Dear Brethren and Friends,

Welcome to the Filipino Worship Service!

To God be the glory for all the things He has done in our lives! Let us not forget to thank Him for all the blessings He has given us. He is always good to us and though we failed Him many times, our Lord remains faithful. Make sure our hearts are full of thanksgiving for all the graces He has poured upon us.

As some of our brethren are going to return to the Philippines for good, let us be encouraged to continue on the work that the Lord has assigned for us here in Singapore. There are still many of our Kababayans who remain to be told to of the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. There may be only few who shall go with us for evangelism, let us trust the Lord will enable us.

Let us pray also for those who have been with us in the last few months but are not coming again. Consider especially those who did confess Christ and were baptized but lately are seldom seen or not even attending worship services. May the Lord be gracious and merciful to them. In today’s materialistic world, the Devil is doing his best to lure as many as he can into the temptation of “instant cash”! Please do not forget our theme verse before in the FilBF, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). Be assured of His care and provision! —JTGL

Testimony of Thessa B Lagapa

When I was first told that we were going to go to Singapore because my father had to study in Far Eastern Bible College, I couldn't understand and didn't even know where Singapore was (I thought it was in Australia). In the year 2009, I experienced a big change. The first four months were spent in Japan, the next three months were in Philippines, and then the move to Singapore. At the age of 9, I was just following where my parents went and didn't think much about the changes that were happening. But now, looking back, I thank God.

Many people outside of Singapore think that life here is a good life because it's a first-world country which is safe and convenient. However, though that is true, there were also many challenges that we experienced. The culture here is different. The way people interact, behave, talk and live was not something I was used to. That and many other things made adjustment difficult.

So I thank God for the people God sent to our lives to help us along the way. No words can express how grateful we are to the Lord for them. Most especially, I am thankful to God for the spiritual growth that I experienced here in Singapore. The constant and readily available feeding of God's Word is so rich and deep here and is surely something I will miss as I go back to Philippines to serve. Since young as a child, I grew up learning God's Word in a systematic way which filled my mind and heart with the knowledge of the Bible.

Not only that, God graciously called me to serve Him full time, which meant entering FEBC to study His Word and prepare myself. As a child watching my father go through the hardships of life in FEBC, I hesitated responding to God's call. But no matter how much I resisted and rebelled, God's call was irresistible. The 5 years of study flew by and here I am, waiting upon the Lord's will to know exactly where He wants me to serve.

Studying in FEBC was not easy at all. The academics demanded us to be wise with our time management and stringent in our research and revisions. At the same time, to learn not just for head knowledge but more so that we ourselves grow and become more and more like Christ. The duties demanded us to be faithful and honest though no one was watching and to give our best even in the seemingly small tasks. The duties showed our true colors because one is only faithful when he is faithful in the least. It also helped us to be humble and accept the corrections and rebukes. This humility would also then translate in how we also studied theology. The relationships with others demanded us to deny ourselves. It means helping others despite our own heavy workload and to do it willingly, happily and without expectation for any return of favor. It means loving and forgiving them when misunderstandings take place. It means attending to them with genuine Christian concern even if we have our own burdens and worries in our hearts.

On the other hand, though it was very trying, there were also many blessings. Spiritual blessings wrought from the hours of studying God's Word was as refreshing as water is to a thirsty soul in a dry land. Duties taught me to work with efficiency and to improve and develop skills such as cooking. Strong and wonderful friendships were established for a longer fellowship and comradeship ahead as we all looked forward to serving the Lord in different parts of the world.

Now, it is time to go into the harvest field and practice what I've learned from my teachers. Though it looks daunting ahead, one thing I know for sure and which I have personally experienced all these years is that God already knows. We just have to trust Him. Please pray for me as I seek God's will that I will "trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

Trinidad Bible-Presbyterian Church, Trinidad, Bohol

Last, December 2021, the Super typhoon Odette (international Code: Rai), destroyed many buildings and facilities in Bohol, particularly in the town of Trinidad. The house church rented by Trinidad BPC was damaged beyond repair. The immediate solution was the purchase of a container van. However, it became too small a place for the church. Praise the Lord for the provision of a piece of land (~200 m2). The Trinidad BP church building construction is now ongoing. God led Bro Jude Gabales to spearhead the processing and submission of the papers to get a permit which was obtained last May 19, 2023. The building is estimated to cost around 4 million pesos or 100 thousand SGD. We thank the Lord for half of the amount is now available. We just have to pray and ask for His favour that this building can be completed in His perfect time. Please pray also that through this many of the Boholanos will come and hear the gospel and be saved. Indeed, the Lord is true to His Word in Romans 8:28!

Let us also continue to pray for other missions stations (Christ BPC in Lapu-lapu, Cebu; True Word Bible Fellowship in Apas, Cebu City; Golgotha BPC in Valencia, Bukidnon; Christlife BPC in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon and Bantuanon Bible Study in Lantapan, Bukidnon) that the Lord will provide for their needs so that there be many who may come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. May the Lord establish also churches in Luzon with our current outreaches there in Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija and Vizcaya, and Antipolo, Rizal.

Trinidad BPC (Artist’s perspective): Front view (top) and back view (below)