Here are videos from the Loakan Baptist Church Easter Cantata presentation. Some may not be still available or on the process of looking for other videos uploaded. =)
The Days of Darkness
My Sin
Blessed is He
If you could see me now. Solo by Ptr. Lemuel Pay-an
All Rise Solo by Ms. Sharon Shayna Saugen
This is the land of my forefathers... once was a field of rice, where my forefathers till the ground. Now, is the land for planes and of aircrafts... yet I still call it my beloved homeland... Loakan.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Narrating my experience on Missions
It has been a year already that I
have been able to be with my father and mother, reaching out to a little far
too distant from home. My father and mother started to go to Apalan last year
without even a sure back-up or support, nevertheless they went. Knowing their
desire to reach out to people who needs to grow in the knowledge of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ, I gave my support by voluntarily going with them and
of course, some financial needs. Year 2011 of January, I committed myself in
fully going with them and leave my home church as well as some of my
ministries. I was given the task to teach young people by first leading them to
know Christ as their Lord and Savior; Afterwhich, to teach and train them in
the principles of God. To be honest, it was my father still who mostly have led
them to know Christ, whereas, I continue to be a discipler or a teacher of God’s
Word.
There I saw the need for others
to know Christ more and I have seen how many are eager also to learn of the Lord
Jesus Christ. I usually compare my home church from that I see and experience
in the mission field, and truly made me see broadly the blessing and advantages
of a nearby home church. Sadly, sometimes these blessings or advantages are
merely taken for granted. And most often, are only kept and only shared within
the walls of the church building, never to abound and bless others by it. If it
does bless others, it is but a taste.
Training young people have been
such more struggling than I've ever encountered, probably because I only see them
once every week. Nevertheless, I thank God for His continuing guidance, wisdom,
empowerment and everything I ever need to continue to do His work. To impart
everything I know in a little span of time is such a tremendous task but maybe
fulfilling if such has been acquired or accomplished. Although I too have to
put in mind, spiritual growth is never my work to do, but of the Holy Spirit.
That is why making sure one has truly come to know Christ as their Lord and
Savior is essential and very important.
Most often, the struggle we often
deal with is of course are finances. With the increasing difficulty of living
here on earth due to economic crisis, such as fuel consumption, food and other
demands; such were hindrances. But thank God for people who continuously are
used by God to help in this ministry. God has been able to provide what is
needed at its appointed time. Insomuch we are so in great thanksgiving for
people who have been willing to be used by God through this aspect of ministry.
He provides simply enough. And, may God be glorified by those things!
After the month of April 2011, I
fully gave up all ministries I've been handling at our home church at the same
time my home church accepted my father as a missionary to the province of
Benguet and where ever God may lead. At that point, Guesset has been also a
place of which we ministered to and by request; we decided to have our services
interchangeably every Sunday. Even before Apalan, my father was already
preaching to Daclan, the adopted Mission point of Loakan Baptist Church. And
added to this is, my father also made to a point to go to the place called
Cubabeng, wherein relatives of 1 member from Apalan and 1 from Daclan resides.
With the desires of these members that their relatives will also hear God's
Word and the gospel, they requested my father to go to that place. Therefore,
he made schedule once every month; having therefore, me as to handle the
services in Apalan or Guesset, with the help of volunteer servants of the Lord.
As we went along, my father
realized the importance of prayer meeting in the ministry. Therefore he decided
to have prayer meeting in the place called Beckel, where some members of the
Apalan-Guesset Fellowship reside. I too requested to have a young people
fellowship, to add more time in teaching and training young people, therefore
we had to take Sunday afternoon for that at the same time, my father decided to
set a prayer meeting for adults.
So to summarize our activities in
a regular month: Every Sunday we go interchangeably either Apalan or Guesset to
have our Sunday Services; Worship Service in the morning, while Young people
fellowship / training and adult's prayer meeting in the afternoon. Since at
times, our vehicle is not enough for all to ride on, the vehicle has to go back
and fetch out the others. Then, my father goes to Daclan every second Sunday
and to Cubabeng on fourth Sunday of the month, while I stay and handle things
in Apalan or Guesset. But since as of this moment, Daclan has been able to have
a new Pastor, in the person of Ptr. Lowell Achedera, my father is now relieved
of going to Daclan. We still go to Beckel every Wednesday night for a prayer
meeting, and my Father recently have also started having Bible Studies in
Beckel every Saturday.
As for now, there is a lot of
things going on, planning to pursue a new church or Body of Christ in Beckel at the same
time in Cubabeng, while we train young people in Apalan-Guesset, with the hope
that in a few span of time, they could stand on their own and start to do the
Will of God as well. Surely these are great opportunities and tasks to pursue,
but it never means it’s an easy task. All throughout, there has been a growing
struggle and battle wherever and whenever we minister for the Lord. As my father envisions
pursuing these things, there are so many great needs, hindrances and struggles waiting
ahead. And perhaps all we can only do is ask God to be on our side and let His
Holy Spirit work through us and to His people.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Channel of blessing
It is a great joy to be part of being a channel of blessing even with just on simple things. Last December 2011, we received blessings in a form of material items or packages. These gifts were given by a school, which I don't exactly remember the name, but perhaps I only know as where Ma'am Joy Cawaon, wife of Manong Nicky, work with. Their school selected our group "Apalan-Guesset Fellowship" for the recent year 2011 as where they would share their blessings and extend help as well, with some goods and usable items.
Manong Nicky contacted me through manang nadj, through a text message. Saying manong Nicky wanted to talk to me before Sunday. I wasn't really sure of what the agenda was or never did expect anything like it. But, alas! 30 items or packages to be given to families and bags for kids. As manong Nicky explained, it's one way perhaps to encourage or entice people to continue and/or hear the gospel of Christ.
At some point, I was caught off-guard not knowing how to deal with such. We discussed with my parents, as how to give it, since it's limited to 30 families and knowing that other than ministering to Apalan-Guesset, we also minister to places of Beckel, Daclan, and Cubabeng... So we decided primarily to share the blessings to families of the Apalan-Guesset Fellowship. We first gave 4 packages to members with families of the said fellowship who actually resides in Beckel (30 minutes-ride from Baguio City) when we had our prayer meeting last January 4, 2012. On January 8, 2012, my father and mother with a couple of companions went to Daclan, as my father is scheduled to speak there every 2nd Sunday of the month. They were able to give 6 packages of the items to the place of Daclan. We, who held service at Guesset, then gave away 15 packages for each members with families. The packages were given after the service, with the hope that much more than the packages they've received they shall treasure more the knowledge of knowing Christ as their Lord and Savior. Other packages were distributed amongst those who volunteer and accompany us coming from Loakan and also gave some of families whom bible studies were rendered in the area of Beckel.
Last January 22, 2012, we too then gave bags for the kids after their Sunday School. Janice, who volunteered as teacher for the Apalan-Guesset, wasn't available at that time so Liberty, Ruth and Lovelle came with us to teach and handle the kids. Some of it were given to other places that would be blessed by having received new bags and such.
Below are pictures / photos showing the ministry of our Lord in Apalan, Guesset, Cubabeng, Daclan and Beckel:
Manong Nicky contacted me through manang nadj, through a text message. Saying manong Nicky wanted to talk to me before Sunday. I wasn't really sure of what the agenda was or never did expect anything like it. But, alas! 30 items or packages to be given to families and bags for kids. As manong Nicky explained, it's one way perhaps to encourage or entice people to continue and/or hear the gospel of Christ.
At some point, I was caught off-guard not knowing how to deal with such. We discussed with my parents, as how to give it, since it's limited to 30 families and knowing that other than ministering to Apalan-Guesset, we also minister to places of Beckel, Daclan, and Cubabeng... So we decided primarily to share the blessings to families of the Apalan-Guesset Fellowship. We first gave 4 packages to members with families of the said fellowship who actually resides in Beckel (30 minutes-ride from Baguio City) when we had our prayer meeting last January 4, 2012. On January 8, 2012, my father and mother with a couple of companions went to Daclan, as my father is scheduled to speak there every 2nd Sunday of the month. They were able to give 6 packages of the items to the place of Daclan. We, who held service at Guesset, then gave away 15 packages for each members with families. The packages were given after the service, with the hope that much more than the packages they've received they shall treasure more the knowledge of knowing Christ as their Lord and Savior. Other packages were distributed amongst those who volunteer and accompany us coming from Loakan and also gave some of families whom bible studies were rendered in the area of Beckel.
Last January 22, 2012, we too then gave bags for the kids after their Sunday School. Janice, who volunteered as teacher for the Apalan-Guesset, wasn't available at that time so Liberty, Ruth and Lovelle came with us to teach and handle the kids. Some of it were given to other places that would be blessed by having received new bags and such.
Below are pictures / photos showing the ministry of our Lord in Apalan, Guesset, Cubabeng, Daclan and Beckel:
Monday, February 27, 2012
chebed's maybe one unforgettable event of her life.. =)
See how God has been gracious to my sister... the impact was mostly near where she was seated but she only had minor injuries, except for her eardrum which has burst due to impact and made a hole in her eardrum... but the doctor says it is highly to heal within 2-3 months.. hopefully indeed.. Thanking God greatly for His protection still....
As narrated by my sister:
Just after their outing with her batchmates in Pugad Adventure, they went off to come back to Baguio. Four of them drove off coming back home. They were at first enjoying the ride while talking about what food would they eat when suddenly they saw a bus coming down uncontrollable and swirving along the lanes. As what they've heard from passengers of the bus, they had a loose break and the driver tried to bang or slide along a wall to try to slow down the bus but uncontrollably the bus bounced back hitting the car where my sister was seated to.... my sister was seated at the back of the driver's seat, the same side where the bus hit and probably made much damage. After the event, simply remembered she was being carried on a pick-up who came to rescue them and went off towards Baguio General Hospital. After them, other passengers of the bus also came to the Hospital. And there they were given aid. Praise and Thank God not much harm was done upon them. Perhaps the most damaging to my sister was that her left eardrum popped out or burst out due to the impact but the doctor said, it could heal for 2-3 months, hopefully.
------------ 26 passengers injured after bus and car collide in Benguet.......
As narrated by my sister:
Just after their outing with her batchmates in Pugad Adventure, they went off to come back to Baguio. Four of them drove off coming back home. They were at first enjoying the ride while talking about what food would they eat when suddenly they saw a bus coming down uncontrollable and swirving along the lanes. As what they've heard from passengers of the bus, they had a loose break and the driver tried to bang or slide along a wall to try to slow down the bus but uncontrollably the bus bounced back hitting the car where my sister was seated to.... my sister was seated at the back of the driver's seat, the same side where the bus hit and probably made much damage. After the event, simply remembered she was being carried on a pick-up who came to rescue them and went off towards Baguio General Hospital. After them, other passengers of the bus also came to the Hospital. And there they were given aid. Praise and Thank God not much harm was done upon them. Perhaps the most damaging to my sister was that her left eardrum popped out or burst out due to the impact but the doctor said, it could heal for 2-3 months, hopefully.
------------ 26 passengers injured after bus and car collide in Benguet.......
Monday, January 16, 2012
THE LONELINESS OF THE CHRISTIAN
By A.W. Tozer
The loneliness of the Christian results from his walk with God in an ungodly world, a walk that must often take him away from the fellowship of good Christians as well as from that of the unregenerate world. His God-given instincts cry out for companionship with others of his kind, others who can understand his longings, his aspirations, his absorption in the love of Christ; and because within his circle of friends there are so few who share his inner experiences he is forced to walk alone. The unsatisfied longings of the prophets for human understanding caused them to cry out in their complaint, and even our Lord Himself suffered in the same way.
The man [or woman] who has passed on into the divine Presence in actual inner experience will not find many who understand him. He finds few who care to talk about that which is the supreme object of his interest, so he is often silent and preoccupied in the midst of noisy religious shoptalk. For this he earns the reputation of being dull and over-serious, so he is avoided and the gulf between him and society widens. He searches for friends upon whose garments he can detect the smell of myrrh and aloes and cassia out of the ivory palaces, and finding few or none he, like Mary of old, keeps these things in his heart.
It is this very loneliness that throws him back upon God. His inability to find human companionship drives him to seek in God what he can find nowhere else.
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." -Revelation 12:11
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Interesting article.. I've read it and understood the context.. Probably because it is true that the Christian life is most often a lonely place... that is if we seek the companionship and understanding of our fellow brethren in the Lord. The thing is, even if we do have friends or close friends as you may say, they don't really go through the everyday experiences you yourself experience. Whether you are in a struggle or battle in the field of Christian living no one really understands the wholeness of what you feel, experience or see. They may have a glimpse of what you're going through when you share your experiences or if they themselves experience somewhat the same circumstance, but in the full context, they can not entirely see everything. Why? there are some factors. One factor is that we are all unique and have different perspectives at the same time we too respond to circumstances differently. Other factors may be of course the environment we are into or the kind of environment we've grown and adapted into. Nevertheless the main root of all reason why we often feel loneliness is simply because of our uniqueness. Understanding that God created us entirely different from others makes us a lonely person. But, if we are to understand it completely, we aren't completely alone. Because there is one Person Who knows entirely who we are and what we're going through. And He is very open when we cling and depend on Him. Of course He is our Creator and as a Christian, our Lord and Savior.
In essence, unbelievers should be feeling this loneliness too... or this probably is what they call emptiness. 'Cause in every human being, there is a whole that needs to be filled in, that only God can fill in. Most likely, there are unbelievers who will not agree on me about this matter. Most often, these are the people who only cling and depend on their knowledge and wisdom, but knowledge which is only limited to what they see, hear, smell, taste and touch.
Anyway, the topic is more centered on the Christian life being a lonely place especially still being on this wretched world. The Bible clearly indicates that this world is governed by the enemy... Satan... Remembering that time when Satan tempted the Lord Jesus Christ in the wilderness, one of his temptation included was showing Jesus all the kingdoms of this world of which Satan would give it to Jesus, if He bows down and worship satan. Which of course Jesus counter attacked with God's Word saying, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Now knowing that this world we live in is the territory of the enemy and that we Christians are no longer citizens here but of heaven, therefore, we truly are in a daily living of spiritual battles. And lest we are not careful and alert, the enemy can easily pin us down from the victory we are standing for.
One more thing that makes us feel alone is when God reveals things to us personally, even if we share it to others, others seem to never get it. Why? Cause whenever God reveals something to us personally, most often it is for you only and not for others. Unless the revelation was meant to be shared and shown to others.
John 21:18-22 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”
At some point or conclusion, our loneliness as a Christian does not indicate a negative aspect of being a Christian but instead an indication that in our Christian life, we ought to continuously call upon the Lord, seek His face and daily walk in the fellowship with Him, for there is nothing more that compares to having a right relationship with God. For we can always know we can never be alone when God is there.
The loneliness of the Christian results from his walk with God in an ungodly world, a walk that must often take him away from the fellowship of good Christians as well as from that of the unregenerate world. His God-given instincts cry out for companionship with others of his kind, others who can understand his longings, his aspirations, his absorption in the love of Christ; and because within his circle of friends there are so few who share his inner experiences he is forced to walk alone. The unsatisfied longings of the prophets for human understanding caused them to cry out in their complaint, and even our Lord Himself suffered in the same way.
The man [or woman] who has passed on into the divine Presence in actual inner experience will not find many who understand him. He finds few who care to talk about that which is the supreme object of his interest, so he is often silent and preoccupied in the midst of noisy religious shoptalk. For this he earns the reputation of being dull and over-serious, so he is avoided and the gulf between him and society widens. He searches for friends upon whose garments he can detect the smell of myrrh and aloes and cassia out of the ivory palaces, and finding few or none he, like Mary of old, keeps these things in his heart.
It is this very loneliness that throws him back upon God. His inability to find human companionship drives him to seek in God what he can find nowhere else.
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." -Revelation 12:11
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Interesting article.. I've read it and understood the context.. Probably because it is true that the Christian life is most often a lonely place... that is if we seek the companionship and understanding of our fellow brethren in the Lord. The thing is, even if we do have friends or close friends as you may say, they don't really go through the everyday experiences you yourself experience. Whether you are in a struggle or battle in the field of Christian living no one really understands the wholeness of what you feel, experience or see. They may have a glimpse of what you're going through when you share your experiences or if they themselves experience somewhat the same circumstance, but in the full context, they can not entirely see everything. Why? there are some factors. One factor is that we are all unique and have different perspectives at the same time we too respond to circumstances differently. Other factors may be of course the environment we are into or the kind of environment we've grown and adapted into. Nevertheless the main root of all reason why we often feel loneliness is simply because of our uniqueness. Understanding that God created us entirely different from others makes us a lonely person. But, if we are to understand it completely, we aren't completely alone. Because there is one Person Who knows entirely who we are and what we're going through. And He is very open when we cling and depend on Him. Of course He is our Creator and as a Christian, our Lord and Savior.
In essence, unbelievers should be feeling this loneliness too... or this probably is what they call emptiness. 'Cause in every human being, there is a whole that needs to be filled in, that only God can fill in. Most likely, there are unbelievers who will not agree on me about this matter. Most often, these are the people who only cling and depend on their knowledge and wisdom, but knowledge which is only limited to what they see, hear, smell, taste and touch.
Anyway, the topic is more centered on the Christian life being a lonely place especially still being on this wretched world. The Bible clearly indicates that this world is governed by the enemy... Satan... Remembering that time when Satan tempted the Lord Jesus Christ in the wilderness, one of his temptation included was showing Jesus all the kingdoms of this world of which Satan would give it to Jesus, if He bows down and worship satan. Which of course Jesus counter attacked with God's Word saying, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Now knowing that this world we live in is the territory of the enemy and that we Christians are no longer citizens here but of heaven, therefore, we truly are in a daily living of spiritual battles. And lest we are not careful and alert, the enemy can easily pin us down from the victory we are standing for.
One more thing that makes us feel alone is when God reveals things to us personally, even if we share it to others, others seem to never get it. Why? Cause whenever God reveals something to us personally, most often it is for you only and not for others. Unless the revelation was meant to be shared and shown to others.
John 21:18-22 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”
At some point or conclusion, our loneliness as a Christian does not indicate a negative aspect of being a Christian but instead an indication that in our Christian life, we ought to continuously call upon the Lord, seek His face and daily walk in the fellowship with Him, for there is nothing more that compares to having a right relationship with God. For we can always know we can never be alone when God is there.
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