July 1
The elders of the Metro Tuguegarao congregation entrusted me with organizing a schedule to invite preachers from neighboring congregations to teach during our midweek Bible study. We hope this effort will strengthen the congregation by allowing us to learn from faithful gospel preachers serving in other areas while also fostering closer fellowship among the churches.
For this week's midweek service, we were blessed to have brother James Attaban as our guest speaker. Brother James serves as the preacher of the Alibago congregation and also assists the congregation in Nangalisan. He delivered an encouraging lesson from the life of Zimri, emphasizing the importance of faithfulness to God and the consequences of choosing a path contrary to His will.
July 4
For the first two weeks of the month, my schedule was limited to our midweek Bible study and Sunday worship services in Tuguegarao. This was because all of the children of my father-in-law, brother Rody Gumpad, returned home from the United States and the United Kingdom to celebrate the 50th Wedding Anniversary of brother Rody and sister Tessie.
During those two weeks, our family spent much of our time with them as they graciously treated us to a family vacation. It was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to be reunited after many years and to enjoy precious time together.
On July 4, we attended the Golden Wedding Anniversary celebration of brother Rody and sister Tessie. It was a memorable occasion attended by many gospel preachers from throughout the Cagayan Valley, as well as several brethren and preachers from neighboring regions who have been longtime friends of our family. We thank God for blessing brother Rody and sister Tessie with fifty years of faithful marriage and for allowing us to witness such a joyful and encouraging celebration.
July 5
During our Bible study in Tuguegarao, we were blessed to have brother Jun Gumpad—better known by many as "Ody," whose full name is Rody Gumpad Jr.—teach the lesson. Since he and his family were with us during those two weeks, we had the opportunity to hear him preach once again. His lesson, entitled "I Might Be Backsliding If…", challenged each of us to examine our spiritual condition. He discussed several warning signs of spiritual decline, including losing our appetite for God's Word, neglecting regular prayer, becoming sporadic in our worship attendance, and developing a critical spirit.
For our Sunday worship service, we were also honored to have brother Ryan Thomas with us. Brother Ryan is the husband of sister Jennifer Gumpad and the son of Brother Craig Thomas. He delivered a powerful sermon entitled "There's Power in the Blood," reminding the congregation of the cleansing, redeeming, and saving power found only in the blood of Jesus Christ. His lesson strengthened our faith and renewed our appreciation for the sacrifice our Savior made on the cross.
July 8
For our midweek service, as part of the schedule I prepared for inviting preachers from neighboring congregations, brother Boni Morales was our guest speaker. He delivered an insightful lesson on "Perspective," encouraging the congregation to view life's circumstances through the lens of God's will rather than from a merely earthly point of view.
Since it was also the last Wednesday that brother Ryan Thomas was with us before returning home, he was given the opportunity to present another lesson. He preached on "Obligation for the Truth," reminding us of our responsibility to know, defend, obey, and faithfully proclaim God's truth regardless of the challenges we may face.
The evening concluded with a wonderful blessing from the Lord. During the invitation, one precious soul, Kim, responded by coming forward. We thank God for her humble heart and pray that he will continue to grow stronger in her faith as she walks faithfully with the Lord.
July 12
For our Bible study in Tuguegarao, brother Ryan Thomas taught the lesson entitled "Remembering the Words of Jesus." He encouraged the congregation to continually keep the teachings of Christ in our hearts and to allow His words to guide our daily lives.
During the worship service, brother Jun Gumpad preached a thought-provoking sermon entitled "What Do You Think About the Christ?" (Matthew 22:42). He challenged everyone to examine their personal understanding of Jesus and to recognize Him not only as the promised Messiah but also as Lord and Savior. This was the final day that brother Ryan and brother Jun were with us, as they traveled to Manila later that afternoon in preparation for their flight back to the United States the following day. We were truly grateful for the encouragement and edification they provided during their visit. Invitation was extended and we are happy that one more precious soul have obeyed the gospel (Maribel Razon).
In the afternoon, we traveled to Palca for our worship service, where brother Robert delivered the sermon from Matthew 24:13, emphasizing the importance of enduring faithfully until the end in order to receive the promised reward of salvation.
Afterward, I continued to Dagupan, where I had the opportunity to preach a lesson entitled "Things Happy People Do." The lesson focused on biblical attitudes and practices that produce genuine joy in the Christian life, encouraging the brethren to find lasting happiness by trusting God, practicing gratitude, forgiving others, serving faithfully, and living according to His Word.
July 15
With my in-laws having returned to the United States and the United Kingdom, I resumed my regular work with the brethren in our evangelistic efforts.
Together with several brethren, we traveled to Maguilling, Piat, where we distributed gospel tracts in the public market. The marketplace provided an excellent opportunity to reach many people with the message of God's Word. We are thankful for every opportunity to sow the seed of the gospel and pray that the tracts distributed will encourage many to seek the truth.
After the tract distribution, we proceeded to Aquib, Piat, for a Bible study. Brother Victor Ramos presented the lesson, and we were grateful for the opportunity to study God's Word together with those who attended.
That evening, during our midweek service in Tuguegarao, the preacher who had originally been scheduled, brother Jimmy Domingo, arrived but had unintentionally forgotten that he was assigned to preach that evening. By God's providence, we had a visiting preacher with us, brother Otey Pastor. The elders asked if he would be willing to deliver the lesson, and he graciously accepted.
Brother Otey preached an encouraging sermon entitled "Sink or Walk," based on Peter's experience of walking on the water (Matthew 14:22–33). He emphasized that when our eyes remain fixed on Christ, our faith enables us to overcome life's storms, but when we focus on our fears and circumstances instead of the Lord, we begin to sink spiritually.
July 18
We were invited to attend the wedding of brother Beran and sister Rivera in Catenggengan, San Pablo. Both of them are faithful members of the local congregation in that area. It was my first time visiting Catenggengan, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that there is now a congregation faithfully meeting there. It was a great encouragement to witness the growth of the Lord's church in another community.
During our visit, I had the opportunity to speak with brother Alfonso Danao, the local preacher. He shared that the congregation is planning to hold a Gospel Meeting in the near future and graciously extended another invitation for us to attend and support the effort. We are thankful for this opportunity and pray that the upcoming Gospel Meeting will be fruitful, bringing many souls to Christ and strengthening the brethren in Catenggengan.
July 19
The elders of the Metro Tuguegarao congregation asked brother Jun Bassig and me to begin handling a new Bible class for the youth. Since it was our first meeting together, we structured the class much like the first day of school. Each young person introduced themselves and shared a little about their life so that everyone could become better acquainted with one another.
Although many of them have been Christians for several years, we realized that most only knew each other by name and had not yet developed close relationships. One of our goals for this class is not only to help them grow spiritually through the study of God's Word but also to strengthen their fellowship with one another. As members of God's family, we want to cultivate an environment where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and encouraged, ensuring that no one is left behind.
During the worship service, brother Rody Gumpad preached a lesson from Jonah chapter 3, emphasizing God's mercy, the power of genuine repentance, and the importance of responding obediently to His message.
In the afternoon, I traveled to Palca, where I preached a sermon from Ecclesiastes 12 entitled "Remember Your Creator Before It's Too Late." The lesson encouraged the brethren to devote their lives to God while they are still able, reminding them that youth and strength are temporary and that everyone will one day give an account before the Lord.
Later, in Dagupan, brother Robert delivered a lesson entitled "The Religious People," challenging the congregation to examine whether their faith is based merely on outward religion or on a sincere and obedient relationship with God according to His Word.
July 20
During our worship service in Dagupan last Sunday, I received a text message from sister Jayzel Cabinian informing me that their infant son had passed away. Their baby had been born prematurely at seven months and had remained in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for more than three weeks. Throughout that time, we regularly visited the family and prayed earnestly that God would spare the child's life. Although our hearts were saddened by the news, we continue to trust that God, in His infinite wisdom, has a greater purpose that we may not yet fully understand.
Brother Gerald and sister Jayzel have been married for seven years, and this was their first child. Losing a child is an unimaginable sorrow, yet it was truly inspiring to witness the strength of their faith. Even in the midst of their grief, they remained steadfast in their devotion to the Lord. Their tragedy did not keep them from worshipping God.
The family requested that we conduct a bible study service on Monday afternoon. Brother Robert and I were joined by brothers Manny Pader, James Attaban, and Jay Gumpad in ministering to the grieving family. Brother Manny delivered the message, speaking on "Death and God's Plans for Our Lives." Through the Scriptures, he reminded everyone that while death brings sorrow, God remains faithful and offers hope beyond the grave. We pray that the Lord will continue to comfort brother Gerald and sister Jayzel, strengthen their faith, and surround them with His peace as they journey through this difficult season.
July 21
We held the burial service for the infant son of brother Gerald and sister Jayzel Cabinian. Although it was a day filled with sorrow, it also provided an opportunity to comfort the grieving family and to proclaim the hope that is found in Christ.
We invited brother Dennis Yuson to deliver the funeral message. He preached a lesson entitled "Understanding Life," reminding everyone that life is a precious gift from God and that, regardless of its length, every life has meaning and purpose in His divine plan. He also encouraged those in attendance to place their trust in the Lord, whose wisdom and love far exceed our own understanding, and to prepare their hearts for eternity.
Please continue to pray for brother Gerald and sister Jayzel as they grieve the loss of their first child. We also pray that God will use this difficult experience to draw their family and relatives closer to Him and that the seeds of the gospel planted during these services will bear fruit in the days to come.
July 22
We traveled to Virginia, Piat, for another opportunity to spread the gospel. With nearly fifteen brethren participating in the evangelistic effort, we divided into two groups to maximize our outreach. One group went throughout the community distributing gospel tracts, while the rest of us remained at the place where the brethren gather for worship and conducted a Bible study.
Before the lesson, we joined together in singing joyful hymns of praise to God and united in prayer, asking for His guidance and blessings upon our efforts. Brother Jimmy Duque then delivered a lesson entitled "Doing God's Will," emphasizing that true discipleship is demonstrated not merely by hearing God's Word but by faithfully obeying it each day. His message encouraged everyone in attendance to surrender their lives completely to the Lord and to seek His will above their own.
That evening, during our midweek service in Tuguegarao, brother Jimmy Domingo was able to preach the lesson he had missed the previous week. He delivered an encouraging message entitled "How to Live in Victory," reminding the congregation that victory over temptation, sin, and life's trials is found only through a faithful relationship with Jesus Christ.
July 26
For our Bible study in Tuguegarao, I was asked to teach the adult class while Brother Jun Bassig handled the youth Bible class for its second meeting. I had the opportunity to lead the brethren in a verse-by-verse study of Acts chapter 1, focusing on Jesus' final instructions to His apostles, His ascension into heaven, the importance of patiently waiting for the fulfillment of His promise concerning the coming of the Holy Spirit and the replacement of Judas.
During the worship service, brother Jun Bassig preached a sermon from Matthew 14:16, emphasizing our responsibility as Christians to care for the spiritual and physical needs of others. His lesson challenged the congregation to trust God with what we have and to be willing instruments in His service, just as the disciples were in the feeding of the five thousand.
Since it was the last Sunday of the month, our afternoon worship services in Palca and Dagupan were scheduled at the same time. Brother Robert traveled to Palca to preach, while I went to Dagupan to lead the worship service there. I preached the lesson entitled "Remember Your Creator Before It's Too Late," based on Ecclesiastes 12, encouraging the brethren to devote their lives to God while they have the opportunity and to remain faithful in preparation for the day when each of us will stand before our Creator.
July 29
During our midweek service in Tuguegarao, brother Victor Sinon was originally scheduled to teach. However, early Wednesday morning, he sent me a message asking if his son could take his place. I gladly agreed, as it would be my first opportunity to hear the young man preach. It was also a great encouragement to see another young Christian willing to proclaim God's Word.
The guest speaker was brother Edvince Sinon. He is a graduate of the Bachelor of Education program and currently serves as the secretary of their barangay. In addition to his professional responsibilities, he faithfully works alongside his father in the ministry, helping preach for the congregations in Maligaya and Dy Abra.
Brother Edvince delivered a thoughtful lesson entitled "From Distance to Intimacy." Through the Scriptures, he explained how God desires every person to move from being spiritually distant to enjoying a close and personal relationship with Him through faith, obedience, and continual fellowship.
It was truly encouraging to witness a young gospel preacher faithfully using his abilities in the service of God. We pray that the Lord will continue to bless brother Edvince as he grows in knowledge, wisdom, and effectiveness in proclaiming the gospel.
July 30
We traveled to Cabuloan, Ballesteros, to attend the burial service of sister Mildred Rieta, the mother-in-law of brother Sherwin Miranda, a faithful gospel preacher serving in that area. Sister Mildred had been suffering from heart-related health problems for quite some time, and Brother Sherwin had often asked us to remember her in our prayers as she frequently underwent medical treatment and hospitalization. Although we had hoped for her recovery, the Lord called her home according to His will.
Because brother Sherwin is the nephew of brother Rody Gumpad, our families have shared a close relationship for many years. We were thankful to be present to offer our love, encouragement, and support during this time of sorrow.
Brother Rody delivered the funeral message entitled "Where Are the Dead?" We continue to pray that the Lord will comfort brother Sherwin and the entire Rieta family and grant them strength and peace during this difficult time.
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