Activities from July 21-August 4, 2013

July 21, in our Lord's day service here at Metro Tuguegarao, brother Jun preached to us in our bible study about "He who heeds God's counsel is wise" and in the sermon, brother Jerome preached "Responding to materialism".

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them the lesson about "The Good Samaritan". I gave them every detail they need to know about this parable and the lessons we could get from this. And to sum it all, to answer the question "Who is our neighbor?".

July 24, my wife and I travelled to Manila about 7:15 in the evening. We arrived in Manila 6 in the morning.

July 25, my wife and I went to Commonwealth, Quezon City in Manila to visit my cousins. The reason why we went there is to share them the words of God. They are the Talay Family and very devoted Catholics. When I was in grade school and elementary, they are the once who are always inviting me to go to the mass. But now, I am returning back the favor and wanting to invite them to the true church. It is not a formal bible study but just simple talk about the gospel. I shared to them the bible tract that brother Rody made about "The True Church of Christ". They are a wealthy family because of many businesses and always busy with their work. After the discussions, I invited them to the church at Pasay, but they made excuses like they cannot just leave their work even on Sundays, because it is the day where many customers are coming. So sad to hear but I pray that someday they will realize the need for salvation and not just to gain material wealth.

June 26, another opportunity for  us to share the gospel. This time, we went to my cousins at Lagro. They are the Tuazon Family. They are members of the Jehovah's Witnesses and it is not easy to talk with them about spiritual matters especially if you are not one of them. But because they are my relatives, they accepted us and same way I did to our first visit, I shared to them the bible tract. I also invited them but again, excuses are made. They have assembly in their church. Sorry the pictures I have taken from our visit at Commonwealth and Lagro were corrupted maybe because my camera was wet when we went back to the church while it is raining.

July 27, our need to prepare in the church for the Lord's day. Brother Jay arrived early in the morning and help us in the work.

July 28, in our Lord's day service at Edsa-Pasay congregation, brother Jay taught in our bible study about "Are you reading?" (in the picture, his lesson was in our language "Nagbabasaka ba?"). In the sermon I preached to them about "Sum or Some". The text I use was in Psalm 116:160 wherein it says "the sum of your word is truth..." that is in NASB. Today, denominations and even individuals see and follow God's word as some because they only choose what they wanted to do and not the entirety of His word. Some wanted to have faith only and no works and some only see God's goodness and not His severity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We traveled back to Tuguegarao in the evening and arrived early Monday morning.

July 30, I wanted to attend our preachers bible study but my body won't allow me. So instead, my wife brought me to the doctor for check-up. As a result, it was only a fatigue because of our travels. Thank God that it is not severe.

July 31, in our midweek service here at Tuguegarao, brother Jun preached on "Matthew 14" about the death of John, the feeding of the 5000, Jesus walks on the sea and the faith of Genessaret.

August 3, I went to Palca to visit the brethren. I went to the house of brother Rogelio Fernandez who is a member since he was young but became unfaithful. With him are his relatives, Vanessa and Grace. I shared to them words of Jesus that would allow them to return to church.

August 4, in our Lord's day service here at Metro Tuguegarao, brother Jun taught "Exhortation and warnings of Paul" and in the sermon, brother Jerome preached "Remember God in the days of your youth". In our audience, we had a celebrity visitor and brother "Bryan Termulo". He is well know singer here in the Philippines and attended worship with us before leaving through plane going to Manila.

We extended the invitation also and we are happy that one new soul is added to the Lord's church. She is sister Divina who is attending with us for a month already and decided to obey the gospel.

In the afternoon at Palca, I preached to them about "Excuses". Because of my experiences in my trip to Manila, I decided to work on this lesson. We have many work to do but sometimes we cannot finish or even start it because of our excuses. Same with our spiritual obligations, we find excuses not to do it instead of working out our salvation. I am happy that Rogelio, Vanessa and Grace attended the worship and hope it will continue and someday the two ladies will surrender their lives to our Savior through obeying gospel.

Activities from July 9-17

July 9, in our preachers' bible study, brother Boni Morales was scheduled to preach for us the whole day. In the morning, he preached about "The Calvinism Doctrine". He specifically shared to us the doctrine about Total hereditary depravity, direct operation of the holy spirit and the once saved, always saved. We discuss this lesson after he present it and showed the passages in the bible that we can use to battle this false doctrine. In the afternoon, he preached about "Romans 11".

July 10, in our midweek service here at Tuguegarao, brother Rody preached on "Matthew 11".

July 11, we went to the Gospel Meeting at Capadeco, Gonzaga. It is about 3-4 hours travel from here. Their local preacher is brother Alex Lagat and many of the members from that congregation are natives or as we call them "Aetas". The first speaker was brother Jun Gumpad wherein he preached about "Hearing the voice of Jesus", then followed by brother Rody about "The Bible". After the lessons preached in the morning, we sung the invitation song and we are happy that 25 souls came in front to confess their faith. In the afternoon, brother Edgar Licodini preached "The Church" then brother Rody gave additional lessons about "The different churches of Christ". Again, the invitation was sung and two souls confess their faith. We all baptized them in a near water canal. The total baptism for this Gospel Meeting is 27 and we asked for your prayers for them.

 

This is one of the complete house of our fellow brethren "Aetas". If it rains, they will carry the house and move below trees.

Another one of their houses. This time it is two levels.

 

Where the Gospel Meeting was held

The Aetas children

 

25 confess their faith in the morning preaching. Sorry I do not have the pictures of the 2 who confessed also in the afternoon.

During the baptism

On our way home, our tire exploded.

July 12, together with brother Jun and Jay, we traveled to Manila in the evening and arrived on the  13th. On that day, we prepared everything that we will be using for the worship on the next day, from our presentation of lessons on the powerpoint to the cleaning of the worship place.

July 14, the Lord's day service at Edsa-Pasay congregation in Manila, I taught in our bible study about "Sinners and Christ". I stated to them the story about the woman who washed Jesus' feet with his tears and hair just to show her faith and that because of it, Jesus forgives every sin she committed. In the sermon, brother Jun preached about "Dare to be Paul" showing the afflictions and problems that came to the life of Paul but that does not stop him from serving the Lord.

 

Brother Jay leading the songs

 

Me, teaching in our bible study

 

Brother Jun preaching in the sermon.

July 17, in our midweek service this evening here at Tuguegarao, I prepared the lesson on "Matthew 12" but when I was in Manila, they changed our schedule in taking turns in teaching. So instead of me, brother Jerome taught the chapter. I will be teaching the 15th chapter next month.

Activities from June 25-July7

June 25, I went to the burial of our late brother Greg delos Reyes in the morning wherein we had a service that brother Rody was the one who preached.

 

 

In the afternoon, we continued with our preachers' bible study. Brother July preached about "Ask, Seek and it shall be given". We had many things discussed especially what are we needing to ask God as a preacher of the gospel.

June 26, I was invited to join brother Jun in visiting the brethren at Maguirig, Solana. We went to the sister of sister Tita. She is a faithful sister that even though she is sick, she make it a point to attend the services. Brother Manny preached and shared encouraging verses from the bible while I help in leading spiritual songs.

 

In the evening, we had our midweek service here at Tuguegarao. Brother July shared "Matthew 9".

June 29, I went to Palca for home visitation and I was at sister Nenita Quines house. The family are all members of the Lord's church except the father of the house. Her daughter is a faithful christian but unluckily all her boys are unfaithful. The father have many vices and the boys are following it so it is very hard for her. We all prayed together with other brethren who were there and ask for God's guidance.

June 30, in our Lord's day service here at Tuguegarao, brother Jun taught in our bible study. This is the first time I forgot what we studied. I tried looking for the outline he gave but I cannot find it, I am trying to remember but still I cannot do so because of many things that I am trying to finish. In the sermon, brother Jerome preached about the second part of his lesson "Attitudes needed in congregational work".

At Palca, I preached to them about "Jacob's vow to God" when he said that he will build an altar of God in Bethel when God promised to him that He will always be with him and give all the blessings that He also gave to his fathers. Jacob forgot his promise so God reminded him. Same as to us christians today, when we were baptized, we promised that we will never sin again but sometimes we forgot our promise to the Mighty One.

July 2, in our preachers' bible study, we continued to studying the book of Romans. Brother July preached on "Romans 9" and brother Alex preached on "Romans 10".

July 3, in our midweek service, we studied "Matthew 10" that brother Robert taught.

July 6, I was invited by brother Rogelio to come with him in San Luis for house to house visitation and bible studies. Brother July and Robert are also with us. In the first house we went, Rogelio asked me to preached to them. We are at Capalungan family's house. I shared to them about "Jacob's vow to God" because they are already christians but not attending services already for a long time. 

 

 

The other palces we went where at:

2. Canilao Family

3. Sibayan Family

4. Sibayan Family (not related to the first)

5. Agtarap Family

6. Agtarap Family (relative of above mentioned-non -christians)

7. Andam Family (at Naruangan)

8. Uton Family (baptized at Palca but now worshipping at Naruangan since a congregation started there).

 July 7, in our Lord's day service here at Tuguegarao, I taught in our bible study about "Sinners, Christians and Jesus Christ" then brother Jun preached "Dare to be a Paul".

At Palca, I preached to them about "Continuing to Grow". We should no longer be like babe that needed milk when we are christians for long time, we should be longing for meat. The purpose of the lesson is to show the hindrances of our growth and what are the things we needed to do so that we will never stop from growing.