MISSIONS REPORTS
Christ Bible-Presbyterian Church
Rev Jose Mangco
Christ Bible-Presbyterian Church in Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines is a missions outreach of True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church in Singapore. It began as a home Bible study, later named “Christian Bible Fellowship” when it moved to its current location in 2018. The work was started by brother Carlo Igot, who at that time was a student at Far Eastern Bible College. Burdened to reach out to his family, he served with the support and supervision of Rev Dr Jose Lagapa of the True Life BPC Filipino Bible Fellowship. Together, brothers Carlo and Jude Gabales took turns traveling from Singapore to conduct Bible studies. In those early days, only a small group attended the fellowship each Sunday.
Eventually, the name was changed from “Christian Bible Fellowship” to “Christ Bible-Presbyterian Church,” following the baptism of new members and the recognition of the group as a church. As a result, registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission was pursued and completed.
In 2019, I received the call from God to serve in Christ BPC. My family and I have been serving the Lord here ever since, and I thank God for His goodness and faithfulness. I praise the Lord for sustaining the ministry and for allowing us to preach and teach His Word, so that His people may be ministered to, nourished, and nurtured spiritually.
Praise God for His great salvation—so rich and free—offered to all. Over the years, the Lord has graciously added more souls to the church.
The church currently has a membership of 24, following the departure of six members when brother Carlo started his own church, Bread of Life Bible-Presbyterian Church. One member, the late sister Socorro (Carlo’s mother-in-law), passed away two years ago. Of the 24 members, eight are children. Two members are preparing to reaffirm their faith, Lord willing, at our upcoming 7th church anniversary.
Six individuals attend worship regularly, including three children. Two of the attendees are young adults who have professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and are currently undergoing catechism classes. Lord willing, they will be baptized during the church anniversary. Recently, a family of four began worshiping with us. We pray that they will attend regularly and come to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Last May, the church conducted its Vacation Bible School (VBS). This year, we held the VBS outside the church premises to accommodate more participants. We thank God that we were able to rent a covered court for the event.
Praise God that the current premises used by Christ BPC is becoming increasingly crowded due to the growing number of worshippers. The current church space can only hold about 35–40 people. Right now, we have 25-30 regular worshippers. The rent for the present apartment is about SGD250 per month, which we have been paying for almost ten years. We thank the Lord for His faithful provision throughout the years.
We pray that, in God’s good time and will, we might be able to purchase a property as a permanent place of worship.
Bible College of East Africa, Tanzania
Rev Dr Park Seungkyu
We give thanks to God for the start of the new school year at the Bible College of East Africa (Tanzania) on 4 August. With student numbers increasing rapidly to 35 (including eight new students), we covet your prayers for the smooth running of the college. Please continue to pray for our faculty, staff, and students.
Joyce has begun contributing to BCEA Tanzania’s teaching ministry through her online lectures this semester. She teaches English. Please uphold her in prayer.
From 11 to 20 August, mission teams from Korea and the United States visited us. Together with our college students, they spent several days conducting evangelism deep within the Maasai tribe, and they also organised a one-day Vacation Bible School at Chemchem Kindergarten. In addition, they held a dedication service for a new church building pastored by one of our alumni, the construction of which had been sponsored by the Korean church represented by the mission team. We give thanks to God for their faithful service and dedication.
My wife, Angela, and Joyce have been serving as interpreters for the Korean Fellowship under TLBPC. However, as you are aware, they have now completed their required coursework at FEBC and are pursuing their own ministries. This has created the need for a new interpreter. Park Ha-Kyung, a current TLBPC scholarship recipient, has therefore been appointed to this role and has already served for the past two weeks. We believe this will be a valuable training opportunity for Ha-Kyung.
GAPPI Getsemani, Batam
We thank the Lord for a fruitful time in Batam on 23 and 24 August. Elder Beng Lee and I went there for a twofold purpose: first, to look for a suitable campsite for next year’s church camp, and second, to attend the 17th anniversary thanksgiving service of GAPPI Getsemani and the dedication of the new parsonage. Our families accompanied us.
We had a blessed time of worship and fellowship with the brethren at Getsemani. Rev Shobastian, the pastor of the church, led the worship service, which was attended by about 70 members and guests.
We have been supporting Rev Shobastian since he began his ministry in Batu Aji six years ago. For some years, we have rented an apartment for him, his wife Murni, and their son Gerrard near the church. With the church land issue now resolved, it was decided that it would be good for him to live on the church premises itself. Calvin, the great Reformer, taught that a pastor should live near the church, but Calvin’s disciple, the Rev Dr Timothy Tow, went further by saying that a pastor should live in the church—to minister to members and visitors who come for help or counsel, and to double up as church warden. True Life BPC gave about $12,000 to GAPPI Getsemani for the building of a 70sqm parsonage (equivalent to a 3-room HDB flat).
On the Lord’s Day of 24 August, I preached from Psalm 127:1: “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Rev Tow had a memorable restatement of this truth, which he taught us as students: “Self-help with God’s help is the best help.” Now that the Lord has helped GAPPI Getsemani with the land, the members must do their part to build up God’s work and advance His kingdom. This means the pastor, now living in the new parsonage, must labour even more faithfully, and the members likewise must grow in faith, in the knowledge of God’s Word, and in good works. With the church firmly established on the solid foundation of the 100% infallible and inerrant Word of God, based on the divinely inspired and preserved Hebrew and Greek texts—namely, the Hebrew Masoretic Text and the Greek Textus Receptus, as declared in the GAPPI constitution—GAPPI Getsemani has all it needs to stand strong and grow both spiritually and physically.
After the service, the new parsonage was dedicated with praise to God, thanksgiving testimonies, and prayer. Rev Kiantoro Lie opened with prayer, followed by testimonies from Rev Shobastian and Dn Tobing, who represented the Getsemani Session and congregation. I was asked to pray the dedicatory prayer and cut the ribbon. Elder Beng Lee was tasked with opening the door of the parsonage, and Rev and Mrs Shobastian then led the congregation into the house. The house is well-built and painted white.
We also thank God for the True Lifers who joined us at the anniversary service and parsonage dedication—Mr and Mrs Roland Tay, and Mr and Mrs Seah Seow Hock with their sons Gary and Galvin. Gary was there with his wife Irma and their young son Elijah.
After the service, we enjoyed a sumptuous traditional Batak meal, with Saksang (pork stew)—a Batak delicacy served mainly on special occasions—which was my favourite. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. JK
