24
Sep
12
BAPTISMS
One day in March, the Lord led us to this young man named Jay Ar Oloya, only son of a couple from Ligao, Albay. His father is a taxi driver and they live in a rented apartment on Makipot Street, Malinta-Bukid. Two times we studied Bible beside the road while he was vending banana cues, two times we studied too in our rented hall along McArthur Highway. A month after, on April 14, 2012, after a study in brother Randy Macapagal’s office in Caloocan City, we immersed him for the remission of his sins in Caloocan church baptistery. His conversion was the big break for the work of the Lord in Valenzuela, because it led to many baptisms later.
Much study was done in homes in and around Valenzuela. While we were waiting for our prospects to make decisions for eternity, the Lord sent this young man named Jayson Quiniones to us. Jayson’s mother is from Antique and his father is from Calamba, Laguna. In the family they speak both Tagalog and Karay-a (dialect of the Antiquenos). Prior to his conversion, Jayson had visited our worship hall only once, and that was after the worship service. He had heard me teach a prospect in the hall. In the height of the storm in August, he got my number from his friend Jay Ar Oloya and texted me asking if he could stay in our building because their house in Meycauayan was flooded. We said he could. He stayed in our building three days, and during those days we fed him and made him comfortable. During those days too we had studies together. A month after that, on Sept. 6, we baptized him in Caloocan baptistery.
Two days after I immersed Jayson Quiniones on Sept. 6, I also baptized this man. His name is Lino Oloya, Jay Ar’s father. Lino and his wife Lilian hail from Ligao, Albay. As a driver he used to work for the Puno family and for the owner of one of the branches of a US fast food chain. He and his wife don’t have the habit of welcoming strangers especially preachers in their home. I tried to overcome this prejudice of his by giving his son Jay Ar a laptop and training him to teach his father and mother, which he did in May. The Lord used Lino’s son to open doors for me to enter. I visited them in June and on the first lesson about the Bible I also pointed out to them the errors of Mariolatry. After that first lesson, they took away all the images in their house. On September 8, I baptized Lino.
She was sick at the time her husband was baptized, but a week after that, on Sept. 15, Lilian Oloya also followed suit.
Three days after her mother Lilian was baptized, I also immersed Donna Oloya on September 18. Donna works as a promodizer at Trinoma and Pure Gold.
Two days after I immersed Donna, I also immersed her husband Randy Guarin on Sept. 20. To signify that he wanted to change lives, he also had his long hair barbered! He looks much better without his long hair!
I first came to meet Joel Cervantes on May 26, and studied the first lesson with him. A week after that, on July 2, he came back, and we discussed the lesson on faith (the story of Cain and Abel). He wanted to be sure if we are the right church, so on July 17, we studied about the church in the New Testament. We did not see each other until a month later, on August 18, when we studied about man’s biggest problem, the problem of sin. He said that lesson came to trouble him. Add to this the fact that his life came to unusual circumstances, with hardships and difficulties, and sickness in the family, that no matter how hard they all tried, there was never enough money to pay all expenses. He remembered what I had said about Isaiah 59:1,2. He gave up his job for a while and resolved to see me, and wanted my help to solve his sin problem, So in the middle of the night (that is last night, Thursday, Sept. 27) as I was about to lay myself down to sleep, this young man came. For two hours, we studied how Jesus could help him deal with his sins, how Jesus could erase it that there is no more sin left, and that even the memories of those sins would not haunt him. I asked him if he is ready, and he said yes. He asked when, and I said now. Without much ado, we got ourselves ready to go to Caloocan. At two o’clock this morning, Friday, Sept. 28, in the cool waters of Caloocan baptistery, I immersed Joel for the remission of his sins. As he got out of the baptistery, he said, “Thank you!” This morning he went on his way home rejoicing. Praise be to God!
A former soldier of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, this man is known to the people in the area of Maysan as Capt. Jumo. He studied engineering at Mapua Institute of Technology and ended up being a soldier, graduating from Philippine Military Academy. Sen. Gringo Honasan was his mistah. Capt. Jumo was a descendant of the Jimenez clan in Pangasinan, people who owned lands, but now he lived in penury. I first met him in January of this year, but there were many hindrances to our sitting together and talk Bible, one of which was the sinful life he could not do away with easily. One time we had a scheduled class and he was nowhere to be found, and searching in the area of Llenado Compound in Maysan, I found him drunk. I had to postpone our class until he’s back to his senses. I confessed that he was one of the most difficult prospects I had ever studied with! Although he’s got religion (having been a member of the “born again” group), he’s got only the Bible-quoting habit of that church but never the holiness that is found among early saints of the Bible. After his bouts with drinking, he would come to me and said he wanted to study the Word. He knew that he could never please his God with his past life. He confessed to me his depression and insecurities, and his lack of will to fight. I was too patient with this man and he knew it. Last night, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012, he came just as we were preparing dinner. He smelled like a skunk, so I told him to go the bathroom and take a bath, gave him soap, a towel and fresh clothes. He wore it to dinner. At dinner time, we read a scripture about the prodigal son, and in his comments he applied that story to himself. After dinner, we had a study of two hours on “What Must I Do to Be Saved,” and I persuaded him to make a go for glory and saintliness that one could only own when Jesus makes him free from sins. Today, at 7 AM, Friday, October 5, 2012, I baptized Capt. Junio, a former soldier. Now he is a soldier of Jesus, fighting battles again sin. We welcomed him into the arms of Jesus.
20
Aug
12
VALENZUELA RELIEF DISTRIBUTION
The sign that says little about the big distribution of the relief goods that happened about an hour later, at Valenzuela church meeting hall. Valenzuela church meets here too. The place is located at the 3rd Floor Acharon Building, Cecilio J. Santos Street, Malinta, Valenzuela City, not far from the old city hall.
Brothers and sisters from Caloocan church who volunteered to identify the calamity areas.They waded through flooding waters of Pasolo and Rincon, talked to the victims of the calamity, and distributed claim stubs. The stubs would entitle a recipient to a pack of food relief consisting of 2 kilos of rice, half a dozen canned goods and a dozen noodle packs.
Three ladies from Caloocan church – sister Alma Gayatao, sister Carmen Cutchon, and sister Agnes Macapagal – setting up the distribution corner in the building where the goods are to be dispensed to the recipients.
Ed visits these lean-to shacks where the families of the kids of Valenzuela Tutorial Center have been seeking shelter. The poor of Valenzuela have subsisted on dole-outs, temporary jobs, meager salaries from factories, and from the generosities of churches in order to survive. Goods too were distributed to these parents.
This cage used to be a shelter for the dog of the owner of the compound. It now serves as a sleeping place for one of the young ladies living in the compound. Brother Bong Garlitos tried it for size– yes, it’s good enough for a dog but not for humans!
Brother Randy Macapagal, minister of Caloocan church, and brother Chito Cusi, head of the MARCH For Christ who supplied the relief goods that were distributed to the victims of the calamities in many places in Metro Manila. The goods were donations from the churches of Christ in Cebu and in the US. In the background is brother Edgar Cutchon who was setting up the sound system to be used in the preaching later in the afternoon.
Ed conferring with sister Agnes Macapagal on how to process the distribution of the relief goods.
Ed talking with brother Chito Cusi, head of the MARCH For Christ.
Ed talking with the early-comers who arrive to claim their food packs.
The first to come were calamity victims from Barangay Rincon, Valenzuela City.
Ed preaching on the love of God, and how He cares enough to touch their lives by sending them these generosities.
These poor people queuing up to claim their food packs came from the barangays of Dulong Tangke, Pasolo and Rincon, the worst-hit areas of Valenzuela City.
The food packs are shown here, while the recipients sit at the hall and listen to Ed preaching. At the end of the day, a total of 150 packs have been distributed to the recipients from Pasolo, Dulong Tangke, Rincon, and Malinta, Bukid and Maysan
Brother Daniel Suresh, formerly of Caloocan church, had migrated with his family to Canada last year. A week ago he made a visit to Caloocan church and preached there on August 12. Today he is back to his family in Canada. Caloocan church had benefited much from the generosity of the Suresh family.
- Bryan Saligumba, one of the young men of Caloocan church, leads the singing.
The congregation singing in praise of the Lord of all creation. The congregation was on full-house last Sunday, August 12.
Daniel Suresh joins the brethren in singing.
Brother Joey Badion reading a scripture as he leads the ushers at the Lord’s table.
The ushers at the Lord’s table.
Brother Kris Ducusin leads the opening prayer.
Brother Francis Debulos leads the closing prayer.
Brother Randy Macapagal, minister of Kalookan church, making the announcement at the close of the worship, Sunday, August 12.
Ed preaching in Valenzuela.
Brother Albert leading the singing in Valenzuela. We’ve been using the song books donated to us by brother Mike Fuchs and the churches of Christ in Ohio.
The parents whom we teach on Fridays.
Ed teaching the parents.
Sister Nerizz here, teaching the kids.
Shown here is Dr. Ezra Cutchon in his clinic in Caloocan with patients waiting to be served. In Valenzuela, we also offer free medical check-up, with our two doctor brothers (Dr. Ezra and Dr. Xerxes Cutchon) offering their services free to members and non-members alike.
Parents waiting on the sideline while their kids are being taught.
27
Feb
12
The New Testament Church
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. You may click here to read this powerpoint presentation, or download it. It is in mixed Tagalog and English. If you want a purely English version, contact the author. God bless you.
12
May
11
Baptisms in Tagaytay
This house, owned by the Daniel Sureshes, Indian nationals and members of the Lord's church, located in Maharlika West, Tagaytay City, contains a pool.
The pool in Suresh home where we did the baptism yesterday, May 12.
Ed takes the confession of faith of Reynaldo. Prior to his baptism, Reynaldo had attended the worship in Tagaytay.
Ed immerses Reynaldo for the remission of his sins.
Ed takes the confession of faith of Virginia.
Ed immerses Virginia for the remission of her sins.
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