Preaching activities from July 14 to July 28, 2019

July 14 (Sunday worship in Tuguegarao and Palca)

We had another great opportunity to worship God in spirit and in truth. I thank God for another day of serving Him and to help in edifying the saint here in Tuguegarao and at Palca.

In our bible study here in Tuguegarao, brother Jerome shared to us the lesson about “Bible Arithmetic” using the four methods in computing (addition, subtraction, division and multiplication), but in a spiritual sense. In the sermon, brother Rody continued on the series he is preaching, and now we studied “Romans 14”.

In the afternoon at Palca, I preached to them the lesson about “Broken Promises”. When we were baptized into Christ, we had a promise that we will serve Him all the days of our lives and be faithful to Him until death.

After the worship, I went to the house of brother Leonardo Uton. I was contacted early morning of this same day that our brother Leonardo has already passed on this life. If you remember in my previous reports, I always visit him in their house and having prayer devotions with his wife and daughters because of his illness. We are sad and happy for his passing. Sad because we lost a faithful brother in Christ. Happy because we know that he is already with the faithful saints who first served the Lord. I shared to them a short reminder from the bible about “Life and Death”. We offered a prayer to his family for God to give them the utmost comfort. Brother Leonardo and his wife, sister Linda Uton have 12 children and 28 grandkids. This is a big family, but most of them are living in distance places. The farthest is in Norway.

July 17 (Midweek bible study at Tuguegarao)

We continued with our study on the book of Genesis. I should be the one teaching but brother Jay asked me if he will do the work in exchange that I will teach Genesis 29 and 30. It’s just fine with me because I can also learn from the outline he made aside from the readings I made. He shared Genesis 28  when “Jacob Flees from Esau”.

July 18 (Attended a wedding in Piat)

We were invited to initiate the wedding of brother Eman and sister Mira in Aquib, Piat. They are both members in that congregation where brother Dennis Yuson is preaching. Brother Eman also attended the preachers training here in Tuguegarao but decided to work secularly after his schooling. Brother Rody solemnized their wedding.

After the wedding, we also had the thanksgiving for their baby. Brother Jerome shared a good lesson about giving thanks to God.

July 19 (Funeral service at Palca)

I asked the family of brother Leonardo if they wanted to have a service and they asked for this day to have it because all their children will already arrived. Sister Linda also wanted her children to hear the message of truth coming from the bible. I asked several preachers to join me in the work and they are Jerome, Dennis, Robert, Rogelio, Jayson, Manny, Jun and Efren who shared the lesson “Be not deceived; God is not mocked”.

After the service, we went to Dagupan to visit the sister of brother Jayson Tanguilan who was recently baptized when she attended the worship in Illuru Church. Dagupan is just the next village from Palca where I am locally preaching and so we went to their house to inform them about the congregation and that we are happy to invite them to be a member in our congregation. She is sister Marites Bauit who is married to Joey Bauit who is not yet a Christian. We had a short bible study in their house through brother Jerome who gave a message from the bible. I was waiting for them in our service on the 21^st of July but sister Tersing, who is also living in Dagupan informed us that sister Marites collapsed in their house. We found out that she have heart problems. Two Sundays now and she haven’t attended our worship yet. I am planning to visit her this coming days. Please pray for her.

July 20 (Wedding at Quirino province)

We went to the wedding at San Mateo, Quirino where we needed to travel 2 and a half hours. It is the wedding of brother Kevin who is a seaman and sister  Mergey who is a oversees worker in Thailand. Brother Rody solemnized their wedding while I assist him in other things needed for the wedding. They arrange the wedding in a garden but after just 20 minutes, the rain starts to pour and so we went to the function hall. Their marriage is somewhat hard because after 3-4 months they will part ways and go their own works abroad. I am praying that this relationship will last forever and not be like relationship that are broken because of distant problems.

July 21 (Sunday worship at Tuguegarao and Palca)

In our bible study brother Jerome shared a good lesson about “Be prepared”. The title speaks for itself, everyone needs to be prepared for the coming judgment of Christ. In the sermon, brother Rody preached “Romans 15” as part of the series lesson we are studying.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them “What does it cost you?”. Our birth cost us nothing, our salvation cost us nothing but the blood of Christ, but our discipleship cost us everything as Jesus said that we should deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. Being a Christian needs a lot of sacrifices so that we will gain our reward on the last day. I am happy that 3 of brother Leonardo’s children attended including one of his grand daughter.

July 23 (Gospel Meeting at Villa Corazon Church)

In short notice (July 21), brother July Aguinaldo invited us to preach in their Gospel Meeting. As a preacher, long or short notice, I should always be ready to preach the word of God anytime. Our travel is about 1 and a half hour from Tuguegarao.

Brother Jerome was the first speaker and he preached “Behold, I thought”. Brother Jay spoke next and he preached “Six reasons why we trust God?”. I am the third speaker and I preached about “Does God expect too much?” and finally, brother Rody spoke last and he preached “Second Coming of Christ”. After the preaching, we extended the invitation and one precious soul came in front to confess her faith. She is Marivic, and she is lame in one foot. She had an accident where a drunk man who is riding a motorcycle bump her. She needed to put stainless steel on her foot but because of hardship in life, she cannot afford to proceed with it. Because of her zeal to be baptized, that doesn’t stop her to be immersed in water despite how hard she moves. My faith was strengthen when I saw her. If she can do it, even with body problems, how much more for me who is completely well.

July 24 (Burial Service at Palca and midweek service at Tuguegarao)

For the final time, we went to Palca for the burial service of brother Leonardo. I became the emcee of the service and also led the opening prayer. Brother Rody (Ody) Gumpad Jr. led our singing while brother Rody preached “Where are the dead?”. Their house is located in their marketplace and so while the place is busy, still, many joined us in the study of the bible. Most of them are members of the senior citizen club where brother Leonardo and sister Linda are members. Brother Leonardo died in the age of 78. After the service, we all went to the cemetery and gain, we prayed with his family.

In the evening, we continued with our study on the book of Genesis here in Tuguegarao. I shared to them Genesis 29 as Jacob becoming a Lover Boy.

July 27 (Thanksgiving)

We had a sister Arlene here in Tuguegarao who have a slight mental illness but that doesn’t stop her from coming to ALL our worship services. She haven’t got any absences in our midweek bible study and Sunday worships. Even if it is raining very hard, she made a point that she will attend our services.

On this day was her 40^th birthday. She invited us in their house to have a prayer devotion to thank God for another year of being blessed. Brother Ody led our singing and I led our opening prayer. Brother Rody preached “Blessed is the man that endures” and brother Jerome led our closing prayer.

July 28 (Sunday worship at Tuguegarao and Palca)

In our bible study here in Tuguegarao, brother Jun/Ody shared a “Lessons from nothing” and in the sermon, brother Rody concluded the book of Romans by teaching the 16^th chapter.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them “What you sow, you shall reap”. I am thankful that one of brother Leonardo’s daughter who is a member of Methodist church joined us in worship. I have conversation with her and invited her to join us the next Sundays. She told me that she will also invite her other siblings who are just in Naruangan (a village near Palca).

Preaching Activities from June 3 to June 11, 2019

June 3 (Midweek Bible Study at Tuguegarao)

We again continued with our study on the book of Genesis. Brother Jay shared to us a wonderful lesson on the 37th chapter about God’s way and Man’s way.

June 6 (Baptism)

We are very happy that Maricon Jose, a friend of brother TJ Maramag decided to be baptized into Christ. She have been attending our Sunday worships for three straight weeks already. I know that the mother of TJ, sister Jocelyn helped in the conversion of our new sister. She knows a lot about the teachings of Christ because she was raised with her Christian mother, sister Amy. Brother Jerome immeresed her in water in the pool at Enrile.

June 7 (Sunday worship at Tuguegarao and Palca)

I am very grateful to God for giving me again the opportunity to share His words to the brethren here in Tuguegarao. I prepared a lesson, a sermon to be exact for the brethren at Palca but because I was task to teach in our bible study here in Tuguegarao, I made the lesson into a bible study way. I shared to them the topic “Are you truly a Christian?”. In the sermon, brother Rody shared an edifying lesson on “Romans 13”.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached the lesson that I taught in Tuguegarao “Are you truly a christian?” but this time, in a sermon type. Still, many brethren are sick and have high blood pressures because of the hot weather. By this time of the year, we should already be experiencing rainy and cold weathers, but maybe because of the climate change, it seems it is still summer. We are praying that someday, with the Lord’s help, we can also install air conditioner in the chapel. We are hoping that brethren can also help us in buying one because the collection we have in Palca is very limited. Most of them are on the lower class and only working as laborers in the rice fields. We only average $10 every week in our collection.

June 8 (Preaching Travel)

Together with our faithful brethren brother Rody Gumpad, Jerome Forelo and me, we traveled to Bangued, Abra. On our way, we pick up brother Leonito Torreliza in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. We started our trip at around 4 a.m. and thankful to God that we arrived safely before  dark in Bangued, Abra. It is a mountainous province covering the high Cordillera mountains. We stayed in Abra Valley Hotel because it is the center of all the places where we will be going.

June 9 (First day of the preaching in Abra)

We started the first day by traveling on higher mountain area. Brother Dionisio Balino who is from Lapaz also joined the four of us. We first went to Lingey COC at Bucloc area. A 3 hours travel from our hotel. Most roads are narrow, rugged and very scary. It is about 300m above sea level according to the people there. We cross the river using a small ferry boat. There are also some place where we need to cross on a wooden bridge just to get to the other side. It is a landslide prone area and we are thankful to God that it didn’t rain. By the help of God, we arrived safely in Lingey. We met two preachers, James Amangan and Rey Publay. James is the preacher at the area we are meeting, Lingey COC while Rey is the preacher from Cabaroan COC. The attendance is about 35-40 people. Brother Rody preached the lesson about “The True Church of Christ”. After the lesson, some of them asked questions regarding religion. Invitation was extended and two precious souls obeyed the gospel. I immersed them in water in the near river. We are also thankful for the trust of the brethren in the US for giving the benevolence money to brother Rody that we distributed. Life is hard in this area and they badly needed help. To document the distribution, I let them sign on the paper and will be forwarded to brother Ron and those who generously give the money.

 

 

On our way back, we stopped by on the riverside to eat our lunch. We then head to Salapay COC at Sallapadan where brother Eusebio Cabannag is preaching. Most of the brethren who came where of old age because the others are in school and at work. We met 11 brethren there and two members of the UCCP. Brother Rody preached about the bible dispensation. No conversion is the area but we are happy to see our brethren edified by the lesson. We also distributed the benevolence. And gave medicines and bibles to them.

June 10 (2^nd day of preaching)

The second day, we went to the congregation of brother Dionisio Balino is preaching at Ligis,Ganao COC at Lapaz. This time, we all had the opportunity to share God’s word because it is the only place we visited. The attendance is about 30-35 including all the children that greeted us. I preached first and I shared “Why few enter the narrow gate?” stressing the point that we must stay faithful. The second speaker was brother Jerome who preached “If end comes, am I ready for judgment?” speaking about being ready. And finally, brother Rody preached “Searching the scriptures”. Invitation was extended and there were 8 precious souls who confess their faith. Together with brother Jerome, we immersed them in the water. We again distributed the benevolence to them.

June 11 (Last day of preaching at Abra Region)

In our last day, we went to San Juan COC where brother Emmanuel “Manny” Tacis si preaching. It is about an hour drive from our hotel. We are happy to meet the brethren. The congregation was started by brother Isidro Tacis who is now with the Lord. The congregation still stands despite many challenges in the past. Brother Manny did a great job in working in this said congregation. Brother Rody is the only one who preached because we still needed to travel before noon going to Dingras. He preached about The Holy Bible. Invitation was extended but no response from the audience. The attendance is about 25-30. After the study, we again distributed the benevolence to them.

On our way to the last place at Dingras to visit brother Jun Macusi who had a mild stroke, the brethren at San Juan told us a alternate route to get there. Instead of four hours travel, it will only take 1 and a half of 2 hours to reach the area. We did so follow the route but on our way, we notice that only a few vehicles are passing the area. I counted 3 motorbikes and just 2 trikes. We drive climbing the cordillera mountains that seems we are not reaching its peak. It’s going up and up and we are the only one driving in the area. It is also a landslide area and we can see that many rocks fell from the mountain. There are also areas where it is very muddy and the scariest part is when the roads pavement are destroyed that with one mistake, we will fall down from the mountain. The road is like hanging from the ground. When we started to go down from the mountain, we noticed that the cemented road have many grasses. When we arrived at Dingras, we told them about the route we followed and they told us that no one is passing in that area that’s why grasses grew. With that, we are very thankful to God for protecting us from any accidents. They said that there are also rebels in that mountain, and again we are very thankful to God that we arrived safely.

 

At Dingras, we are happy to see brother Jun Macusi. When he got the stroke, he cannot speak, but now, he is already preaching. But still, he is in his wheel chair. He cannot stand. We prayed together with his wife. Please include him in your prayers. He is already about 80’s and his body is weak. Hopefully, he will still recover and regain his strength to continue in his desire to preach the Words of God.

After our visit, we traveled back to Tuguegarao. From Dingras at 3 p.m. we arrived safely at Tuguegarao at 9:30 p.m. We give God all the glory and honour for guiding us in this wonderful preaching trip. Hope and pray that I can continue doing this work until the Lord comes or when death strikes me. Those brethren we saw are a great encouragement to me. My faith grew stronger just by communicating with them. God is greatly to be praised because of the church that Jesus’ built. Without it, we would all be in sin, and without it, we might now know anyone of them.