MISSIONS BIBLE CENTER

Dr Jose Lapaga

With full support from our Pastor and the Session of True Life BPC, FilBF has started the Missions Bible Center in Bukidnon, Philippines. It is administered by Dr Einstine Opiso and activities are overseen by Mrs Patria Solidum. We are renting a two-room apartment which serves as the office and living quarters of our full-time missionary Aprilaiza Sible. The main work is translation of the Read Pray Grow (RPG), Revival Hymns and Choruses (RHC) and Children’s Sunday school materials into the Cebuano dialect. She is also involved in facilitating the preparations for the upcoming Pastors and Leaders Bible Conference and Vacation Bible School (VBS) Teacher’s Training in December 2019. She is also involved in other ministries mentioned in her report below.

Missions Report of Aprilaiza Sible

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

I greet you all in the blessed name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

I thank the Lord for the opportunity to write a ministry report about the work here in Bukidnon Philippines and my testimony also. I am so grateful to God for giving me countless blessings as to labour for Him.

When I was in Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC), I was thinking about what I should do after I graduate. Many a time I saw myself as a useless person—a person who could not even think of what I should do later in the ministry. As I look back at those worries in my heart, I felt ashamed. Right after I graduated from FEBC and returned home, God opened my eyes and I saw that there are indeed many things to do.

I desired to serve in my home church—Dagumbaan Fundamental Baptist Church—to teach the young people. God allowed me to conduct our first young people’s prayer fellowship in my home church. This prayer fellowship has been continuing for about four months already. I thank God for using me to teach them from the Book of Ecclesiastes.

Another opportunity to serve the Lord came when I relocated to the house in the city in August, to serve Him through the Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) in Central Mindanao University (CMU). When I left this university in 2015, I entered FEBC the same year. I thought I would never come back. However, God sent me here again not to study but to teach the CSF ladies every Tuesday evening.The men are taught by a youth pastor from a nearby Fundamental Baptist church. Thank God many students have been coming. There are at least 30-plus students who attend the CSF meetings, about 15 women and 15 men. Thank the Lord that many are putting God first in spite of their busy schedules in school.

Every Friday afternoon, we also have CSF evangelism. Only three or four of the students are willing to join in the evangelism to the university students. Nevertheless, every time we share the gospel, God is blessing and showing us that what we are doing will not be in vain. None of the evangelized students came to our fellowship but we trust in the Lord that someday He would bring some or at least they will be saved through the gospel tracts given.

In addition, every Friday night after evangelism, we have CSF ladies overnight. Our purpose is to reach out and get to know the ladies personally. We not only have some talks but also learn God’s Word which is our priority. We invited other ladies in the CSF to join us, but out of 15 plus ladies in the fellowship, only two of them are regularly coming. However, we are not discouraged and we should never be discouraged for God’s Word reminds us, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt 18:20). We praise and thank God for these few students in our midst.

By the way, I thank the Lord also for another opportunity of service which is to translate Sunday school materials. I pray that these materials would help our Sunday school teachers here in our locality.

I thank the Lord for using me in many ways. I could say that I am undeserving; neither can I boast of anything I am doing because everything I have now is from the Lord. I also thank God for comforting me when I feel so lonely sometimes. He provided some good Christian friends whom I could talk to about my struggles. Until now I am still trying to adjust staying alone in the house every day. Life being alone is very different from the life I had in FEBC, where I had some roommates with me. Of course, I still need to draw my strength from the Lord, and I get comforted also when I go out to join the fellowship where I could see different faces. I thank God because He knows my every need.

I have learned many things in the ministry. Firstly, that success in the ministry is not based on numbers but faithfulness and endurance. Secondly, that I should always learn to encourage myself in the Lord because people or family may be there, but it is God who gives more encouragement and that is what I need most. Thirdly, that I should always trust in the Lord and commit everything I do in prayer. Especially when I teach, I have to pray that I won’t teach God’s Word based on my own opinions but to let the Bible speak.

I thank God for being so good to me and for providing for my needs. Do always remember to pray for me to do my best to serve God. Do also send my regards to my FilBF family, I miss the time when we were together, I miss them so much. I am continually praying for the FilBF that the people who come and join in this fellowship will find peace, comfort, and Jesus Christ, as they listen to the Word of God. I pray that they will continue to be faithful and continue to have this joy in serving Jesus! To God be all the glory!

In Christ, Aprilaiza

FilBF and Missions Update

Please allow me to give some updates regarding the FilBF and True Life BPC missions in the Philippines.

1. Thank the Lord for the blessings upon the FilBF. The FilBF is not growing much numerically but I believe the Lord is working in the spiritual growth of some members. There have been some who were baptized but stopped attending. We trust that you will continue to pray for us. Thank the Lord for the increase of True Life BPC members who are actively involved in evangelizing the Filipinos. Besides Elder and Mrs Ho and brother Sam Goh, brother Ben Lim and his wife Grace, the family of brother York Chiu are joining us for evangelism on Sundays.
2. Praise the Lord for the Christian Bible Fellowship (CBF) in Cebu.
1. CBF has now Pr Jose Mangco (FEBC graduate) preaching in most of the Lord’s Day services (he is also preaching in the House of Hope once a month).
2. Rev Reggor Galarpe still comes regularly on the first Sunday of the month. It is proposed that Rev Galarpe will serve the Lord’s Supper every first Sunday as there are baptized members who are now attending the CBF. He is willing should there be a go-signal from True Life BPC (Ed: the signal has been sent).
3. Sister Agnes Gabales is appointed as the CBF Treasurer as there is a collection of tithes and offerings during worship services. She is to submit a year-end financial statement to the True Life BPC.
4. Since CBF is presently not yet able to support itself, FilBF is proposing to give financial assistance every month.It is suggested that this will be taken from the monthly Petty Cash through sister Wella Heng. Brother Jude Gabales is to send the amount to sister Agnes Gabales, the CBF treasurer. As of now, CBF does not have a bank account since it is not yet registered as a church in the Philippines.
5. God willing, brother Deccarlo Igot will seek to apply for CBF to be registered into a church this December. The proposed name is Christian Bible-Presbyterian Church [Pastor’s suggestion: “Christ Bible-Presbyterian Church”].
3. Praise God for Trinidad BP Missions. As Pr Gayon will be moving to a new place in November 2019 where Sunday meetings can be held, we will have the first worship service of the Trinidad Bible-Presbyterian Church on December 8, 2019. God willing, Mr Chev Gonzales’ family and others will be attending the Lord’s Day services. My family and I are planning to attend that first Lord’s Day service as we are in the Philippines at that time (DV).
4. Please pray for the Esperanza BP Missions. The work for the repair of the house resided by Pr Ronel Libertad is soon to commence. Roofing and provision of chairs are significant requirements to start the children’s ministry there.
5. Thank the Lord for the TLBPC Missions Bible Center in Bukidnon. The Tagalog edition of the RPG on Salvation Q&A is now with Mrs Patria Solidum for final editing. The first Cebuano RPG translated by sister Aprilaiza Sible is now with brother Jude Gabales for editing. God willing, this will be published as the January–March 2021 issue.
6. Please pray for the ministries in the Philippines this December 2019:
1. Pastors and Leaders Bible Conference, December 2–5 at Central Mindanao University (CMU), Musuan, Bukidnon. Plenary speaker: Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy and other speakers include Rev Galarpe, Elder Ortega, and me.
2. VBS Teacher’s Training, December 16–19 also at CMU. Speakers: Jenny Kan, Judy Lee and Celeste Lagapa.
3. A Youth Bible Retreat in Gingoog Fundamental Baptist Church and a special meeting of the Christian Students Fellowship (CSF) in CMU are also scheduled.
7. FilBF is currently supporting Johnerey Ebin who is now studying in Gethsemane Bible Institute (GBI) in his second year. Another student, Warly Sinonlay, just entered last July. Both are helping the CBF especially in the children’s ministry.

Ladies’ Bible Study of Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) at Central Mindanao University