Update from WCG Philippines

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

November 2, 2007

Missions Coordinator is Workshop Facilitator at Lausanne Philippines Conference

Dr. Rey Taniajura, missions coordinator of WCG Philippines, was invited by the organizers of the Lausanne Philippines Congress 2007 to facilitate three workshop sessions on “Every Church, a Missionary Training Center. The congress was held on October 25 to 27 at the UCCP Cosmopolitan Church in Manila.

The congress, whose theme is “The Whole Filipino Church Sharing the Whole Gospel to the Whole World” had as main plenary speaker Dr. Lee Jeung-Yun, chairperson of the Asia Lausanne Committee. Other plenary speakers included Bishop Efraim Tendero of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches; Dr. David Lim, director Lausanne Philippines Congress 2007; Ms. Sharon Rose Duremdes, general secretary of the National Council of Churches of the Philippines; Bishop Eddie Villanueva of the Philippines for Jesus Movement; Bishop Leo Alconga, director of the International Bible Society for East Asia and former senator Joey Lina.

The first and second International Congresses on World Evangelization were held in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1974 and in Manila, in 1989 respectively. A third international congress, Lausanne III, is scheduled to be held on October 16-25, 2010 in Capetown, South Africa.

Festival Celebrations Held in Southern Luzon

Several local churches served as hosts to the festival celebrations held this month in Southern Luzon. On October 21, 200 members from the provinces of Quezon, Laguna, Batangas and Mindoro gathered for a grand church fellowship at the Villa Gregoria resort, in Nagcarlan, Laguna. The event was highlighted by inspiring worship and fellowship and nine baptisms. Three of those baptized attend the Agdangan church and the rest attend the Christ the Rock Fellowship in Sta. Lucia, Laguna.

On the same week-end two local churches in Masbate province gathered for two-day worship services where 178 members attended. Other activities included fellowshipping, sharing of clothes and toys among the members, and film showing. The following weekend 150 members of four churches and two outreaches in Albay province joined together for a three-day celebration capped by six baptisms. WCG Philippines board member Max Fabricante was guest speaker who spoke on the topic, “You are loved, accepted and included”.

Members of the churches in Daet and Pili, Camarines Sur heard area superintendent Rey Taniajura spoke on the topic, “Every Church, A Missionary Training Center” in their festival celebrations on October 27 and 28 respectively. The Camarines Sur churches originally planned to have their combined worship celebration among the members of the Oyango tribe of the Sta. Teresita church in Iriga City, but a sudden flashflood cut-off the two major access roads to the city. The worship service was held instead in the residence of Reuel Pamor, senior pastor of the local church in Pili, Camarines Sur. The Mountain of the Lord Church in Cotmon, Polangui, Albay meanwhile will be holding its festival celebration on November 3 and 4. In at least three festival sites, the short video clips of Dr. Joseph Tkach message to the Filipino brethren and the “Summary of God’s Work in the Philippines in 2007” were also played.

Cebu Festival 2007: A Festival of Light, Jimmy Boone Ordained as Elder

More than a hundred brothers and sisters (attendances were 102, 132, 128) gathered for these days (October 2, 27 & 28) in two different locations in Cebu City for the annual festival gathering to celebrate their life in Christ. With the theme, “Adunay kahayag sa kinabuhi diha kang Kristo” or “there is light in life in Christ” based on John 8:12, brethren from all over Cebu and Bacolod City (as George Escara, wife Pam and son, Jared Santibañez) gathered at the Baseline Restaurant, Cebu City on October 26 & 28 and at Tubod Flowing Waters Resort in Minglanilla, Cebu on October 27. They assembled to savor and celebrate the goodness of God to them, his people for three wonderful days.

Many of the brethren had not seen each other for months since the one congregation of Cebu City had been divided the previous year (2006) into the congregations or “clusters” of Consolacion, Mactan Island, Cebu City and Talisay City. The purpose of the clustering was to better focus on the communities where the brethren actually reside. The focus had resulted in outreaches to neighbors and family members. Some of them had become baptized members of the congregations. These new members celebrated with us at the Olympic Hall of Baseline Restaurant as Olympians or athletes of God (II Timothy 2:5) resting and feasting in His presence. So the atmosphere was one of joyful celebration in the singing, listening to the messages, fellowshipping and eating special food.

Pastor George Escara gave the final message about our great blessedness as God’s children. We became God’s special children when we got out of spiritual darkness through the Light of the Word, Jesus Christ. As children of light Pastor George encouraged us to continually walk in the newness of life as Paul exhorted in Romans :1- 6  and also to become more conformed to Christlikeness (Romans 8:28-29).

Before giving his message Pastor George thanked everyone and proceeded to ordain Cebu Pastoral Chairman, James Boone to the office of the elder, together with ordained elders Tiburcio Rota and Flaviano Calope. --Ptr. Ranie L. Suan

Western Mindanao Festival 2007: A Time of Renewal, A Time of Harvest

IPIL, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY - Last October 26 –28 2007 brethren and visitors from Zamboanga City, Navalan OBS, Manil OBS and Ipil Church celebrated Festival 2007. The brethren were inspired with the different messages that they heard during the worship services and renewed their commitment of serving God more and showing more love to His people. There were 120 individuals who attended the festival.

Even the youths were overjoyed in meeting new friends and renewing acquaintances during the Saturday afternoon Youth Activities. The festival was concluded with a Sunday morning worship service where Mindanao Area Superintendent Len Joson gave an eye-opening sermon on Christ-centered theology showing the greatness of God's love for humanity through Christ.

We thank God for His provisions and making the Festival 2007 a success. We give glory to His name for the harvest of Eight (8) souls who showed their faith to Jesus and accept Him as their Lord and Saviour through water baptism. They are: Nurdin C. Awid, Junrey Potot, Angelie C. Awid, Roland Yula, Aicel Yula, Eltyd Cagurin, Kathylyn Pulmano, and Marie Joan. --Ptr. Geoffrey Balatero, Asst. Pastor, WCG Ipil (Barandilla Community Fellowship)

Facilitator's Training for POEA's Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (Venue Changed)

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) along with the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) are inviting you to attend a training seminar for potential facilitators for POEA's Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) to be held on November 27-28, 2007 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Christian Development Center (CDC), Tagaytay City.

Register now! For more details, contact: Abi Natividad or Aileen Orogo. Tel. no. (02) 426-22-92. Note: Click photo at right to copy bigger poster size for church bulletin boards.

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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)