Preaching activities for the month of July 2020

July 1 (Bible Study)

We continue with our bible study at the house of brother Rody as we are still not allowed to gather in church during evening and transportation for our brethren to come is minimal. Only few passenger vehicles are allowed to operate during this time of lockdown especially on evening and we also have a curfew. We studied Acts 11 as a family and I am happy to be part of this activity during this time that we are only allowed with few movements in our community.

July 2 (Bible study)

I have a conversation through facebook messenger by chat from three of the young teens in Palca. They have been students of my wife in their childrens class since 5 years old. Two of them are already 15 years old and one is 14 (Bea, Jamicah and Christine ). I made a group chat just for the four of us and they are asking questions regarding salvation. This is the first day of our conversation and it went through until today (July 27, the time of the writing of this blog). 

July 5 (Worship at Tuguegarao, Palca and Dagupan)

I was tasked to preached in our sermon here in Tuguegarao. The lockdown is still in effect but now allowing church gathering with a maximum of 50% attendance. We must strictly follow all the rules for us to be allowed to gather (Social Distancing, wearing of face mask, alcohol, thermal scanner). I preached about "Enthusiasm" or our excitement to serve the Lord. I am excited with everything that is happening because we are slowly getting back to normal and so I made an outline about it.

In the afternoon, we had our first worship at the chapel at Palca for the first time since March 15. We've been gathering from different places last month (May), but now, we are happy to be where we belong. We cannot accommodate everyone on the chapel that's why those brethren who are from Dagupan will still continue to have their worship in the house of brother Enzo.  I also preached the same lesson in both places (Palca and Dagupan).

July 7 (Bible study)

I received a call from Mrs. Ema Castro using the number of sister Teresita Puselero. She is asking about baptism and how to be saved. She have been attending our worship in Palca for almost 6-7 months when she is in Dagupan. She is only absent when she is in her son's house at Naruangan. We have a short question and answer. During that time, she is in Dagupan to get some of her clothes and be back to Naruangan the next day that's why she cannot attend our worships. The reason is, her son is jailed because of wrong accusations about drugs. She is asking prayers for the quick action of the case of her son so that she can already come back to her home. As of this moment (July 27), her son is already release and proven not guilty of the accusation. More news about sister Ema below.

July 8 (Bible study)

We again had our bible study at the house of brother Rody. We are now on the 12th chapter of the book of Acts. But before going to that chapter, we asked questions to the kids if they still remember everything we studied from the previous chapters. Most of their answers are correct and that's a sign that they are listening. 

July 10 (Bible study)

July 5 when sister Elaine De Leon asked for prayers for her mother because she is rushed to the hospital due to cervical cancer. The next day, I got a news that her mother already died. July 10, morning here in the Philippines, her mother was buried. Sister Elaine is in Oman right now and because of the pandemic, she cannot come home. In the afternoon, I made a point to chat to her to comfort her with the situation she is facing right now. I send her biblical verses and comforting words. Please pray for our dear sister.

July 12 (Worship at Tuguegarao, Palca and Dagupan)

In the worship here in Tuguegarao in the morning, brother Rody preached in the sermon the topic about "The power of prayer in the Old Testament".

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about "Spiritual Distancing". I made a point that before we even have our worship, the brethren will already know what our topic is. I am posting the title of the lesson on our group page at facebook (Palca Church of Christ). Many brethren are contacting me about the whole outline and I gladly send them.   After the sermon, the three teens (Bea, Jamicah and Christine) whom I continue to have daily chat finally decided to obey the gospel. I immersed them in water after the worship.

After the worship at Palca, I went to Dagupan and also preached the same lesson to them. Sister Ema is with us and still ask for our prayers for his son. And after the worship, she came to me and told me that she wanted to be baptized. I am very surprised and very happy with her decision. We've been encouraging her to obey the gospel for many months but during the time we haven't talk about it, she decided heartily and very excited. We went to Palca to baptize her.

July 13 (Bible study)

I decided to chat sister Leah who is in Dubai to see how they are now. They are in total lockdown and not even allowed to go out of their houses. They still do not have work and so they have no salary. It is harder for them to be there. They cannot go back to the Philippines. To comfort her, we had a short bible lesson. 

July 15 (Bible study)

Our bible study at the house of brother Rody continues. We are now on the 13th chapter. We got news from several brethren who are infected by corona virus here in our country and so we include them in our prayers.

For the next days, I've been busy working on our house. I needed to put waterproofing on our walls, and fix our rooftop because if it is raining outside, it is also raining inside. We have our own waterfall inside our house which is bad. 

July 19 (Worship at Tuguegarao, Palca and Dagupan)

In our worship here in Tuguegarao, brother Jerome preached in our sermon about "Where do I stand?" It is again a very encouraging lesson. If you noticed, since the lockdown, we do not have the bible study part on Sundays. That is because, we are only given a limited time to have the gathering. We need to follow rules so that they will not prohibit us from worshiping in the chapel again.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about "Five things to forget". Since the start of 2020, many things have already happened around the world. Here in the Philippines, we suffered many earthquakes that destroyed our brethren's houses. Until now, they are still living in tents in Mindanao area. After the earthquake, volcano erupted in Taal and many brethren need to move away from the area. And now, this pandemic. I am thinking of forgetting everything and so the title of the lesson is that way. But the body of the lesson is about spiritual matters and not the things that are happening around us. I used biblical examples.

I also preached the same lesson at Dagupan. In Palca, I am using the projector, but in Dagupan, I am giving them copies of my outline.

The next days, I continue to work on our house. I wake up 6 am and have the breakfast, then start with the work until 5 or 6 in the afternoon.

July 22 (Bible study)

Even with the tiring work I am doing, I still managed to join our bible study. We are in the 14th chapter of the book of Acts. We all have decided that the next Wednesday, we will have the bible study on other houses. On July 29, we will be in the house of brother Jay. On August 5th, will be here in our house and that will be my wife's 35th birthday. On August 15, we will be in brother Jerome's house.

July 24 (Thanksgiving service at Maguirig)

I was invited by brother Jerome to work with him together with brother Jerry Soliva, Edgar Corpuz, Dennis Yuson, Mario Garma and Robert Pader in Maguirig. The said thanksgiving is for the daughter of brother Jake and sister Karen Bunagan. 

July 26 (Worship at Tuguegarao, Palca and Dagupan)

In the morning here in Tuguegarao, brother Rody preached in our sermon about "The power of prayer in the New Testament". We continue to have our live streaming over facebook and is posted on the group page of Metro Tuguegarao Church of Christ. 

In the afternoon at Palca, I preached to them the lesson about "Our Modern Society's concept of Hell". Many believed things regarding hell but not all of them are biblical. I answered them in this lesson. I also preached the same lesson in Dagupan.

Preaching activities for the month of June, 2020

June 2 (Bible Study)

I continue to do what I can to edify our brethren at Palca and feed them with spiritual food. The lockdown is still in effect and it will be until June 30^th. As to this day that I am writing this blog (June 29), I doubt that the lockdown will be lifted. Cases of Covid is increasing in our region unlike the last month where we have none. More highly that the lockdown will again be extended to July 15^th.

To help with the spiritual needs of the brethren, I continue to share to them God’s word through digital ways. Starting this June, we are already allowed to travel outside our town Tuguegarao but not outside our region/state.

For this day, I got the chance to talk to sister Dina who is working in Hongkong as domestic helper. I waited for her free time to have audio call on messenger. I cannot get a good connection for video call. I use 1 Corinthians 15:58 and gave a short message about it. She is a good and generous sister because she does not only provide for her family (Mother and siblings), but also share some help for our brethren at Palca. She sent help last month that I distributed to the brethren. Please include her in your prayers. She is very happy because she found new employers and they are also Christians.

June 3 (Midweek/Family bible study)

Because of this lockdown, we are still unable to have the midweek service in the chapel and so we continue to have the study at the house of brother Rody. We are already on the 7^th chapter of the book of Acts.

June 5 (Bible Study)

I have another call to one of the sister at Palca Church. She is sister Erlinda. She is only living with her granddaughter and is not capable of any social media applications. She only uses an old phone. I got a chance to share a short message on the Psalm 68. Please pray for this sister as he cannot go out for work because of her age. She is not allowed to go out according to the law on the lockdown.

June 7 (Worship at Tuguegarao and Visitation for the brethren at Palca Church)

In the morning, we still have the worship at Tuguegarao. Even since the lockdown started last March 15, we didn’t have any Sunday that we didn’t meet. Thankfully, right now, we already have 50% of our attendance back. Brother Jun preached the sermon and we still have the live streaming over facebook using the account of brother Jay.

In the afternoon, since we are already allowed to travel outside Tuguegarao, my wife and I both went to Palca. But before doing that, I ask the brethren to have a visit to their village chieftain to ask whether we are allowed to have the worship in the chapel. Unluckily, because of the situation, and the chieftain is very strict, he did not permit us so we just have the visitation. We went to the houses of the brethren and had a look on their conditions. Palca Church is composed of brethren from three villages (Palca, Angang and Dagupan). We prayed every house and every place where they are. We didn’t have the chance to visit everyone because some of them are also away, and their houses are locked. We are very happy that after 90 days, we got a chance to be with them again.

June 9 (Bible Study)

Since we are already allowed to go to Palca, I decided to have bible studies through phone twice every week. This time, I called a sister who was not in their house when we went to Palca. She is sister Emy and her daughter, Skyla. Sister Emy’s husband (brother Ricky) is in Wisconsin and according to her, he is also staying only in their house because of the virus and riots. I shared to them 1 Timothy 5 and also more about family.

June 10 (Midweek/family bible study)

We again had the chance to study as a family. We are on the 8^th chapter of the book of Acts. I am happy to see that my kids are learning more from what we are doing.

June 12 (Bible Study)

This is the day of our independence here in the Philippines and it is a non-working holiday. This time, I got a chance to share the words of God to one of our busiest sister in Palca, sister Monet, because she is working as a frontliner in their town hall. I shared Colossians 3 to her. She told me that she just got engage and will have their church wedding by this year. Please pray for our new couple who will both be together serving the Lord. I haven’t met yet her fiancé because she is from the other town. Maybe after the lockdown, we will also have the chance to share to him the gospel.

June 14 (Worship at Tuguegarao and First worship in Palca and Dagupan)

In the morning, our worship at Tuguegarao went as planned. I am happy that many more brethren are attending. Brother Rody preached the sermon.

In the afternoon, after 96 very long days, we finally got a chance to gather and worship the Lord together. We are still not allowed to have the worship in the chapel. We need to have social distancing and our chapel is very small that we will be crowded. It is only limited to 10 people in a building with that size. We had the worship at the porch of the house of sister Bienvenida. We still did not have the distancing that is needed but because we are sure that none have the virus, it was just ok for us. I shared to them “Ecclesiastes 1”. Two brethren at the village of Angang also joined us. Some of them cannot go out of their houses because of the age limit (more than 60 years).

After the worship at Palca, I also went to Dagupan to have the worship service. We stayed in the house of brother Enzo. I am happy that we can also have the worship in their house. From my previous reports, they are the family whom I often visited because they have been lukewarm in the faith since his wife, sister Gina got sick and have problems with their kids. Thankfully, they opened their house for us to have the worship. I also shared to them the same lesson. There was a congregation before in their village but because of some problems, it was stop. And so their family and the family of sister Tersing joined us in Palca. At our worship, I am happy to learn of the Christians who are also worshipping with them before in that area. Two of them joined us. I am praying that after the lockdown, they will also join us in Palca.

June 16 (Bible Study)

This time, I had a conversation with sister Cha who is also working in Hongkong as domestic helper. I also share 1 Corinthians 15. She is telling me that after the lockdown, she will ask her family in Palca to invite me for a bible study. I am happy to hear of her words. Please pray also for our brethren who are working in Hongkong because there is also a rally going around the country against China.

June 17 (Midweek/family bible study)

It is again our opportunity to share to our kids. Not only that we have a chance to read and study the bible, but we also have the chance to pray together as a very big family. We are composed of 5 families who are joining together for this to work. We are now on the 9^th chapter of the book of acts.

June 19

I went to Palca to talk to the village chieftain about our gathering. We are still under the lockdown and so he didn’t permit us to do what we did last week. I talked to the brethren and we all planned a way for us to gather. We went to the chieftain at the village of Angang, and thankfully, he permitted us. In Dagupan, the chieftain also permitted us. The reason we are not allowed in Palca is because the chapel and houses of the brethren are just on the highway but on the other villages, we needed to walk utmost 500 meters to reach their places.

June 21 (Worship at Tuguegarao, Angang and Dagupan).

We continue to have our worship at Tuguegarao together with our live streaming for the brethren who are at their homes to listen also to the sermon. This time, brother Jay preached to us.

In the afternoon, it is our first time to have the worship at Angang. I have planned during the lockdown that I will do the best I can to preach to the brethren at Palca Church. I planned that every Sunday, I will be preaching in Palca, Angang and Dagupan, but because of the responds of the chieftains, I only am preaching in two different places. This time, we gathered in the house of sister Angelina. Brethren at Palca also came and joined us. Five of their neighbors also joined us. Two of them asked for bibles and so I asked brother Jerome to give them. He had supplies of Ilocano bibles. I preached to them Psalm 57.

After the worship at Angang, for the second straight Sunday, we had the worship at Dagupan in the house of brother Enzo. This time, the grandson of sister Tersing and his friend joined us. Her grandson, Gian, is a student of my wife in their children class in Palca. He is 11 years old and knows a lot about the bible. On the other hand, his friend, was his first time. There was a police roaming around the area, but they didn’t stop us. We thank God that He is there guiding and protecting us always. I also preached the same lesson to them.

June 24 (Midweek/family bible study)

During this week, I didn’t call anyone from Palca Church because I went to help my brother and mother. They are moving to their new house and they needed me to help them with all their things.

Even with all the pain in my body, I still joined in our weekly bible study with my family. We studied 10^th chapter of Acts and we also have a little celebration for the baby of brother Jay who is now getting better with her health. Their baby just turned one month and we all have the celebration because God gave her to our entire family.

June 27 (Thanksgiving service)

Brother Dennis Yuson invited us to their house to celebrate with them the birthday of his granddaughter who just turned one year old. She is the daughter of the youngest son of brother Dennis. Brother Jerome shared a good lesson about giving thanks and they asked me to lead the prayer. Other preachers are also with us (Mario Garma, Jerry Soliva, Joeben Jacobo, Edgar Corpuz and Fernando Duque). Police are also roaming around and checking every house and so during the service, we needed to have distance from each other and limited people only in the gathering.

June 28 (Worship at Tuguegarao, Angang and Dagupan)

In the morning, we are still doing the preaching over facebook and in the congregation. We received a notice from our city office that inorder for them to continue to allow us to gather, everyone should be wearing face mask, distancing of one meter from each other, sanitation mat at the entrance, alcohol and temperature check for everyone who enters. If one of them is not followed, and someone will check us, next time, they will no longer permit us. Brother Rody preached in our sermon.

In the afternoon, we again have the gathering at Angang, at the house of sister Angelina. We have the same attendance together with their neighbors. Those who are elderly and below 20 years old from Palca are still not with us because they are not allowed to be going out. I am praying that this pandemic will end soon so that everyone will have the chance to gather for worship. I preached to them Psalm 5.

We also have the worship at Dagupan, in the same place. We are less of two brethren in our attendance because they haven’t arrived yet coming from their work. I also preached to them the same lesson. Sister Tersing told me that Gian and his friend are thinking of baptism and so I talk to both of them. I told them that if they wanted to be baptized, they should know the real reason why. They gave answers to every question that I ask and so the final question is, “Are you both ready?”, they stop and think and just smiled. It means, not yet. I told them that we will study more and if they are both ready, I will not stop them from getting baptized into Christ.

Activities for the month of May

May 3 (Sunday Worship at Metro Tuguegarao)

The lockdown continues on the entire Philippines and we are still unable to work normally especially in our preaching services. I am happy that I am able to preach here in Tuguegarao. I am the one scheduled to preached during our worship and I shared about “Where is Jesus?” On this time of pandemic, I can see more people searching for God. Most of the post I see on facebook are bible verses, prayers, and many things about God. People are afraid of this virus that they go to God but that is their only reason. They do not search for what God really wants. They are still doing things which they think God accepts, but they never really search or look for what God wants. I am happy that I can preach not only in the church but also with our live streaming. Many friends and brethren on facebook watch the sermon. I hope and pray that I have really opened their eyes about the truth.

Unluckily, the last month (April), I am able to record all the sermons on my phone and upload in on youtube. During my sermon, my phone got broken, I don’t know why, but it didn’t record anything. We used the phone of brother Jay as our second screen and so we cannot record also from there. The only file I have is the live video on facebook. It is still in the timeline of our group page in Palca Church. All of the sermons for this month is in that page and none on youtube.

May 4

I have contacted sister Erlinda Manuel through phone call. She do not know how to use social media apps and only have on old phone (not touch screen). She is living alone in their house in Angang (She is a member at Palca Church). Since the lockdown, I haven’t heard anything about her, even from her daughter, sister Nenita. It is not really a bible study, but I have conversation with her about the situation and encourages her with biblical verses. We ended the call by prayer.

May 5

The same way for sister Marites. I haven’t heard anything from her since the lockdown. If you remember from my previous reports, she is the one who have heart problems but now in a very good condition. I contacted sister Teresita first to ask for her phone number, but she doesn’t have one. Instead, I talk to her using sister Teresita’s phone when she went to their house. I ask about her situation and she told me that everything is ok except problems for their necessities. Food is their major problem because she still cannot work and her husband cannot work in the field because of the lockdown. I also gave encouraging bible passages to her and ended by prayer.

May 6

We had again our bible study at the house of brother Rody. We sung spiritual songs together as a family and studied Acts 3. Brother Rody, Jerome, Jun, Jay and I shared some thoughts about the chapter in front of our wives and kids.

May 7

I made another phone call and this time it is sister Krizel. Her sibling, sister Kenneth is in Cavite (called another day) and cannot go out because the lockdown in that area is more strict. Their parents are Christians also, but since being part of the counsels in that village, they do not have time anymore joining us in services. In short, they backslide and joined worldly people in the counsel. Thankfully, both their kids are faithful. But still I wanted to continue persuading them to return to church. During that time, they are not home with Krizel. They are frontliners and serving the village needs. We just had a short talk because the signal of her phone is weak that we cannot understand all what we are talking. We just prayed for their family.

May 10

In our Sunday worship here at Tuguegarao, brother Rody shared a good sermon. He preached about The True Church. I helped in other works and guided those who are coming in to join us in worship. Our attendance is only ¼ of our regular attendance.

May 11

This time, I made a call to sister Kenneth in Cavite. She is staying alone on her apartment. She is a school teacher but because of the lockdown, she is working home by online teaching. I needed to shorten our conversation because she still have many works for their school. I shared also two passages from the scripture teaching us to be steadfast in the Lord even with many trials. We again concluded the call with a prayer.

May 12

I made a call to sister Girlie Domingo. She is just 34 years old but not a fan of new technologies that’s why I also do not have any updates on her. I just got her phone number from her mother, sister Lorna. Regarding her situation, her family is ok, her husband who is not a Christian cannot work also because the welding shop he is working is close. Same with other brethren, they keep telling me of their struggles for their needs. Thankfully, some brethren who sent me funds for benevolence is given to all of them. I shared to her whole family John 10. We ended the call by prayer.

May 13

We continue with our bible study at the house of brother Rody. We continue to sing spiritual songs and joining in prayer. We studied Acts 4, and the same way, each of us preachers who are there share some thoughts on the chapter. We are happy because our kids are learning from our studies. We ask them questions about the discussion and they are giving good answers.

May 14

I also called the mother of sister Girlie, sister Lorna. Their house is just 50 meters apart but because of the lockdown, they remain at their own homes. Sister Lorna have asthma during my call and I can hear the way she breathes. We just prayed together and ended the call.

May 17

Brother Rody again preached in our sermon, and he shared about “What worship means to us?” We have a better attendance at this time because almost all rows of chairs have someone sitting on it. Our attendance is already half our average. We are about 65. The lockdown is still in play, mass gathering is still not allowed, but we are thankful that we can do worship because they are not that strict anymore.

In Palca where I am locally preaching, they are still very strict. The virus is not the main problem in that town, it is the Governor who doesn’t want anyone from other town enter his vicinity.

May 18

I made a call to sister Noemi, who is with her niece and father who is a member of the Jehovah’s witnesses. This is the longest call I have so far because her father asked many questions about death, soul, spirit and afterlife. I hope with the biblical answers I gave him, we can have more bible studies in their house after the lockdown and that he will also obey the truth.

May 19

I called sister Maria Andrada. She is with her niece during the call. Everything is ok in her family. Her daughter’s who are in Manila and abroad are also good. She is a jolly person and we have good laughs during the call. I also shared biblical passages and prayed together with them.

May 20

We again had our bible study at the house of brother Rody. We again did the same thing and studied Acts 5.

May 21

I made a video call to sister Dina in Taiwan, but because of internet problems on my part, we ended up chatting on messenger. She just ended her contract on her employee and looking for a new one. She is asking our prayers that she can locate a godly employer that will allow her to do Christian things. I just sent her passages on the scripture to think about. We cannot pray by chat but I told her that we will pray for her.

May 24

In our worship here in Tuguegarao, brother Jerome shared a good lesson about Why do we preach the gospel? We again have a good attendance of more than 50 including the kids. Those kids are only from our family, but the kids from our brethren who attended are not allowed to go out of houses as our authorities prohibits.

May 25

I made a call to sister Rowena and with him are other three Christians, her parents, brother Enzo and sister Gina, and her sibling, sister Charice. They’ve been lukewarm before the lockdown and this time; I am trying to encourage them to continue on serving the Lord. During the stretch of this lockdown, I am communicating with them and they are telling me that they already want to be back in the church. I shared passages about returning to our first love, returning to Jesus and to remain faithful. We ended by prayer.

May 27

During our bible study again in the house of brother Rody. We did the same things and studied Acts 6. The kids are now better since we started doing the studies. They can now explain and reason out ideas on the chapters.

May 31

All I thought is that the lockdown will end May 30 and so I already prepared everything I need going to Palca. But the announcement came on May 28 that the lockdown is again extended until June 15. I tried getting travel pass so that I can go and preach in Palca, if not to visit the brethren, but still, the order of the governor, is to not allow anyone from other town enter their area. Sad and disappointing moment for me.

Thankfully, we are still able to worship here at Metro Tuguegarao. Brother Rody preached the sermon, on worship, particularly on singing. I am still in charge of the brethren who are coming in and making sure that we are following the protocols of the lockdown which is social distancing.

And because I am still not allowed to travel to Palca, I joined brother Rody in going to Alibago Church in the afternoon. He got a travel pass from the Mayor’s office and the town of Enrile already allows anyone from other town to enter the place. I help in the work together with brother Jun and brother James.

When we are traveling back home, we heard from the radio that we no longer need to secure any travel pass when we want to go to other towns but be sure that it is only in our state/region. I am very happy to hear that news because I can already go to Palca without any hindrances. The only problem now is, if the governor will allow us to enter their town, and if they will allow us to have church gathering. I am praying that they will all allow this so that we can already worship together in Palca after three months of lockdown.