The VBS Ministry 2013: "BugZone"

For so long years, alas! I got to experience or take part of the VBS ministry again.... I couldn't actually remember my last time of taking part on the VBS ministry... Although, I actually haven't fully been immersed into it, as I only was an Overseer of the VBS ministry that was held on three places (Apalan-Bingo-Guisset, Beckel & Gumatdang), where my father has been reaching out or church pioneering. But as I've said, I didn't get into the real battle or on the heat of the battle. Nevertheless, it's an awesome awestruck challenging with matching shocking disappointing but grateful still experience... Can't really define or describe what experience we had to go through... The whole three VBS was all-in-all AN EXPERIENCE.... and I can't fathom what I really feel right now... It's a mixture of many emotions, positive and negative...

Well, at first.... I hardly can imagine what should or would happen on a VBS event.. although I got the picture of what VBS is all about, the INs and OUTs was quite a mystery to me. Thank God, there are those people who has experiences into it. There was one who had experience but can't be in the field of it, instead, simply helped in planning and in decision making. That was Janice! and chose to pass on the responsible of being the director to new breed of young people (hehe!) namely, Rynelle and Liberty. The important thing was, they were willing to take the challenge and I was simply still in the figuring out stage.... 

Teachers and finances was the next stage of problem, therefore, we solicited and asked for available people. And, praise God there were those who responded to help! But we had to really also balance our personnel and financial status. To handle three (3) VBS was quite a big mountain for us! But we had to take the challenge and to start walking by Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, believing and trusting Him that He would lead us and provide our needs. We set our target number of kids for every place... Having previous VBS in Apalan-Guisset, we set our number from 40-50 kids, and having our first time of VBS in Beckel and Gumatdang, we set 30-40 and 20-30 kids respectively. 

Finances perhaps was the biggest worry, as our days were numbered. But thank God, He indeed provided as timely as He could be. Through His people and His church, He provided everything that was needed. With much gratefulness as well to those who were willing to take part through giving financial support, may God bless them continuously! 

The first VBS held in Guisset proved to be exciting, amazing and challenging seeing kids coming from distant places such as Apalan and Bingo, having probably 45 minutes to 1 hour of walking for kids.. such is a great reminder and challenge for the teachers... Young people from Guisset helped along with the young people from Loakan to take the challenge of teaching the kids in the area. The weather too was quite challenging, as the heat of the sun may have scorched us. Distance proved to be really challenging as the teachers visited the kids in the most farthest, Bingo and Apalan. There were about 37 kids as highest attendance and had 35 kids to end with.

VBS in Beckel was next, just after the three days (morning and afternoon) Guisset VBS. The challenge for the teachers was sickness and tiredness. As we had our Wednesday Prayer meeting in Beckel along with the teachers from Loakan, I sensed their tired body and also most of them got sick suddenly. Strangely enough, there were no nurse amongst us! Perhaps the days of nurses are gone or have passed away, soon to rise again... hehe! But again, Praise God as He sustained us all through out! Far more than this, God allowed us to reach about 43 kids as to be our highest number and ended with about 33-35 kids. After such a week of VBS, we had a break for a week before the next VBS in Gumatdang.

Then came, start of Gumatdang! Thank God, He allowed again to provide financial help for this VBS in Gumatdang. It felt like there was no funds to be used, but alas, still He touched people to give and to help. Rynelle wasn't able to come with us for this VBS, so Liberty had to take charge and additional help came, in person of Ruth and Feby. We had only 27 kids at first, but the very youngest prove to be exhausting and energy drainers... hehe! we had 11-12 3-5 year old kids having different kinds of personalities and interests. Most of them were very active ones. Furthermore, as God works in the area, so does the enemy strikes against us. It's really quite hard to be in the battle field of Christian life. But still, again, Praise God as He led us through finishing the VBS in Gumatdang.

All throughout the three VBS, I had some quite an experience. Though I personally did not teach or something, I had the opportunity to remind, challenge, rebuke and even encourage the teachers through our daily morning devotions. And, praying that indeed every word I've shared through God's Word are indeed a heart-changing or heart-breaking one for the Lord. 

Such indeed were the experiences... leaving such a trail to be seen and followed by younger ones and  leading to more challenges and bigger ones. And yet I know, God will always lead us through. 

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Add'l info:

Guisset Teachers & Staff - (from Loakan) Lyndon, Rou Jay, Jericho, Shaira, Aljon, Donna, Liberty, Rynelle, Diana, Jeremiah, Roldan. (from Guisset & Boneco) Hazel, EJ Marie, Faith Ann, Hannah Mae, Kim, Georgie Yvette, Jhunalie and Raffellyne 

Beckel Teachers & Staff - (from Loakan) Rou Jay, Shaira, Donna, Liberty, Rynelle, Diana, Jeremiah, Roldan. (from Beckel) Rizal & Renneth

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200716764457472&l=7891cb078d
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200716765617501&l=7b2264f0c4
Gumatdang Teachers & Staff - (from Loakan) Rou Jay, Shaira, Donna, Liberty, Diana, Jeremiah, Ruth, Feby, Jericho, Roldan. (from Beckel) Rizal & Renneth. (Lyndon, Aljon & Rynelle came for the 3rd day)

Overseer: Roldan

Directors: Rynelle and Liberty

Secretary: Diana

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For those who gave time, effort, finances, prayers, and any support not mentioned: Thank you very much! and May God continually bless you as you continue to be part or take part of His ministry! Glory be to God the Almighty! =)

Christianity vs. Survival

"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2:24 KJV) Christians these days I believe struggle in this dilemma, for I see myself and many other companions in the faith trapped in this struggle... same thing with the spirit vs. the flesh... oh how indeed such struggle we face, especially when we desire to fulfil God's Will or even to fulfil the Great Commission, seeking the lost, leading them to know Christ Jesus... many indeed seek to fill their physical needs more than the spiritual needs. Many seek what physical benefits they get more than the spiritual things... Jesus Christ have always been reiterating and declaring that spiritual things are more valuable than that of earthly things... yet many and even Christians fail to look towards heavenly things... and so I ask, "why?" Survival? to extend our existence in this world? most probably... why else do we work? is it not for a living? to live! ..... of course, I do not say work is evil or we should no longer work.... But for some reason, esp. for Christians, will work or survival be our main theme in life? our main goal? or have we forgotten we Christians were paid for a price.... a price which is the Blood of Christ.... a price that cost the Life of Jesus Christ! Though He lives eternally, it shouldn't be our reason to forget the price it took to redeem us from the clutches of the enemy, the Devil. We were once dead Christians, and now we live because of Christ! But now that we live, doth we not live for Him? for Christ? Just as the Apostle Paul, saying "To live is Christ, to die is gain!" Will we not do the same? These questions are such a challenge and a great reminder to all, even to myself. For what indeed profits if we gain the Whole World, yet lose our own soul? and what profits our salvation, if our fellow love ones are lost.... May we not forget, may we not forget....

Teacher's Training for TLWFBC & LBC S/S and AWANA Leaders

Here are photos taken from our Teacher's Training for "The Living Word Fundamental Baptist Church" Sunday School and Loakan Baptist Church AWANA Leaders.

As the church is established to edify / build one another, so was this training event planned and fulfilled by the Grace of God. The Training had utmost 31 registered participants, 13 coming from "The Living Word Fundamental Baptist Church" and 18 from the Loakan Baptist Church.

We thank you very much for all who have been part of this event, those who've helped through financial support and on those who've given time and effort. Thank you very much and To God be the Glory!

LBC Choir Easter Cantata 2013 presents "Three Days"

OK, I have been able to upload videos and pictures from the recent Loakan Baptist Church Choir Easter Cantata 2013. Below are the videos set in order I hope.....

Before hearing God's Word, the "Hallelujah Quartet" sings a song number. Singers are Aljon Chiday, Elmer Berbano, Charlie Dagusen and Rowelito Talawan

In this video my father preaches about the reason and message of the season, speaks in mixed language and dialect hopefully whoever hears will understand


The Cantata Proper:










Below are some pictures taken from the cantata itself

The Plea for All Man to Hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ

What more words shall express to give you more and clear understanding, that no self-effort shall save man but only by Faith in Christ Jesus?

Though Faith in itself have many forms, for even demons believe in God and tremble(James 2:19-20), but the Word of God has not left us without clear understanding and revelation.. The Word declares that the evidence or fruit of one's Faith in Christ is seen on his actions or his life... One who says to trust and put their Faith in Christ is true to his words if seen in his own life.... Now if you might ask why "only faith in Christ Jesus?" Because it is only through Christ, (one) through being born of a virgin birth means he did not carry the curse of sin that was brought by ADAM (the first man); (two) He Who IS righteous, holy and one Who NEVER sinned all through out His life in this world; (three) suffered, condemned and died for the SIN that He did not commit; (four) even God, the Father Himself, poured His Own judgement to His own Son (Isaiah 53:10); (five) He who was dead is now alive forever more, declaring then, that the payment of sin is now Final and Forever secured... Now therefore, just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the dessert (Jn. 3:14) and that anyone who looks upon it, will be healed from the venom of snakes, So it is for the Son of Man, Jesus, that whoever looks, believes, put their trust on Him shall be saved...

"For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved ([a]delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;" - Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified Bible)