Preaching activities for the month of December 2020

 December 2 (Midweek service at Metro Tuguegarao)

Despite of the continuous scare of Covid-19 around Tuguegarao City, we are happy that we are back to our regular time of service every Wednesday. Many brethren who have no means of transportation still cannot come including those who are old. We are now studying the book of Romans and at the end of November, we started Romans 1:1-16 and the start of December, we studied Romans 1:17-31. After the study, one precious soul obeyed the gospel. Joy Viloria, who is working at the house of brother Jay Gumpad finally decided to obey the gospel after three months of joining us in our worship services. I immersed her in water after the confession. 

December 4 (Bible Study at three different congregations in the  city of Tabuk)

In the morning, we went to Casabang Church where brother Kernel Vistro is preaching. It is raining and the way going there is a little bit hard because the road is very broad and there are part of it that had landslide. Thankfully, we arrived at the area seeing the joy in the face of the brethren. The fruit of the bible study is 8 precious souls. We baptized them in the near river. The current in the river is very strong because of the rain.

We had our lunch at the side of the road with brother Rody, sister Tessie and brother Rolando Agpoon. After our lunch, we went to the congregation of brother Ben Vistro at Tanyok Church. The chapel is situated on top of a hill. Preaching was made again and we are happy that 3 more souls obeyed the gospel.

In our last destination, before even going down of the car, bad thing happened. When we are trying to park on the side of the road, a drunk men with motorcycle bumped the back part of brother Rolando's car. The mirror is totally destroyed and the bumper is damaged. Thankfully, none of us were hurt. The drunk men only have bruises.

Our last preaching is in Gobgob Church. It is another congregation of brother Ben Vistro. The preaching brought 6 more souls obeying the gospel. 

December 6 (Sunday services at Three congregations)

Our first Sunday of the month of December is full of joy as we are slowly getting our attendance back to normal. Brother Jerome was the one scheduled to preach and he shared a wonderful lesson about "Establish and Encourage". 

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached about "Bad Investments". Those things that we should not focus in our lives and to change our mindset about it. We have 7 visitors during that time and two of them came from Manila. They just got back from the town for a short vacation and I am happy that they choose to be with us on Sundays that they are here. 

In Dagupan, I also preached the same lesson. During that time, I lost count of how many visitors we have but they are all the invites of brother Henry and brother Jhian, the two young men whom we just baptized recently. I am happy that they are helping me with my work. They are informing me about their friends through facebook messenger and I just follow up by sharing to them the gospel. It is good that even though we are limited in movement, we have this kind of ways to share the gospel.

December 9 (Midweek bible study at Tuguegarao)

We continued with our study on the book of Romans and we are now on the second chapter verses 1-16. Brother Rody is still the one sharing to us the lesson. 

December 7-12 (Teaching over social media)

I've been teaching through messenger those who joined us in worship in Dagupan. I know they are very interested because they are asking questions about religion, salvation, sin, judgment and others. Two of them are contacting me but when we met the next Sunday, I've been told that they have companions with them during our chats. They are all Catholics and knows a little about the bible. 

December 13 (Sunday worship at three congregations)

In the morning at Tuguegarao, I am the one scheduled to preach. Last month, November 15, the last time I preached at Tuguegarao, the whole town didn't have any electricity because of the widespread flood. But on this day, December 13, the same thing happened, but this time, it was the whole region that do not have any electricity. I preached about "Three listeners". It was all about the kind of listeners we should not follow. 

In Palca, I also preached the same lesson. We still have the 7 visitors, but this time, three more were added. They are the siblings and cousin of sister Princess Alicaycay. She is 16 years old and was baptized when she was only 10. I am happy that this teenagers are having the kind of attitude a christian should have and not like those whom we see outside. I am planning that by this year 2021, we will have a one day class for all teenagers. I will prioritized to come those who are from Palca and Dagupan, but if there are other teens from other congregation who want to come, they are welcome. If God's will, we will do it in Palca chapel.

In Dagupan, we are continuing to grow. We started to have the worship there last May because the brethren cannot go and join the worship at Palca. They are only about 5 christians and three non-christians, but now (December 29) they are 35 (newly baptized and those who came back are included). If you had follow my reports, there was a congregation before at Dagupan, but when the church is starting to go down in number, they decided to stop the worship there and just join us in Palca. This time, the church had been revived and we are praying that this will continue to grow in both the knowledge of truth and number. 

I also preached the same lesson here and thankfully, those whom I have in contact with for the past few days decided to obey the gospel. They are John Cipriano, Recto Castro, Nicole Tester (a Filipino-German whose father left them with their mother), Daniela Castro (only 10 years old, that's why I needed to ask questions first before baptizing her) and Wilma Rigor). We baptized them in the baptistery at Palca.

December 15 (Bible Study at two congregation in the province of Isabela)

We traveled about 2 hours to arrived in the first destination. It was in Villa Corazon Church where brother July Aguinaldo is preaching. They do not have chapel and so they are only having their worship at the house of brother July. Preaching was made and the fruit is 6 precious souls. Two of them are the parents of brother July that's why we are very happy that they finally decided to obey the gospel after studying with them for long years even during the time that they are still here in Tuguegarao.

In the afternoon, we went to Kusili. Brother Edgar Lingbawan is the one going in that place. There is no church yet but they wanted to have bible study every Sunday. During the preaching, I know God touched their hearts because 4 of those who attended finally decided to obey the gospel. They will now have a worship in that place and a new congregation is added.

December 16 (Midweek bible study at Tuguegarao)

We continue to have our study in the book of Romans. We studied Romans 2:17-29 through the help of brother Rody again. 

December 18 (Thanksgiving bible study)

We had a bible study here at Tuguegarao Church. It is a way of brother Juriel and sister Sheena Quines of thanking God for giving them another baby. They named their second child Sdivoc. If you read the name backwards, it is Covid with an "s". 

December 20 (Sunday worship in three congregations)

There was a flood again in some areas of Tuguegarao that's why our attendance went down once again. Thankfully, we can still do the live streaming. We still have more than 50 attendance. Brother Rody continue on the series of the lesson he is preaching about the acts of worship. He now shared to us about "Communion/Lord's Supper". After the sermon, invitation was extended and one precious soul obeyed the gospel. He is the son of sister Mercy Panopio. Everytime we have bible study in their house, he is always there listening, and this last two weeks, he is joining us in our midweek service and worship. He (Jun Panopio) finally decided to obey the gospel on this Sunday.

In Palca, some of our brethren didn't come also because of the hard rain. I preached to them about "What is your value?". We only have 6 visitors during this time.

In Dagupan, we even have more visitors again. Those are the invites of those who are newly baptized. But even before that, those who came the last week also have communications with me. I also preached the same lesson, and after the sermon, we extended the invitation and 7 young ladies obeyed the gospel. Their ages are ranging from 13 to 19. We again brought them to Palca to be baptized. They are Cindy Casballedo, Shane Puselero, Jamaica Andrada, Jobelyn Tappa, Jenyline Narag, Kristel Casballedo and Maricel Castro.

December 23 (Midweek bible study at Tuguegarao)

Our attendance in midweek service is still the same. We are about 25+ in attendance. We are praying that our city will allow more passenger vehicles at night so that our brethren can also come. We studied Romans 3 through the help of brother Rody once again. After the study, one precious soul obeyed the gospel.

December 27 (Sunday worship at three congregations)

I am the only preacher left at Tuguegarao during this time because brother Rody went to Minagbag Church and brother Jerome to Sampaguita Church. I was asked to preached about "Qualifications of an elder" in preparation for our eldership. Lord willing, the church will appoint our elders next Sunday. 

In Palca, I also preached the same lesson. I made some tweaking of the outline. I pointed out that those qualifications of an elder should also be the characters of every Christian. The family of sister Lorna didn't come because her daughter, sister Girlie finally gave birth to her 5th child on the 25th of December. They are still in the hospital during that time. I wanted to visit them, but because of the pandemic, only families are allowed to be with the patient.

In Dagupan, brother Jay and sister Michelle joined me. I am thankful for that because I am almost out of breathe. I preached in the morning at Tuguegarao and followed by another one in Palca. He shared a good lesson about "A Christian should not...". We again have new visitors. I am praying that they continue to study with us. Hopefully, they will again message me on facebook so that I can teach and answer any questions they have. While writing this report, I need to answer questions from the sibling of sister Nicole Tester. She is Michelle and only 10 years old. Little by little, I will try to share to her the truth.