UPDATE from WCG PHILIPPINES

A total of 54 youths attended a retreat held in Mariroc, Tabaco City on June 1 to 3. The retreat, which is part of the annual summer youth evangelism program in the Southern Luzon area, resulted in 34 baptisms. Of the 54 participants 17 were already baptized. The retreat was facilitated by a leadership team headed by Dr. and Mrs. Jose Manzano and composed of Doming Trilles, Vir Repaso, Boni Gonzales, Erning Tapan, Caring Gonzales, Mely Tapan, Helen Balanguer and Salome Bongcolmo. Youth counselors included Greg Glova Jr., Rey Oliquino, Romy Bernadas, Manuel Leorca, Bing Trilles, Lhet Manzano, Cherry Joy Manzano and Julie Lachanebre.

In a related development, nine more new members were baptized in a baptism ceremony held at Palali Beach Resort in Tabaco City last June 11. Eight of those baptized are from barangay Pinagbobong, an outlying Bible study area, where a medical mission was conducted in December 2007 by a team of doctors and nurses from the United States. Already, a total of 27 baptisms have been conducted in this barangay as a result of the medical mission.

Husband and wife church-planting team, Tom and Rinia Sotalbo, reported another eight baptisms that were conducted in Rizal, Laguna outlying Bible study last May 26. The newly-baptized members are Zeming Sotalbo, Sheryll Sotalbo, Ann Klein Sotalbo, Thea Mae Sotalbo, Emma Sotalbo, Danica Sarmiento, Stephanie Faith Boone and Joseph Aldrich Boone.

Since Rizal became an outlying Bible study area, 19 new members have already been baptized. The bible studies and worship services for the Rizal OBS are held regularly at the residence of Pastor and Mrs. Tom Sotalbo.

ND Guzon Visit Tentmakers in Thailand

On his way home from Dubai, National Director Eugene Guzon passed by Bangkok to meet with several WCG Philippines tentmaker missionaries currently in the area. He gave them an overview of the mission and background of the WCG. He also shared thoughts and ideas with other Christians from other denominations in the area.

Medical and Dental Mission to Inmates

Last June 8 and June 9, 2007, the Ministro Humanitarian Association (Phil.) Inc (MHA) and the Rotary Club of Metro Baguio (RCMB) and in networking with the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) of the City of Baguio under Dr. John Tinoyan and the WCG of Baguio and La Trinidad under Pastor Arlan Aquino conducted medical, minor, surgical, dental, and spiritual counseling to around 250 inmates of the Baguio City Jail and around 150 inmates of the Benguet Provincial Jail at La Trinidad respectively. The WCG volunteers provided counseling services, offered prayers and given free Bible about the gospel of John to the inmates before given check up by the physicians. Ample medicines and supplies were provided by MHA and RCMB. Volunteer doctors, nurses, medical aides and medical students who came from the different networking groups including the medical team from the PNP regional office at Camp Dangwa, La Trinidad heartily gave their services. The inmates were very appreciative and as gesture of their gratitude, talented inmate sang songs for the volunteers during lunch break. --A. M. Faminialagao

Baguio Festival 2007: Carry the Light

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Our festival celebration for this year is on Sept. 19-23 at Teachers Camp, Baguio City, with the theme Carry the Light. The festival will open with a service on Wednesday night, Sept. 19, and close with a morning service Sunday, Sept. 23. Worship services will be held at the Benitez Hall. Brethren who intend to stay in Teachers Camp may contact Pastor Jerry Ortiguero for housing reservation at 0920-903-8377. --Arlan Aquino

Leaders Complete FCL Teachers’ Training

Two senior pastors and a member of a pastoral team of two local churches in Southern Tagalog completed the Foundations for Christian Leadership (FCL) teachers/facilitators’ training on June 10 in San Pablo City. They are pastors Claro Ting who also serves as assistant area superintendent for Southern Tagalog churches, Ric Sayo, senior pastor of Christ New Creation Fellowship in Agdangan, Quezon and Pol Makahiya. Together, they will constitute the training team for Southern Tagalog, teaching the FCL to members of pastoral teams of the local churches in the area, under Southern Luzon area superintendent Dr. Rey Taniajura.

Earlier nine other graduates of the FCL were commissioned by Dr. Taniajura as the training team for Bicol churches, teaching FCL to pastoral team members of all local churches in the area. The team is headed by Dr. Jose Manzano, assistant area superintendent for Bicol.

Update from WCG Payatas

For the first time our church in Payatas hosted a Christian seminar conducted by a New Zealand based Christian organization known as "Encarnacao Alliance of Urban Poor Movement." The five day whole day seminar was held in our Rotary club church building in Area B Payatas, Quezon city. It was held last May 28 up to June 1, 2007. It was a small group gathering of less than 20 Christian workers but at least six different churches participated. There were nine pastors who joined the seminar.

The seminar was focus on "Theology and Practice of Urban Poor Church planting and our lecturer was Pastor Bryan Johnson who himself is an an urban poor missionary church planter from New Zealand. He stayed and slept in our building and visited some poor people with Pastor Ving Millamena during his five day stay with us in Payatas. During his five day lecture he shared with us his numerous interesting, and inspiring experiences as a missionary to the poorest of the poor.

It was Pastor Rey Taniajura who was God's instrument in making it possible for us to meet this true disciple of our Lord who can really serve as an inspiration and role model for anyone whom the Lord is calling and giving a burden to serve the poor people in a slum or squatter area like in Payatas.

Our pastoral team composed of our team chairman Fred Millamena, Ving Millamena and Ave Matriano realized after this seminar that we have not yet completely obeyed God and have not given yet our best to our Master. --Avelino Matriano

Comments from our Readers and Web Surfers

"Thanks a lot for the updates! It is always heartwarming to know how God is working in the lives of many people, young and old in your part of the world. I pray many more may respond to God's call to serve His purposes and may God continue to bless all your efforts." --British Columbia, Canada

"Hello, I've enjoyed reading the reports that you have sent... as well as the articles in the weekly email WCG Update from the Philippines. I am working on a newsletter... and wanted to include some notes of interest from Christian camps... May I have your permission to use parts or all of your camp articles and/or photos... Thank you for your consideration and may God continue to richly bless your work." --From USA

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)