Update on the works of the Lord

Monday, March 4, 2024

Preaching activities from February 7 to March 3, 2024

February 7 (Midweek service)

We continue on our study in series that brother Rody is doing. We are already in Mark 9:1-50. As usual, we have a few attendance during our midweek services because brethren who are students are in school even during this time. For those who have work, I am not sure why they can't come. We always remind everyone of their duty, not only on Sundays, but also in our midweek services. We also created a group chat in facebook where most of the brethren are members there.

February 11 (Sunday worship)

It is already my turn to teach in our bible study here in Tuguegarao. My part is Luke 3. I had done the whole chapter in one session because it is just a short one. In the sermon, brother Rody is still on his series and he preached on Mark 10:1-31.

In the afternoon, at Palca, brother Robert preached to us on Mark 8:34 "Denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following Jesus?

In Dagupan, I was able to preach the lesson "What kind of servant are you?".

February 14 (Midweek Service)

For our bible study, the elders decided to invite brother Jun Antonio, the local preacher at Cataruan Church. He shared to us the lesson "A happy and pleasing family to God"

February 15 (Dagupan)

I got a chance to visit sister Jobelyn Manicad once again. She is bed ridden but she told me that she feels better already. She have diabetes and other illnesses that kept her in bed. Thankfully, in the first week of March, she already attended our worship again.

February 17 (Wedding)

Brother Boni Morales, the local preacher at Dassun Church invited is in the wedding of brother Juanito and sister Judy Ann Battuelo. I thought I will only be there to attend and possibly lead singing or prayer but when we arrived, he asked me to preach a sermon about marriage. I do not have the outline but still managed to share a lesson regarding a good and lasting marriage. After that, brother Rody soleminized their wedding. I didn't notice until the wedding was finished that sister Judy Ann is partially blind. She needed to be accompanied when walking because she cannot see well.

February 18 (Sunday Worship)

One of the man in the church led in our bible study. Not everyone wanted to stand in fron and share the words of God but only a few like brother Anthony Panopio and also his son who is just a teenager. He discussed to us Luke 4:1-44. In the sermon, brother Rody preached to us Mark 10:32-52.

In the afternoon, at Palca, brother Robert Rances preached about "Different kinds of hope". I led the other activities in worship together with Jhian, Henry and now, also Dave (a young man who was baptized last December. We are helping this three young man grow. Sometimes we let them lead the singing, praying and even preaching. There are days where I have conversations with them through facebook and teaching them the bible. I am happy that I have them to help me with the work.

In Dagupan, brother Rody came and he preached about "Hearing the voice of Jesus". It was our first time to have our worship at our chapel. It is still not complete, no windows and doors. Even on our stage, we cannot position ourselves near it because the soil below was swept away during the rains. We placed ourselves in a side position away from the stage. After the worship, we needed to get all the chairs and pulpit back to brother Enzo's house because we do not have anything to close the chapel. Some of the chairs we used was only borrowed from the village hall because we still do not have enough funds to buy more chairs.

February 21 (Bible Study)

Brother July Aguinaldo invited us for a bible study in Siempre Viva, Mallig. We had the study at the house of his in-laws. Some of their neighbors also came. Brother Robert was the one who preached. It was me, Jay Gumpad, James Attaban, Edgar Lingbawan and Efren Respicio who joined in this activity. After the bible study, we had a serious talk regarding helping each other in our congregations. We made schedules on where we will go next. We also told other preachers our plan and some of them had a good response. We already have weekly schedules for the months of March and April.

In the evening, we had our midweek service here at Tuguegarao. It was brother Rody who taught Mark 11.

February 25 (Gospel Meeting)

I attended the Gospel Meeting at Magurig Church where brother Jerome Forelo, Edgar Corpuz and Jerry Soliva are local preachers. They have four speakers but I only heard the three of them.

Boni Morales - The Church of Christ

Rodel Baagin - Roles of the church

Reneboy Maranion - Work of the church

Brother Jay rode with me in my car and we needed to leave at noon because he needs to go and preach for the radio program and also going live in facebook while I went to Dagupan to fix some things with the chapel.

February 25 (Sunday worship)

We have the youngest man who stands to teach this time. It was brother Lance Panopio who shared Luke 5:1-16. He is the lone teenagers among us who wants to teach. I don't know if the others are shy or have no time, but I admire how Lance grew from just leading prayers to teaching in our bible study now. I still remember last year when I should be the one teaching in our bible study during our midweek service, but I secretly contacted him to teach instead. I handed him an outline and he make a powerpoint out of it. They are all surprise and happy to see him do that. Now, he can do it in a regular basis already. On the other hand, my wife continue to teach in the children's class.

In the sermon, we had a guest preacher from La Union. He is brother Rodel Baagin. He preached the lesson "Do not neglect our salvation". I really like the lesson he shared that's why I copied it and made a powerpoint on my own.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I already preached the lesson I heard from brother Rodel. It is still his powerpoint that I used but after that, I made a new one that I can use in several congregations where I will be invited and I used our filipino language.

In Dagupan, brother Robert preached to us "The Hope in heaven". We went back to worship at the house of brother Enzo because we cannot borrow the village's chairs this time. They used it for their meeting.

February 28 (Midweek service)

In the morning, we should be going to San Francisco Church for a bible study but brother Edgar Lingbawan called and cancelled it because of emergency reasons.

In the evening, our midweek service at Tuguegarao, brother Lino Darauay, one of our elders shared the lesson "Ability of the word of God".

March 2 (Bible Study)

We traveled for about one and a half hour to reach Villa Corazon. It is the congregation where brother July Aguinaldo is preaching. Several preachers also attended of whom they are the one's who decided to help work in several congregations. We will do our best to help edify brethren in our congregations.

I was asked to preach during this activity and this time, I already made the powerpoint of the lesson I copied. Brother Edgar Licodini is the second speaker where he spoke about "The Church". Invitation was extended and one precious soul obeyed the gospel. We learned that he was attending their worship for several weeks already and we thank are very happy to see him obey the gospel. We baptized him in the near pool.

March 3 (Sunday Worship)

I was invited by brother Dennis Yuson to preach in Wagud Church. I left early at around 6am because we needed to be there before 9. I traveled for 2 hours and 15 minutes to reach the area. I was received by the brethren joyfully. I am also happy to see them. The place is a mountainous area where it is very silent unlike here in Tuguegarao that is very noisy. Sad to say that there are members who are in the hospital during that time. I also preached the lesson about "Do not neglect your salvation". It was received well and they said they are very much encourage. I thank God for allowing me to be with them and praying that I can again go there in the future. They are very welcoming and I enjoy talking with them.

In the afternoon, in Palca, brother Robert should be the one preaching but because I went to Wagud, I cannot get him to ride with me. Thankfully, brother Jay Gumpad volunteered to come to Dagupan and so he ride with him. But in Palca, I asked brother Dave if he can already preach because I have prepared him for several week already. He agreed to do it. It is his first time but the way he shared the sermon, it seems he is already preaching for years already. He preached the lesson "What the devil wants?"

In Dagupan, we had our worship in our chapel again. The wind was very strong that several of our brethren wore jacket while other who have not are very cold. We still do not have funds for our windows and doors that's why every side is still open. Brother Jay preached the lesson "What should I bring in the church?".

Sunday, February 4, 2024

Preaching activities from January 3 to February 4, 2024

January 3 (Midweek Service)

For our first midweek service of the month, the elders decided that we will invite again preachers from other congregations. This day, it was brother Jay Gumpad. He is from here n Tuguegarao but is no longer part of the congregation. His membership together with his wife is in Minagbag Church where he is preaching but her three daughters are worshipping with us here in Tuguegarao. He shared to us the lesson entitled "Take no part in any unfruitful works".

January 5 (Dagupan)

I went to visit sister Ligaya. After her baptism last November, just after 5 days, she got stroke. She cannot move her right arm and until now she is suffering with it. We got to pray with her family and study with them.

January 7(Sunday Worship)

For our first Sunday of the year, it is a joyful day as we see the brethren coming back home from their work in other provinces/state. Our attendance is more than 150 and it is not regular that we have that number. Sadly, they needed to go back to their work after two days.

In our bible study, brother Flor Constantino started our study on the book of Luke. He shared to us the sections on "Luke 1:1-38".

In the sermon, brother Rody also started a new book and it is on Mark 1:1-10. After the sermon, invitation was extended and two precious souls obeyed the gospel. We finished late in our worship that's why I didn't attend the baptism anymore. I needed to rush and go to the next two congregations that I needed to work.

In Palca, brother Robert didn't join me because he was sick during that time and so I got to work alone. He only informed me about it when I am already on my way that's why I didn't have the time to inform Jhian and Henry anymore to go to Palca. I preached to them the lesson "Goals", in which it is like a New Year's resolution but more on what is my goal as a Christian this year.

In Dagupan, Jhian and Henry is there to help me with the other works. I preached to them the lesson "Do I have to?". A sarcastic question that is showing us that we really needed to do it, to read the bible, to share the gospel, to attend all church gatherings and more.

January 10 (Angang Bible study and Midweek service)

We were invited by brother George Paquing to have a bible study again in their house. This invitation was planned since December, but because our schedules do not much and sometimes because of illness, it is not pushing through. We thank God that we have already done it this time. With George is his brother and two sister-in-laws. They are very interested in listening and hopefully, they will obey the gospel soon. Brother Jerome was the one who shared the word of God. Several preachers also joined us (Rogelio Esperanze, Robert Rances, Robert Pader, Jeremy Pader, Jimmy Duque and Jerry Soliva). Each of us did what we can to encourage and teach them. After the study, we still have a long conversation with them.

In the evening, we had our midweek service at Tuguegarao. The preacher the elders invited didn't come that's why I took charge. I also shared the lesson "Do I have to?".

January 12 (Palca)

I got a chance to visit the Llones family. Sister Lorna invited her two daughters to join us. I got to share to them the importance of baptism because they are asking if they still needed to be baptized even though they have already done that when they became Methodists. I discussed every detail needed to teach them. Mrs. Loida's leg is amputated because of diabetes. She told me she will go to Cavite that's why I din't got a chance to preach to her again.

January 14 ( Sunday Worship)

I asked the permission of the elders at Tuguegarao because brother Robert invited me to preached in his congregation at Lingu Church. Thankfully, they allowed me. I taught my daughter how to take care of the live streaming and so if I am away, she will take care of it.

I showed brother Robert three outlines and asked him what the church needed. He choose the lesson I just preached the other days ("Do I have to?"). They are very attentive and I am happy to be part of their worship during that day.

In Palca, I asked Jhian and Henry to come. Jhian preached the lesson "What will I do today?".

In Dagupan, I am the one who preached. I shared to them a lesson about "Bad investment". We should not invest our life to something that is temporary or something that will destroy our relationship with God.

January 17 (Midweek Service)

For our bible study, the elders didn't invite any preachers for now and so brother Rody continued with his lesson on the book of Mark. He shared the verses on 1:16-45.

January 18 (Dagupan)

I went to visit our brethren in Dagupan who just got hospitalised and sick. If you remember sister Gina Simangan, she is the one who got surgery on her appendics. Sister Teresita Puselero and sister Lynton Simangan both have low haemoglobin count by only sister Lynton was hospitalised and was also got blood transfusion. I went to each of their houses.

January 21 ( Sunday Worship)

For our bible study here at Tuguegarao, brother Flor continued on his part in Luke and he shared verses 1:57-80.

In the sermon, it was my part to do. Brother Rody is in Davao for at least two Sundays. I preached to them about "What kind of servant are you?"

In Palca, I also preached to them the same lesson but needed to change some part that applies to their condition, what they needed to hear to to be encourage and things needed to change.

In Dagupan, brother Robert shared a very good lesson on Psalm 116:12, on what should we render to God for the goodness He gives us.

January 23 (Palca)

I needed to have visitation early this week because my children have school activities Thursday-Saturday and we as parents are included in the activity. I got a chance to visit sister Erlinda Manuel and she also called her children and grand-kids which included brother Dave who just got baptised last December and doing a great job helping us with the work at Palca. I got a chance to share to them a lesson entitled "Is everyone going to heaven?".

January 24 (Midweek Service)

The elders invited a preached this time and it was brother Dennis Yuson. He is a local preacher at Wagud Church and Aquib Church. He shared to us the lesson “I didn’t know that”

January 28 (Sunday worship)

In our bible study, we are now in the second chapter of the book of Luke. This time it was brother Lino's turn. He shared to us Luke 2:1-40.

In the sermon, I shared to them 2 Samuel 11-12 and discussed the lessons we can learn from the life of David.

In Palca, we invited again the siblings, brother Jeremy and Jerome Pader and so they are the once who preached in the two congregations. In Palca, Jerome did the preaching and he shared to us the lesson "Does God have a plan for you?"

In Dagupan, it was Jeremy's turn and he preached about "The importance of marriage". They both did a great job and the brethren are edified. If you notice in the picture below, there is a camera on the back. Sister Charyse is recording every sermon and sending it to her sister abroad because they do not have any place to worship in that country. I am sorry I forgot the country but it is somewhere in Europe.

January 31 (Midweek Service)

It is already the last day of the month and the days seems very fast. It's like we are celebrating the new year days ago and now we are already done with the first month. In our bible study, brother Boni Manalo was invited to preach. He shared the topic "When is our faith tested?".

February 1 (Dagupan)

It is the first day of the continuation on the construction of our church building in Dagupan. It stops for almost one year because we have no more funds. We thank brother Rody Gumpad and brother Ron Halbrook in helping us by requesting to our brethren our needs.

There is also funds allocated to the three brethren I visited two weeks ago and so I told them to gather at sister Gina's house. I gave them the funds for their medications, shared a short lesson on the bible and prayed with them for their healing.

February 2 (Dagupan)

Brother Rody came with me to visit the construction of the church building because he also needed proofs of where the funds are allocated and send to those who gave the funds.