UPDATE from WCG PHILIPPINES

Over 800 Attend WCG Worldwide Conference

More than 800 elders and leaders of the Worldwide Church of God from around the world gathered at the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort & Spa at Indian Wells in California, USA last July 26-29 for the WCG General Conference of Elders 2007. This historic event was attended by a delegation of 19 elders, wives and (two) children coming from the Philippines led by National Director Eugene Guzon. The following attended: Dr. & Mrs. Rey Taniajura, Dr. & Mrs. Carlos Pizarro and their child, Dr. Catalino & Betty Garcia, Pastor Andrew & Gladys Teng, Pastor Jess & Margie Bahinting, Pastor Oscar & Lea Mina, Pastor Bursing & Myrna Rota, ND Eugene & Luly Guzon and their daughter Joyce and Len Joson.

Other Filipino pastors and leaders based in the US were also present namely: Pastor Bermie & Millet Dizon, Pastor Johnny & Bing Logrono, Pastor Nilo & Pilar Belarmino and Mario & Baby Natividad. The Philippine delegation also enjoyed a Friday night get-together dinner and fun hosted by Nelson and Ana Roxas in one of their residences where several couples were housed for the duration of the conference.

Aside from Pastor General Joseph Tkach and other denominational leaders who spoke during the conference, the special guests were: Ruth Tucker, C. Baxter Kruger, Richard Foster and Dallas Willard. Most of the speakers spoke about the importance of a loving relationship with the triune God -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Spiritual formation was also discussed by Richard Foster and Dallas Willard aside from the emphasis on and in relation to a Christocentric or trinitarian theology.

The conference ended on a Sunday with a worship service in the morning and a tour of the WCG HQ office facilities at Glendora, California. It was an inspiring and uplifting conference for all.

WCG Participates in Relief Work of FHI and CCC in Bicol

A team of WCG members led by Dr. Jose Manzano participated this July in a relief distribution of goods consisting of a ship-container of brand new clothes donated by the Food for the Hungry (FH) Korea. The beneficiaries were those affected by the strong typhoons that hit the Bicol region late last year. The goods were coursed through Food for the Hungry Philippines. Ms. Debbie Toribio, country director of FH Philippines sought the help of Dr. Rey Taniajura in facilitating the entry of the donated goods as the government maintains strict control over the entry of donated clothing into the country. Through the efforts of the International School of Theology – Asia (now renamed International Graduate School of Leadership) and help provided by the Philippine Relief and Development Services (Philrads) of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, the one-container donation of clothing was allowed entry into the country.

Dr. Manzano reported the following to Dr. Taniajura on the relief distribution work: We are very happy to inform you that we have distributed the relief goods from Korea to 479 families in Tabaco City covering six barangays namely; San Antonio (relocation area), Pinagbobong, Magapo, Oson, Mariroc (Sitio Nagsipit), and Bangkilingan. We were joined in the distribution work by Pastor Ramon Eugene "Aboy" Dean of ISOT, Pastor Cepriano "Cep" Opeña, director of the Campus Crusade Ministry in Bicol University main campus, and volunteers from our congregation.

The recipients could not believe that they have received six pieces each of brand new clothes. Ptr. Aboy commented that our group was very supportive of the activity and that they are interested to work with us again in future relief operations. We plan to conduct Bible studies in San Antonio, Oson and Magapo within the year as a follow-up to the evangelistic messages of Ptrs. Aboy and Cep before we distributed the relief goods. --Dr. Rey Taniajura

Leadership Seminar for Barangay Youth Leaders Held in Digos City

Last Saturday, July 21, Mindanao Area Supt. Len Joson had the opportunity to speak about godly leadership to about 50 barangay youth leaders from all over Digos City at the Ruparan National High School. The leadership seminar was organized by Jovani Castro Jalalon, president of SUMAMA KA!, a youth civic-oriented organization composed of about 1,000 students and out-of-school youths in Davao del Sur.

Our Digos City Church senior pastor Rosauro de Guia did the coordination work with Jovani Jalalon who has begun attending our local church in Digos. The other resource speakers during the seminar were barangay, city and provincial officials of Davao del Sur.

In a related development, Pastor De Guia, Jovani Jalalon and two women barangay day-care center teachers have organized themselves as a "day-care center" and have begun teaching children using our church-owned building as its "school building."

Digos City, July 20 -- The Little Ambassador Learning Center here, which is run by WCG Digos City, joined the celebration of Nutrition Month. About 70 kindergarten children and their parents participated in the one-day celebration.

The activity included cooking, table setting and drawing contests in the morning. In the afternoon, children displayed their singing and dancing talents.

Vice Mayor Joseph Penas graced the occasion and thanked the WCG and parents for conducting the activities. Pastor Catalino Garcia also attended the celebration and delivered a short message exhorting parents to love their children as they were God's gift to them.

The WCG Dubai congregation is cordially inviting you to the first ever festival celebration in the United Arab Emirates. The venue will be at the Flamingo Beach Resort, Umm Al Qwain, UAE. The resort is 50 kilometers away from Dubai which is by the coast of the Persian Gulf. Facilities include hotel rooms, swimming pool and meeting halls.

The festival will be a 3-day-2-night celebration from October 5 to 7, 2007 with the theme “Celebrate Jesus in the Desert”. Activities include daily worship services, family activities, boat ride and tours to see Dubai. For reservations and inquiries, send an email to Jovy Manzano at jovymanzano_nuas@yahoo.com or call her at +971-50-4299124. You can also contact Nitz Malaga at nitzmalaga@gmail.com or Cesar Dela Paz at cesar_delapaz@yahoo.com. Due to booking requirements, registration will close August 11, 2007. So register early.

Take your family and friends with you and enjoy the Arabian sun and sands. Celebrate Jesus with us in the desert! --Cesar Dela Paz

SAN CARLOS CITY, PANGASINAN - The WCG San Carlos City, Congregation hosted the Asian Theological Seminary - Center for Continuing Studies (ATS_CCS) orientation held in this city last Thursday July 26. Rev. Bob Harris of ATS gave an expositional message about the reality of the Kingdom of God. That this reality is a part of our daily life. "New life" stories can be told once we experience the reality. Meanwhile, Pastor Norman Florendo of the Reformed Church in San Carlos City spoke about the River of Life. Also present were Elder Frank from Michigan, Elder Edwin of Macabebe, Pampanga and Solomon An MBA Student of ATS, from Pakistan. Also present were pastors and leaders from different evangelical churches in San Carlos City. The WCG was represented by Ptr. Adonis C. Caguioa and Mrs Madrona Rosario , deaconess.( ACC). --Adonis Caguioa

North Hills Village (NHV) High School, Norzagaray, Bulacan -- WCG Outreach Ministry submitted the approved permit for the continued campus value enrichment ministry in North Hills Village High School, in Norzagaray, Bulacan for the school year 2007-2008. Ate Juliet Cruz submitted the permit to Mrs. Silda G. Villapania, principal of the NHV High School, in Norzagaray, Bulacan on the thirteenth of July 2007.

The Office of the Division of School Superintended issued the permit signed by Dr. Edna Santos-Zerrudo, the Division of School Superintendent of Bulacan. This was in line with the requirement of the Division of School Superintendent for the Bulacan province that all NGO’s and Religious Group’s campus activities or ministries in any High School in Bulacan must first obtain permit from the Division Superintendent.

Infanta National High School (INHS), Infanta, Quezon. - The baptized teachers and students had expressed their corporate desire to be formally declared as a WCG fellowship. The motion was relayed to the WCG Outreach Team in a lunch assembly meeting held at the town Queen Restaurant on July 11, 2007.

The outreach ministry’s Value Enrinchment activities in INHS cum Campus Bible Studies was started in November 2005. It has so far been highlighted with the baptism of eighteen (18) teachers and one hundred thirty three (133) students and fifteen (15) parents.

Justice Cecilia Munoz-Palma High School (JCMPHS), Payatas, Quezon City -- At the suggestion of Miss Nitz C. Alajar, the school Value Education Department and the WCG Outreach Ministry sat down in a meeting in the Guidance office on July 12, 2007. They discussed the priority lesson for the nominated classes. It was mutually agreed that lessons on Truth (or Truthfulness) and Honesty be given the first two priorities for the first year classes.

WCG-Philippines had long been involved in the character development ministry in the school. It was in February 2006, when the Outreach Ministry began participating in the value enrichment ministry for the teachers and students, through the strong encouragement of the WCG National Director Eugene Guzon.

As of this month of July 2007, forty-two (42) students have already accepted the Lord Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior in a mass baptism conducted in Bernardo Park in November 2006. It was a solemn and memorable ceremony led then by the NCR Area Superintendent Rex de la Pena. --Arji Cruz

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)