UPDATE from WCG PHILIPPINES

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

8 ASDECS Students Complete Servant-Leadership Class

Eight Worldwide Church of God students of the Master in Transformational Leadership program, major in Servant-Leadership, completed their second class in Servant Leadership in the Marketplace. They are Eric Absalon, Rex de la Pena, Adriano Ducay, Sr., Ding Guerrero, Ardel Magararu, Athos Parane (audit), Roy Valenzuela and Nomer Venus. The last session for the class, facilitated by Dr. Rey Taniajura, was held on April 19 in San Pedro, Laguna.

The masters program is being offered through the church’s partnership with the Asian School of Development and Cross Cultural Studies or ASDECS. A third class on Church Growth and Strategies will be offered on the last week of August. This will be facilitated by National Director Eugene Guzon. The Worldwide Church of God – Philippines is a founding member of ASDECS.

Singles Conference in Cebu this December 26-29

What: Singles' Conference. Theme: Back2Basics. When: December 26-29, 2008. Where: Somewhere in Cebu. Registration Fee: P2,500. Contact Person: Momee Vee at 0906-295-9974 and/or at 0919-625-6438. You may deposit your payments to: Missions Move Inc., BPI #9051-0005-84. --Andy Calope

Pampanga Music Ministry Team Retreats to Mt. Arayat

Some of the Pampanga music ministry team members enjoy time together at the foot of Mt. Arayat.

The Pampanga music ministry team held a retreat at Gintong Pakpak, a resort right at the foot of Mt. Arayat in Pampanga last august 24-25, 2008 with their new senior pastor along with Miles Umlas, their music ministry head.

The team had been longing for a retreat to learn more about worship and how they can improve the music ministry of the Pampanga church.

During their time together, the team voiced out each one's inner thoughts and feelings about the condition of the music ministry team and the local church in general. Hurts and offenses were openly voiced out and was heard, understood and prayed about.

As a result, the team came up with plans to organize their programs and visualize what kind of worship they wanted to achieve. Most of the members of the band are youths and they said that they are happy to be part a of the ministry because they love God and they want to serve Him.

The team went home inspired, spiritually re-charged and excited to continue being involved in music ministry having been given a new vision to pursue. --Roxanne Butiu

2008 Festival Sites

Baguio City - September 24 - 28 at Teachers Camp. Morning worship services are from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Various activities are slated in the afternoon. For housing accommodations, contact Pastor Jerry Ortiguero at +63920-903-8377.

Kiara, Bukidnon - October 23 - 26 at the WCG Kiara Church Building, Kiara, Don Carlos, Bukidnon. Contact person: Ruben Carmelotes at +63921-404-3487.

Motiong, Western Samar - October 23 -26 at Ygrubay Family Compound, Motiong, Western Samar. Contact person: Ptr. Danny de Guia at +63919-539-5397.

Cebu City - October 24-26 at Club Ultima, Jones Avenue, Cebu City. Contact Person: Ptr. James Boone at +63927-433-8491.

Dumaguete City - October 24 -26. Le Toundra Peak, Bacong, Negros Oriental. Contact person: Ptr. Angelo Ouano at +63915-804-4740.

Ipil - October 24 -26 at Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. Contact person: Ptr. Bert Colona at +63919-209-5540 or (062) 333-2539 (during office hours only).

Tacloban City - October 18-20. Pawing Christian Center, Pawing, Palo, Leyte. Contact person: Ptr. Arturo M. Reyes at (053) 321-2989 or (053) 524-9228.

Tagbilaran City - October 26. FAD Beach Resort, Baclayon, Bohol. Contact person: Ptr. Romy Pusta at +63917-241-3980.

Cagayan de Oro City - October 31 - November 2. Contact person: Ptr. Rollen Olango at +63927-345-5522.

Davao City - November 1-2. Contact person: Dr. Boy Garcia at +63916-267-3168.

Dr. Joseph Tkach

Speaking of Life 103: Contagious Purity

I saw an interesting article a while back. The gist of it was that in some cultures, people are more concerned about ritual purity than they are sin. People might not think twice about committing adultery, but would be horrified at the thought of not taking a bath afterward. Stealing might be a minor matter, but they are aghast if a dog happens to lick them.

They have rules about how to blow their nose, personal hygiene, animals to avoid, and rituals to restore themselves to being acceptable. The culture teaches them that certain things are emotionally repulsive—disgusting—and it is not easy to tell them these things are harmless.

The Bible has a lot to say about ritual purity. External rituals can make people outwardly clean, Hebrews 9:13 says, but only Jesus can cleanse us on the inside.

As an illustration, consider a room filled with darkness. Put a light in there, and the whole room is filled with light—cured of its darkness. Similarly, God comes into human flesh in the form of Jesus to purify humanity from the inside out.

Ritual impurity is often considered to be contagious. For example, if you touch someone who is unclean, you will be unclean, too. But for Jesus, it worked in the opposite direction – his purity was contagious.

Just as light could repel darkness, Jesus could touch lepers, and instead of being corrupted by them, he healed them.

Jesus is the fulfillment of what Old Testament purity rituals pointed to. That is why the laws of clean and unclean are not required for Christians.

For people who feel morally or ethically dirty, Jesus offers cleansing. For people who feel ashamed, he offers honor. For people who feel that they have a debt to pay, he offers forgiveness.

For people who feel alienated, he offers reconciliation. For people who feel enslaved, he offers freedom. For those who feel like they don’t belong, he offers adoption into a permanent family. For those who feel tired, he offers rest. For those who are anxious, he offers peace.

Rituals offer only the need for their continual repetition. But Jesus gives us cleansing that lasts forever.

I’m Joseph Tkach, speaking of LIFE.

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)