September 1 and 2
We have started working on the children’s classroom in Dagupan. We are thankful to God for giving us an opportunity to begin this work while the weather is still favorable.
It is already typhoon season here in the Philippines, so we are especially grateful for God’s protection. Many strong typhoons have passed through the region, but by God’s grace, most of them went in different directions and did not directly affect us. Some of these storms brought severe destruction to other places, including parts of Japan and China.
We do not take God’s protection for granted. We are truly thankful for His care and for allowing us to continue the work of the church safely. We pray that He will continue to watch over us, especially as we work on the children’s classroom and prepare a better place where the children can learn God’s Word. The pictures taken is for the three weeks that we worked on the building.
On the evening of September 2, we had our midweek service here in Tuguegarao. We were thankful to have Brother Reymund Welba as our speaker. He is from Tumauini, Isabela, and serves as a local preacher for the Lanna Church and Antagan Church.
Brother Reymund shared a lesson entitled “The Ultimate Makeover: Before, Process, and After.” His lesson reminded us that true change is not simply outward but begins in the heart as we allow God’s Word to transform our lives. We were encouraged to examine ourselves and continue growing spiritually as Christians.
September 3
Early in the morning, we traveled to Limus, Pinukpok for our Bible study. The journey takes about two hours, so we needed to leave early. In the past, when we visited the brethren there, we still had to walk approximately 1.5 to 2 kilometers from the road to reach their meeting place. We are thankful that they have now decided to meet in a house closer to the road, which has made the journey much easier. We only had to walk about 500 meters this time.
We held our Bible study at the home of the Tungao family. Brother James Attaban shared a lesson from Psalm 1, while Brother Jun Antonio taught from 1 John 1:5–10. We are thankful for the good lessons they shared and for the opportunity to spend time with the brethren and study God’s Word together.
The brethren told us that they are currently holding their worship services on the porch of the house. They are hoping to extend the roof so they can continue worshiping safely even when it rains. Their main difficulty at the moment is finding enough funds to purchase the needed materials. We felt blessed to be able to help in a small way. Those of us who came contributed what we could toward the purchase of the materials. It was not much, but we were thankful for the opportunity to share with them and help meet a practical need.
We also had the opportunity to visit Mrs. Neneth Abawag at her home. She is not yet a Christian, but according to Brother Emer, the preacher in the area, she has been regularly attending their worship services and Bible studies. We encouraged her to continue studying and listening to God’s Word. We are praying that, in God’s time, she will come to understand the truth and make the decision to obey the gospel.
In the evening, we had our home visitation and Bible study here in Tuguegarao. We had the opportunity to visit the Darby family. Brother Mike is from the United States, while Sister Elsa is Filipino. We are thankful for their good example and faithful service to the Lord as members of the church here in Tuguegarao.
Even when they travel to the United States, they continue to make it a priority to worship with the Lord’s church. While they are in Alaska, they faithfully attend and worship with a congregation there. Their commitment reminds us that our faithfulness to God should not depend on where we are or what circumstances we may be in. Wherever we go, we should continue to seek opportunities to worship, study God’s Word, and encourage our brethren.
During our visit, Brother Rody shared a lesson entitled “The Five Great Bible Questions.” It was a meaningful opportunity for us to study the Scriptures together and reflect on these important questions from God’s Word.
September 6
In the morning here in Tuguegarao, I had another opportunity to teach our youth class. Our lesson was entitled “Christians Have God’s Promise of Heaven.”
Teaching the young people has been a blessing, but it is also a challenge for me. I am reminded of the way the apostle Paul adjusted himself when teaching different people. I need to make sure that I communicate the lesson in a way that they can understand and follow. It is not enough for me to know the lesson; I need to explain it in a simple and meaningful way so that the young people can understand God’s Word and apply it to their lives.
Our elders decided to have this special youth class because, during our regular Bible study in the book of Acts, we noticed that some of the young people were having difficulty following and fully understanding the lessons. Because of this, they asked brother Jun Bassig and me to help handle the youth class. We are thankful for the trust that the elders have given us and for the opportunity to help our young people grow in their knowledge of God’s Word.
During the sermon, brother Rody preached a lesson from Micah chapters 6–7. We are thankful for the encouragement and instruction we received from God’s Word.
P – Put God First
A – Align Your Life with God
L – Live by the Truth
C – Care for Others
A – Aim for Heaven
I am thankful to God for giving us another Sunday filled with opportunities to teach, preach, encourage, and learn from His Word.
September 9
We were thankful to have another opportunity to distribute tracts here in Tuguegarao. We invited some of our fellow preachers to join us as we went from house to house in the community near the church. It was a simple activity, but we are grateful for every opportunity to reach out to people and share God’s Word with them.
As we went from house to house, we were reminded that evangelism is not always about doing something big. Sometimes, it is simply taking the time to knock on a door, introduce ourselves, and offer someone a message from the Bible. We pray that the tracts we distributed will be read and that the words of Scripture will touch the hearts of those who received them.
In the evening, we had our midweek service here in Tuguegarao. We were thankful to have Brother Efren Respicio as our speaker. He is the local preacher at the Cadaanan Church. He shared a lesson entitled “Humble Yourselves Before the Lord.”
September 10
We also had the opportunity to conduct a home visitation and Bible study at the Biljera family’s home. We are thankful for their willingness to open their home and invite their friends so that we could spend time together studying God’s Word.
The Biljera family were formerly members of the Church of the Living God. Because of their background and friendships, they have been able to invite some of their friends from that denomination to join our Bible study.
Brother Levy Biljera also invited their former pastor, Tomas Tagayuma, who is now 93 years old. We appreciate the opportunity and time he made to hear and study the scriptures with us.
During our visit, we studied the lesson “Fulfillment of God’s Eternal Plan.” It was a meaningful opportunity to open the scriptures together and examine God’s plan and purpose as revealed through His Word.
September 13
During our Bible study here in Tuguegarao, brother Lance Panopio shared a lesson from Acts 5:1–16. I was also able to attend the Bible study this time because it was brother Jun Bassig’s turn to teach the youth class. I am thankful for the opportunity to sit with the brethren, listen to God’s Word, and learn together. It is a blessing to be able to teach others, but it is equally important for us as preachers to continue learning and being taught from the Scriptures.
During our morning worship service, brother Rody preached from the book of Nahum. We are thankful for the encouragement and instruction we received from the study of God’s Word.
In the afternoon, we went to Palca, where brother Jun Bassig was with us and shared a lesson on “Gratitude.” His lesson reminded us to recognize God’s blessings and to develop thankful hearts, not only when things are going well, but in every circumstance.
After Palca, we went to Dagupan, where I had the opportunity to share a lesson entitled “There Is Still Time.” I based the lesson on Ephesians 5:16–17, which reminds us to make the most of our time and to understand the Lord’s will.
The lesson encouraged us to consider how we are using the time God has given us. We often think that there will always be another opportunity to do what is right, to serve God, or to reach out to someone who needs the gospel. But our time is limited, and we should make good use of every opportunity while we have it.
September 15
Brother Fernando Duque invited us to visit Jurisdiccion, Alcala, where a newly established congregation has recently begun meeting. We were encouraged to learn that they had just held their third Sunday worship service last Sunday. We are thankful to God for this new opportunity to reach people in the area and for the brethren who are working to establish the Lord’s church there.
During our visit, we had the opportunity to distribute Bible tracts throughout the community. We went from house to house, giving people an opportunity to receive a message from God’s Word. We pray that the tracts will be read and that they may open doors for further Bible studies.
We also had a Bible study at the home of brother Roland Racquel. We are especially thankful for his willingness to invite some of his neighbors to come and listen to God’s Word. His hospitality and desire to share the gospel with others are a good encouragement to us.
We are grateful for the opportunity to be part of this work, even in a small way. The congregation is still very young, and there is much work to be done. We pray that the Lord will continue to bless the efforts of the brethren in Jurisdiccion, strengthen the new congregation, and help them reach more souls in the community.
During our midweek service here in Tuguegarao, we were thankful to have brother Victor Ramos as our speaker. He is the preacher at the Santiago Church in Quirino, Isabela.
Brother Victor shared a lesson entitled “Seven Signs of a Mature Christian.” The lesson encouraged us to examine our own spiritual lives and consider whether we are continuing to grow in our faith, understanding, character, and service to God.
September 19
We were thankful to be invited by brother Efren Respicio to the Cadaanan Church to participate in their Youth Lectureship. It was a great privilege for me to be one of the speakers, and I was given the opportunity to share the first lesson.
My lesson was entitled “You Are Not Too Young.” I encouraged the young people to understand that they do not have to wait until they are older before they can do something useful for the Lord and His church. Even at their young age, they can already serve God, encourage others, study His Word, teach their friends, and be good examples to those around them. I hope the lesson encouraged them to see that their youth can be used for the glory of God.
Brother Robert Pader followed with a lesson entitled “God, the Source of Blessings.” He reminded us to recognize that every good blessing we have ultimately comes from God and that we should respond with gratitude and faithful service.
Brother Jay Gumpad then shared a lesson entitled “Flee and Follow,” encouraging the young people to turn away from things that can harm their spiritual lives and instead pursue the things that are pleasing to God.
Finally, brother Boni Morales shared a lesson from John 6, focusing on the young boy who offered his five loaves and two fish to Jesus. The lesson reminded us that what may seem small in our hands can still be useful when we willingly place it in the Lord’s service.
At the end of the lectureship, an invitation was extended, and we were very thankful and encouraged that one young soul obeyed the gospel. We give all the glory to God for this precious opportunity and for the decision that was made to follow Him.
We were unable to stay for the baptism because we needed to return to Tuguegarao to take care of some errands and preparations before Sunday. Although we were not able to witness the baptism, we were very happy and thankful to hear that another soul had responded to the gospel.
During our Bible study here in Tuguegarao, brother Lance Panopio continued and finished his lesson on Acts 5:17–42. We are thankful for his time and effort in preparing and teaching the lesson. In the sermon, brother Rody preached from the book of Habakkuk.
In the afternoon, at Palca, where I had the opportunity to share the lesson “There Is Still Time.” The lesson encouraged us to recognize the value of the time God has given us.
Afterward, we went to Dagupan, where Brother Robert preached a lesson entitled “Are We Worthy of Our Calling?” The lesson challenged us to examine our lives and consider whether we are living in a manner that reflects the calling we have received as Christians.
September 23
During our midweek service here in Tuguegarao, we were thankful to have brother Dennis Yuson as our speaker. Brother Dennis serves as the local preacher for the Wagud Church, Aquib Church, and Virginia Church.
He shared a lesson comparing the lives and marriages of Hosea and Jeremiah, highlighting the differences in their circumstances and the lessons we can learn from their experiences. The lesson gave us an opportunity to look more closely at these two servants of God and to appreciate how God used their different circumstances to communicate important truths to His people.
September 24
We were scheduled to have another home visitation and Bible study with the Tamaray family. Unfortunately, there was a sudden heavy rain that made it difficult for us to travel.
Although we had our car and would not have had much difficulty getting there, we also considered that the rain would make it very difficult to have a meaningful Bible study. Their roof would be very noisy because of the heavy rain, and it would have been difficult for us to hear and understand one another clearly.
Because of this, we decided to reschedule our visit. We are thankful that we can always make another opportunity to spend time with the family and study God’s Word together. We pray that the Lord will continue to bless the Tamaray family, and we look forward to visiting them again when the weather permits.
Sometimes our plans do not happen as we expect, but we are thankful that we can trust God and simply make use of the next opportunity He gives us.
September 25
We had the opportunity to visit the Malapiat Church in Kalinga, where Brother Edwin Soriano is preaching. As we approached the meeting place, we noticed a bamboo barrier across the road. When we arrived, we asked the brethren about it, and they explained that the area was under a temporary lockdown because of an ongoing tribal conflict in the province.
Because of the situation, people were being asked to remain in their homes, with only limited movement allowed, particularly for older people who needed to go to the market for essential needs. We could see that the situation had affected the community, and we were thankful that the brethren were safe. We were especially encouraged to hear that they had no desire to become involved in the conflict. Instead, they were thankful for the restrictions because they helped keep the brethren and their families away from the danger.
Despite the difficult circumstances, the brethren continued to gather and worship God. Their meeting was also a special thanksgiving to God because, after many years, they finally have a better place where they can worship. Their chapel is not yet completely furnished, but it is already much more comfortable than the place where they met before. We are thankful to God for providing this place and for the brethren who worked and sacrificed to make it possible.
Brother Rody shared the lesson “My Responsibility to the Local Church.” We also had the opportunity to help in different ways, including leading songs, leading prayers, and encouraging the brethren. It was a blessing for us to work together and to see their faithfulness even during a difficult time.
An invitation was extended at the end of the service, and we were deeply thankful and encouraged that four souls obeyed the gospel. We give all the glory to God for these precious souls who made the decision to follow Him.
September 27
For our Bible study here in Tuguegarao, brother Flor led us in our study and shared a lesson from the sixth chapter of the book of Acts. In the sermon, Brother Rody preached a lesson from the book of Zephaniah.
Since it was the last Sunday of the month, our worship schedule was adjusted as usual. Brother Tony Simangan invited us to their house at noon for a thanksgiving celebration for the second birthday of their daughter. Because of this, and as suggested by the brethren, we held our worship service in Dagupan earlier than our usual schedule.
In Dagupan, Brother Robert preached a lesson about the body, soul, and spirit. After the worship service, we went to Brother Tony's house and joined them in their thanksgiving celebration for their daughter. We were thankful for the opportunity to fellowship with the family and share in this special occasion.
In Palca, I preached the sermon entitled “Responsibilities of a Christian in the Church.” The lesson focused on the responsibilities that every Christian has toward the local church, including promoting unity, attending its services, supporting its good works, obeying faithful elders, maintaining the purity of the church, and helping restore those who have gone astray.
September 29
We were also invited by brother Jun Antonio to their home in Warat, Piat, for a thanksgiving celebration. It was the birthday of his niece, and as part of the celebration, the family wanted to have a Bible study and give thanks to God for the blessings He has given them.
Brother Randy Lamarca was able to share a good lesson about giving thanks. The lesson reminded us of the importance of recognizing God's blessings and expressing our gratitude to Him, not only during special occasions but in our daily lives.
September 30
We went to Nabialan Church, where brother Jun Antonio is preaching. Brother Chris Reeves arrived on Tuesday morning and was the speaker for the Bible study. He shared a good lesson entitled “Bare Minimum Christianity.” The lesson emphasized the danger of doing only the minimum in our service to God and challenged us to examine whether we are truly giving our best to the Lord.
I was able to get the outline of his lesson, and I plan to share it in the other places where I have opportunities to teach. I believe the lesson will be helpful and encouraging to many brethren.
In the evening, brother Chris also preached for our midweek service here in Tuguegarao. Preachers from other congregations came and joined us because they also wanted the opportunity to hear him preach. He shared another excellent lesson entitled “A Sound Church.”
