After the one-and-a-half month of propagation from Regions 1-6, all the trainees were excited reporting their own experiences with Christ. I enjoyed the Lord to the uttermost because He gained me and I gained Him. Indeed, the longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows. After this sweet fellowship, I went home for the back-to-school conference in our place. After this one-day conference, the co-worker in our province told me that there is a sister who crazily loves the Lord in the place of San Agustin. The Lord gained this sister through the campus work at Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Manila. According to her, their family was the pioneer of the Methodist Church in their place, but through the intensified shepherding of the saints in Manila during her collegiate studies, she became clear concerning the truth in the Lord’s recovery and thus, was gained. Through this sister’s fervent prayer, her whole family in the province was also saved. Thank the Lord! With men all this is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Matt. 19:26).
The Lord commissioned us to go and preach the gospel in the whole inhabited earth, the gospel of the kingdom is a testimony to all the nations before the end will come. This gospel, which we preach includes the gospel of grace, bringing to people not only God’s salvation but also the kingdom of the heavens. Praise the Lord! We started sowing the seed of the kingdom on June 11, 2007 but Satan also started to work. Their co-member before in the Methodist Church persecuted them, telling them that they are crazy. Their “pastor” actually was the first one who attacked them. But the gates of Hades shall not prevail against the builded church. Truly the Lord is victorious and Satan was put to shame to the uttermost.
Hallelujah! The church in San Agustin, Isabela was established on June 17, 2007 with ten souls baptized who all attended the first Lord’s table meeting. The churches in Central Region II also participated in this call through prayers and financial support. Even in the midst of persecution, we still pursued and enjoyed Christ as the source of all. Praise the Lord! The Lord is the great One, the unlimited One, and the all-inclusive One who always fills us.
May the Lord continue to bless the church in San Agustin. Praise Him! May the grace and mercy of the Lord continue to abound in all the saints for them to enjoy the Lord and be transformed to become good materials for the building up of the Body of Christ. Glory to God! Amen!
A Reaping for the Lord of the Harvest
The Church in San Francisco Quezon
Through God’s sovereign arrangement, four saints from Dasmariñas, Cavite pressed on to Sitio Pili, Barangay Pugawan, San Francisco, Quezon to harvest corn. What turned to be a harvest for men became a reaping for the Lord of the harvest. When they arrived there the corn to be reaped was still unripe; thus, the Lord turned them to harvest the materials for His building. Following the Lord who granted them fervent love to Him and to His chosen vessels, the gospel of the kingdom was preached in the area. As real soldiers of the Lord, they were ready wherever they are sent—always bringing the armor and the weapon of the gospel. The issue was a victory for the indwelling One within them is greater than the one who is in the world. Within three weeks, the saints baptized 16 souls. As the Lord attracted the new ones, they began to love His word. Hence, out of their desire to dive into the truth, despite their lack of money and the opulence in life, they still managed to shell out the amount to purchase the Tagalog Recovery Version of the New Testament. Eagerly and frequently, the new ones uttered His word to whoever they meet. His word became their inexhaustible supply of the rich and sweet God. Though scarce in the luxury of life yet joy was maintained since Christ was lived out.
Two co-workers were sent to confirm the church. The travel from the city of Lucena to that area could have consumed eight hours if done at daytime. Hence, the co-workers with some saints from other locality headed off during nighttime. Traversing a dark and lengthy pathway of ascending, descending, and crisscrossing roads, the ride took four hours only. At 4:30 the following morning, the group finally arrived at Barangay Pugawan. Carrying loads of spiritual materials and physical provisions, including heavy makeshift lamps, the group had to walk for two more hours along the steep slope of the mountains to reach Sitio Pili.
Praise the Lord, all tiredness that fell on their bodies vanished as soon as they saw the joyful faces of the local saints. Having met for the first time, the happiness of such first acquaintance was unexplainable. The local saints manifested the proof of salvation. Having rested for a few hours, the group started the day by visiting and fellowshipping with the local saints in their homes. Deep within there was longing from the group that the truth in the recovery should be constituted into the local saints. The local saints were indeed hungry and thirsty for the truth. They want to devour the truth to the fullest in their home meetings. Due to the warm reception of the local saints, the group did not mind that the day was nearing its end. The group knew and enjoyed the Triune God in them. Hallelujah!
On the 16th of September, 20 saints were released for His table. More than entering into the kingdom, they also tasted the carrying out of what the Lord said in 1 Corinthians 11:26, which says, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you declare the Lord’s death until He comes.” The church in San Francisco, Quezon declared to the whole universe that she is for the Lord! Victory is the Lord’s!
Joseph Ramiscal