UPDATE from WCG PHILIPPINES

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

National Director Visits Bicol Region

With the aim of helping the community, this ambulance was donated to the WCG Payatas by the Rotary Club International through Judge Loren Veneracion. Payatas is a garbage dump site in the Metro Manila area where we have a thriving local church that was planted several years ago. --Avelino Matriano

This past week, since Monday, August 20, I have been in the Bicol area. This is part of the schedule of Haggai Training of 40 pastors and other leaders from Legaspi and Tabaco from Monday to Wednesday.

Photo shows children of WCG Benguet after a successful auction of their works of art for a cause last August 26 at IBC Hall, Km. 4, La Trinidad, Benguet. On the same day that the kids auctioned their art works, Operation Share a Life spearheaded by their parents turned over Php 20,000 (USD435) to eight Cordillera indigents who urgently needed medical financial assistance. --Robert Domoguen

During this trip I was also able to visit the Rotary Club of Legaspi Metro, where we explored joint efforts in the future for possible medical mission with the doctors from the United States who did a medical mission here in Tabaco. These medical practitioners were happy about the coordination work that we did last time and they are happy to come back to perform more treatments for the people here.

The excitement of all of these keeps us motivated to pursue holistic ministry as we communicate the tremendous plan of God, reconciling the world to himself. May our brethren be more zealous of their faith, and more passionate about our mandate for the Great Commission. --Eugene Guzon, National Director

WCG Leadership Takes Lead Role in Organizing Haggai Seminars in Bicol

Two more Haggai Institute Area Weekend seminars were held in the cities of Legaspi and Sorsogon in the Bicol region last August 21 to 22 and August 23 to 25 respectively. They were organized under the leadership of Dr. Jose Manzano, Haggai chapter president for Tabaco City and assistant area superintendent for the Worldwide Church of God in Bicol.

During the seminars Ms. Penny Gonnay, a board member of Haggai Philippines and in-charge of Haggai training, designated Dr. Manzano as coordinator for the seminars in the Bicol region. Already two other seminars are scheduled to be held in Iriga city and Daet before the end of the year.

Haggai area week-end seminars are conducted for church leaders who are yet unable to attend the more intensive advance leadership training held in Maui, Hawaii or in Singapore. National Director Eugene Guzon spoke on Mobilizing and Motivating for Evangelism at the seminars in Legaspi and Sorsogon. Dr. Rey Taniajura, on the other hand, was assigned to lecture on the Biblical Mandate for Evangelism in Legaspi City. More than 40 pastors and church leaders attended the seminar in Legaspi while another 27 participants took part in the seminar in Sorsogon City.

In a related development, Dr. Taniajura was also asked to lecture on the topic Biblical Mandate for Evangelism in a regional training seminar conducted by Haggai Philippines in San Fernando, La Union in August 29. More than 40 pastors and church leaders from different churches in the province attended the seminar which was the first to be held in La Union. The seminar was hosted by the First Baptist Church of San Fernando.

"We were happy to receive the update from the Philippines and certainly will enjoy future editions. We were so saddened by the flooding that destroyed people's homes. It was so nice to see friends at the conference who we had met when we visited the Philippines. Our prayers are with all of you there. Much love." --Jim and Marge Friddle

"By all means put me on your mailing list. Thanks for the opportunity to serve God's beloved children in the Philippines." --Kevin Phillips

Equally Surprised! Webmasters meet for the first time. -- After the conference, I visited our Glendora office and someone pointed excitedly to my name tag. "Len Joson!?" he exclaimed. "Yes." "And you?" I asked. "Bret Miller." It was a pleasant surprise. We've been e-mailing for years and met there for the first time. Bret (left) is the webmaster of our WCG website.

Greetings from Davao City! I was so excited to have attended the recent WCG General Conference of Elders 2007 held at Hyatt in Indian Wells, California last August 26-29 where about 800 WCG leaders attended. We were 19 all in all who came from the Philippines headed by ND Eugene. According to what I've heard from our leaders, this was the "first of its kind" gathering of all WCG leaders worldwide since the "changes" began in about December 1994 when Pastor General Joseph W. Tkach announced major doctrinal changes.

It was great to have attended again a WCG conference in the US after about 18 years. My last visit was in 1989 for a Ministerial Refreshing Program in Pasadena where I first heard Dr. Tkach and Dr. Feazell spoke about some "changes" in our understanding of various doctrines even during that earlier time.

A focus on Trinitarian theology (or Christ-centered theology) was given much importance along with and in relation to spiritual formation all throughout the conference. The guest speakers (Ruth Tucker, C. Baxter Kruger, Richard Foster and Dallas Willard) all spoke about these topics. These well-known Christian leaders and authors in the evangelical community are in agreement with our "WCG theology." Isn't that wonderful? Isn't that amazing that there are other Christian leaders/authors who agree with us in our biblical/theological understanding?

Much of our official WCG teachings are in our website and Dr. Mike Feazell (in-charge of all our WCG publications) advised everyone to take the time to check our website to keep us updated and in line with our WCG theology. Please take the time to also listen/watch the video interviews by Dr. Feazell in his program "You are Included" found in our website on Dr. Ray Anderson and C. Baxter Kruger. Please take the time to also watch Dr. Tkach's "Speaking of Life" videos as these will all help us in our understanding of what our WCG theology is all about. And of course, don't fail to watch the video on Foundations of WCG Theology.

Here in Mindanao, I have been sharing in our local churches Mr. Tkach's videos on "Speaking of Life" and the brethren have been delighted by it. These are short 3-4 minute videos and I show several of them sometimes as part of our worship services. It might be a good idea as well to present the other videos available in our website. All these can help in our understanding about our Triune God and how we may relate with Him.

Lastly, please continue sending 2-3 paragraph articles on noteworthy events (announcements are also fine) in your local congregations as this can be inspiring and encouraging to our other fellow local congregations nationwide -- even worldwide. Please include a photo of the event. Some have written me wondering if their name was taken off the mailing list as they have not been receiving any Weekly Update lately. The answer is that I don't send any when there are none -- when I don't receive any article from our local church "correspondents." Please keep it coming.

Hope you don't mind my sharing some of my "webmaster's thoughts" and maybe trivia once in a while. Just sharing. --Len Joson, Webmaster for WCG Philippines

To subscribe, unsubscribe or send comments, please write to Len.Joson@wcg.org. This Weekly Update can also be viewed at www.wcg.org/ph/updatelist.htm. The Update from WCG Philippines is an official e-mail weekly update from the Worldwide Church of God in the Philippines.

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)