UPDATE from WCG PHILIPPINES

Mindanao Pastors and Leaders Attend Retreat/Conference

About 40 senior pastors and leaders in Mindanao attended the two-day Mindanao Pastors Conference held in Cagayan de Oro City last July 14-15 for the purpose of encouraging, edifying and nurturing the leadership in this region through the messages delivered by Pastor Rex Dela Pena and National Director Eugene Guzon. The theme of the conference was "Shepherding the Shepherds" primarily focused on by Pastor Rex while ND Eugene focused on "synergy in missions." The national director expressed the need to work together as a team in doing missions especially that he is also now the newly-designated Mission Developer for Northeast Asia aside from being the national director for the WCG Philippines. He also focused on how to properly handle theological issues in the local church.

During the Sunday worship service together with the Cagayan de Oro City congregation, Pastor Rex delivered an encouraging message on how to deal with sufferings.

The video on "Foundations of WCG Theology" was also viewed (for the first time in the Philippines) by the WCG Mindanao leadership. After the video showing, CDs and a 6-page transcript of the video were distributed to the senior pastors and leaders. ND Eugene encouraged the leaders to pass this information and explain it well to the brethren as this is an important foundational teaching for everyone to understand.

A simple communion service ended the two-day Mindanao pastors retreat and conference.

Prayer Request for Pastor Jerome

Please remember Pastor Jerome Manriquez of Cagayan de Oro City Church in your prayers as he battles with a heart condition that has forced him to rest for a while from his assignment as the senior pastor of the Cagayan de Oro City Church. Len Joson will assume this new role as senior pastor for this local church.

As of this writing, Pastor Jerome is still in the hospital resting and recovering from a feeling of weakness due to difficulty in breathing.

Missions Coordinator Attends PFI Convocation in Toronto

Dr. Rey Taniajura, board chairman of the National Prison Ministries Philippines and missions coordinator of the WCG, Philippines, represented the national ministry of Prison Fellowship – Philippines in the recently concluded Prison Fellowship International’s (PFI) quadrennial convocation in Toronto, Canada on July 2 to 7. PFI, founded by Chuck Colson, is an international prison ministry organization of 114 member countries of which the Philippines is a member. The convocation agenda included an international council meeting, regional caucuses, plenary sessions and short courses.

Some of the featured speakers were author Philip Yancey, Dr. Chris Marshall, Nobel Peace Prize nominee Dr. Jean Vanier, and Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher to the papal household. Theologian Baxter Kruger and Dr. Bob Moffitt handled the short courses on the origin of human brokenness and engaging the church in social outreach, respectively. At the convocation, Dr. Taniajura met with former Ambassador College classmates Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Charles. Ptr. Clifton, who is now regional pastor of the WCG churches in Trinidad and Tobago, led a delegation of Prison Fellowship ministry volunteers from his country. While in Toronto, Dr. Taniajura was also able to meet with some Filipino WCG members in a dinner fellowship hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Jaime Bonaobra.

From Canada Dr. Taniajura travels to the U.S. to attend the WCG pastors conference in Indian Wells, California on January 26 to 29 together with some Filipino pastors and elders headed by national director Eugene Guzon. Together with Ptr. Andrew Teng, Dr. Taniajura will also conduct a Condensed World Missions Course (CWMC) for the San Jose church in northern California on July 21 and 22.

September Youth Retreat Camp

Another opportunity to share the gospel and disciple our young people has been opened to us! In partnership with the Missions Outreach Ministry of South Bay WCG Congregation, we are going to have a Youth Evangelistic Retreat Camp on September 14 - 16 in Monte Del Rosario Springs Resort in Benteng, La Union.

This camp is open for our young people who have not had the privilege of participating in any of our SEP camps due to financial restraints. Campers would need to be recommended by their pastors and pastoral team to be given scholarship to the retreat weekend. We can accommodate up to 100 applications.

Please wait for further details. We would need about 30 staff to serve in this retreat. Previous SEP staff who can take some time-off and serve starting Sept 13 - 16 are most welcome to apply for staff and counselor position. --Rex Dela Pena

Dear Senior Pastors and Pastoral Team Members:

This coming September 14 – 16, there will be a youth evangelistic camp in Monte Del Rosario Resort in La Union. Our friends from South Bay Congregation WCG are sponsoring the evangelistic camp on the aforementioned dates. This camp is open to your young people who meet the following criteria:

They have not been to any of our SEP camps.

Were unable to go to our SEP camps due to financial restraints.

We can accommodate 100 campers and this will be on a first come-first served basis. Please encourage them to send their applications to Ptr. Jerry Ortiguero to expedite the application process. This camp will be tuition-free for our campers. Please encourage them to accomplish the form so that they will be considered for this youth camp.

Please have your young people plan to arrive on September 14 by 3PM. Camp-wide orientation will begin at 4PM. Camp will end at lunchtime on September 16th. Directional details will be given in the coming weeks. Please encourage your campers to apply early. The number of campers will also determine the number of staff that we will need to get in order to better serve their needs.

Thank you very much and we look forward to processing their application forms. --Rex Dela Pena

Note: For a camper application form, please click this link.

Bobby Ferrer was commissioned as Vienna congregational leader by the WCG leadership in Germany when he attended the pastors’ conference in Worms, Germany last 14-15 April 2006. Santiago Lange led in the commissioning prayer.

City of San Fernando (Pampanga) – Another successful Evangelism Mission was conducted by WCG Pampanga at the barangay Malpitic, City of San Fernando last July 7, 2007, where 48 Senior Citizens heard the Gospel. It was held at the Garment Shop area of Mrs. Remedios Mandap, wife of the late PT Member Relly Mandap. It coincided with their wedding anniversary.

Mrs. Remedios Mandap gave the welcome address. Pastor Carlos M. Castro gave the evangelistic message and made the altar call, while Pastor Pio V. Umlas invited them to a regular Bible Study that is being held every Saturday at the same place. PT Member Rey Calma led in the singing of "Ang Diyos Ay Pag-ibig". One of the Seniors stood up and gave positive comments on the gospel. After the sharing of the Gospel Message, snacks were served and parlor games were held with prizes. The Vice President of the Senior Citizens expressed his gratitude for the work we’re doing. He said, "It is only here that I experience this kind of work."

City of San Fernando (Pampanga) – On August 12, 2007 the WCG Pampanga brethren will celebrate its 30th Church Anniversary at the Clubhouse of Villa del Sol Subdivision at City of San Fernando, located along the Olongapo-Gapan Road.

Fellowship will start at 9 o'clock and Worship Services was held at 10 o’clock in the morning. Lunch will be served after the services to be followed by some games, audio-visual presentations, short messages from our former pastors of the Pampanga Congregation.

Highlight of the celebration will be the groundbreaking of the proposed Multi-purpose Hall that will be constructed along the McArthur Highway beside the Immaculate Heart of Mary School (former Don Bosco), which is very near Villa Del Sol. The Multi-Purpose Hall is intended to be used for worship services and all other occasions and events, like meetings, seminars, and will be opened to the public.

We are inviting everybody who have been a member or have attended the Pampanga congregation before, (whether they are still with the WCG or not) most especially the pastors, who have been assigned before to pastor the congregation. Please Contact the following persons to confirm your attendance at least one week before: Carlos M. Castro - 0917-327-57-26; Camilo Umlas - 0917-537-89-45, Pio Umlas -0918-301-33-48 , Rose Laxamana - 0927-200-50-60 , Connie Mandap-Capili - 0919-433-12-95,and Rey Calma - 0921-627-27-71

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)