August 2
For our Bible study here in Tuguegarao, brother Flor Constantino started our study in Acts 2. For the sermon, I prepared a lesson inspired by something I heard from brother Jimmy Domingo last Wednesday. He shared a lesson on “Victory,” using each letter of the word as the first letter of each division of his lesson. I really appreciated the simplicity and creativity of that approach, and it gave me the idea to do something similar with the three congregations where I am currently working—Tuguegarao, Palca, and Dagupan.
My simple hope is that, whenever the brethren think about the place where they worship, they might also remember a lesson from God’s Word that was shared with them. I do not say this because I think my lessons are special, but because I hope that the lessons will leave something encouraging and meaningful in their hearts.
For the first lesson, I used the word “TUGUE”, taking only the first five letters of Tuguegarao. We commonly use “Tugue” when referring to the place, and limiting it to five letters also helped me keep the lesson within the allotted time for worship.
T — Trust God Completely
U — Use Your Life for God
G — Grow in Grace
U — Unite with the Brethren
E — Evangelize the Lost
By God’s grace, I was also able to preach the same lesson in Palca in the afternoon. I was thankful for the opportunity to share the same message with the brethren there and to encourage them through God’s Word.
In Dagupan, brother Robert preached a lesson entitled “The True God.”
August 5
In our midweek service here in Tuguegarao, brother Jun Bassig preached a lesson on the “Purposes of Prayer.”
We are thankful to see the progress he is making in his preaching. It is encouraging to see him becoming more confident and improving little by little each time he stands before the brethren.
Brother Jun came from a Pentecostal background, so he is still learning and gradually becoming accustomed to the way we understand preaching and teaching God’s Word. We truly appreciate his willingness to learn, his humility, and his desire to grow in the knowledge of the truth.
August 7
We went to Villa Corazon, Mallig, for a Bible study with the brethren there. The local preacher in the area is Brother July Aguinaldo. It had been a long time since I last visited this place, so I was very happy to see the brethren again and to fellowship with them.
We were also encouraged when they told us that they now have their own piece of land where they can build their chapel. The place where the church currently meets is not their own, so having a property of their own is a great blessing and an important step forward for the congregation. They have already started working on the chapel, and we are praying and hoping that it will be completed before the end of the year.
Brother Rody was the speaker for the Bible study, and he shared a lesson entitled “Characteristics of Growing Christians.” The lesson encouraged the brethren to continue growing in their faith and to develop the qualities that should be seen in faithful Christians.
After the lesson, an invitation was extended, and we were blessed to witness two precious souls obey the gospel. They were baptized in an inflated pool near the lot where the brethren are planning to build their chapel.
August 8
We went to the gospel meeting at Maligaya Church in Tumauini, where Brother Victor Sinon and his son, Vince, are serving as the local preachers. It was a blessing to be with the brethren again and to support the work in that place.
Brother Jimmy Duque was the first speaker, and he shared a lesson on “Humility.” His message reminded us of the importance of having a humble heart and following the example of Christ in our daily lives.
The final speaker was Brother Rody Gumpad, who preached about “Partaking of the Lord’s Supper.” He explained the importance and purpose of the Lord’s Supper and why Christians should observe it according to the teaching of the Scriptures.
After the lesson, an invitation was extended, and we were thankful to see two precious souls respond by confessing their faith. One of them, Mrs. Criselda, shared with us that she had attended several different religious groups before, but she had never encountered what she heard during our gospel meeting.
She observed that in the Church, the things we teach and practice are supported by verses from the Bible. Whenever something is taught or practiced, a biblical passage is presented as proof rather than simply relying on personal beliefs or opinions. Her observation reminded us of the importance of making sure that everything we believe and practice is based on the Word of God.
Before they were immersed in water, I had the opportunity to explain to them the importance of baptism and its place in God’s plan of salvation. We discussed why baptism is commanded in the Scriptures and the significance of obeying the Lord’s command.
August 9
I thank God for giving me the opportunity to teach again in our Youth Class here in Tuguegarao. I used to teach the same class before, but when the pandemic came, the class was discontinued. It is only now that the elders have decided to start it again, and I am truly thankful for this opportunity.
I am also happy that Brother Jun Bassig is my co-teacher in this work. It is encouraging to see that we now have more young people attending the class than before. Brother Jun taught the first lesson for the past two weeks, while I will be teaching for the next two weeks on the subject “Disciples as Christians.”
Teaching a youth class is different from preaching a sermon. I have to make the lessons simpler and easier for them to understand while still making sure that everything we teach is supported by the Scriptures. It has been a good experience for me because it challenges me to explain God’s Word in a way that young people can understand and apply in their daily lives.
During the sermon, Brother Flor Constantino preached on “What Does the Bible Teach About Hades?” It was a good opportunity for the brethren to learn more about what the Scriptures teach concerning Hades and what happens after death.
In the afternoon, we went to Palca, where Brother Robert shared a lesson entitled “The True God.” Later, we went to Dagupan, where I also had the opportunity to preach a lesson entitled “Tugue…”
August 12
We were invited by Brother Fernando Duque to join a tract distribution in Tupang, Alcala. I arrived late and was only able to join the latter part of the activity. We went from house to house, giving out gospel tracts and taking the opportunity to share briefly with the people about the message contained in them.
We encountered different reactions from the people. Some initially thought that we were from the Jehovah’s Witnesses group. Whenever we offered them a tract, some would immediately say that they did not have money to pay for it. We explained to them that the tracts were completely free and that we were simply giving them the material so they could read and learn more about the Bible. After hearing this, they were more willing to accept them.
There were also others who, upon seeing us approach, would hide or avoid us. Although some people were hesitant or unwilling to listen, we continued to share the gospel with those who were willing to receive it.
This experience reminded us that people respond differently when we try to reach them with God’s Word. Some may be suspicious, some may refuse, and others may be willing to listen. Our responsibility is simply to continue planting the seed and to take every opportunity to share the truth with patience and humility. We may not immediately see the results, but we trust that God’s Word can touch the hearts of those who eventually take the time to read it.
In the evening, we had our midweek service here in Tuguegarao. Brother Vince Sinon shared a wonderful lesson entitled “From Lost to Found.”
His lesson reminded us of the importance of recognizing our spiritual condition and the joy of being restored to God. It was an encouraging message that helped us appreciate God’s love, mercy, and willingness to seek and save those who are lost.
August 13
We went to Minagbag Church for another Bible study. This time, Brother Efren Respicio was invited to preach. He is the local preacher of Cadaanan Church in Solana.
Brother Efren shared a good and timely lesson entitled “Seek the Lord While He May Be Found.” His message reminded us of the importance of seeking God while we still have the opportunity to hear and obey His Word. We should not delay in turning to the Lord because we do not know how much time we have.
August 14
We went to the Bible study at Bagbag Church in Rizal, Kalinga, where Brother Luis Nalog serves as the local preacher. It was a blessing to spend time with the brethren and have the opportunity to study God’s Word together.
Brother Jay Gumpad was the first speaker, and he preached a lesson entitled “The Macedonian Call.” His lesson reminded us of the importance of responding to God’s call and being willing to go wherever there are opportunities to share the gospel with others.
The last speaker was Brother Rody, who began a lesson entitled “Four Steps to Apostasy.” Unfortunately, we were not able to finish the lesson because Brother Jay became very sick. I needed to drive him back home so that he could rest and receive the care he needed.
Although we were unable to complete the study, we are thankful for the opportunity to be with the brethren in Bagbag and to hear God’s Word.
August 16
I once again had the opportunity to teach in the Youth Class here in Tuguegarao. I was able to finish the lesson on “Disciples as Christians.” It has been a blessing to teach the young people and help them understand more clearly what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Teaching them has also been a learning experience for me, especially in finding ways to make the lessons simple, practical, and easy for them to understand.
In the sermon, Brother Rody preached from Jonah 4. His lesson helped us reflect on Jonah’s attitude and God’s compassion, reminding us that we should also learn to have a heart that cares for others and understands God’s desire for people to turn to Him.
In the afternoon, we went to Palca, where Brother Emer Yuson came to visit us. We were happy to give him the opportunity to share the gospel with us. He preached a lesson about “Forgiveness.” It was a good reminder of the importance of forgiving others and following the example of God’s mercy toward us.
Later, in Dagupan, Brother Robert preached a lesson entitled “What Do You Want to Ask from God?” His message encouraged us to think carefully about what we ask from God and to consider whether our desires are truly in accordance with His will.
August 19
In our midweek service here in Tuguegarao, we were blessed to have Brother Joden Cabanilla with us. He was baptized about a year ago, and this was the first time I had the opportunity to hear him preach. It was encouraging to see his willingness to serve and to use his abilities in sharing God’s Word.
Brother Joden came from a Pentecostal group before becoming a member of the Church. His growth since his baptism has been encouraging, and it was a joy to see him take another step in serving the Lord through preaching.
He preached a lesson entitled “Fight the Good Fight.” His message reminded us that the Christian life is a spiritual battle that requires faithfulness, courage, perseverance, and commitment. As Christians, we must remain faithful to the Lord and continue fighting the good fight until the end.
August 20
We started again our Thursday home Bible study here in Tuguegarao. For our first study, we went to the Panopio family, who welcomed us into their home and invited some of their relatives and friends to join us.
Among those who attended was a so-called “pastora” from a Born Again group. She is a relative of the Panopio family. Some Catholics also joined the Bible study, which gave us a good opportunity to study the Scriptures together with people from different religious backgrounds.
With the help of Brother Rody, we studied a lesson entitled “Answering Pharaoh’s Question.” The study gave us an opportunity to examine what the Bible teaches and to see the importance of finding answers from the Scriptures rather than relying only on personal beliefs or religious traditions.
It was encouraging to see different people willing to sit together and listen to God’s Word. We pray that these home Bible studies will continue and that they will open more opportunities for us to teach others the truth in a humble and respectful way.
August 21
We went to the wake of Brother Severino Constantino in Nangalisan, Solana. In his family, he was the only Christian, while the rest of his family are Catholics. Because of the persistence of his elder brother, Brother Flor Constantino, we were given the opportunity to have a service during the wake.
At first, Brother Severino’s family did not want us to hold a service because they are all Catholics. In the Philippines, it is common for people to play cards and gamble during wakes, and the family had allowed people to gather there for this purpose. Because of this, it was difficult for us to have their full attention during our Bible study.
During the service, Brother Flor tried to ask the people to stop playing cards for a while so they could listen to the Word of God. However, many of them continued because their minds were focused on worldly activities. Despite this, we continued with the Bible sharing and singing of spiritual songs.
Although it was not easy to get their attention, we remained hopeful that the Word of God would reach their hearts. We pray that what they heard and witnessed during the service will remain in their minds and eventually lead them to consider the truth of God’s Word.
It is our hope that the family will one day follow the example of Brother Severino, who chose to obey and serve the Lord even though he was the only Christian in his family. May his faith and example continue to influence his loved ones and help them see the importance of accepting God’s Word and making it part of their lives.
August 22
We went to the Gospel Meeting at Lanna, Tumauini, where Brother Reymund Welba is serving as the local preacher. This was my first time to visit the congregation, and I was encouraged to learn more about the work in this place. The chapel was only built about a year ago, although the congregation itself has already been established for several years.
There were three speakers during the Gospel Meeting. Brother Edgar Licodini was the first speaker, but unfortunately, we arrived late and were only able to hear the latter part of his lesson. We were not familiar with the exact location of the chapel, which caused us to have difficulty finding the place and delayed our arrival.
The second speaker was Brother Jimmy Domingo, who preached a lesson entitled “The Duties of a Committed Christian.” His message reminded us that being a Christian involves responsibilities and that our commitment to the Lord should be demonstrated through faithful service and obedience.
Finally, Brother Rody Gumpad preached a lesson entitled “Fulfillment of God’s Promises.” He encouraged the brethren to trust in the promises of God and remain faithful, knowing that God is always true to His Word.
After the lessons, an invitation was extended, and two precious souls came forward to confess their faith. While we were already at the pool preparing for the baptisms, another man approached and decided that he also wanted to obey the gospel.
I was especially happy to see him make this decision because I had noticed him during the preaching. He was very attentive throughout the lessons, and it was encouraging to see that his interest in the Word of God eventually led him to make the decision to obey the gospel.
August 23
It was again Brother Jun’s turn to teach the Youth Class, so I was able to join the Bible study with the other brethren. Brother Lino Darauay shared with us the first half of Acts 3. It was a good opportunity to study the Word together and learn more from the Scriptures.
In the sermon, Brother Rody preached from Micah chapters 1–3. After the worship service, one of the young men approached us and expressed his desire to obey the gospel. His name is Shedrach Villa, the son of Brother Jonathan Villa, who was baptized earlier this year. We were very happy to see another member of the Villa family respond to the gospel. We then baptized Shedrach in our baptistery.
In the afternoon, we were happy to have Brother Efren Respicio with us. He is currently serving as the local preacher at Cadaanan Church. Brother Efren is also the first preacher I worked with back in 2006. We were both local preachers in Palca in 2006, but later (2009) he decided to establish a congregation in Pag-asa, Ilagan, his wife’s hometown. After he left Palca, I continued the work there alone for almost 14 years until Brother Robert eventually joined me.
While in Palca, Brother Efren preached a lesson entitled “He Who Stands Firm to the End Will Be Saved.” We were thankful to have a good attendance. The bad weather we experienced in the previous weeks had already subsided, and some of our brethren who had been away were also able to return home. It was encouraging to see the congregation together again.
Later, in Dagupan, Brother Efren preached another lesson entitled “Redeeming the Time Because the Days Are Evil.” His message reminded us of the value of our time and the importance of using every opportunity to serve the Lord while we have the chance.
During our closing prayer, however, we suddenly experienced a frightening situation. Sister Clarence suddenly fell down and became unconscious for about a minute. We were all alarmed and did not know what was happening. Thankfully, Sister Carrie, her aunt who is taking care of her, told us that it was the first day of her menstruation and that she had not eaten anything throughout the day.
They immediately brought her to the hospital, where she was also found to have gastritis. We helped her with the medicines she needed, and we are very thankful to God that she is now doing well.
August 26
We were invited by Brother Jayson Tanguilan to go to Maguilling, Piat, to distribute Bible tracts and have a Bible study with the new converts in the area. At present, they do not yet have a place of worship, but there is a possibility that they may join the congregation at Sta. Barbara.
We spent time going from place to place distributing gospel tracts and taking the opportunity to speak with people about God’s Word. It was encouraging to see the brethren making an effort to reach out to others and share the gospel in the community.
During the Bible study, Brother Jayson shared a lesson entitled “Priorities.” The lesson reminded us of the importance of putting God first in our lives and making sure that our spiritual responsibilities are not neglected because of worldly concerns.
After the lesson, an invitation was extended, and we were thankful to witness one mother respond to the gospel and obey the Lord. It was a great encouragement to see another precious soul make the decision to follow the truth.
In the evening, we had Brother Sherwin Miranda with us for our midweek service. He currently serves as the local preacher for three congregations: Cabuluan Church, Culao Church, and Cabaritan Church.
Brother Sherwin shared a meaningful lesson entitled “The Beauty of a Sincere Heart.” His lesson reminded us of the importance of having a sincere heart in our relationship with God. True service to the Lord should not simply be outward or for the approval of others, but should come from a heart that genuinely loves God and desires to follow His Word.
August 27
We went to another home Bible study, this time at the home of the Viernes family. Their children are currently away from home because of work, so we were only able to spend time with the family members who were there.
We had a simple but meaningful devotion together through singing, prayer, and the study of God’s Word. Even though it was a small gathering, it was encouraging to see the family take the time to worship and reflect on the Scriptures together.
August 30
In our Bible study here in Tuguegarao, we had Brother Levy Biljera share a lesson with us. Brother Levy was baptized last year, and since then, he has been actively joining Bible studies, lectures, and gospel meetings in different places. This was also the first time he had the opportunity to stand before the brethren and share God’s Word.
Brother Levy shared with us his experience when he was still part of the denomination Church of the Living God–Pentecost. He told us that whenever they had lectures or conventions, he was usually assigned to help prepare the food in the kitchen. On Sundays, his role was simply to sit and listen. He was never given the opportunity or training to stand before the congregation and participate in the work of teaching or helping in worship.
This time, however, he was given the opportunity to stand and share what he had learned. He taught us from Acts 4, and we guided him throughout the Bible study. It was encouraging to see his willingness to learn and to serve. His experience reminds us that new Christians need opportunities to grow, participate, and develop their abilities in serving the Lord.
Since it was again the last Sunday of the month, Brother Robert went to Dagupan while I went to Palca. I was finally able to finish the lesson I had been developing around the name “Palca.” I had been working on this lesson for about three weeks, and I entitled it “Palca: A Life That Pleased God.”
The lesson was divided into five points:
P – Put God First
A – Align Your Life with God
L – Live by the Truth
C – Care for Others
A – Aim for Heaven
I was thankful to finally finish and preach the lesson in Palca. It was a challenging lesson to prepare because I wanted each letter of the word “Palca” to have a meaningful spiritual application, while still making sure that the lesson was firmly based on the Scriptures.
I will also be preaching this lesson in Dagupan on Sunday. At the same time, I am preparing another lesson using the word “Dagupan” as the main structure of the lesson. It is a longer lesson, but I am hoping and praying that I can finish preparing it within the next two weeks.
