staff volunteers. Different clubs were also featured and the campers were able to participate in two clubs during the camp. The clubs were: Prayer Journal writing, Cooking, Friendship Band making, Keyboard, Bass Guitar, Lead Guitar, Drums, Livelihood Club, Photography, Journalism. 

Dorm chats with their dorm parents were conducted to answer their questions and give them a safe environment to share their concerns.

The Christian Living classes followed the format of the Purpose Driven Life book by Rick Warren were taught by Ptrs. Andrew Teng, Audie Santibanez and Rex Dela Pena.  Additional Christian Living Classes called Personality Development were taught by Sheila Dela Pena with Marites Santillan. A class on social awareness featured the popular book “12 Things Filipinos Can Do to Help The Country” was intended to teach the campers to love our country and think and do small yet concrete ways that would help the country.

This year, one of the intentions in terms of staffing at SEP was to train a wider base of staff and counselors. Most of the assistant counselors were first-timers and many of the activity staff came from congregations outside Metro Manila (Pampanga, Pangasinan, Olongapo, Binalbagan, La Union, Laguna, Bicol) to facilitate wider exposure to youth ministry for our youth workers in Luzon. We had 3 overseas staff:  Jim Watters, Wisconsin, USA; Aleks Espino, Toronto, Canada and Angelika Sidney from Australia who served as Assistant Counselor and Journalism club instructor. The longest serving staff were honored: Coach Vir and Paz Repaso have been serving SEP camps for 22 years. Rex Dela Pena has been serving as Camp Director since 1998, but has been involved in SEP for 20 years. Aron Tolentino served as the Assistant Camp Director in anticipation for the years ahead when he will takeover as Camp Director for Luzon.

It was a very hot and humid start in Bataan but the campers and staff took it all in stride. Even Typhoon Caloy could not contain the enthusiasm of the dorms in their activities. Some of the baptisms done at camp were during the howling wind of Typhoon Caloy! It was raining and the wind was blowing hard yet the cheers went on with the dorms exchanging cheers much to the enjoyment of the Baptist camp staff.

The 10 dorms did really well in their Variety show and featured the different life journeys of the camper dorms. The staff did a well-applauded “May Isang Pakwan” martial arts choreography. National Director Eugene Guzon even joined and hurriedly learned the routine!

We were really blessed with the 49 baptisms at SEP. The campers were truly a blessing to all of us as they shared their struggles and life difficulties with us. Aside from the regular camp awards in the different activities, special awards were given to the following individuals: Inspirational Awards: Vincent Yap of Baguio City and Crisanto Rubio from the Bulacan Outreach area. Crisanto recently received the Lord and really embraced God in his desire to experience a life-transforming change. The Camp Director’s Excellence award was given to Jon Lawrence Parane from Manila South and Kaye Guzon from Pampanga.

The following Sunday, May21, reports came to us that the campers gave their testimonies in their local churches. Many reported being touched and moved to tears because of what the Lord has done in the lives of our young people.

It was one of the best SEP camps in recent years as attested to by the staff who gathered last May 27 in a restaurant in QC for a Staff Appreciation Party where 30 of the staff members were present. All of the staff shared the highlights of their camp experience based on the 3 questions: What did you learn about God? What did you learn about yourself? What’s your most memorable camp experience?  The sharing that followed were all heartfelt.  Lyn Tinio who served as Asst. Counselor said “the SEP experience is priceless…”  We had fun answering the SEP quiz prepared by Sheila Dela Pena in the effort to remember all the tag-lines in the dorm cheers and trivia about camp. 

There is a call now for more preparation and training for our youth leaders and workers. The challenges that our young people are facing are steadily growing and becoming more heart-breaking.  Despite all that and the broken-ness we experience, any one of us can truly shout from the top of any mountain of challenges that “I CAN SHINE WITH JESUS!” --Rex Dela Pena

P.S. SEP reunions are going to take place in Pampanga on June 3 from 9 am  3PM.  And also on June 10 in the WCG office for the SEP – Chill-Out reunion!

Another Baptism in SFCLU Church

San Fernando City, La Union. One more baptism was conducted on May 6, 2006. It was officiated by Ptr. Danny Funesto to Alex Z. Feir, another youth of the Banks, Poro, Outlying Bible Study (OBS). This wonderful occasion was witnessed by Deaconess Josie Farol and members of the OBS and was held at the same place.

Banks, Poro, OBS has now twelve (12) baptized members. Discipleship Bible Study is being conducted here every Wednesday at 5pm.

60 Attend Northern Luzon ISIM

Some 60 leaders and members attended the Northern Luzon Iron Sharpens Iron Meeting in Urdaneta, Pangasinan May 27-28. Venue is the hall used by the Urdaneta church and owned by the family of member Engr. Mamallo.

On the first day morning, May 27, Aileen Orogo of the national office discussed the church’s financial system. She was accompanied by Orly Osillos. After lunch, area superintendent Jeremiah Ortiguero spoke on the seven ends of the church. San Carlos church pastor Adonis Caguoia then gave a lecture on spiritual warfare. The morning of the next day was spent on the subject of healing and some more administrative matters. Dr. Nap Meimban and his fellow Urdaneta leaders took good care of the participants.

On June 17 Pastor Rey Taniajura will be going to La Trinidad, Benguet to discuss the duties and responsibilities of pastoral teams. Nearby churches are invited to send their pastoral team chairman and members. --Arlan Aquino 

First-Ever Evangelism Training Conducted In WCG-Cabanatuan City

Cabanatuan City - Fifteen (15) members of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) Cabanatuan congregation successfully completed  the recently-concluded Evangelism Explosion International training, held in Sagana, Laur, Nueva Ecija, last May 21, 2006.

The said training is the first evangelistic seminar that Cabanatuan membership has participated in, which involved the lay members. In previous trainings, only the local leaders were able to attend. When the prospect of an evangelism training was announced, the whole congregation was really excited and regularly prayed about it.

The Evangelism training was officially commenced on January 29, 2006. Thereon, training sessions were conducted every Sunday after the worship service until the 13-week training was concluded and the 15 WCG Cabanatuan members/participants graduated on May 21, 2006. Throughout the training, participants learned valuable lessons that they need to effectively share the gospel to people. Participants also learned the proper manner and strategy in order to avoid causing offense due to religious differences. Most of all, participants grew more spiritually and realized that it is every Christian's responsibility to share the gospel to the world. After all, sharing the gospel is not just the evangelists and pastors’ job, the participant-members admitted. A visible showing of the amazing spiritual growth that the participants have attained is the fact that 350 people were shared the gospel during the 13-week training. As a result, 350 people accepted Jesus as personal Savior and Lord. The sharing of the gospel was a crucial part of the training wherein the participants/trainees went out to meet people near the church area, near the participants’ respective homes or they happily invited people to church to accomplish the mission of sharing the gospel.

Remarkably, the impact of the evangelism training is such that the graduates enthusiastically gave testimonies which centered on what evangelism training has accomplished in their Christian lives. Everyone has high hopes that the graduates will be able to contribute to the much-needed spiritual boost to WCG Cabanatuan congregation having been equipped with the proper training in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Among the honored guests who graced the occasion were Pastor Jerry Ortiguerro, Worldwide Church Area Superintendent for Northern Luzon, Pastor Ruel Salazar of the Amazing Grace Church and Mr. Thelmo Binuya the Barangay Captain of Sagana, Laur, Nueva Ecija. WCG Pastor Medardo Maninang gave the inspirational message while Mrs. Henrietta Maninang, wife of Pastor Med and Evangelism Explosion International-Training Coordinator, introduced the graduates. The Evangelism Training Team was composed of Mr. and Mrs. Medardo and Henrietta Maninang, Mrs. Juliet Sia, Mr. and  Mrs. Rocel and Heidi Orcales, Mr. Mar Eugenio, Mrs. Liza Fontanilla and Ms. Diana Dollente.

After the combined graduation exercises and worship service were concluded at the place of WCG-Cabanatuan congregation Pastoral Team Leader, Mr. Antonio A. Gaspar, in Sagana, Laur, Nueva Ecija, everyone proceeded to Dupinga river in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija (a 15-minute ride from Sagana, Laur, Nueva Ecija), for a church outing and celebration.  A total of 100 people, composed of church members, visitors and new converts witnessed the affair. At Dupinga, the local church leadership conferred with Pastor Jerry regarding vital church concerns particularly the concern about the local church leadership and its composition. At the end of the meeting, a unanimous decision was reached to maintain Mr. Antonio Gaspar as the Head/Leader of the Cabanatuan Pastoral Team. The Cabanatuan Pastoral Team was originally composed of Mr. Antonio Gaspar, Mr. Eligio Toledo, Mr. Noli Mateo and Mr. Danilo Ebreo. During the meeting with Pastor Jerry, three women members were added to the team, namely: Mrs. Lucila M. Samson, Mrs. Aida Gaspar and Mrs. Linda Toledo.

 The WCG Cabanatuan congregation pastoral team is presently engaged in planning church activities which will enhance the growth of Cabanatuan congregation both in terms of the number of membership and spiritual maturity. --Eyrie, Delvie and Virgie Samson

Davao City Speech Club Launched

Some 15 youths and two adults met last June 18 for the orientation meeting and on June 25 (12 attended) for the first club meeting of the Davao City Speech Club. Through this speech club, it is hoped that the club members (especially the youths) would be helped to develop their leadership skills, speaking abilities, develop their personality, improve their biblical understanding and especially help them to become mature Christians. The goal of the Davao City Speech Club is for every member to glorify God by becoming more and more like Jesus Christ.

A sense of excitement among the club members can be observed during the first club meeting. At least two of those who gave their Lesson 1 ("This is my Life" speech) showed a marked improvement on the very first club meeting. They used to be known in the church as the "silent and shy type." Not anymore. 

We earnestly request the prayers of everyone for this activity. --Len Joson, Senior Pastor for Davao City Church

Tarlac Member Receives Recognition

Tarlac church member Alfonso Milla was awarded a Certificate of Recognition in Community Service by the Tarlac College of Agriculture in Camiling Tarlac. Signed by the college’s President and Vice President for Academic, Cultural and Sports Affairs, the certificate was given in appreciation of Milla’s support for the improvement of the PTCA Laboratory School. --Arlan Aquino

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)