Update from WCG Philippines

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

April 27, 2007

Two New Churches Declared in Bicol, Elder Ordained

Two missions outreaches in the Bicol region became the newest local churches of the WCG Philippines over the week-end of April 21 to 23. The “Ends of the Earth Christian Community” (EECC) in Panangdangan, Aroroy, Masbate was declared a local church on April 22 while the outreach in Nagsipit, Mariroc, Tabaco City was added to the list of official WCG churches on April 23. The members in Panangdangan have chosen the name EECC for their local church because their barangay is located in one of the most isolated places in the southernmost tip of Masbate.

Area superintendent for Southern Luzon Dr. Rey Taniajura was assisted by Dr. Jose Manzano, assistant superintendent for Bicol, in declaring the two new churches. They also presided over the installation of the pastoral teams for the two new churches. The EECC church will have Rolando Alivio as its senior pastor. Other members of the pastoral team for this church are Leni Rance, Fernando Rance, Elizabeth Ledesma and Lora Ignacio.

The church in Mariroc, on the other hand, will have the following as members of its pastoral team: Floro Casitas, Romeo Bernadas and Juanito Reyes. Dr. Jose Manzano will be its chairman and senior pastor.

In a related development, Pastor Rolando Alivio was ordained elder on April 22 at the worship service of the EECC church. His ordination coincided with the declaration of the EECC as a local church. Pastor Lando, who is a missionary pastor for the province of Masbate, will now be serving as senior pastor of the two churches that were planted in Aroroy, Masbate, the EECC and the Fishers of Men Fellowship. Previous to this, Pastor Lando was the pastoral team chairman of the Kiara Church in Bukidnon before he was sent to Masbate for this missionary work.

After the declaration service at EECC five new members were baptized. Another five new members were also baptized in Mariroc church after the worship service on April 23.

Utility Boat Commissioned for Evangelism Work

On April 23, Dr. Rey Taniajura commissioned the utility boat Sea Angel for the evangelism work that the leaders of the two churches in Aroroy, Masbate have envisioned to do throughout the whole province of Masbate. Masbate is an island province and most of the sitios and barangays can only be reached by boat.

Sea Angel is a 25-seater boat made entirely of fiber glass. Its designer and builder is a Quezon City church member, Alan Revil, who is a native of Masbate. The New Life church in Pasadena, through its pastor Bermie Dizon, donated most of the funds that were needed to build the boat.

Already several groups located along the seacoasts of Aroroy town in Masbate have asked the evangelistic team of the Fishers of Men Fellowship and the Ends of the Earth Christian Community to conduct Bible studies for them. With Sea Angel, easy access to these groups has been made possible. The leadership team of the churches in Aroroy sees the possibility of more church plants in the months ahead in the area because of the many requests for visits and holding of Bible studies that have already reached them.

Training on Gospel Sharing Conducted at CDO

About 25 youths and 14 adults attended the equipping activity on how to share the great commission last April 21, 2007 at Cugman, Cagayan de Oro OBS. During the devotional given by Ptr Jeng Manriquez, the apostle Peter’s willingness to follow Christ and to become a fisher of men was set as an example to the youths. It gave them something to think about. Materials like the John 3:16 illustration was presented by Ptr Jeng and the brief outline of Youth Evangelism Explosion was presented by Ms. Charis Abao. 

A workshop followed after the presentation and each of the participants got the chance to illustrate the John 3:16 approach in sharing the gospel. Many of the participants showed the eagerness to learn in sharing the gospel more effectively and was observed that they have the great potentials if just given the right time to practice.

Overall the said activity was a great success and the youths were so much grateful that there were given the chance to learn on how they can demonstrate God’s overflowing love by sharing this precious and priceless gift to others. --Jona  Guillano

BCTW Conducts 7th Training Session

I am very happy to inform you about the ministry of the Basic Computer Training Workshop (BCTW) that we are doing here in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. We are now presently conducting the 7th Batch. We will end by the middle of May, 2007. We plan to expand this ministry to other municipalities to be able to cater to more out-of-school youths right in their very own locality. Since the start, this ministry has been conducted in cooperation with the government agency, TESDA, issuing certificates to the out-of-school youths after they have completed the course giving them better chances in the job market. During the training which is being done right in our church meeting hall, we are able to share the gospel to all the out-of-school-youth participants. 

For more than two years of doing this ministry, we have been praying that we can acquire more computers or materials to be used in the training. Last April 12-14, 2007 I attended the 5th National Youth Leaders Conference at the Pastoral Training Asia in Dumaguete City. We stayed at the Philippine Pilot Training Center (PPTC) during the said conference. I was able to meet and got reacquainted with Dan Bahinting, the owner of PPTC and son of Ptr. Jessup Bahinting. Unexpectedly, upon learning about the ministry, he gave his laptop computer and five old computer monitors for this ministry. 

It was an answered prayer. We thank God for all of this blessings. Surely this will be used in expanding God's Kingdom. --Geoffrey Balatero, Assistant Pastor, Barandilla Community Fellowship (or WCG Ipil)

Update from Zamboanga City and Labuan OBS

Zamboanga City -- The Worldwide Church of God, Zamboanga City congregation held a joint Sunday praise and worship service last March 11 at the Labuan worship hall, together with the brethren from the Labuan Bible Study Area, some 30 kilometers west of this city. Around 75 people were in attendance, with 45 adults and 30 children.

The praise and worship service in the morning had Ipil’s Pastor Bert Colona expounding on his main message, “Almost Late but Saved”, which was a timely message for those who attended the service for the first time.  Mr. Marceliano Agustin Jr. of Labuan Church offered his praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for his son’s, Marceliano Agustin III, miraculous recovery after falling from a forklift while painting a billboard. The accident left him in a coma, but with God’s grace, he was able to recover. The Agustin’s have been a part of the church since the late Mr. Armstrong’s time, and the family requests for prayers as the victim is still unable to see with his left eye. The morning service ended with the potluck lunch fellowship sponsored by both churches.

In the afternoon, the mood of the congregation mellowed down as the brethren were invited to watch a film entitled “The Answer” which was, among other things, about forgiveness, salvation and reaching out to others who do not know Christ, fit for our mission of evangelization. The activities ended with a short Pastoral Team meeting held in the later part of the afternoon.

The joint sevice culminated with the Labuan brethren in fellowship with the Zamboanga City church. The Labuan congregation will continue to have their own regular Praise and Worship Service every Sunday, with the pastoral team members taking turns in pastoring the said church.--Maximo Natividad

Correction/Addition to Last Week's Article on "Medical Mission in Masbate"

The pastoral team of the Christ Fishers of Men Fellowship, a local church of the Worldwide Church of God in Balawing, Aroroy headed by missionary pastor Rolando Alivio accepted challenge to minister those who wanted to know more about Jesus Christ. Many accepted Him during the counseling sessions.

Brethren of the Christ Fishers of Men Fellowship hosted the Medical Mission event. --Orly Osillos

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)