Dear Brethren and Friends,

Welcome to the Filipino Bible Fellowship!

Let us consider the blessings God has given us. We take most of them for granted but if we acknowledge them as from the loving hand of the LORD God Almighty, we can move forward this year, trusting in His tender loving care! God’s unfailing care of Christ BPC is one undeniable example. It started with a gospel outreach to Bro Carlo’s relatives, then there was the need to keep them from wrong doctrines and later God established a church, even ordaining a full-time minister. We have an awesome God! Trust in Him.

Testimony of Rev Jose Mangco, Minister of the Gospel, Christ BPC

It is indeed such a wonderful privilege and opportunity to share my testimony of the great and awesome work that the Lord has done in my life. I have been a victim of drugs for almost two (2) years. It has separated me from God’s love and mercy. I had lived my life as an ordinary person, naïve and carefree, not knowing what was my real purpose in this world, what my life was for and to where I was heading. I really had no goal and ambitions in life then.

My name is Jose Mangco, 43 years of age. I was married to Marites last 2009, and we are blessed with two children, namely, Alexes Loraine (11 years old) and Jose Angelo (6 years old). I was born and grew up in Naval Biliran, Philippines, as the youngest among four (4) children.

It was in high school when I started drinking alcohol and later tried drugs, specifically marijuana. It was out of plain curiosity and the quest for fun. After graduating from high school, my parents decided to send me to Cebu to pursue my college education at the University of Cebu. As a student, I really studied hard in order to finish my course so that I could start to make a living. However, it was not meant to be. During my third year of studies, a roommate of mine at our dormitory introduced me to a drug called shabu.

The first few times, shabu was provided free by my roommate. Later on, I found myself messed up by this drug. My addiction became so intense that my studies were made second priority. I even had to drop some of my subjects. I also began to cheat and lie just to acquire money and sustain my drug habit. During this time, I became heavily indebted. I never imagined that one day I would become a drug addict.

This situation led to a very miserable life. Slowly, I became aware that I was throwing my life away as well as my parents’ plans for me to have a bright future. I gave them great disappointment and shame. I have tried so many times before to get off my drug habit but all my efforts proved futile. I felt very hopeless and helpless. Then one day, I realized that I could not quit drugs on my own, and I really needed help. I prayed to God for help and indeed He works in mysterious ways. He used my sister, a born-again Christian, as an instrument to bring me to the House of Hope, a Christian Drug Rehabilitation Center in Cebu. By God’s grace, I was admitted at the House of Hope on October 30, 2001.

It was in the House of Hope that I came to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and personal Savior, thus paving the way for my salvation through His gift of grace. It was there that I experienced God’s abounding love and forgiveness. Then I came to understand that it was not the absence of problems and struggles that I can attain happiness, but it is in the presence of the Lord in my life that I can truly experience love, joy and peace. Love that always abide, joy that fills me overflowing, and a peace that surpasses all understanding.

After I finished my rehabilitation program at the House of Hope, God has put a burden in my heart to serve the ministry, hence I continued to stay on. There was a longing to learn and to know more of Him. Not a few of my brothers encouraged me to study God’s word full-time for they said that I have a natural gift of preaching. Actually, this was never manifested during my high school and college days. I have been praying that God will use me as an instrument to spread His word to the great multitudes. I am very sure He led me to the right path to study at Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC) in Singapore. By God’s grace, I graduated on May 2008 with a degree of Bachelor of Religious Education. After my graduation, I returned to serve in the House of Hope ministry.

I thank the Lord that through the years of serving in the House of Hope –though I worked with non-BP brethren, He preserved and enabled me to remain in the doctrines that I once received firsthand from FEBC. Through the years of serving, there was also a desire in my heart that one day God would use me to plant a church. My family and I have been praying for this burden and on April 2020, I decided to resign from House of Hope to return home for good.

It was Preacher Edsel Locot of Gethsemane BP mission church in Bohol who informed me that Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo with the late Mrs Jemima Khoo and some True Lifers were coming to Cebu on September 15, 2019. We then decided to attend the service to meet them. It had been 10 years that we have not seen them since we left Singapore. My wife, Marites, was so excited to see her former employer. Thank God for the opportunity to meet my former lecturers in FEBC.

I was then introduced to Bro Deccarlo Igot for further information about Christ BP Church (former Christ Bible Fellowship). I have learned that the church was short-handed when it came to preachers since he was still studying fulltime in FEBC. A few days later, I received a text message from Rev Lagapa about an endorsement from Dr Khoo to consider inviting me as one of the church preachers. It was then that the opportunity came to serve the Lord at Christ BP Church through pulpit supply, beginning September 2019.

By God’s providence, Rev Lagapa challenged me to consider praying whether it was God’s will for me to serve fulltime in CBPC. After much prayers and considerations, I submitted to God’s will for the full-time service in CBPC.

I praise and thank God for having this wonderful opportunity to serve the Lord and be part of Christ BP Church. What a joy to serve the Lord in sharing His precious word. Indeed God’s ways are higher than our ways. Although God had diverted my plan, I can see how God is fulfilling His purposes and plans for me through CBPC. Indeed, God’s plans are better than any of us could imagine.

It is my prayer that the Lord will continue to strengthen me and use me effectively to encourage His people through the perfect Word of God and for the furtherance of His kingdom. May the Lord find me faithful as I continue to labour for Him even in these last days!

The Rev Jose Mangco and family together with the Ordaining Council