Update from WCG Philippines

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

March 25, 2007

WCG Philippines Hosts 1st World Missions Congress

The first Worldwide Church of God World Missions Congress (WMC) was held at the Christian Development Center in Tagaytay City on March 15-17, 2007 was attended by 180 members from the national board to area superintendents, senior pastors, pastoral team members, cross-cultural ministry workers and representatives from various nations.

It culminated in a Missions Sunday worship service held on the following day at the Tektite Building in Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines and attended by about 638 members from the different local churches.

National Director Eugene Guzon welcomed all delegates and participants. He also provided them the impetus with his presentation on “Organizing, Recruiting and Mobilizing for Missions: Synergy in Mission.” Meanwhile, Randal Dick, WCG director of international ministries, gave the foundational direction of the congress through his “Theology of Missions: The Biblical Mandate” encouraging everyone to participate in the ‘dance of the Trinity’.

Highlights of the WMC included the signing of memorandum of agreement between the Worldwide Church of God and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) headed by Atty. Rosalinda Baldoz and between the Worldwide Church of God and the Asian Center for Missions represented by its deputy director, Margaret Grace Alag.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is the country’s arm in the administration of the deployment of overseas Filipino workers. It is primarily responsible for the welfare of overseas Filipino contract workers. The Worldwide Church of God will be POEA’s partner in the pre-employment orientation seminars to be conducted in the various parts of the country.

In the meantime, the Worldwide Church of God’s memorandum of agreement with Asian Center for Mission is its formal undertaking of a partnership that has long been established. Asian Center for Mission is a missions training agency.

A number of cross-cultural ministry workers were also available during the WMC. They gave their respective testimonies on how God has taken hold of them in their journey to the nations. Robert Ferrer and wife, Judylyn, are being used to help in the local church of the Worldwide Church of God in Germany. They also minister to the needs of Filipinos working in Austria and other parts of Europe.

Beth, who incidentally is going back to Tanzania by March 20, urged the need to strengthen the Christians in Africa. Diody reported breakthroughs in the Tibetan border while Cici projected the growth of believers in East Asia.

Pastor Rolando Alivio also gave his testimony for the work with the communities in Aroroy, Masbate, Philippines. Pastor Remigio Cruz, in the meantime, gave some helpful tips on church planting.

The WMC also had Robert Lopez, general secretary of Philippine Missions Association, who talked about the strategic history of the Philippines as God’s direct hand, moving from being an Islamic nation toward predominantly Christian. Robert Clark of Cross Train, an agency involved in training, gave his view on the ultimate calling of man which is the glory of God.

Other nationals were on hand to help in the workshops that zeroed in on countries of Indo-China like Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos; North Asia like China, Taiwan and Hong Kong; Micronesia and Europe; Middle East and Africa; Rest of Asia like Japan, Thailand, India and Bangladesh. Foreign students from ISOT-Asia gave their respective country profiles to help participants get a broader view of the needs of the countries.

Dr. Lloyd Estrada of Wycliffe Philippines, Danilo Lucero of World Vision International, Nora Lucero of the Philippine Bible Society, and Kennedy Cruz of CRWRC-Cambodia lent their particular expertise on the work of world evangelization during the congress. Meanwhile, Ed Morada, coordinator of Haggai Philippines and Treasures of Hope, a deployment agency, gave practical applications toward cross-cultural evangelization.

Bishop Efraim Tendero, general secretary of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, concluded the Congress by urging participants with his “The Call and Response to Mission: A Challenge.” --Tessie Uadan

National Board Retreat in Tagaytay with Randal Dick

The National Board along with ND Eugene Guzon and several Metro Manila pastors gathered for a two-day retreat at the Days Hotel in Tagaytay last March 10-11 with Superintendent of Missions Randal Dick who gave additional insights in the area of board governance.

Before the retreat ended, Ezra Raduban, senior pastor of Sta. Rosa Church, was elected by his peers as the new board chairman replacing Pastor Max Fabricante. We thank Chairman Max for his years of dedicated service as board chairman and we welcome Chairman Ezra in his new role. Let us all pray for these men of God and the national board along with the national director that these men will be led by God to do His will for the WCG Philippines.

SEP in Lemery, Batangas

Have you already submitted your SEP application form? If you are a potential SEP staff - have you also submitted your form?

We are planning for SEP - but we need to receive the camper forms so we can plan accordingly. Please do not wait at the last minute. The number of staff volunteers is largely dependent on the number of campers who are attending SEP in Lemery, Batangas on May 13 - 20, 2007.

We are still in need of kitchen volunteers, counselors and activity staff. Those with passion for the young people and love to serve them by cooking up and serving delicious meals. 

Submit your application forms and subject to availability of slots and need of camp, we will prayerfully consider your application forms. Please encourage the campers to apply early.

Some of the campers are hesitant to send in their application forms because they do not have the money yet for camp. Maybe you could help your campers have a fund drive so that the P3K would be within their reach.  There are some youth leaders who are gathering empty water bottles/containers and are selling them as part of their fund drive. Please encourage your young people to do the same.

Maybe some of you would like to sponsor a camper and a staff? Please let us know. The past several years we have gratefully received donations in cash and kind for SEP.  Please anticipate a listing of specific items you may wish to share with the campers and staff. 

Thank you very much for your cooperation and prayerful support. --Rex Dela Pena

2007 National Women’s Convention

We are pleased to announce that we will hold our National Women's Convention on May 2-5, 2007 at the Asia Pacific Theological Seminary (APTS) located just outside Baguio City.  The campus is situated high on the Cordillera mountain range offering scenic beauty.  Flowers and lush foliage abound,  making the APTS campus well known for its botanical beauty.  You may check out their website: www.apts.edu.  

Our convention theme will be, "Woman on a Mission".  We are blessed that this year, our speakers are women whose examples and wisdom have inspired us in the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) over the years.  They are: Mrs. Tammy Tkach, wife of Pastor General Joseph Tkach, and editor of Connections, a journal for pastors' wives and families of the WCG. Mrs. Sheila Graham, a coordinator of Women's Ministry Support for the WCG, and Mrs. Daphne Sidney, who serves with her husband Bill in the Eagleby, South Brisbane Church. All 3 women are gifted writers and seasoned speakers.  

Convention fee is P2,000.00 for 3 nights (dorm) accommodation, meals and convention materials.  First meal will be dinner on May 2 (Wednesday). Last meal will be breakfast on May 5 (Saturday).  

Because of limited dorm-type housing facility, we will be able to accommodate only the first 180 registered participants on a first come, first served basis.  For more information, please contact Lulu Guzon at  lulu_guzon@yahoo.com or Baby Natividad at the church office, baby_natividad@ph.wcg.org Tel. No. 426-2294. --Lulu Guzon

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 in  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)