Working for the Lord from September 19 - October 26

September 19, we were invited to attend the Gospel Meeting at Saguday, Quirino. With us is brother Harry Osborne from Oklahoma City. We traveled early in the morning because it takes 3 hours to reach the town. The effects of the recent typhoon were evident in several places we pass by, having the same result as we have here in Tuguegarao. It rained on and off the whole duration of the meeting but the attendance and interest were very good as we have the same attendance from morning until the end in the afternoon.

Brother Harry was the first to preach in the morning with the lesson “Salvation and Saul”. Brother Rody followed with a lesson “Eschatology” and focuses on answering several aspects of the premillennial doctrines. It was said that some of the visitors are Pentecostals.

After lunch, brother Harry spoke on “Let us not grow weary”. It was a good way to encourage every one of us not to lose hear in the service to God. Brother Rody concluded the day with the lesson on “Church of Christ vs Denominations”. The invitation was extended and two responded to be baptized into Christ, and another one decided after the open forum.

September 21. We began the Lord’s day work here in Metro Tuguegarao. Brother Rody taught in our bible study about the words of Jesus “Learn of Me”. In the sermon, brother Harry preached about “Striving for the faith”.

After lunch, I went to Palca for our service. I preached to them about “Take Away the Stone”. A lesson where I want to show them what stones/attitudes we needed to take away in our lives to be always right with God. The attention of the brethren were very good and that they are very happy to accept the fact that they also have sinned and willing to change every bit of mistakes they have done.

September 22, we traveled one hour towards the mountains of Rizal particularly at Centro, Babalag where brother Geronimo Ganela is preaching. We began the meeting with singing of spiritual songs. Brother Rody began with the lesson on “Problems facing the church” the brother Harry followed with a lesson on the “Sermon on the Mount” showing how Jesus started his ministering and the correction of misunderstandings from the old law.

After lunch, brother Harry concluded the meeting with preaching “Grace, Faith and Works: Is obedience essential to salvation?” After the lesson, brother Ben Vistro extended the invitation and one man responded to the call of the Lord, confessed his faith and was baptized.

September 23, we had an all-day Bible study here at Metro Tuguegarao with lot of preachers and members coming from different places to join us. This meeting was first announced for preachers and wives in the area to come for studies. However, many wanted to attend and even non-christians came as well.

The activity began with singing before the studies. Brother Rody led in a very spirited way that lifted our voices together in praise to God. Brother Harry preached a lesson on “The Life of Joseph: Characteristics of Faithfulness.” After the lesson, brother Rody summarized in the dialect because several present did not know English. Brother Harry then followed another good lesson about “How Does Love Act? - Essentials of Bible Love.” Same as the first lesson, brother Rody summarizes it.

After lunch, brother Harry stand again to preach on “The Blood of Christ and the Salvation of Sinners.” The invitation was extended and two precious souls responded and were baptized into Christ.

September 24, the next Gospel Meeting we attended was in Lapogan congregation in Gattaran, Cagayan. Brother Joeben Jacobo is preaching there along with his father Celso.

The morning activity started with the lesson preached by brother Harry on “Repentance” Brother Rody then followed preaching a lesson on “Repeating Naaman’s Mistakes”. At the end of the lesson, brother Rody extended the invitation and four responded to be baptized.

After lunch, brother Harry presented a lesson that examined “Baptism in the New Testament vs Denominational Baptism.”

We had our midweek bible study at Tuguegarao in the evening and brother Harry was asked to teach on Psalm 127.

September 25, our last day of preaching with brother Harry concluded in Aquib church in Piat, Cagayan. Brother Dennis Yuson is the local preacher in the congregation.

We started the meeting with singing, brother Harry preached the first lesson on “Salvation and the Seed - God’s Word.” Good lesson because the place “Piat” is one of the biggest strongholds for Catholicism in the Philippines. Brother Rody followed with a lesson on “Heed God’s Warnings.” At the end of the lesson, he extended the invitation and two young ladies responded to confess their faith and be baptized into Christ. We also had an open forum, and one man who is known for attending different churches and asked many questions gave his thoughts on the subject matter and as he always do, asked many questions. Brother Harry answered convincingly all the questions asked, but I do not if he is convinced or just wanted to show the he also knows a lot from the bible.

After the lunch break, brother Harry preached on “If I Obey the Gospel, I Will…” Brother Rody ended the studies for with a lesson from James 4 on “This Is Your Life.”

Because it is the last night of brother Harry with us, we gathered in the house of brother Rody. We had a good dinner and because brother Harry is like a part of the family, we often call him “Papa Bear”. My daughter’s name was taken from the name of his wife, sister Leslie.

September 28, our Sunday started again with the work here in Tuguegarao. Brother Jun taught in our bible study about the “5 questions of life”. In the sermon, brother Rody preached about “Following Jesus”.

After lunch, I concluded my Sunday work at Palca where I preached about “The Lessons learned from the 12 disciples of Acts”. It is such a good way to start and end a day by worshiping God and studying His words.

September 30, we continued with our scheduled preachers’ bible study and brother Jay Gumpad started the work by teaching on “1 Thessalonians 2” in the morning. After teaching the lesson, we discuss many things that we might learn from the chapter as we always do. In the afternoon, brother Jimmy Domingo continued with the study and taught “ 1Thessalonians 3”.

October 1, in our midweek service, brother July Aguinaldo, who is a preacher at Lattac, Sto. Nino is always joining us in our bible study, so the elders decided that he will be included in our rotation of preachers to teach every Wednesday. He then taught “Know the truth” that he printed on the cloth chart.

October 2, we went to the burial of brother Jerry Soliva’s father. He is one of the preachers here in Cagayan and is currently working at Cauayan congregation. His father, even though brother Jerry did everything he can to teach his siblings and parents, failed to convert his father. But all his brothers and sisters were Christians. Brother Jun Gumpad preached about death in the service.

October 5, a very good Sunday came and another day to work for the Lord. I taught in our bible study about “Cart before the horse religion”, because I do not have a working laptop right now, I borrowed brother Jay’s, but unluckily, many of my slides in the powerpoint won’t show up when I started the presentation, but still I continued to teach it. The lesson was about doctrines of man that reverses the teachings of Christ, like on Mark 16:16, instead of believe and baptized, they change it to believe only, baptized only, baptized then believe and so on. In the sermon, brother Jun preached “God’s word: uphold all things”.

In the afternoon at Palca, I preached the same lesson on “Cart before the horse religion”.

October 8, in our midweek service here at Metro Tuguegarao, brother Jun taught on “Luke 11:1-28”.

October 11, I again visited the brethren at Palca wherein, I decided to make a double effort to talk to the brethren who are failing to come to worship.

October 12, our Lord’s day service here at Metro Tuguegarao were I decided to teach the lesson “Parable of the pencil”. I thought of teaching this lesson even though it is not written in the bible but I added bible verses that is very similar with the parable. I saw this parable from the email sent to me by brother Jerry Toreja. In the sermon, brother Jun preached “Run to win”.

At Palca, in the afternoon, I again preached the same lesson on “Parable of the pencil”.

October 14, in our preachers’ bible study, brother Jerry Soliva taught in the morning about “Take Heed Lest We Fall”. A very good lesson to teach us preachers to take care of ourselves especially in the service for the Lord, because many have already fallen in the hands of the devil and they not only stop preaching, but also stop serving Christ.

In the afternoon, brother Edgar Corpuz taught “1 Thessalonians 5”.

October 15, in our midweek service here at Metro Tuguegarao, I taught the lesson that brother Jun started the last week on “Luke 11:29-54”.

October 19, in our Lord’s day service here at Metro Tuguegarao, brother Rody taught “Romans 12” in our bible study then followed by brother Jun Macusi who is visiting us from Ilocos Norte, preached in the sermon “True Worship”. The invitation was extended and two precious souls obeyed the gospel and were baptized into Christ.

After the service, we had a little thanksgiving for sister Tessie Gumpad who is celebrating her 60^th birthday and had a meal together with the brethren in their house.

In the afternoon at Palca, I preached to them a short title “AM I?” A lesson where every question showed must be asked within ourselves and no other men can answer. In short, it is a self-examination test whether we are right with God or going on the wrong path.

October 21, for the whole day in our preachers’ bible study, brother Rody summarizes the book of “1 Thessalonians” because the scheduled teacher is not present.

October 22, in our midweek service, brother Rody taught Luke 12. And again he did it because the scheduled preacher is not present.

October 23 and 24, I am both invited to come to the Gospel Meeting at San Luis, Tuao and Bauan, Solana on this days, but unluckily, I failed to go because we brought my mother to the hospital due to her gastric ulcer that weakens her whole body. My brother is not around, so I was the one who take care of her.

October 26, our Lord’s day service here at Metro Tuguegarao started with brother Jun teaching in our bible study about “Into our hands the gospel is given” then concluded by brother Rody in preaching “Satan’s power” that we needed to avoid.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them “adopt a high way”. A lesson that is focusing on setting our thoughts and hearts and the high places, meaning on the things above.