Mahal na mga Kapatid at Kaibigan,

Welcome po sa Filipino Worship Service!

Let us continue to pray for the Filipino ministry. As I have written last week, the increase of the number of Filipinos in Singapore from 72 thousand in 2022 into 182 thousand in 2023 is not by accident. Moreover, it is not by chance that the Filipino ministry in True Life BPC still exists until today. There is one and only one conclusion we can have from how God arranged all these: you and I are given the privilege to reach out to our countrymen for the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us remember what God has given us as our guiding verse when we started the year during our Anniversary Thanksgiving, “…Occupy till I come”! (Luke 19:13).

How? Let us ask the Lord for His directions. Let us pray and seek for His ways. From today onwards, we shall have our prayer time after the Sunday School for 15–20 minutes. Please come early, and let us take this opportunity seriously and serve the Lord faithfully. “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). - JTGL

Thank God for His Work in Luzon Missions

“Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the LORD, and see how they do.” (Acts 15:35–36).

The Lord is gracious to give us the privileges to start some missions work in Visayas and Mindanao. A year ago, the Lord opened the door for us to be a part of His work in Luzon. Last Friday evening, Pastor Jeffrey Khoo kindly drove me to the airport for my 2 am flight to Manila early Saturday morning, 20th April. I arrived in Manila around 5 in the morning to meet Theya and Thessa who were waiting to join me in the missions circuit trip to four provinces. Praise the Lord for Bro Jordan Tindaan who faithfully and lovingly drove us to the different missions stations. The long hours of drive were not easy, but thank God for the strength and skill He gave to our brother.

We are holding Bible Fellowships every 3rd Saturdays of the month in Bocaue, Bulacan (1) and Antipolo, Rizal (2). We are praying the Lord will permit us to have twice-a-month Bible Fellowships in Bocaue and alternately, a once-a-month Bible Fellowship in Antipolo and Urdaneta. In these Bible Fellowships, I preach on the gospel particularly focusing on “Who is God?” which underscores the attribute of God as a Spirit (John 4:21–26). In a very idolatrous Filipino culture, the idea of a God who is represented by images and statues is hard to unlearn. They must see it as God’s command against idolatry rather than a distinctive of Protentantism.

Bocaue, Bulacan

We are regularly holding Worship Services for the brethren in Sta Fe, Nueva Vizcaya (3, used to be in Urdaneta, Pangasinan) and Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija (4). A series on the Life of Christ through the Gospel of Mark is preached in these Worship Services. The importance of Jesus’ baptism was shared in the message on “Why Was Jesus Baptized?” (Mark 1:9–13). May those who have truly received Jesus as their Lord and Saviour will step forward for water baptism. I can understand their situation as I experienced also how hard it was for me to decide to be baptized. Only the Spirit of God by His grace can stir their hearts to submit to water baptism.

Antipolo, Rizal

The Lord be praised for His grace and goodness upon the missions stations. Although adults are few (8–10) in attendance in our Bible Fellowships in Bocaue and Antipolo, the children eagerly come to attend the children’s Bible classes under Theya and Thessa. We pray that the Lord will open the hearts of these adults and children to believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

The Lord’s blessings to our Worship Services in Sta Fe and Cabanatuan are indeed praiseworthy! We had a good number of attendees who are willing to hear the Word of God. Praise the Lord for our brethren who hospitably open up their houses for the Worship services. In Sta Fe, we worship using an extension beside the house of Bro Ricardo Mejedo. Just recently also, instead of renting a room in a restaurant, Dr Ronan Zagado was moved by God to open his house as our place of worship. Indeed, these are fruits seen in their lives as they give themselves for the work of the Lord.

I especially thank the Lord for the opportunity to share the Word to the daughter of one our visitors who has a desire to serve the Lord. I pray that if she is truly called of God, she will come to study here in FEBC. We need more workers today; I pray the Lord will call her and usher her here to be trained.

We had to take a late-night bus trip to Manila of more than 4 hours to get the early flight back here in Singapore and for Theya and Thessa to proceed to Mindanao. I arrived here around noon on Monday as there was a delay in my flight. With the age catching up with me, it seems this old cranky body of mine requires a few days to recover after a missions trip. But thanks be to God for His comfort! “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10).

Please do pray for these missions stations. Your words of intercessions to the Lord are sweet-smelling offerings unto Him, which He will surely answer because these are for His glory! Pray especially for workers. May the Lord call for preachers and teachers who will continue to nurture God’s people in Luzon.

Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija at Dr Ronan Zagado’s Residence