Preaching activities for the month of August 2020

 August 2 (Sunday Worships) 

As we continue to have our worships despite of the pandemic, our attendances are always from 50 to 60 including the children every Sunday at Metro Tuguegarao without any visitors. In the first Sunday of the month, brother Jay led us in the sermon and he preached about “Departing from God”. During this time, only a few cases of infections around town is active until the half of the month wherein almost everyday, 2 or more is added. As we follow all the protocols of the lockdown, we needed to wear face mask, face shields, physical distancing and presence of alcohol always in the building. 

In the afternoon, I am happy that I can still go to Palca and Dagupan without any hindrances. We had a total attendance of 30 in Palca with one visitor (Mr. Victor Soriano), the fiance of sister Jonalyn Llanes. He is from Enrile and is very willing to join us in worship every time he is in Palca. I preached to them about "Human Philosophies in Religion".

After the worship at Palca, I went to Dagupan as last destination for the day. I also preached to them the same lesson. After the sermon, I opened the invitation and I am happy that three precious souls obeyed the gospel. Jhian Carlo (a student of my wife in their children's class), Henry (friend of Jhian), and Jesusa (cousin of brother Enzo). They've been with us since the first time we had the worship at Dagupan. I brought them in Palca because that is where the baptistery is. I am happy because the three of them are actively helping in the work in that area. The two young man are already leading our prayers during communion and I had given them copies of the songs we sing in the church by mp3 for them to practice. I am hearing good comments about the two. Little by little, I will be teaching them with God's help and someday, they will also stand in the pulpit and preach.

August 3-8 (studies)

During the course of the week, not one day that I failed to have studies with Jhian and Henry. We are having the study by just chatting on facebook. That's is the only way we can have it because we all have poor internets. Video or audio calls will not work. I am happy for their interest to learn more.

August 5 (Bible Study)

We had our bible study here in our house because we are still not allowed to have it in the chapel due to the protocols of the lockdown. We choose to have it in our house because it is also my wife's 35th birthday. We studied Acts 16. We had a little celebration and thankfully there are friends and relatives who gave us foods that we shared.

August 9 (Sunday worships)

We thank God for another opportunity to be together again with the saints in worship. It is still difficult to other brethren to come because public vehicles, especially on Sunday's are few. Some of our brethren who cannot come are those aging 60 and above. Brother Rody is the one who preached this time and he shared about Elements of Prayer.

In the afternoon, I am happy that I can help the brethren who are far from the chapel come by picking them up in their house. Before lockdown, it's only four of them, but now, their are 9 of them and I needed to get the five first then the others on the second trip. The reason why I am sacrificing to do this because they have no means of travel but by foot and it is far from the chapel. Second is that, there are no(zero), public transport in the area. I heard from a sister that they know I will always be picking them up at 1:00p.m. but 11:00a.m. they are already waiting for me outside of their house. And so, in Palca, I preached to them "Lessons from the Rich Fool". We had an attendance of 35 during that time. 

In Dagupan, we had an attendance of 11. I also preached to them the same lesson. Sorry because I only took a few photos because my phones battery got empty.

August 10-15 (Studies)

To continue my work as a preacher, I set studies by just chatting, text messages or phone calls with our brethren at Palca and Dagupan. August 11, I had a bible study with sister Carrie Puselero. She is from Dagupan but are in Baggao right now. They wanted to go home but unfortunately, they cannot get any health certificate in their town because they have a 1 year old baby with them which is not allowed to travel. I encourage them to remain faithful and trusting God always by using the scriptures. 

During the week, I also have good communications with two of the wife's student in their Sunday Class, Emily and Nathan (Tantan). They are asking about baptism. At first, they ask me the question, "When are they allowed to be baptized?", and I answered them with series of examples in the bible especially the conversions on the book of Acts. Sometimes, I am receiving messages from them past midnight but I only read them early morning and answered them right away.

August 12 (Bible Study)

In our midweek bible study, we are in the house of brother Jerome. We studied Acts 17. We are thankful that we can still do this despite many hindrances around us.

August 16 (Sunday worships)

In our worship here at Metro Tuguegarao, we continue to have our attendance at 50's. Brother Jun preached to us in the sermon about "He became frightened?, about the situation of Felix. We still have our live streaming on facebook. 

In Palca, brother Jay joined me because he cannot go to his congregation at Minagbag. They have a total lockdown in that area and it is already outside our region. He help me with the work and he preached in Palca about "Who are the religious liars?". We again have 35 attendance. 

In Dagupan, it was my turn to preach. We have three visitors and we had 19 attendance. I preached to them about "There was no more sea" in the book of Revelation. More about the life in heaven. 

August 17-22 (Bible studies)

I continue to have good studies with Jhian, Henry, Tantan and Emily. Other than that, I have also bible study with sister Emy Rivard. They are just close to the chapel in Palca but she is afraid to go out of their house. Even when she needed to buy her necessities, she is calling her uncle to buy it for them. I cannot blame her because this pandemic is getting worst instead of getting better. I shared to them edifying words from the book of Colossians chapter 3. I also had study with brother Joey Puselero. He is in Marikina (12 hours travel from here) and is working in that area. It's my first time communicating with him and he is asking me of churches near the area. We found one for him to join but I also shared to him words of wisdom from the scriptures that he should stay strong because he is alone and there and his family is in Dagupan.

August 19 (Bible study)

For the first time since March, we had our midweek bible study at the chapel. We still continued with our study on the book of Acts and we are already on the 18th chapter. Brother Rody led is in the study.

August 23 (Sunday worships)

Before having the lockdown tighten here in our town, we still have the chance to gather with the saints. We still have the attendance at around 50. Brother Rody preached about "Positions to pray". 

In Palca, brother Jay joined me again, but this time, we schedules ourselves to preach in opposite locations. I preached at Palca about "There was no more sea". They saw my post in facebook about that lesson and they asked me if I can also share it to them. It was this time that we are almost full in the building. I didn't even have any  seat until brother Jay stand to lead the singing. We had a total of 41 attendance and some of the brethren are not even there because they are here in Tuguegarao and others are in their homes because of the current protocols. When the situation is back to normal, we can move the seats back to its proper positions, and brethren at Dagupan will join us, I do not know if the building can still accomodate us, but that is the kind of problem that I wanted, because it is showing the growth of the church. After the sermon, brother Jay led our invitation song. We are very happy for the decision of Emily and Nathan to obey the gospel. We needed to baptized them immediately because we are already late for the next preaching. When we got home, they are messaging me of how thankful they are for all the studies that they learned about the importance of obedience to our God. 

In Dagupan, it was brother Jay's turn to preach. We also had a good attendance of 14. We are also growing in number in that area. Four of the brethren there are not in attendance because they went to their families in other towns.

August 24 (Bible study)

Communications with brethren continued for the week but I only have this day as what I can say a formal bible study. I have studied with sister Lhea who is working in abroad. She is still struggling because currently, she have no work, that means her savings are spent. I encourage her again with bible examples of trials and how they won the trials. Please pray for all our brethren here who are working in other countries. 

August 26 (Midweek bible study)

After one Wednesday of having the bible study at the chapel, we are again back to the house of brother Rody. The lockdown protocol is tightened because the cases of Covid here in our town is rapidly increasing. Everyone is not allowed to go out once again except if it is for our necessities. This is only here in our town, but the problem is, we are also not allowed to go out of our town. That means, I cannot go to Palca and Dagupan. This will only last until September 4. Lord willing, I can go again and preach on September 6. We studied Acts 18 in our midweek bible study.

August 30 (Sunday Worship)

Because of the current protocol on the lockdown, we are down to 20 in our attendance here in Tuguegarao. I am happy to be the one sharing the lesson and I preached about "New Normal". It is not about the covid but it is about the changes we need to to or adapt to be always right with God. I shared the live streaming to our brethren at Palca and Dagupan so that in a small way, they can also be part of the worship.