UPDATE from WCG PHILIPPINES

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

Last November 27- 28, 2007, some 31 pastors, pastoral team members WCG members from different parts of the the country gathered at the Christian Development Center (CDC), Tagaytay City to attend the PEOS Air Partners Training Seminar - a joint project of the WCG Philippines and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). The seminar was organized to train potential facilitators for POEA's Pre-Employment Overseas Seminar (PEOS). POEA hopes to use these facilitators in its drive to inform Filipinos nationwide about what overseas employment is all about.

PEOS is a flagship program of POEA that aims to help orient and educate potential OFWs of their rights, privileges and obligations before they leave the country for work overseas. POEA also hopes to inform future OFWs about the realities, opportunities, challenges and even dangers that come along with working in a foreign land.

For two straight days, the participants were taught how to become competent future facilitators of PEOS. They were led into various discussions and lectures by three POEA representatives, one of whom is POEA Director Melchor Dizon, who gave a talk focusing on legal matters.

To cap off the event, the participants were divided into two groups. They were given the task to brainstorm and come up with a syllabus-type of program for future seminars that they will be conducting. Both groups took on the challenge of infusing into their programs the importance of moral values and the value of the family in response to a reality that a good number of broken homes nationwide come from families of OFWs.

This is in line with our desire to help our country especially OFWs by means of being accredited facilitators of this nationwide government program. Through this program, it is hoped that we can also reach out not only the OFWs in foreign lands but also help the families of OFWs who are left behind. Being present in about 100 countries worldwide, this is something our denomination can surely (and is able to) do at home and abroad for the benefit of our countrymen. --Abi Natividad, WCG Philippines National Office

Immediately after POEA's seminar, some 119 pastors and pastoral team members gathered in the same venue at CDC to attend the Luzon Pastors Conference (November 28- 30, 2007). Pastors and pastoral team members from Northern, Central, Southern Luzon and Metro Manila came to attend seminar.

One of the main topics of the seminar was on the Trinitarian theology where the leaders were able to express their views on the matter. The other topics discussed were: on how best to convey this Trinitarian theology to the brethren in the local churches; synergy in ministry was highly encouraged among the churches; Area Supt. Rex Dela Pena discussed "Understanding the Pastor's Call"; National Director Eugene Guzon facilitated the Q & A session after the showing of the video, "Foundations of WCG Theology"; Dr. Rey Taniajura also helped in the discussion and presented the draft of the proposed discipleship material. He also discussed about church chartering. The seminar ended with a communion service led by Ptr. Andrew Teng.

ND Eugene encouraged the pastors to keep up the great work that they are doing for the sake of the gospel. It was a nurturing event for the pastors. --Abi Natividad

Last November 25, 2007, ten (10) members from the WCG- Bulacan Church graduated from their Condensed World Missions Course (CWMC) in Baliuag, Bulacan. WCG Philippines’ Missions Coordinator, Dr. Rey Taniajura facilitated the missions trainings alongside the Foundation for Christian Leadership (FCL) course which, was also being conducted then. This group of graduates is mostly composed of the members of the Pastoral Team of our Bulacan Congregation. Witnessing this graduation take place was a definitely joyous moment for the entire local church, knowing that their leaders are stepping out in faith and gearing up for a more intentional cross-cultural missions involvement in the coming days. --Abi Natividad

It's always a joy to read "Update from WCG Philippines." Thank you... for doing a wonderful job of putting the reports together in such a nice and easy to read format. And, thank you, Gina, for the report on the celebrations held in Sta. Teresita, Iriga City amongst our Oyango Aeta brethren. I'm so happy to know that in spite of almost insurmountable hardships due to inclement weather and floods in the area, that God made it possible for the celebrations there to happen." --G. Mulleda, B.C. Canada

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)