Just a few videos of the Los Musicos of the Loakan Baptist Church

Gumatdang Christian Fellowship History

"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved." 

(Romans 10:1)

This verse paints the start of Gumatdang Christian Fellowship. It was a period of time for prayer towards the relatives and friends of Bro. Moren Macay and family who are in Gumatdang, Itogon, Benguet. 

Bro. Moren Macay and his mother, Vicky Macay, started off coming and joining the fellowship of brethren in Christ at the Apalan, Loacan, Itogon, Benguet, year 2011 of February, now called "The Living Word Fundamental Baptist Church". Being part of the group and hearing God's Word and the gospel of Christ, Moren started to have a desire that the gospel of Christ be also shared amongst his family, relatives and friends. 

Because of the desire, Moren gave his prayer request every Wednesday, whenever prayer meetings were held in the Apidos' Residence at Bakung, Beckel, La Trinidad. It wasn't an easy task though, for his family had to go through a process. Some of their family members are already an active and part of another Christian group, esp. for the sister of Moren, Joy Dizon, who is the one currently holding and teaching Sunday School for kids in Gumatdang under their previous Christian group. There were already previous bible studies held in Gumatdang by their Christian group, but for some reason it stopped and only the Sunday School for kids continued. With the family's desire to also join Moren and their mother, the Dizon Family also started going to Apalan-Guisset and hear God's Word on some Sundays.  Surely, the Holy Spirit has been working in their hearts that they continue to long and hear God's Word.

But as the Word of God declared, the Christian life is a narrow road, a difficult and not an easy road. The Dizon family now then was placed in a situation where they must decide, which Christian group they must be with, since the other Christian group were encouraging them to be united as one family worshipping God. Therefore, they decided to continue to be part of the Apalan-Guisset group. The number of people going to Apalan-Guisset now increased and the vehicle being used is fully packed overloaded with people having a joyful heart and desiring to hear God's Word and fellowship with the believers in Apalan-Guisset. 

Mid-year of 2012, the Macay & Dizon families' desire to reach the people in Gumatdang was kindled and continuous prayer was made for them every prayer meeting in Beckel. Other than the Macay family, some Dizon Family members also joined in the Beckel Prayer Meeting and started to pray for their relatives and friends. By month of July, a house was opened for bible study in Gumatdang, the house of bro. Eduard Cuilan. Bible studies were held every Friday night, and Ptr. Huberto Caroy & company have to go through a steep 30-40 minutes hike down from Happy Hallow. There were times they had to sleep for the night and hold their bible study in the morning of Saturdays.

In a few months, they transferred the bible study to the house of Mr. Ostran and Marjorie Macay, so that they could take a not-so-steep 15-minute hike but with a 30-40 minutes ride from Loakan Airport to Sitio Alumit, Gumatdang going through Tuding. As their number grew and with people interested to hear God's Word, the group then had a desire to have Sunday Services. 

With prayers, Sunday Services in Gumatdang started by January of 2013 but required help from deacons and pastors from the Loakan Baptist Church and from other willing and available pastors like Ptr. Lyte Chapap, Ptr. Benjie Oriao, Ptr. Mark Ayano and Ptr. Jeff Albino for pulpit supply on cases that Ptr. Huberto Caroy is not scheduled to come for Sundays. Transportation vehicles were also needed and with much thanksgiving of the group, Bro. Daniel Raymundo, Bro. Gino Cabangdi, Bro. Julius Cawaon and others who provided transportation has been helpful. 

With individuals receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, six (6) people followed the Lord Jesus Christ through water baptism last January 5, 2013 at Nangalisan River, Tuba, Benguet. And, another batch of believers, six (6) individuals, were baptized last March 2, 2013 at Asin, Tuba, Benguet. Then, officers were elected, namely Joy Dizon as Treasurer, Jonalyn Manongyao as Secretary, Marilyn Chale as Business Manager, Jovy Ingosan as Auditor and Marjorie Macay as Property Custodian; And, two (2) deacons were appointed, namely bro. Eugene Dizon and Rocky Macay last March 10, 2013. 

By May 2013, a three-day VBS for kids was held and 27-28 kids were taught with the help of young people from the LBC and some from Beckel, led by Ms. Liberty Bendaen, overseen by bro. Roldan Caroy. After the VBS, the Gumatdang believers took the initiation to build a temporary worship place in a donated lot by Mrs. Nita Cosil. It was made by wood, sticks and a tent, owned by bro. Julio Palispis. With surprise, Ptr. Huberto Caroy held the next Sunday service in the newly built temporary building.

As the believers continued to grow and be taught by the Word of God, so has challenges and attack of the enemy grew. Each believer had to go through their own challenges and spiritual battles and prayer has been one of their weapon to fight these battles. With these, the believers decided to hold their prayer meetings every Wednesday even without a pastor to lead them. They even tried, house-to-house prayer meetings, after they've seen the example of the "ETC" group of LBC, visiting houses as they shared God's Word. They were also encouraged by the Ladies' Fellowship and some men of LBC who visited them on the month of September year 2013 and through joint fellowships and conferences they've been part of.

February 8, 2014 a new set of believers have followed Jesus Christ through water baptism along with new believers as well of The Living Word Fundamental Baptist Church. There were two (2) individuals who were added to the Gumatdang beleivers. And this day marks a new period of prayers and of thanksgiving; for all things that has been done and to be done; and, for all those who in one way or the other has been helpful being an instrument in building the Lord's body here in Gumatdang. 

All Glory be to God!

***********************************************************

To view pictures from the anniversary.. click here! http://loakanians.blogspot.com/2014/02/gumatdang-christian-fellowship-history.html