Preaching activities from May 29 to June 30, 2019

May 29 (Midweek service)

This is the very first midweek service that we had a singing for the entire hour. We had scheduled it before but because of the hectic schedules of everyone, including us, preachers, we moved the schedule many times. But thanks to God that we already had started doing this and will help the congregation with the singing in our worships. Brother Rody led us in the singing and also shared a lesson about the importance of singing in worship.

May 30 (Catarauan Bible Study)

I was invited to join in the bible study at Catarauan where brother Jun Antonio is locally preaching. We went to the house of brother Kenneth Calida. He is a brother who is having a dialysis in a young age of 14-15 years old. His mother is and siblings are all Christians. Brother Manny Pader led us in our opening prayer while brother Jun introduced us all. Brother Robert Pader shared a wonderful lesson as the first speaker then I followed with a lesson “The Greatest things on earth”. After the study, some of those neighbors who also attended asked questions regarding heaven. Brother Rogelio Esperanza, Jayson Tanguilan who are also with us helped in answering the questions. We ended with a prayer led by brother Jayson.

After the study, we went to distribute bible tracts in some part of the village. We divided our group into two. In my group, we met several brethren and had a short prayer with them. We also met a group of people gathering together and gave them tracts.

June 2 (Sunday worship at Tuguegarao and Palca)

In the first day of the week and first Sunday of the month, we started with a good bible study here in Tuguegarao that brother Jerome shared entitled “Walk with fear in the Lord”. In the sermon, brother Rody preached to us “Romans 10”.

In the afternoon, I was late going to Palca even though I am very early in traveling. Every first week of the month, many Catholics are going to Piat for their so called Holy Mass because the Our Lady of Piat is situated there. Many cars travel the same route as I am and so the traffic is a little heavy. I preached to the brethren at Palca about “Setting your goal”. It is a lesson that reminds us what is our goal and purpose in this life. Is it to earn money, make a job, raise a good family? Yes, they are important, but our goal should be, to fear God and keep His commandments, to love Him with all our strength, mind, soul and heart. After the worship, I visited sister Nenita Quines in their house because she is sick. We prayed together with her daughter, Monette.

June 5 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)

We continued with our study on the book of Genesis and brother Jay shared to us Genesis 25 about the death of Abraham and the birth of Jacob and Esau.

June 7 (First day of Gospel Meeting at Tuguegarao)

Our preparations for the Gospel Meeting is very tiring and we thanked God that He gave us this day to fulfill our plans. We had an attendance of 109 in the first day. Not all are listed in the attendance sheet because when a group enters, not all are writing in the paper. We had a good study through the help of our speakers. Brother Jonathan Carino and brother Jack Jaco should only be the speakers but we are very grateful that brother Rolly Salvador also gave his time to share God’s message to us.

Here are the lessons they preached:

Morning session:

Jack - Bible survey

Rolly - Sitting At the feet of Jesus (Part 1)

Jonathan - The church in the eternal purpose of God

Afternoon session:

Jack - Rightly dividing the word of truth

Rolly- Sitting at the feet of Jesus (Part 2)

Jonathan- Do you have the right to your own belief?

June 8 (Second day of Gospel Meeting)

In our second day, we had a higher attendance because it is Saturday. Many of the students and workers are with us. Preachers from other congregations also joined us. Some of the brethren at Palca where I am preaching also came and I am very happy to see them. We had a recorded attendance of 144. Many are not even recorded.

Here are the lessons preached:

Morning session:

Jack - The bible is our standard for faith and practice

Rody- Marriage- Divorce- Remarriage

Jonathan - Rich man and lazarus

Afternoon Session:

Jack - This world is not my home

Jonathan- Why are people lost or saved?

June 9 (Last day of Gospel Meeting at Tuguegarao and worship at Palca)

In the last day of our Gospel Meeting, we do not have any visitors from other congregations but only the brethren at Tuguegarao. We still manage to have an attendance of 135.

Only brother Jack and brother Jonathan preached and brother Rolly led our singing.

These are the lessons preached:

Jack - Three great promises

Jonathan - The new testament church: all things according to pattern

In the afternoon, at Palca, brother Jonathan came with me and I also invited brother Denis Yuson who helped in leading songs. I did the rest of the work while brother Jonathan preached about “The church Jesus built exists today”. We had an attendance of 42 including the children on this day. When we arrived home, we went directly to the church building here in Tuguegarao because we had a baptism. He is from Alibago and just recently got married with our sister from that area.

June 11 (Wedding at Toran)

Brother Fernando Duque invited us to helped in the wedding of brother Jerald and sister Rona. Brother Rody solemnized the wedding and I helped in the paperworks needed. We are very happy to see that both of them are already Christians.

June 12 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)

I should be the one teaching on this day but brother Rody asked me if he can take my place for the mean time because we have visitors. All of them are nephews of sister Tessie and they are here for vacation. They are from Nevada. Brother Rody preached “You are lost! Unless”. From the 8 of them, two are non-christians.

June 17 (Sunday service at Tuguegarao and Palca)

Another great opportunity to share God’s word to the brethren at Tuguegarao. I am assigned to teach in our bible study because brother Rody is in Manila. I shared in our bible study about “Does God expect too much?”. And in the sermon, brother Jerome preached “Why many are lost?”

In the afternoon, at around 12:30, brother Denis Yuson called me and asking me if we can exchange place to preach in that afternoon. When brother Rody is in Manila, he is the one going to Alibago. The reason is, they have a thanksgiving in Piat. It will take more time to travel from that area going to Alibago than when I travel from Tuguegarao. In short, he went to Palca and I went to Alibago. I preached to them the same lesson about “Does God expect too much?”. We had an attendance of 11 because many of the brethren are away.

June 20 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)

I shared in our bible study “Genesis 26” about Isaac and his lie, including the wells he dig. After the study, Joy, one of the nephew of sister Tessie confess her faith and we baptized her in our baptistery. Her sister should also wanted to be baptized but got a fever. Thankfully, she was baptized Friday before their flight back to Nevada on Saturday. Please pray for our new brethren in Christ.

June 22 (Thanksgiving at Darauay Residence)

We were invited to the birthdays of the son and daughter of brother Ian and sister Glenda Darauay. Before the celebration, we had a devotion. We sung spiritual songs led by brother Jay and I led in our opening prayer. Brother Rody preached about “God answers prayers” and brother Jerome closed with a prayer. Both their kids are good students of my wife in their children’s class here in Tuguegarao Church.

June 23 (Sunday worship at Tuguegarao and Palca)

In our bible study here in Tuguegarao, brother Jerome shared “Putting God’s will above self” and brother Rody preached “Romans 11”. Both are wonderful lessons and we are all edified.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I also preached to them “Does God expect too much?”. After the service, I went to the house of brother Leonardo Uton. He was again hospitalized for one week. He had a CT Scan and the result showed that there are blockage in his brain and needed surgery. But his family just told the doctor to give him medicines because surgery might not be a good idea. He is already 79 years old and very weak. He might not make the surgery because of his weakened body. His daughter, sister Lorna is also sick with UTI. Together with sister Linda Uton, we prayed to God to do what is best for brother Leonardo and to heal him and sister Lorna is their illness.

June 26 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)

It is the last Wednesday of the month and we are again scheduled to have a singing class. Brother Rody help us again by leading spiritual songs. We learned new songs in the Sacred Selections book. I am not good in leading songs but I am doing my best to serve God by singing spiritual songs.

June 30 (Sunday service at Tuguegarao and Palca)

In our bible study, brother Jerome shared to us a lesson about "Each one is tempted when..." . In the sermon, brother Rody preached “Romans 12”. We have a below average of attendance of 111(Adult and kids) this day. I do not know the reason why many are out.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them “Spiritual Surgery”. I got this lesson from brother Joe Price. I choose to share this lesson because of the recent condition of our brother Leonardo Uton. He needed physical surgery to remove the blockage in his brain, we too needed surgery, to remove any sins we are doing and sins we committed. We also have a below average attendance of 21 adults and 12 kids. Five of our brethren are out because of sickness (brother Leonardo, sister Gina, sister Claudine, sister Lorna and sister Valentina). Some of the brethren are also out of town (sister Regine, sister Anne, sister Paulina, sister Kenneth, brother Joshua and brother Jimmy). The rest, I do not know why they are not in attendance this day. Please pray for our brethren who are sick.

Preaching activities from May 12 to May 26, 2019

May 12 (Sunday worship at Metro Tuguegarao and Palca)

Another opportunity to continue to learn from the words of God and be encouraged by the lessons presented by our fellow workers in Christ here in Tuguegarao. Brother Jerome shared to us in our bible study the lesson “Why my family needs the bible?”. Every family needs God to be the center foundation to make it strong and what better way to do it than by planting His words in the hearts of every member. In the sermon, we continue to study the book of Romans and brother Rody preached Romans 7.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them “Genesis 24” about the bride of Isaac and how to find a godly partner. We have many young ladies in the congregation at Palca and it is a good lesson for them if they want to locate a suitable partner/husband in the future. Just like the woman that the servant found as a wife of Isaac, a God-fearing woman, that should also what our young locates. Another part of the lesson is by being a faithful servant. We, as Christians, we should be like the servant who follows all the command of his master. Our master is in Heaven, we should all follow His commandments.

May 15 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)

I am again happy to be sharing/preaching to the brethren here at Tuguegarao. Just like what I preached in Palca, and as part of our continues study in the book of Genesis, I shared to them Genesis 24. There are also many young man and woman in the congregation, but on Wednesdays, it is sad to say that only a few are attending.

May 18 (Wedding at Alibago)

We went to the wedding at Alibago, Enrile where brother Rody is also preaching He solemnized a wedding of our sister Irene. Her husband, Albert, is not a Christian and we are praying that with the help of sister Irene, he will also become Christian someday. I was asked to lead in the prayer for the newly wed couple.

May 19 (Sunday worship at Tuguegarao and Palca)

In our bible study, brother Jerome shared to us a lesson about “Disadvantages of being a Christian”. The title of the lesson sounds negative but on the outline, he continues to asked us if we can see any disadvantages wherein we haven’t seen anything. That’s the truth, there is really no disadvantage of being a Christian because all spiritual blessings are given by God. In the sermon, brother Rody preached to us “Romans 8”. They both did a good job preaching the lessons.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them “What do we need to know?”. The school year for public schools here in the Philippines will be starting this June and by similarities, we go to school to learn, and in the church, we also attend to continue to know what God wants us to learn.

May 22 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)

We didn’t have our regular study on the book of Genesis because we have visitors coming from Pangasinan. They are the parents and siblings of brother Jerome. They are all non-Christians and so brother Rody decided that we will study on doctrinal lessons and he preached “What we should do before Jesus returns?”. Please pray for them and that like others, they will someday obey the truth and hopefully it will not be late.

May 25 (Gospel Meeting and Thanksgiving at Liwan, Rizal)

We were invited to the gospel meeting at Liwan church where brother Virgilio Bocarile is preaching. During his opening remarks, we are told that it should still be in August, but because brother Loonie Armada asked if they can moved to this date, the congregation agreed. His family also wanted to thank God for the blessings they received. He was promoted as Chief Sergeant in the army. His story of conversion I very interesting because for many years of his wife inviting him to the church, he never attended. They have bible studies in their house and he is also there listening. But one day, he went to brother Virgilio and decided that he wanted to be baptized. Only brother Virgil and his wife witnessed his baptism because of his surprised decision. Even his wife didn’t witness his  baptism because she was in school as a teacher. We are very happy for him.

The speakers for the gospel meeting and their lessons are outlined below.:

Morning session:

Joeben Jacobo - Walk with fear in the Lord

Rody Gumpad - What the Lord’s will is?

Afternoon session:

Jerome Forelo - why I thank God?

Rody Gumpad - A man that his blood is upon his head. 2 Samuel 1:1-16

May 26 (Sunday worship at Tuguegarao and Palca)

Another great day to serve our wonderful God and we are very happy to celebrate with brother Rody on his 61^st birthday. Brotehr Jerome preached “Why I thank God?” and what a better way to celebrate a birthday to first thank God for ALL the blessings He is giving. In the sermon, brother Rody preached Romans 9. Please continue to pray for brother Rody’s health because we needed all his efforts here in our region as we continue to work with him in spreading the words of God and reaching the lost. He is a great help for all of us here and especially for us, young preachers to learn from him.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about “Convenient faith”. The lesson focuses on people wanting to follow a religion that is most convenient for them. They do not care whether it is following the words of God or not. They want what is more pleasing for them and not condemning their sins. We have a visitor who is a Pentecostal member.

After the worship, we went to the house of sister Jing Doran and had a thanksgiving for the birthday of her son Zaiden. He is now 4 years old and they wanted to have a thanksgiving in their house and to join together in prayer to thank God for all the blessings they received. Not only for the birthday but also for the good health of their 7 month old baby.