Activities from February 3 to 10, 2016

February 3, we again went to Palca to have a funeral service at the wake of sister Hazel. I am accompanied by brother Efren Respicio, brother Jerome Forelo and brother Jay. I first spoke in front to give some comforting words to the bereaved family including the visitors and gave some biblical verses to support what I am saying. Brother Jay led all the singing, then brother Jerome led as in prayer. Brother Efren Respicio preached on the topic “Blessed Hope”. We are only few when we started the service, but as time goes on, visitors keep coming in. When brother Efren was near the conclusion of his sermon, brother Lino, the father of sister Hazel called me in the back and asked if we could have another lesson to preach because the officemates of brother Juriel, the brother of sister Hazel are on coming. I asked then brother Jerome to preach another lesson regarding “Things we learn from the house of mourning”. I end the service by leading the closing prayer.

 

I start the service to give comforting words to those in attendance and the bereaved family

Our number when we started

brother Efren preaching

brother Jerome preaching and the increase of number of visitors

In the evening, in our midweek service here at Metro Tuguegarao, I stand to teach on “Romans 4” regarding the preaching of apostle Paul of “Justification by faith” that he gave as an example the faith of Abraham.

February 4, we went again to Palca to preach in the last night of the wake of sister Hazel. When we arrived at around 7:30 in the evening, the whole chapel was full and there are even people sitting outside the building just to hear the preaching. I opened the service by giving again comforting words to everyone. Brother Denis Yuson led us in singing and brother Jerome led the prayer. Brother Jun Gumpad was the one who preached and he talked about “The Value of the soul”. After the lesson, I stand again to give a small summary on the lesson and also invited everyone to join us in our worships every Sunday. This is a good opportunity to share about the church Jesus’ built and the salvation He is offering, only if you obey His commandments. Brother Robert Pader led us in closing song and brother Jerome again led us in the closing prayer.

February 5, the service for the funeral of sister Hazel before bringing him to the cemetery. I started the service by thanking everyone in behalf of the family and again, giving comforting words to everyone. Brother Efren Respicio led the singing, while brother Florendo Respicio led the prayer. Brother Denis Yuson was the one who preached, and the lesson is about “What will others say about us over our grave?” I feel that the visitors from the start of the services from February 2 until the end of the funeral that they were all comforted and at the same time, thinking of what their future might be. Everyone is reacting when the preacher ask questions about their souls, if they want to go to heaven and when it comes to being obedient to Christ.

After the sermon, brother Juriel stand in front to thank everyone, while the sister-in-law of sister Hazel also share her moments with their sister. Finally, brother Lino stand in front and I was very well encourage with what he said. He said that “We might be poor, no riches in our hands but we are rich in the love of God, we are rich in the words that He spokes to us. That is the real treasure that we have.” This is what I am very thankful of from the brethren at Palca, I am not just standing to preach to them but I am also being strengthened by the kind of faith there are showing.

After the closing prayer that brother Florendo led, we brought the wake of sister Hazel to the cemetery and their again, we had the last prayer that brother Jimmy Domingo led.

 (sorry the pictures are not arranged from the way we held the service. I do not know how to fix it)

I stand to share comforting words of God

brother Denis preaching

brother Lino Quines thanking everyone

sister in Law of sister Hazel,she is a Muslim

At the cemetery

everyone giving their last goodbye to sister Hazel

brother Efren leading songs

February 6, we were invited by brother Joeben Jacobo to preach and encourage the brethren at Pussian, Alcala. It was very cold at that time with little rain showers. The road was slippery with the muds and some roads are narrow. I just learned when we arrive that they just started to build their chapel this week and just finished the half of it. They are very excited to use the chapel and so they agreed to have the bible study. Brother Fernando Duque was also the preacher in this congregation together with brother Joeben. I help in leading a song with brother Jay Gumpad and brother Jimy Duque. The first to speak was brother Jerome and he preached about “Does the Lord know you?” and followed by brother Edgar Licodini who preached “God is in control”. After the lesson, I was asked to lead the invitation song. If you will notice in the pictures, the first time I led the singing, I am wearing my polo, but during the invitation song, I am already wearing another shirt because it was really cold. Even all the members and visitors are wearing their jackets. No one responded the invitation but they said that they are very much encourage. After the bible study, we talk to the brethren and continuously give them encouragement to grow in the faith. I also told them that in the near village, I have cousins there and when they will have time, I will join them in going there to invite in the church.

The road going to Pussian

muddy and slippery road

chapel on top of a small hill

together with brother Jerome

brother Daniel Pasaraba leading a song

brother Jay leading a song

I led a song

brother Joeben Jacobo with the opening remarks

brother Jimmy Duque leading a song

brother Fernando Duque

brother Jerome preaching

brother Edgar preaching

I am leading the invitation song

February 7, in our Sunday worship here at Metro Tuguegarao, brother Jun taught in our bible study about “Confronting Sin” and in the sermon, brother Jerome preached “Three loves of a disciple”. After the service, a family (Hispano Family) came to us and telling us that they wanted to be baptized. They are from Iguig where brother Ronald Valdez is preaching. We baptized them in the baptistery here.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about “Crippled by a fall”. A lesson that have the similarity of what David did to Mephiboseth to what God did to us. We have been crippled like Mephiboseth with our sins but God rescued us and wanting us to seat at His table, in the church and someday, in heaven.

February 10, in our midweek service here at Tuguegarao, I continued to teach in the book of Romans and we are already in the 5^th chapter. It talks about the “Blessings and Justification, and the comparison of Adam and Christ”.

Activities from January 3 to February 2, 2016

January 3, the first Sunday of the year is also the day we celebrate the anniversary of the congregation here in Tuguegarao. We started the Lord’s day by worshipping our God with songs of praises. Brother Rody preached to us the lesson “Remember”. We should never forget what the good Lord did for us. After the worship, we had a thanksgiving wherein we all prayed together to thank again the Lord for the past year that He did not forsake us and continually blessed us.

In the afternoon at Palca, I preached to them the lesson “Satan’s greatest lies ahead of us this 2016”. I showed them some examples from the bible wherein Satan is trying to tempt and lie to us. We should be aware of his tactics so that our faith will continue to grow in Christ. After the worship, we also had our thanksgiving.

 

My wife in their children's class

Me preaching in the congregation

January 6, in our midweek service, we continued to study the book of Acts wherein brother Rody teach on “Acts 27 and 28”, the last two chapters of the book.

January 9, together with brother Jerome, we went to Dagupan, Tuao to have a funeral service in the wake of brother Nestor Ganab Jr. All of them in the family are Christians but became unfaithful in the last couple of years in their congregation at Dagupan. Sister Tersing is the sister of brother Nestor’s father and she was the one who told me about their family. Brother Nestor Jr. died from stab in the heart by man who just pass their house. He was killed at 2 A.M. last January 1. Police are already taking care of this crime that happened to him. Two were already caught, but the one who stab him is still on the loose. We had a service at their small house and brother Jerome preached “5 things we can learn from the dead” while I led the prayer and gave some verses to comfort the family.

 

The monther of brother Nestor.

Brother Jerome preaching

January 10, in our Sunday worship here at Metro Tuguegarao, brother Jun taught in our bible study about “Three legged stool of living godly” and brother Jerome preached “Prescription for spiritual health”.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about “Facing the giants in our lives”. The giants that we have are our problems, sickness and difficulties in life that we must face like David when he face Goliath, we too must defeat them.

January 12, we again went to Dagupan, Tuao to preach in the funeral. This time, I led the singing of spiritual songs, brother Jerome led the prayer and brother Robert Pader preached “Death – when and then”.

January 13, in our midweek service, brother Jay taught to us “Romans 1”. He also gave the introduction of the book and facts about the writer.

January 17, in our Sunday worship here at Tuguegarao, brother Jun taught in our bible study about “What is your life?” and in the sermon, brother Jerome preached “Cleaning the inside”.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about “States of man”. We all started in the state of being innocent, but then we became sinners as we grow by, until we reach the state where we obeyed God and was forgiven of our sins. We must continue to be in the state of forgiven until the day of Judgment come so that we will all go to the place Jesus prepared for all the righteous.

January 23, together with brother Jay, Jerome, Robert and I, we travelled to San Pascual, Diffun, Quirino where brother Roel Arcalas is preaching. We start to travel at 6 in the morning but arrived late at about 10:30. When we arrived, brother Reneboy is already in the last part of his lesson. He preached about “The Call/invitation of God”. The second speaker was brother Jerome wherein he preached about “Personal obligation” and in the afternoon, brother Sammy Graneta preached “Work out your own salvation”. After the preaching, we extended the invitation and two ladies came in front to confess their faith.

 

The stairs going to their chapel

The confession of the two young ladies

January 24, in our Sunday worship, brother Jerome taught in our bible study “Personal obligation” and in the sermon, brother Rody preach “Sing to the Lord”.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them “Measure of a strong Christian”. I got this lesson from brother Jerome and so, I also wanted the brethren at Palca to hear the lesson.

January 25, we again started to have the home bible study here at Tuguegarao. We first went to the house of sister Mena Darauay. Together with brother Rody, Jay, Jun and I, we all gathered in their house to encourage them to remain faithful. We all read “John 15” and brother Rody explained to us the meaning of this chapter.

January 27, in our midweek service here at Tuguegarao, brother Rody taught “Romans 3”.

January 28, we went to the gospel meeting at Capadeco, Gonzaga where brother Alex Lagat is preaching. Together with brother Jerome, Jay, Robert Pader, Rogelio Esperanza and I, we ride my car to reach the place while brother Rody, Jun and Efren and the other car. We arrived in the place at about 10 in the morning. With the wind blowing hard and a little rain shower, the place was very cold. Their church building is open from all sides but they made a remedy by putting some tents on the side. Brother Jerome was the first speaker and he preached about “Cleaning thyself” and brother Rody preached “Holy bible”. After the preaching, we all sung the invitation song, and 9 precious souls came in front to confess their faith. We baptized them in the near river.

Behind the tent is the mountains and the rivers

This are the houses of our brethren

A young boy carrying a monkey as his pet.

The kids in the village where brethren lives

One of their houses that they live. I am even taller than their house. They needed our help both financially and prayers.

They are happy taking pictures with us and even likes to talk to us more.

during the baptism

Our brethren at Capadeco

9 were baptized into Christ (they are all in the middle, standing)

Brother Alex Lagat their preacher

In the afternoon, we went to Port Irene, Sta, Ana for another Gospel Meeting. In is just about 5 meters from the beach and so we can hear the waves in the sea. Brother Jerome preached “What does the Lord require of you?” and brother Rody preached “Jesus said “learn of me”. I help in leading spiritual song together with the other preachers who are with us. We also extended the invitation by singing the song and 6 precious souls obeyed the gospel. We baptized them in the beach.

 

We needed to walk about 30 meters to reach the place

Behind the tent is the sea

Port Irene meeting place

I help in leading spiritual song

this is the attendance. If you notice in the pictures, some are moving from one place to another. It is because, it was raining that time and we needed to find a place where we will not get wet.

6 confess their faith

6 souls that were baptized in the beach

January 29, brother Jun invited me and brother Jerome to go with him in Maguirig and we had the bible study at Sister Tita’s place. Brother Robert and Edgar Corpuz are also with us and all together, we had our turn to lead spiritual songs. Brother Jerome preached about “The value of our soul”.

In the evening, we went to the house of brother Andy Aquino and had a bible study with them. We opened the book of “Psalm 124-125” and brother Rody help in explaining it.

January 31, in our Sunday worship, brother Jun taught in our bible study about “Christ second coming unveiled” and in the sermon, brother Rody preached “Worship”

In the afternoon, brother Jay invited me to come with him in Minagbag while brother Rody went to Palce. I preached to the brethren at Minagbag about “God called Adam”. In this lesson, I shared to them the things we can learn from the words of God that was spoken to Adam. From the day he was created until the time they were thrown out of paradise.

February 2, if you remember sister Hazel from my previous reports, the sister who was hospitalized last October and was in the state of coma, died February 1 at around 7 a.m. To begin with, she was a very faithful sister together with his parents and siblings. She began having dialysis last September because of kidney problems but then she was seen unconscious last October. She stayed in the hospital for more than a month and was release after that. Everytime I ask her brother, Juriel, about her condition, he is always telling me that she is already recovering. But for the past two weeks, her condition got worst that even the doctors cannot do anything already. They were taking care of her in Palca but already preparing for her departure from this life. I got a text message 9 p.m. of February 1 and got the news of her death.

Just this afternoon, we had the funeral service in the church building at Palca where the wake of sister Hazel is. Together with brother Jun, Jerome, Jay and I, we initiated the service. Brother Jun led the singing, Jerome the prayers, Jay preaching “Where are the dead?” and I became the emcee of the service. Many non-christians came and they are really listening to the preaching. Hopefully, they will attend to the invitation of the church to join us on Sunday.