December 2015
Truly God is gracious to his children who are faithful in serving him! Our church chairman, Mr. Melliza, is managing an Auto Parts Supply store that is owned by his sister. It has been a blessing to them because he now has the time to join in whatever activities that the church has. Before in his past job, he couldn’t attend church; his employer required him to work on Sundays. Now, Mr. Melliza is faithful in going to church. God can see his heart and put him in a work where he manages it with the guidance of the Lord. We praise God that his sister was able to know Christ. She is a blessing to the church and she in now staying in Manila with her family and is involved in the church there.
It has been four years now that the business has been going. Mr. Melliza’s desire is to reach out to his fellow employees and other friends around the store. We have already started our Bible study and the response has been good. There have been professions of faith, accepting Christ as their Savior. We have our study the first Monday of the month. It was also good for his mother as I can minister to her; she is staying at the store and cannot go to church anymore, as she can’t sit for very long.
I am blessed for people like Mr. Melliza! In his workplace, he makes it a point to be used by God, and that his friends and fellow workers will have that personal relationship with God. If more Christians have this type of burden for souls, like him, I’m sure we can bring more people to Christ and minister to them.
- Pray that God will touch those hearts that have accepted Christ so that they will know more of Him as time goes on in our monthly Bible study.
I would like to share with you a personal testimony from Rodrigo.
“I am Rodrigo and I am 20 years of age. My father doesn’t have a steady job and my mom is a full-time housewife. We are poor financially, but became rich spiritually when we got to know Christ Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior.
We got to know Christ when my niece went to a learning center at Bacolod Bible Believing Christian Church in Pahanocoy, where Pastor Noel Pacina is a pastor and Pastor Raul is the senior pastor. At the learning center, we are scheduled to have a home Bible study as part of the school rules. We were also invited to go to church anytime there are activities, and the students give a presentation. One time, my family went to church and later accepted Christ; my sister, in-laws, and parents became very active in church. For me, I was going to church, but I was not totally into it. My life had no direction. I was driving a bicycle with a sidecar (we call it a “trisikad”), and with my small earning, I would spend time with my friends and we would smoke and drink until we became drunk.
Then there came a when time I joined the youth camp, and decided to enter a Bible school. My parents were glad with my decision. When I went there, it was a big adjustment and I was not used to disciplining myself in the areas of time management and general discipline; I became bored and tired. I stopped attending and returned back to the same lifestyle from before for several months. My mom gave up on me and brought me to Mindanao where I have an uncle who is a pastor. I was there for months, but there was no change in me at all. It also affected the testimony of the church too. My family agreed that I should go back to Negros.
When I returned, I was back to a life that I was used to. I picked up from where I left off—driving a “trisikad” with my small earnings going to my vices. But God did not give up on me because last July, I met Pastor Raul Remada. This was the first time, in a long time that I went to church. There, I saw young people who were my friends during the days that I went to the Bible school, and we had good fellowship. Without my knowledge, my mother talked to Pastor Raul and told him about my problems and that they were struggling. Pastor Raul then took the opportunity to talk to me while my mother was crying and Pastor Noel was listening. Pastor Raul told me that “life is short, why waste it,” and he let me know and feel that he is willing to help me. He said also that maybe I can go with him to the training school in Talisay.
After several talks, I was convinced. This time, without any clothes, I went with them. From then on, there were trials and challenges, but now I was convinced and ready to fully commit my life to God. I am thankful that little by little God is shaping my life into the kind of person he wants me to be. Those worldly lust and desires were changed into the totally surrendering of me to God.
- Please pray for Rodrigo, for his struggles, and that God will guide him in his walk with the Lord.
It has been two years since I have prayed and planned to invite Pastor Leo Ordiales, from Negros (he is the Field Director), so he could see how God is working and also see the needs of the ministry here. It was not in God’s timing to happen that time; his schedule had already previously been set. During our Evangelistic meeting in Tayasan and Siquijor, I invited him to be our speaker for our 7th anniversary at Bacolod Bible Believing Christian Church, under Pastor Noel. I also told him that we would additionally conduct a seminar for Bible students and young pastors; I think it will best help them as they start to work in the ministry. We prayed for that, and God made it possible. Last October, Pastor Leo arrived at our place, and I invited the young pastors and Bible students from different schools to attend the seminar.
Prior to the church anniversary, we did some renovating. Despite the church not yet being financially stable, we were able to build a new comfort room (the one before was temporary) for men and women. For a few weeks, the bible students helped us. I was very thankful that they were they to help, as we will have extra expenses when we hire another carpenter. God is doing amazing things for us to complete the job. He is provided everything we needed on a daily basis. We appreciate His power! Thanks be to God for that, I am thankful for His marvelous works.
When we celebrated our 7th anniversary, each church had their worship done earlier, so that we could all join together in the celebration of Bacolod Bible Believing Christian Church. Each church brought a menu to be shared for our lunch; the food was good and everything was organized. We heard a very challenging message and everyone enjoyed the Word of God. During this time, fellow members from different churches got to visit with one another, fellowship, and testify how God is faithful. It warms me to see all of them; I appreciate how the Lord has used me to get people involved in the ministry. It was such a very good time and many pastors were blessed. I am overwhelmed that God uses me for pastors that have the idea of church planting, with Pastor Leo as a coach. It was a whole day event!
After the celebration, in the evening, I had the privilege of preaching at my grandfather’s wake, whose family members are Catholic. I was so happy because I saw my relatives and that was an opportunity to share the Word of God with them; they responded positively. Church planting is very idealistic in reaching your relatives too as they are already in the community. I am thankful to be part of the White Fields mission where I can start up more churches here in Negros (my partners are in five different churches together with Pastor Leo).
- Please pray that the Lord will work in their lives and that one-day we will join together in serving God.
I am also praying for another door of opportunity. I started praying for Silay City years ago, that God will allow me to put up another church there; it is a city next to my location. I am waiting for God’s timing as He is revealing to me prospects and a proposal for this. It does take a lot of prayer and planning before starting, with ministries and activities being part of it. Being the Senior Pastor of five churches is not easy, but I am blessed that God allows me to be a part of His Kingdom and to have partners such as White Fields and resident pastors of the five different churches. It is God who helps us as we do His great commission. I fully trust God for wisdom in every decision made.
- Please pray that God will continue to provide so that I can sustain these ministries.
- Pray for the members’ spiritual growth and for partners to see the need of the ministry.
- Pray for provision for family needs and also for the schooling of our children.
- Pray that I have even more passion for souls and also for good health so that I can plant more churches by God’s grace.
Pastor Raul