Preaching activities from September 4-29,2024

September 4 (Midweek Service)

For our first midweek service of the month, we had brother James Attaban preach to us on the "Principles of Church Growth". 

September 5 (Tracts distribution and bible study)

We were invited to Pussian, Alcala where brother Joeben Jacobo and brother Fernando Duque are preaching. We had tracts distribution all over the village. We had also short studies with those whom we have given the tracts. Many from that area are members of the Jehovah's Witnesses and Catholics. 

We also had a bible study in the house of brother Fernando. It was also his daughter's birthday during that time. They also invited other brethren to join. Brother Efren Respicio preached about "Trusting in the Lord".

In the evening, we went to Palca where I am preaching. One of our brethren died. She is sister Loida Uton. One of the member many look up to because even though she have many illnesses, she still goes to church. One of her leg is cut because of diabetes. about a month ago, she had a high blood pressure that made her eyesight disappear. She cannot see anymore during that time but still manage to go to church. A week before her death, they brought her to the doctor and found out that she also had kidney problems. It was during her dialysis that she died. 

We held a sister in her wake. In the first night, we asked brother Dennis Yuson to preach while me and brother Robert Rances led the program. Brother James Attaban is also with us during the days we had services. Brother Manny Pader is also with us for this night.

September 6 (Funeral Service)

For the second day of bible study at the wake, and also the last night before we bring sister Loida to the cemetery. We had brother Jerome Forelo preached. There are many non-Christians in attendance and they are very interested in listening. We again invited them to join us in the church. 

September 7 (Burial Service)

We held the final service at the house of sister Loida also. But they already brought it outside because there are a big number of people who attended. We again sung spiritual songs and prayers. Brother Efren Respicio led the preaching.

September 8 (Sunday Worships)

For our bible study here in Tuguegarao, it was my turn already to teach. We are now in the 12th chapter of the book of Luke. I was able to discuss to them from verses 1-7. While in the sermon, brother Rody preached "Why would Satan want to stop the church of Christ?".

In the afternoon, at Palca, brother Robert preached about the "Judgment of God".

And in Dagupan, I preached the lesson "Unafraid and Unashamed". The start of the classes for senior high school already started and many of the young men and women of the congregation went to the town of Piat and Tuguegarao that's why our attendance went down once again. Sometimes they come home and attend our worship but most of the time, no, because they need to save money. They just attend worship wherever they may be. I guided them to the congregation they can attend. Some of them are here in Tuguegarao, joining us in our worships. It is also good because I am one of the preachers here in Tuguegarao, I can still see them.

September 11 (Midweek Service)

For our bible study, we had brother Rody teach to us this time. He shared the lesson on "What are the qualities of the glorious church?". We included sister Cora Aquino in our prayers because she is comatose in the hospital. Unfortunately, early morning, the next day, she already passed away. 

September 13-19 (Services)

From this span of days, we had nightly services at the wake of sister Cora. I am only absent in the first night because I was sick and also on Sunday (September 15) because I arrived back in Tuguegarao at 6pm already. There are several preachers who are coming and joining us to comfort the family of sister Cora. She is known as being very generous to a lot of preachers. Their family is also sharing benevolent help to our brethren. 

We scheduled several preachers to preach during the services.

Every night there are different guests coming and it is an opportunity for us to share the words of God to them. Not only during the service but also when we are talking to them. We also handed our bible tracts to everyone who comes in and also give bibles to those who are interested. There are also politicians who came and those who have big names in our community. 

The burial was on the 19th and we also had a service in the morning. When we reach the  cemetery, we again shared God's word to them.  

September 15(Sunday Worship)

In our bible study here at Tuguegarao, I continued with the given topic to me on the book of  Luke, we studied chapter 12:8-12. I tried to discussed by parts this chapter for us to learn more about it. I make points each verse and ask them if they also have inputs. We have three young men who were just baptized the last month and I am using them to read the verses in the sits before I explain to them. I want them to be part of our study. We will slowly train them and hoping someday they will be teaching in our bible study. One of them is my son who is very shy. Even in their school, his teacher is telling me that he is not talking. 

In the sermon, brother Rody preached "What must a Christian do when he/she sins?". We have a good number of attendance because those young men/women who are members in Palca and Dagupan also joined us. There are also students from other congregations that are studying here in Tuguegarao attended our worship.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached the lesson "Draw Near to God". 

In Dagupan, brother Robert preached "It is not in riches that you gain life".

September 20 (Home bible study)

We were invited by sister Gretchen Asistores in their new house. They want us to be with them, have a bible study and prayer for her and her husband who is a seaman. Carlo just arrived a couple of days ago coming from a year in the sea, working. He told us of their experiences with the pirates and typhoons. That seems a very difficult job. He needs our prayers. 

September 21 (Bible study)

Brother Lino Darauay and his family came in the chapel here in Tuguegarao and wanting to hear God's word on thanksgiving because they have been blessed with a new car and also his 71st birthday.  

In the afternoon, we also had a bible study at the house of brother Andy Aquino and his family. They also had guests who came and also listened to our study.

September 22 (Sunday Worships)

Brother Rody called me the evening before Sunday and asked me if I can preached in our sermon and he will be teaching in our bible study. I already prepared my lesson for the bible study and so I needed to make another lesson for the sermon. He continued with our topic in  Luke 12:13-34.

In the sermon, I choose a song that we sung several times during the funeral service which is "Precious Lord, Take my Hand". I made a sermon out of it using the example in the life of Moses and the Israelites.

As we usually does after the sermon, we sing invitation song. This time, two old ladies came to confess their faith and wanted to be baptized. Osmena who is 65 and Dionisia, 83. I immersed them in the watery grave of baptism after our worship.

In the afternoon, at Palca, brother Robert preached the lesson about "Giving". 

In Dagupan, I also preached the same lesson "Precious Lord, take my hand".

September 24-26

Sadly, another faithful sister passed away. This time in Alibago Church where brother James Attaban and Jay Gumpad are preaching. Sister Lorna Tuddao who is 62, died the 23rd of September. Half of her body is paralyzed because of stroke but she never failed to attend their worship. She is walking for about a kilometer just to reach the chapel. Sometimes, when there are those who knows her, give her a ride. I was also told that she even comes earlier than those who are near. 

So for three days, I was with them, helping the in preaching of God's word. Only sister Lorna is the christian in their family and all the others are catholic. Inside of their house, they have idols and rosaries. We are persuading them to follow sister Lorna's footsteps when it comes to her faith. I hope that our efforts will be fruitful.  We had the services outside of their house because it is very hot inside. 

September 26

In the morning of the 26th, we traveled to Tabuk, Kalinga to visit the wake of another faithful brethren. This time, it was the son of brother Ben Vistro who is named King. King have heart problems since he was 8 years old. He was given 28 beautiful years to serve the Lord. He had a cardiac arrest that took his life. He was here in our house Saturday morning and he was the one who drive them back home. We didn't see anything wrong on his movements but cardiac arrest just came in by surprise. They even told us a lot of things he did during the day he died. We had service in his wake. 

September 27 (Gospel Meeting)

We traveled early going to Magacan Church where brother Danny Bautista. It was about 4 hours because there are a lot of road works in our way. We've been here the last month also and their place of worship is very small. If I go inside, I need to duck to enter, but now, with the help of brother Keith Greer, it is now better and higher. It is still unfinished but with our prayers and the Lord's help, they can have a better place to worship the Lord. 

Brother Rody led the preaching and there are 3 who were baptized. 4 came in front, but the other one, who is a young men, still doesn't understand the reason why he needs to be baptized and so he was told to study more and attend the church activities to learn. We brought them to be baptized under a bridge. It was muddy and dirty, but that is not the one that will clean them, so it was not a hindrance.

September 28  (Gospel Meeting)

We traveled to the mountains of Sierra Madre to reach Dy-Abra Church. It is the congregation where brother Victor Sinon and Reymund Welba are preaching. They have a chapel before. The lot where the chapel is situated is donated by a faithful brother. But when he died, his children want to take it back, They don't want to honor the agreement that was signed. For them not to be troubled by this family, they just move to another location. Even if they will win in court, those family will surely give them more troubles. They did the better and peaceful way. When this was told in the Gospel Meeting, the brethren were in tears. Thankfully, they are again starting a new one. I am sure God has a better plan for them.

The speakers for this Gospel Meeting was brother Dennis Yuson who preached "City of refuge" and brother Rody with the lesson "Great needs of the church". Invitation was extended and 7 precious souls obeyed the gospel. They were baptized in the near river. I wasn't able to join them down the river in baptism because I stayed in the car having migraine. 

September 29 (Sunday Worships)

It was my turn again to continue with my part of the book of Luke. This time it was on 12:35-48. In the sermon, brother Rody preached about "Obedience".

Right after the end of the worship, I drive immediately to Palca. Every last Sunday of the month, we have decided to meet at 12p.m. because their town Mayor gave them a memo that every constituent of their villages should attend their meetings in their village halls. 

What we did is, I brought brother Robert to Dagupan first then I went to Palca. We have a divided work for this time. He took care of the worship at Dagupan while I worked in Palca. I preached the lesson Ready and waiting.