Preaching in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija

The meeting place of Encarnacion Church of Christ, Encarnacion Subidivision, San Jose City in Nueva Ecija.

With this sign along the road, you can never miss it.

The gate to the church compound. Property was donated to the church by a certain brother Vibat, who is formerly with the US Navy. The Vibats own other properties in Nueva Ecija.

Regie Valdez, his wife Mona Lisa and their eight-month old daughter, brother Gerry Mortera and his wife who is a pharmacist, brother Orlando Braga and other members of Encarnacion church.

Other members of Encarnacion church. At the back is sister Josie Macadaeg-Braga. Both Josie and her husband Orlando are former students of mine at Philippine Bible College-Baguio. Both are now employees of the Department of Education, and support the ministries of Encarnacion church with their financial resources.

Encarnacion Church. Picture taken after our worship last Sunday, February 13, 2011.

Preaching at San Marcelino church, San Marcelino, Zambales

We began worship Sunday afternoon, February 6, in San Marcelino with just a few Christians. The number was added by the coming of other Christians from places around Zambales.

Brother Mario Moral, minister of Barretto church, also ministers to the church in San Marcelino, Zambales. Here he leads the singing while I do the preaching.

Members of San Marcelino church. Picture was taken after our worship. The church has no chapel but they have a lot in a village in San Marcelino town, donated by brother Rady Poblete. Brother Rady also pays for the rent of this house where the church presently meets.

Preaching at Barretto, Olongapo City

Meeting place of Barretto Church of Christ. The lot was donated by the Pobletes, and the building was built through the help of Christians in the US.

My comfy bed for the night. When I arrived February 5, brother Mario Moral was very apologetic about giving me this bed to sleep on. But I liked it!

Brother Mario Moral, preacher, with some members of the church in Barretto, Olongapo City.

Brother Abel Mayor, former minister, with some members of Barretto church. He is now retired and attends worship regularly, even if he has to walk using his cane! He has difficulty talking but I understood it when he said he was fully energized by my sermon! Most of the members of the Barretto church, if I am not mistaken, are from the Mayor clan, or those related to the Mayors either by blood or by marriage.

Two young men, members of the Mayor clan, who officiate in the distribution of the emblems of the Lord's Supper.

Tarlac: Visiting and Ministering-1

Two young Christians of Tarlac who attend the training program of Tarlac City church.

This is Salvador "Buddy" Galang, a retired employee of the National Printing Office in Diliman, Quezon City. He was baptized last year by brother Felix Bravo. Brother Buddy lives alone in a rented house in Teresa Homes and has difficulty walking even with a cane. He used to be the reader of the Scriptures at Tarlac church but now seldom goes to church because of his physical disabilities. One of the ministrations of the church assistant minister was to visit him morning, or afternoon or evening, to show him that we as a church really care for him.

One Sunday after our worship, we had a surprise visitor, brother Felipe Bravo, minister of Capas church, shown here on my left. In the middle of the picture is sister Faustino, an older Christian from San Felipe, Tantangan, Cotabato, and brother Vergara from Mangatarem, Pangasinan. The two kids are brother Vergara's grandchildren.

Membership of Tarlac Church consists mostly of young people.

Gener is one young man with a promise. He reads the Scriptures and assists in the distribution of the emblems of the Lord's Supper.

Brother Felix and sister Yoling Bravo with some members of the church in Tarlac City.

Coming Back to De Castro Church

Brother Aldous, minister of De Castro Church, hands a copy of Tagalog Bible to a young Christian lady before he starts the Bible Class.

Brother Aldous teaches the Bible class this morning, Sunday, January 9. Later in the worship, Ed Maquiling preaches on the topic of Christians being God's aroma in this world.

Brother Cesar Ola, another leader of De Castro church, is the song leader.

Another photo of the De Castro church.

After worship, Ed brings his wife and grandson for lunch at SM Mega Mall.

That's Dioly.

Click here to read the sermon delivered at church today, Sunday, January 9, 2011, titled: TAYO ANG SAMYO NG DIYOS-1 (“We Are the Aroma of God”).

One Sunday Afternoon at Silang Church

Getting ready to go to worship in Silang, Cavite. Where is Austin?

The church in Silang meets temporarily in hut behind this mansion owned by a family who built their fortune from coffee farming.

Those are coffee beans being dried for days under the sun.

They were waiting for us: Brother Neph Sico, minister of Silang church. Beside him is sister Dolores, whose husband is a son of the family that owns this coffee farm. Sister Dolores is a sibling of brother Tony Devenecia, a member of Catbalogan City Church.

This is Aqui, sister Dolores' husband whose family owns the coffee farm and the land on which the temporary meeting place of the church is built.

The church assembling in their three-by-six meeting hall. This congregation was begun by brother Neph Sico and his wife Bing. Members consist of people from Aklan, Batangas, Cavite, Samar, and Cotabato. One of the new converts, in fact, is a lady whose father is a Muslim.

Another photo of those who attended that Sunday afternoon at Silang church of Christ.

Brother Neph Sico led the singing after Ed did the preaching.

Sister Bing Sico taught the Sunday school kids.

It was getting dark when we were about to finish. We did more singing in praise of our Lord before we called it a day.

After worship we all had snack of muffins and brewed coffee. Thanks!

Austin and his Awa Dioly doing some bonding after worship.

The two cousins, both grandsons of Ed, competing for the attention of their aunt Abby.

This cactus in front of the coffee farm owner's hut must be about fifty years old. The farm used to be a pineapple plantation.

One Sunday Morning at Tagaytay Church

Touch Point, near Foggy Heights, where I was to meet brother Emz Layco.

Emz Layco, minister of Tagaytay City church, came with his son Kevin.

This house in a subdivision near Picnic Grove is the temporary meeting place of Tagaytay City church. It is owned by sister Jeanette Maravilla, whose family hails from Tampakan, South Cotabato. Sister Jeanette is in the U.S. and is married to an American who is also a member of the Lord's church.

Those who came early for worship at Tagaytay church.

Emz led a few songs while we waited for the other Christians to come.

This young man, a former student of Sunrise Christian College in Butuan City, is a good song leader.

Members of Tagaytay church consists of the Maravillas of Tampakan, South Cotabato; a lady from Asingan, Pangasinan; the Laycos, the Blens, and a few others from Tagaytay.

Some faces you would find at church in Tagaytay.

Other faces you would find in Tagaytay church. Some members have gone abroad to find jobs, others migrated to Mindanao, and others transferred to Manila. Work is hard to find in Tagaytay City. Its main industry is tourism.

That's Ed Maquiling preaching. He came to Tagaytay for a vacation with his family.

The meeting place of the church as seen at a distance.

Two vacation homes nearby. Many of these vacation homes are owned by the well-to-do, built on lands only the rich can afford.