Friday, May 29, 2009

Gospel Meeting at Guiddam, Abulug, Cagayan

May 28: After the gospel meeting at Quirino, Luna, Apayao and after having our short lunch we immediately drove to Guiddam, Abulug, Cagayan for another gospel meeting. Along the way we were met by a strong rain and we were worried that it will hinder the brethren form attending the said meeting but we saw our brethren at the place waiting for us though most of them got wet because of the rain. Rain continues to pur but it did not prevent the gospel of our Lord to be proclaimed. We immediately started singing songs for our God, we took turns in leading songs. After the singing I was requested by our brethren to lead them in prayer. Brother Rody Gumpad then stood infront and preached to us the lesson "God Has Spoken". Brother Rody discussed about the three dispensation of time and emphasized that we are living under the Christian age and that we have the gospel of Christ as our law. Brother Jun Gumpad led the invitation song wherein one (1) soul came forward and confessed Christ, she is later on baptized into Christ. Brother Johnson Ramil is the hardworking preacher at this congregation.

Gospel Meeting at Quirino, Luna, Apayao

May 28: Early morning at around 7:00 brethren Tessie Gumpad, Eli Bocarile, Jun Gumpad, Ronald Valdez, Virgilio Bocarile, Mark Daquioag, Rody Gumpad, Jay Gumpad, Reneboy Maranion, and Jerome Forelo started their way towards Quirino, Luna, Apayao for the gospel meeting sceduled by our brethren there. Everyone was very happy and excited to be with our brethren, I am very much excited as this will be my first time to ever meet our brethren at the said place. Excited as I am I volunteered to drive and found myself enjoying the three hour drive . As we arrived I felt happiness upon setting eyes to our brethren, they were patiently waiting for us in their humble church building. The brethren meet us with warm greetings and smiles found all over their faces. We do not want to waste precious time in studying the gospel so after talking with our brethren for a short while brother Sherwin Miranda (their preacher) stood up infron and announced that we have to start the meeting. Song of praise were led by fellow preachers. Brother Jun Gumpad was the first speaker with his lesson about "Dagiti Banbanag A Pakatnagan Ti Tao Manipud Ken Cristo (The Things That Makes a Man Fall From God)", he made a very good job explaining that if we keep in our lives the said things and fall from the loving arms of God we will be disqualified from entering heaven. By special request, I stood up and discussed "Why Do We Need God?". Our goal is to have the brethren, most especially the visitors and friends, understand why we gather together and worship God and why we are serving God. Happily, I discussed with them that God is our Creator, God is our Provider, and God is our Redeemer; three things that lands us to a conclusion that we need God. Brother Rody Gumpad then presented to us a lesson about "The Destiny of Man", here he discussed Man, Sinner, Church, Apostasy, Hell and Heaven. In summary he emphasized that in order for us to enter heaven we must be added to the church and be faithful unto death; otherwise if we remain sinning or happen to apostasize we shall end up in hell. After the preaching brother Mark Daquioag led the invitation song and four (4) souls came forward and confessed Christ and expressed their desire to be baptized into Christ.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Gospel Meeting at Nangalinan, Baggao, Cagayan

May 22, 2009 marks another important day for our brethren at Nangalinan, Baggao Cagayan. We were invited by the brethren to be a part of their gospel meeting at this important day. The hardworking preacher at this place is brother Virgilio Paet. Brethren Rody gumpad, Jerome Forelo, Jay Gumpad, Mark Daquioag, Jun Gumpad, Sherwin Miranda, Robert Rances, and Reneboy Maranion rode the vehicle of brother Rody; they left 6:30 in the morning and arrived at the place 9:00 in the morning. At the place we met happy brethren very excited in studying the bible with us; we also met brethren Larry Guiilermo and Santi Guillermo at Nangalinan. Brother Larry Guillermo preached first with the topic "Two Groups of Believers (Mark 16:15-20)". brother Jun Gumpad followed with a lesson entitled "Four Steps to Apostasy (2 Timothy 4:3-4). I thank the Lord again for giving me the opportunity to be with our brethren at Nangalinan and be able to share to them a lesson about "Repentance and Remission of Sins (Luke 24:46-47)". Brother Rody Gumpad preached last with the lesson about "Satan". Two (2) souls stepped forward during the singing of the invitation song; infront they confessed Christ and gave their desire to be baptized into Christ for the remission of their sins.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Gospel Meeting at Malapat, Cordon, Isabela

Seven (7) souls added into Christ today as a result of the gospel meeting at Malapat, Cordon, Isabela. We (Rody Gumpad, Dennis Yuson, Robert Rances, Jun Gumpad, Mark Daquioag, and Jerome Forelo) excitedly travelled towards Malapat, Cordon, Isabela to be with our brethren in their gospel meeting. As we arrived we were met by excited brethren, sweet smiles and warm greetings were shared. We shared good news with each other and we shared experiences in lives that we had which can help in our growth spiritually. Suddenly I felt a deep pain in my heart when I learned that our brethren here had just recently experienced something not usual to them. When typhoon "Emong" hit the Philippines it poured much rain that most of the rivers around our area overflowed, the river near our brethren's place also overflowed that flooded their place; the flood was deep as half of the church building was submerged in water and most of the bibles and song books that they are using were destroyed by the flood. Despite of these things that happened to them they still remained strong and are trying hard to continue in serving our God. We encouraged them, utter prayers for them and hoped we can do more for them to comfort them more. So we continued in studying. Brother Domie Jacob taught first about "Salvation" wherein he discussed about the kind of salvation taught in the bible. brother Lorenzo Lazaro followed him and preached about "Steadfastness"; he persuaded each one to be steadfast, unmovable,and to always abound in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58). He assured the listeners, through the bible, that those who will endure unto the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13). After the lessons preached brother Larry Gatchalian led the invitation song and 4 souls stepped forward and confessed Christ. After a short lunch and more conversations with our brethren we continued with the gospel meeting. Brother Rody gumpad taught about "The Original Church of Christ and the Modern Churches". Brother Rody discussed about the True Church, how and when was it established; he also discussed about the different denominational churches and explained their differences from the church that Jesus built. After the teaching another invitation song was extended and three (3) more souls came forward and gave their desire to be baptized into Christ for the remmission of their sins. All parted ways after the meeting with faith recharged and more encouraged by the words of Christ.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Gospel Meeting at Bagunot, Baggao

Brethren Rody Gumpad, Mark Daquioag, Jun Gumpad, Dennis Yuson, Macky Miguel, and your humble servant rode altogether at the vehicle of brother Rody very early in the morning and started their way toward Bagunot, Baggao to meet the brethren and to participate in their gospel meeting. The way is a bit far and the traffic is not that good but we thank the Lord much for His guidance as He saved us from several accidents this day. With God's guidance and providence we were able to arrive at Bagunot safe and sound; we were met by brother Rizal Rendon and showed us the way to their place because it is our first time to go in the said place. As we arrived we saw our brethren patiently and very excited in waiting for us; warm smiles are found engraved in their faces. We spoke with them, shared good news with one another and encouraged each other. How wonderful is it for brethren to gather together. Without wasting much time, brother Pidiong Segundo, the hardworking preacher of our brethren started the gospel meeting with a song, brethren Mark Daquioag, Dennis Yuson, Macky Miguel took turns in leading songs also. Brother Virgilio Paet Sr led the opening prayer. Brother Jun Gumpad then started the preaching by preaching a lesson about "The Bible", he discussed how we got the bible and the purpose why the bible was given to us. After that I preached next and I prepared a lesson about "Salvation (Acts 22:6-16)", and in this lesson I emphasized that Salvation is 1) not by faith only; 2) not through personal appearance of Jesus; 3) not through repentance and prayer only; and 4) not through miracles. I further concluded that in order to attain salvation we must 1) Hear (Romans 10:17); 2) Believe (John 14:1; Hebrews 11:6); 3) Repent (Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19); 4) Confess (Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 10:32-33); and 5) Be Baptized into Christ (Mark 16:16; Galatians 3:27). Brother Rody Gumpad preached also about "God Hath Spoken (Hebrews 1:1)" and "Stand For". Brother Rody explained the three dispensations of time in his first lesson and emphasized that we are not under the Patriarchal nor the Mosaical period at this time rather we now live under the Christian Age when the church was established by Christ. Then in his second lesson he persuaded each one of us to "Stand For" 1) the Right God, 2) the Right Doctrine, 3) the Right Church, and 4) the Right Hope. After the lessons we extended the invitation by singing an invitation song; the angels in heaven surely rejoiced and God smiled at His people again for nine (9) souls stepped forward, these 9 souls willingly surrendered to the gospel: they believed what the Bible teaches, believed Christ, repented of their sins, confessed Christ, and are baptized into Christ.