PHILIPPINE UPDATE, AUGUST, 5TH, 2011

Greetings to all our supporters and friends of the Advent Christian work in the Philippines. We give thanks to God and to you for your continued faithfulness in prayer and other ways.

I have found communication with the Philippines somewhat difficult over recent weeks but I trust that this “Update” will help to keep you informed with what God is doing with our people there.

PASTOR ROY ROCHA, NOVALICHES, MANILA: Pastor Roy reports

Twice each week, Richard (my Intern) and I is teaching values among the students of Alternative Learning System (ALS). ALS is a government program for the out of school youth in Barangay Gulod, Quezon city. 60 youth are attending this program that we were able to led this group of students to Christ. 12 came to worship in our church and are now regularly attending. Bring the gospel of Christ to young men and women with different religious background, experiences, and ages seems not a problem when it is done according to God’s way and will.

Richard shared the word of God in one of my bible studies among  professionals in an establishment here at Quezon City.  Richard internship will be filled with different ministry experiences in an urban setting.

Indeed, working as a team make double impact for God’s glory

Our Prayer requests:

1. God’s Wisdom as we lead this group of men and women to life transformation with the Lord
2. Good health for me and my family.
3. God’s direction for NLCM as we are “making Spiritual movements, making Disciples for God’s glory”
4. Team work for me and Richard as we are making “double impact” in God’s work. For inquires: chats38@yahoo.com.ph

PASTOR RENIEL COMAHIG, OBC, CAGAYAN DE ORO writes

Last July 23, 2011- I was privilege to minister to Maranatha Bible Church Tagoloan, Natumulan, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental for a Praise and Worship Seminar as part of the college ministry- working hand in hand with our Pastors in their respective churches in training and equipping their members in various areas of ministries-.  During the seminar, one of our students (Dennis Alzula) assisted me as part of his weekend ministry assignment. As we were not able to cover the whole material, they will arrange another seminar schedule sometime between August- October, and hopefully by then I could bring more students with me to help and at the same time I will be able to show to these students on how to do a seminar such as Praise and Worship. It would be “hitting two birds in one stone”.

Pastor Reniel Comajeg at the seminar at Tagoloan

Dr NELY GAMAYON, OBC, CDO: It was great to receive the following report from Dr Nely.

Dear brethren in the Lord,
The Lord is good, He continues to reveal Himself to us in various ways.
The ministry of Oro Bible College continues by the grace of God. The bible study that was started early last school year has been trimmed down to  one center. The people attending the Bible Study has moved from the place to find work. Only one center is left, but the members of the other centers have joined together in one place at this time. Pastor Jessie Gawangon is leading students to conduct the Bible study every Saturday. My husband, Nathaniel is going with them and helps in the Bible study. He drives the students and the faculty to and from the Bible study center. Praise the Lord, the woman suspected of cancer had surgery already. The biopsy revealed the cyst in one of her breast was not malignant. She now actively joins in the Bible study bringing her child with her every time. Her condition had indeed challenged students and faculty to be on our knees in prayer for her.

Friday, July 23, OBC held an activity remembering the handicapped and their family members who are taking care of them. The college invited a speaker who is taking care of his wife who suffered from a stroke four years ago. Brother Rodrigo Benedicto Jr. is a member of the Macanhan Church, the church planted by the late Instructor of OBC, Rev. Rustom Marquino Sr. Mr. Benedicto encouraged the students and faculty with God’s word in Colossians 3:12-20 and his testimony of the Lord’s work in his life. We consider him as product of OBC, for he was evangelized, baptized and discipled by the late Rev. Marquino, an OBC faculty who had a heart for church planting, leadership development and discipleship. Brother Benedicto now lectures at the Philippine National Police Training School in Cagayan de Oro. While taking care of his sick wife, being a father to his children, and he is busy leading others to Christ, evangelizing trainees at the PNP center and leading in church as an elder.

One of the third year students, Eugene Rey Barete also shared about their ministry to the deaf and mute. Together with his classmates, they presented how to communicate to the deaf and the mute. His church is handling bible classes with the deaf children and youth in the community. We praise the Lord for the provision needed in order to reach people with handicap for the gospel.

The campus ministry continues, the group meets two times a week in the OBC conference room. There are two groups of students from the nearby college, Cagayan de Oro College who come to OBC for Bible study. Sometimes, there are more that come, but at other times, there are only a few. The Field Education department is now structuring the program for this ministry. The students of OBC will indeed have another opportunity to ministry together  with the faculty as disciplers.

I praise and thank the Lord for allowing me to attend the ACGC Triennial Convention in Charlotte and being able to thank those who have supported Oro Bible College through all these years in prayers, finances and in many other ways. It was a joy indeed to fellowship with the Advent Christian brethren from another side of the planet. Thank you very much. One of the sermons delivered during the convention that really touched my heart was the President’s message on Sunday. I took notes of the sermons and devotionals. I re-echoed the message to the students and faculty. I prayed to God I would be able to share the same truth as I understood it preached by Rev. Brent Ross. I also shared similar messages to the Maranatha Bible Church during Sunday School and at the Women’s fellowship on Sunday. I was so blessed by it that I could not contain the joy of the blessing in my heart, I had to share it. I thank the Holy Spirit for His guidance and teaching. The people who heard it are really and truly blessed. We want to thank ACGC for the blessing.

The interns are doing well in their internships. They have communicated back to the college in terms of their reports and those who are near, their visits that they are taking all the time they need to learn the practical aspects of their course. The internship has also helped them understand ministry better and it has deepened their commitment to serve God full time.

Prayer items:

1. Wisdom for the curriculum committee in preparing for the application for other concentrations in the AB program:
   1. AB Missions
   2. AB Church Education Ministry (CE)
   3. AB Pastoral Ministry
2. Pray that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will understand and favor the intentions of OBC for the offering of these concentrations
3. Health of the faculty and staff – the librarian has been sick lately; Ptr. Jessies Gawangon
4. Commitment of part-time teachers to be faithful in their schedules for classes
5. Teacher for PE, Economics
6. Bible study contacts in the outreach community, children’s classes, feeding and tutorial program of the Field Education department
7. CHED’s approval for the Berkshire online course, contextualization of the courses and scholarship
8. Plan for a prophetic seminar.
9. The opening of a new community Outreach at the West Side of the province, near the soon-to-open International Airport
10. Campus ministry with students of the Cagayan Capitol College

Enclosed are pictures of the Bible study group, Brother Rodrigo Benedicto, Eugene and classmates, Richard Pelin in his internship at Quezon City.

{hover over the pictures to read the captions}

Sincerely in Christ,

Nely A. Gamayon

PASTOR BILLY COMAHIG, OBC,CDO has written

Dear Brethren, Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Thank you very much for your prayers. My daughter is recovering very well after she got out of the Hospital.  As of this time my wife Joanne is still recovering from the stress due to what happen to our baby.
Recently, Oro Bible College was having the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week. The activity focuses on the student’s awareness about those people with disability and their needs of the gospel message. The activity was under the Co-curricular department in which I was assigned as the coordinator and I am under the supervision of Dr. Nely A. Gamayon our OBC Director. The Co-curricular department will also be responsible for the upcoming Oro Bible College 41^st Foundation Day Celebration this coming September 15-16, 2011.
After my time at OBC, Every Wednesday evening, I am regularly meeting Brother Roy (Aguirre) for sharing and prayer for those who are Lost that they will become believers of Jesus Christ. During Saturday, We invited little kids to come into our House to play and we are looking forward of teaching this little Kids about the Gospel. The Bible Study that we have continued and I am happy to see young men and women accepting the Lord Jesus Christ.
About our situation here in Cagayan de Oro City, there are some things that happen that calls the attention of the Believers to pray. Few days ago, two areas (Barangay) in Cagayan de Oro were hit by a whirlwind. Some Houses were damaged and many people losses a place to stay. Last week, the conflict between some Muslim group and Some Christian group arises in one of the area of the City where two of OBC students live.

Please Pray for the Following:

1. Complete Recovery of my wife Joanne from stress and Muscle pain.
2. The success of the upcoming Oro Bible College 41^st Foundation Day Celebration
3. Peace and Order in Cagayan de Oro City
4. Provision and comfort for those who are affected by the whirlwind.

Thank you very much for your partnership in the Gospel
In Christ,
Billy

Again, thank you all for your continued support throughout the years and for the support we trust, you will continue in the future.

May our Lord god bless you all.

In His service

Grant Aldridge

Additional photos from Dr Nely Gamayon of  Richard Pelin working in Novaliches under Pastor Roy Rocha