Preaching activities for the month of June 2021

Before summarizing my report for the month, I want to share what I am doing at home while I cannot go to Palca and Dagupan. 

I continue to make sermon/bible study videos to them every week. In a week, I am sending three videos. One video is about 30-40 minutes. I am trying to explain to them verse by verse and sometimes, I end up teaching 2-3 verses in just one video. Every time they send me questions on facebook, I am also answering them on the next videos. For a whole month, this is just the chapters we finished:

1. Genesis 1

2. Proverbs 1

3. Acts 1-5

I am enjoying this while making the videos and answering questions because I know many of them are watching and learning.

I tried to go there and visit them, but on the checkpoints, they are asking documents of travel pass which I do not have that's why I cannot push through with the visitation.

June 2 (Midweek Service)

Even if the lockdown is in place in the whole region, we, here in Tuguegarao can move freely. Anyone can go to their own jobs, go where they want to go, and do what they want to do. I do not know what our local government is doing. They announced a lockdown, but they are not strict to it, that's why, this time I am writing this (July 1), it is again extended until July 15th.

 Luckily, for us here in Tuguegarao, we can have our worship services. Unfortunately, in Palca and Dagupan, they are very strict.

We continue to have our midweek service here in Tuguegarao and in our bible study, we studied Proverbs 6.

June 4 (Burial Service)

We held a service at the burial of sister Petra in Alibago. She died because of illness.

 

June 6 (Sunday worship)

There are about 30+ in our attendance here in Tuguegarao. The elders told the brethren that those who are sickly and kids should not come to church for now because of the restrictions. Brother Rody preached "The Church at Laodecia".

In the afternoon, I have the chance to go to Alibago Church and preach. I am with brother Jison Agbuya and brother Robert Rances. I preach the lesson "Why does God allow suffering?" I am happy to be with them again. It's been almost a year since the last time I preach in the congregation.

June 9 (Midweek service)

We are only few in our attendance with not more than 30. Brother Rody shared to us Proverbs 7.

June 13 (Sunday Worship)

Our attendance went high to 50+ this time. Brother Rody continued with the lesson on the book of Proverbs. He preached on the 8th chapter.

In the afternoon, I went to meet sister Jovelyn Manera and sister Grace Lamigo. They came here in Tuguegarao to go to hospital and schedule their chemo. I waited for them outside the hospital because non-patients are not allowed to go inside. I talked to them afterwards and prayed together with them. Sister Grace got her chemo the next day and sister Jovelyn got her radiation therapy Tuesday.

June 16 (Midweek service)

The elders invited again preachers from other congregations to teach in our midweek service. Brother Manny Pader who is a preacher at Bagunot Church and Santiago Church shared to us a lesson about "Face in the face of fire".

June 17 (Bible Study at Barocboc Church)

We went to the town of Quezon to be with the brethren at Barocboc. We meet not in their worship place but way far off the road so that authorities will not stop us. We met under a tree with about 30 people. After the preaching, 7 precious souls went in front to confess their faith, and while they are preparing, one old man also decided to obey the gospel. I immersed them in the pool near the area. 

June 20 (Sunday Worship)

It is again the third week of the month and it is my schedule to preach. We are more than 60 in attendance this time. I preached to them a lesson about "Famous Proverbs/sayings in the bible". I choose to make this kind of outline because in my phone, I always received daily verses that I use to meditate the whole day. I searched the internet about the most commonly used verse by people and I got many of them. I have only 45 minutes to preached and so I didn't finished everything in my outline.

In the afternoon, we went to Baliuag Church in Penablanca. Brother Rody preached about "Error or Premillenialism". I was asked to lead our prayer and also help in edifying the brethren after the service. Four precious souls confessed their faith and were baptized in the near river.

June 23 (Midweek service)

We again have an invited preacher for our bible study. Brother Edgar Corpuz who is a preacher at San Vicente Church preached to us "Thy word have I hid in my heart".

June 27 (Sunday worship)

Our attendance went back to below 50 because of the restrictions. Brother Rody preached on the 9th Chapter of Proverbs.

In the afternoon, I tried going to Dagupan because they told me that the chieftain already allowed us to worship, but when I am traveling going there, I received a new message telling me that he changed his mind and that he again stop us from doing the worship. They are afraid of our Governor because he told everyone that they will be suspended once they allowed their constituents to do gatherings.

June 30 (Midweek Service)

We should be listening to brother Jun Antonio to teach in our bible study but unfortunately, the elders decided to cancel the meeting. Brother Jun who is living with brother Rody have covid like symptoms and the chapel is just inside the compound of their house. For safety precautions, they decided to cancel the midweek service.

Preaching activities for the month of May 2021

 May 2 (Sunday Worships)

The lockdown was again in place in the whole region but we are fortunate to have our worship services. In the morning, we had our worship at Tuguegarao. Since the lockdown here in our town is very tight, only a few attended the worship and the others just joined us through facebook live streaming. Brother Jerome preached about "The parable of the sower".

In the afternoon, brother Jay Gumpad and brother Jison Agbuya joined me in my local preaching congregations. Brother Jay preach in Palca while brother Jison in Dagupan. They are not allowed to go to their respective congregations that's why they asked me if they can come. After the worship in Dagupan, two precious souls obeyed the gospel. First was Marlon Ventura a 12 year old boy. I thought he is only 8 years old because of his height that's why I asked him some questions before his confession. The other one is Jovelyn Ventura, a mother, and is fighting a stage 3 cervical cancer. I think she is having her chemo every week. Please include her in your prayers. We brought them to Palca after the confession and baptized them there.

May 5 (Midweek service)

We still continued with our midweek service even though most of our brethren cannot come. Only our family is again in attendance. We studied the book of Proverbs chapter 3. 

May 9 (Sunday Worships)

The situation of the town is still the same that's why only a few came in our worship at Tuguegarao. Not more than 30 is in attendance. Brother Rody shared to us about the "Church in Philadelphia".

In the afternoon, only brother Jay joined me this time because he is still not allowed to go to Minagbag Church. I preached in Palca about "Why does God allow suffering?". While brother Jay preached in Dagupan.

After the worship, we visited the wake of sister Paulina Ramos. She died because of infections going to her eyes and brain caused by her dental procedures. This was sudden because we do not know any illnesses of our sister and she is very strong. She didn't know that she had diabetes and maybe that caused the infection to her head. She is living alone in her house because her husband left her for another woman 6-7 years ago and her children are living in other towns with their own families. Now that she died, no one is living in her house. Every time I passed by her house, I always remember her smile and a very good example of faith that she left. A month after her baptism 7 years ago, she got a job from a drugstore. They wouldn't allow her to take the day-off on Sundays that's why after just two weeks, she resigned from her job because she knows it is more important to be with the brethren on Sundays and worship the Lord. She is the most active sister who always message me on facebook and ask many questions about what she is reading in the bible. I know she is in a better place now with all the saints who went before us.

We are not allowed by the village officials to have service their that's why we only had the prayer. 

After the visitation, we also went to the thanksgiving at the new house of sister Lorna Llanes. I shared a short reminder about thanksgiving using the words of God and we joined together to pray to our Almighty and thank Him for the blessing He gave to their family.

May 12 (Burial service)

This is the only service they allowed us to do in the wake of sister Paulina. You can also notice in the picture that only few came because we needed to follow the protocols. Brother Jerome and brother Dennis helped me with the work. We did the service as requested by the family and also making sure everyone will here the message of the gospel hoping and praying that some or many of them will realized the need of obeying God's word before it's too late.

In the evening, we again had our midweek service here in Tuguegarao. This time, we studied Proverbs 4.

May 16 (Sunday worship)

The kind of lockdown we had was even tighter in some places in our region that includes in Palca and Dagupan. It's so sad that we are not allowed again to have the gathering there. Officials came to our meeting place at both areas reminding us of the protocols before Sunday. During our supposed time of worship there, the brethren told me that police came to check if we really did not assemble, that's how strict they were. Because of that, I again recorded sermon videos that I sent through our group chat in facebook.

While here in Tuguegarao, we still had our worship service just like before. And again, only our family are in attendance. I am the one scheduled to preach and I shared about "Understanding the times".

May 19 (Midweek service)

The elders decided that even though we are in lockdown, we will continue to have our bible study but won't allow anyone to come. We again decided that we will do the live stream on Wednesday.   We studied Proverbs 5.

May 23 (Sunday worship)

Our situation is still the same but there are some brethren who joined us for worship at Tuguegarao. Brother Jun Gumpad arrived coming from Manila and the elders asked him to preach to us. He shared the lesson on "Does prayer bring salvation?".

May 24 (Thanksgiving)

We had a thanksgiving service here at Tuguegarao for the baby of brother Jay Gumpad. They have some friends who came and listened to the lesson preached. 

May 26 (Midweek service)

Brother Jay was asked to preached to us about "Thanksgiving". It is also the birthday of brother Rody and sister Michelle and it is always a good thing to thank God for all the blessings not only for him but also for my son who is also having her birthday on the 28th. 

May 30 (Sunday worship)

This is supposed to be the last day of the lockdown but unfortunately, it is again announced that it is extended until June 15. I do not know what our government here in our region is doing. They are imposing a lockdown but they will not stop many people from going out of their houses that makes more cases of covid everyday. I noticed that every time the lockdown is coming near to an end, they are showing in the media many new and active cases. Our Governor is very mad at our Mayor because he thinks that our Mayor is asking many funds for relief to give us but the truth is, we never received any relief goods. The election will be next year and the sad truth is, according to our Governor, our Mayor is putting the money in his pocket to be used when he runs for the higher position next year. That is not a secret here in the Philippines, it happens every time.

We still had our service and no one can stop us here in Tuguegarao. Brother Jerome preached his final sermon here because the next Sunday, he will already be preaching in Villa Salud where our late brother Rolando Agpoon preach before. They have no preacher and he took the job. As of today, brother Rody and I are the only remaining preachers here in Tuguegarao. The other preachers can still join us on weekdays but they will not be with us on Sundays. Both brother Jerome Forelo and brother Jay Gumpad already moved their memberships in their local preaching congregations. 

Preaching activities for the month of April 2021

This month, our whole province is under a lockdown where we are not allowed to go out except for essential purposes. We cannot even go buy what we need unless we secure "Covid Pass" in our Barangay/Village Halls. This is very disappointing for me, for every brethren because we are not allowed to have the worships together. But on the other side, I am happy that even with this lockdown, we have many ways to preach the gospel. I hope that this month, I did the work I needed to do. Here are some of the things I did for this month.

April 4 (Sunday worship at Tuguegarao)

For the first Sunday, there are brethren who are still not aware of the lockdown that's why some of them joined us for worship. We did that live streaming and I shared the link to our brethren at Palca and Dagupan because I cannot go there. They informed me that officials came to them and told them that we are not allowed to have any gathering. They cannot watch it live because of the weak connection in their area. They needed to finish loading the whole video before watching.

Brother Jerome preached in our worship about "Christians and the Civil Authorities during this time of Pandemic". I am trying my best to make our live streaming work. 

April 7 (Midweek Home Bible Study)

We still have our midweek study even with this lockdown. We did the study at the house of brother Rody again. We studied about "Zacchaeus". Just like before, our whole family is there. This time, we did it different. Everyone of us will share any verse or anything that we learn from the chapter. By this way, we are sure that everyone will learn something in our study.

April 11 (Sunday Worship at Tuguegarao)

Our attendance this time is smaller than the first week. Our towns situation got worst. One of our elder, brother Flor Constantino shared the lesson to us. The lesson is about "Things a man can do". After the sermon, invitation was again extended and two precious souls came in front to confess their faith. Our new sisters are Geizel and Christine. Geizel's husband, Nelson had been christian since his young age and his wife is coming with him in the church for almost three-four years already. We are very happy that she finally decided to obey the gospel. Brother Nelson is very happy also because of that. 

April 14 (Midweek bible study)

We had an opportunity to invite brother Jimmy Duque to be with us in our midweek service. Still, a few came to join us because of the lockdown. He preached about "The seed is the word of God". 

April 17 (Visitation at Palca and Dagupan)

My wife and I visited our brethren in Tuao. We needed to secure documents from three different offices just to go there. At first, they really do not want us to have the permits. I went to them three times and on the last try, they finally approved my request. I also distributed the benevolence given by our brethren. They are asking our prayers because most of them are only in their homes, they can go out but they cannot go to work. There are also times that authorities are catching violators and penalized them. Sister Felisa Simangan asked us to pray for her husband who have stomach problems. They are afraid to bring her to the doctor because of Covid. She is also asking for prayers for her son because he met a motorcycle accident. His companion died during the crash and he was traumatized by the situation. I tried to visit the village halls to ask for permission regarding our worship, unfortunately, they still won't allow us.

April 18 (Sunday worship at Tuguegarao)

Our town's officials became more strict than the first week of the month. Our attendance became very small because of this. It was my turn to preach to the congregation. I shared to them the lesson about "Why does God allow suffering?". The elders asked me to prepare a lesson about this. 

April 21 (Midweek bible study)

This time, nobody came in church except our family. The towns situation is not good. We still continue with our bible study. We opened the book of Proverbs in chapter 3. After reading the whole chapter, each of us shared again a verse/verses. I am happy because even my kids/nephews/nieces have good explanations on the verse they choose. I am praying that behind this pandemic, good things will happen to them and one of it is gaining more knowledge of the word of God.

April 25 (Sunday worship)

It is the last Sunday of the month and it's brother Rody's turn to preach. He shared the lesson about the "Church in Sardis". I again changed the template on our live streaming because that's what the elders asked me to do. This time, only our family is in attendance. Some of our brethren are already infected by the virus including brother Flor, one of our elder, and his family. We have more than 1,000 active cases of Covid in our town. Our town is only small and that number is already big for us. 

April 28 (Midweek bible study)

We decided that we will start to study the whole book of Proverbs. If the lockdown continues, we will do this because we cannot invite any preachers outside our town. We studied chapter 1 and everyone again shared their thoughts regarding the chapter.

During this month, I started to make videos of short lessons that I am sharing on our group chat on facebook with our brethren at Palca and Dagupan. I also wanted to make zoom meetings just like what others do but their internet is very weak. It will be useless if we do that, we will not understand each other. With the videos I am sending them, they can just wait until everything is downloaded and watch. I am making two-three videos every week.