Preaching activities from March 6-31, 2024

March 6 (Midweek Service)

For our bible study, we continue on the book of Mark wherein brother Rody is the one who prepares for it. We are already in Mark 12:1-27.  

March 7 (Dagupan)

We needed to buy chairs for Dagupan Church. Since having our worship in our unfinished chapel, we are only borrowing chairs from the village hall. But one Sunday, they had a meeting that they needed to use the chairs and so we went back to the house of brother Enzo to have our worship. We only used their living room and kitchen chairs. Thankfully, the brethren at Highway 65 Church helps us in buying the chairs. My wife and I brought the chairs to Dagupan as we bought here in Tuguegarao where it is cheaper.  

March 9 (Youth bible study)

We were invited to work with brother James Attaban and brother Jay Gumpad at Alibago Church.  They scheduled a Youth bible study and had brother Reymund Welba (Topic: The apps to update your life) and brother Efren Respicio (Topic: Eagerness) as the main speakers. After the bible study, we went to the house of sister Marivic where they prepared lunch for us together with those who attended. We have long conversations with the teenagers and inspiring them everything about Christianity, studies, life and many more.  

March 10 (Sunday Worship)

I was not in Tuguegarao the last Sunday because I was invited to preach in Wagud Church. I though they are already finished chapter 5 of the book of Luke. They just told me that they have a long discussions last time and so brother Lance needed to finished Luke 5:27-31. It wasn't finished again because there are a lot of questions. In the sermon, brother Rody preached to us on Mark 12:28-43.  

In the afternoon, at Palca, we have brother Robert who preached "1 Cor 15:58". We have a visitor coming from England. His name is John Robertson, the fiancé of sister Myrna Quines. He is only here in the Philippines for a short visit. He is living Tuesday(March 12). He will be back on the coming months for the wedding. Brother Robert preached in our language because he cannot speak in English and so I needed to do a short summary that our guest can understand. We also talked to him after the worship but I have a big problem understanding him because he talks too fast and his accent is different from the Americans.

In Dagupan, I was the one who preached and I shared the lesson "Do not neglect your salvation". We still do not have electricity in the building that's why we rely on white board. The problem we had that time is, our pen run out of ink and so they really needed to use their ears for the whole sermon. 

After the worship, the brethren told me that the daughter of sister Clarita Tabbu died and her wake is already in their house. So, we went to have a visit and also held a short service. Her daughter's name is Sheryl Pagulayan. She was working in Manila the whole time that's why I never got a chance to meet him. She is not yet a Christian but all the grandkids of sister Clarita are already baptized. Unfortunately, after the pandemic, they became lukewarm until we cannot see them in the church already. I tried visiting them for some time but then, they moved to the next town for their studies. I didn't saw them also in the wake. Sister Clarita is the only one attending the worships and she is alone in their house. 

March 13 (Midweek Service)

We have brother Jay Gumpad to teach in our bible study here in Tuguegarao. He shared to us a good lesson on "The truth about salvation".

March 16 (Tracts distribution and Bible Study)

To continue with our plans for helping each other's congregation, we went to Lingu, Solana where brother Robert Rances is preaching. We are 12 preachers who had a joint effort to do the work. We are jokingly telling ourselves that we are the 12 apostles but nobody wants to be Judas. We divided our group into three to go in separate directions to distribute tracts and be able to share a short bible study to those who are interested. 

In my group was brother Robert Rances, Reymund Welba and Dave Amarille. We first went to the house of brother  Roberts batchmate during college. We shared a short bible study to them about Salvation and God's blessing. They are an old couple and not yet a christian. The woman already had joined worships at Lingu Church and is willingly interested to be back again. Hopefully now, her husband will also join. 

In the next house, another batchmate of brother Robert was there but this time, we met an old man who knows a lot about God but not according to the bible. He was known to be a critic of all religions and doesn't believe any church. Unfortunately, he cannot walk anymore and had a hard time hearing, but he can still read even the smallest fonts in the tracts we gave him. 

We went around the area and distribute tracts after that. I have included pictures here that the other group sent me.

In the last house, where we met with the other preachers (Efren Respicio, Jay Gumpad, James Attaban, Edgar Lingbawan, July Aguinaldo, Henry Tabangcura, Jhian Puselero and Manny Pader). We had a bible study at the house of sister Grace Fernandez with her granddaughter Rea. Brother Efren opened the chart that I have made and he preached about it "Is heaven your destination?". After the study, Rea decided to be baptized. I stand ask for her confession and so we went to Nangalisan Church because it was the nearest place where there is a baptistery. There are no near river in Lingu. She was baptized there and now a member of the Lingu Church. This is such a fulfilling work because we made a lot of work in just a span of three hours. 

March 17 (Sunday Worship)

For our bible study here in Tuguegarao, we had brother Lance Panopio finished the last verses on Luke 5. Overall, he did a good job explaining to our brethren about the chapter. We continue to help him learn more so that he can also help in preaching in other places. In the sermon, brother Rody preached "Mark 13:1-31".

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached on Acts 8 about "Simon the sorcerer". The things we can learn by studying the whole story of this man.

In Dagupan, brother Dave Amarilles preached about "What the devil wants?". We are also teaching this young men to stand in front. We are happy for his fast improvement. In their school, every month, there is a mass for the Catholic. The non-Catholic's have separate room for them to do what they want while the Catholics are having their mass. Brother Dave and brother Jhian are asked by their teachers to have a bible study that they will both lead. I am happy to hear that they are making good work in their school regarding preaching the words of God. I will continue to help this young man learn more of the truth and share it to others.

March 20 (Tracts distribution)

Together with several preachers, we went to two villages in Solana. We first went to Bauan where brother Robert Pader is the preacher in their local congregation. We distributed tracts from areas that we can only reach. Next stop is in Malacabibi where brother Boni Morales is the preacher in the area. We met several people asking questions regarding the true Church. Most accepted the tracts we gave them but their are some who do not want to get it. We certainly know that they are Jehovah's witnesses because that is what they are taught. 

In the evening, we had our midweek service. Brother Rody was the one who shared the lesson and the topic was in "Mark 13:32-37".

March 21 (Dagupan)

I went alone to Dagupan because we needed to buy loads of soils that we will put in the side of the chapel. It already eroded that's why we need to fill it up. Brother Douglas Thomas helped us in the funds that we used. There are still many things we needed to do to complete the building. We still do not have windows and doors. The electricity we are using are only connected to the neighboring house. We are paying them a certain amount every month. 

After that, I went to visit sister Denisia. She is another sister who will be going abroad for work. About 14 brethren already went abroad since I started to be the preacher in the area. Brother Enzo joined me and we comforted her with the words of God. She will be away from her family and the church for at least 3 years.

March 23 (Gospel Meeting)

I attended the gospel meeting at Bagunot Church where brother Manny Pader is preaching. They have three speakers, brother Jerome Forelo, brother Dennis Yuson and brother Rody Gumpad. It was my first time visiting the congregation and I met new brethren in Christ. I got to talked to some of them after the preaching. No conversion  at the meeting but I am sure the brethren there are edified.

We went to Calantac after that. We were at the house of Mrs. Beth Duque, the mother-in-law of brother Jay Gumpad. We had a bible study with them. She invited many of her friends. We are praying that with the guidance of God, new congregation will be started in that area.

March 24 (Sunday Worship)

The brethren contacted me early Saturday morning and requesting if we can have the worship Sunday morning instead of the afternoon because there will be a general meeting for all the villages in the town of Tuao. For them to be able to attend the said meeting, we moved our worship in the morning. The meeting is all about the distribution of funds for the people in the area. Our brethren in Tuao (Palca and Dagupan) are very poor that's why they also needed this. It will not greatly affect our worship if we moved it in the morning because most will come. If it will still be in the afternoon, others might not attend. It is a test of faith but for me, if we can find a solution that they can do both, we will do it. That is for both spiritual and physical needs.

I am happy that we have a good attendance in Dagupan. We even have visitors who joined us. I also preached to them about "Simon the sorcerer". 

In Palca, we have invited brother Edgar Corpuz to preached. He preached to us about "After worship, what's next?". Sad to say that many of our older brethren are sick. Three of them are in clinics for check-ups. 

After the worship, sister Linda asked me if we can go and visit her daughter Mrs. Loida. She have diabetes and one of her leg is already cut off. Her problem right now is her sight. She told me that she sees cloudy. It is hard for her to walk on her own and also cannot see well. We prayed for her that God will help her in all her illnesses. She really wanted to join us in worships but sometimes, her body cannot do so. 

March 27 (Tracts distribution and bible study)

I invited preachers to join me in the work at Palca. We first went to the market where there are many people during that time. We also went back to Mrs. Loida's house and invited her for a bible study at the chapel at Palca. We met kind people in the area and most of them know the place we worship. The problem we had why it is very hard to invite guest is because of what the first preacher in that area did. He touched private parts of the teenagers that made our brethren forced to kick him out. Until now, that is what the people are thinking about preachers of the church. Thankfully, the brethren at Palca are helping us explain everything that's why there are a few who are coming. We are praying that one day, they will be enlightened with the truth and come to church.

After the distribution in the market place, we went to Angang, but it only took us a few minutes because there are only a few people in the area. Most of them are in the fields or in schools. 

Lastly, we had our bible study at the chapel. Mrs. Loida joined us and was guided by her grand-daughter, sister Jonalyn. She needed to be taken care because of her inability to walk and see. Brother James Attaban preached to us the lesson about "The King's faith". 

In the evening, I should be the one teaching in our midweek service here in Tuguegarao but brother James asked me if we can exchange dates because he already have the lesson right now. He also shared to us the same lesson. 

March 31 (Sunday Worship)

I was invited to preach in a congregation at Culao, Claveria. From here in Tuguegarao, it will take 3 and a half hours to reach the area but I was in Ilocos Province since Thursday that's why it only took us two hours. My whole family joined me including sister Cathy who is working in the next town as a doctor in a hospital. Brother Fidelfin Miranda and brother Sherwin Miranda are their local preacher. I preached a lesson about "How to lose your salvation?". I am happy to meet the brethren. They told me to come again not far from now. If God permits, I want to preach in that place again. We arrived back home 10 in the evening safely with all the protection of God. During that time, there are a lot of accidents that were in the news. We are happy that we are not one of them, but sad to here of many lives loss.