Oro Bible College | Report from Dr Nely Gamayon September 2012

Dear Brethren in the Lord,

We have just finished with our Midterm Exams. Today we are preparing for the 42nd Foundation Day of the College. September 17-18 are the dates for the celebration. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Deeply Rooted: Teaching Straight From the Word.” This theme is chosen to address the observations made on the present trends in discipleship that has influenced many churches and denominations here in the Philippines. it has been observed that the desire of pastors to have more members, bigger church building and increased tithes and offerings is given more importance than teaching Christian truths correctly straight from the Word of God. Business concepts has been used for discipleship strategies, twisting what exactly is written in the Bible.

OBC church planting ministry continues this semester despite the oppositions we have in one of the identified community.

A second year OBC student teaching the children on Saturday afternoons while Pastor Reniel M. Comajeg and another student are leading Bible study.

OBC is currently doing three Bible studies in barangay Macasandig. Three teams led by Pastor Reniel Comajeg, Pastor Billy Comahig, and Pastor Jess Gawangon. The students who goes with Pastor Reniel also teach Bible classes with the children. They also do feeding with the children in this area. Above are the families that Pastor Reniel and Pastor Billy are doing Bible study with every Saturday afternoon and the children in the area of Pastor Reniel.

For the NSTP, OBC to do tutorial classes with these children; helping them with their school lessons and teaching them God’s Word.

After holding classes, feeding the children follows.

Aside from teaching and feeding program, the NSTP joins some government agencies to do coastal cleaning and planting of mangrove trees near the shore. The NSTP this year went to visit the trees they have planted in one of the coastal barangays of Cagayan de Oro.

The trees that planted by the NSTP students of several schools in the city five years ago. This is how those that were planted by OBC students look like four years from today.

Another place of ministry that we have is in Alubijid. We are having a worship service every second Sunday and home Bible studies on the fourth Sunday of the month. We have Bible studies in three homes already.  Below is a picture of one of our worship service.

Members of the team Alubijid are: Nely A. Gamayon, Nathaniel Gamayon, Nathan A. Gamayon, Pastor Jess P. Gawangon, Students: Alma Cortez, Eldon Dilag and Ericson Bucio. Last year the team included Lovely Compra, Jenilyn Dilag, Genelou Zambas and Jedno Pabayo. OBC cannot do ministry in this place every Sunday because of financial reasons. The faculty that leads the ministry also is responsible for transportation expenses and food for the team. In the city, the three pastors are responsible for their teams. Maam Minda and the NSTP students are responsible for their NSTP activities; and Gamayon Family for the Alubijid Ministry. We hope to really put up an Advent Christian church in Alubijid.

Meanwhile, in school, our discipleship and mentoring of the students continues. Aside from the classes we are holding during the week, we have mentoring groups, group prayers and corporate worship and fellowship as a school.

Prayer Needs:

• God’s protection for the buildings due to the earthquakes. The administration desperately needs electrical rewiring.
• After water entered into the building due to the flooding in 2009 and in 2011, termites attacked the offices in the first floor, books, records and cabinets were eaten; the walls, the chapel floors and stairways both to the chapel and the boys’ dorm. The faculty apartments are also attacked by termites due to the non-treatment of the land before the building was constructed. The area where the apartment is situated was a previous swamp and it was dumped with earth from the garbage dumpsite for filling.
• God’s provision also for the ministries that the college is doing.
• The openness of the hearts of the people where OBC is ministering.
• The establishment of an Advent Christian Church in Alubijid.
• Wisdom for the faculty, staff and administration in response to the effect of the change in the Philippine basic education curriculum and in determining the goals, objectives and strategies for the college for the next ten years.
• CHED’s approval of the new concentrations for the course: Missions, Christian Education and Pastoral Ministry.
• Needs of the children’s ministry in Bohai Community: A tent and some children’s chairs.
• Good health for all the faculty and staff.
• The making of the ten-year timeline with goals, objectives and strategies for the first five years development plan.

Reported by:

Nely A. Gamayon, Ph.D.

Director