Muntinlupa Church of Christ Update:
January 6th, first Sunday of 2008 Muntinlupa church of Christ celebrated her 7th year of spreading the gospel in Muntinlupa city Metro Manila at Villa Aurea, Laguna. I preach about “Zeal in Serving God” the lesson was aimed to continue serving our creator in spite of the discouragement, the hardship and look forward to reigning with Christ, work in His kingdom and to be strong in the faith.
The kids and the youth had fun in the pool after the morning service, while the adults had business meeting making adjustment for the plan of the year.
The men of the congregation have decided to reset the target date of buying a piece of land to put the church building this December 2008. We will continue to solicit from other congregations or individual Christian who shared our views of cultivating the congregation here to be strong and become self supporting in the near future. Most of the members of the church here have committed themselves to this project and are willing to walk the extra mile and give sacrificially for the Lord. So that by the end of the year what ever accumulated amount of money will be use to finance the church building.
February 2, I officiated a wedding of our young people Renaliza Deang & Mar Enriquez. Both of them are working in computer based companies. I am really glad to officiate their wedding because both of them used to be my students in the college. Both of them obeyed the Lord and now they are married and serving in the Lord’s church at Muntinlupa. We are currently conducting home Bible studies in Renaliza’s parents who are devoted Catholics. We pray that God would open their heart to see the truth and obey the Lord. See the picture.
This is also one of the reason why I want to continue working with the college students in campus ministry because it is easier to approach them to obey the lord while they are still students than when they had become young professionals and become busy in this world. And since our location is also very close to the National Bilibid Prison preaching to them gives them hope to keep going and be close to their creator. And like I told you before we want to try to help them a little bit with food which they needed very badly. I promised them that I will raise money about $300 for them to be able to start a small store where the income generated from it will be used to subsidize their need. So if you feel like donating for this please send it to the church’s account.
February 3, first Sunday of the month of February I was invited to be the guest speaker at Kaloocan Church of Christ. I preached about the “Joy of serving the Lord”. This congregation inspire me because this is the congregation who has just had make their church’s building, a 4 level building but they got the money for their building from a dedicated Christian couple who are working in the Middle East. This is the newest in Metro Manila. And they have two full time workers in the church.
February 17, we went to Bo. Barretto Church of Christ in Olongapo City where I spoke on the topic of “Preparing to Meet Our God”. Then we shared our sympathy to the family of my first cousin Roel who passed away at the age of 41 leaving behind him 2 young daughters and her widow Rosel Gallardo. This family is very close to us and every time we go to Olongapo city we stay in their house. My uncle Eddie, Roel’s dad use to be the preacher of Barretto church of Christ until they moved to Alaska, and his reunion with his son was quite sad because it was at the funeral. Please see the pictures.
March 9, three couples in our congregation celebrated Silver wedding anniversary including us Greg & Fe, however it was already our 26th anniversary Rod & Eva also 26th and Boy & Cely is 25th but we collectively call it silver wedding anniversary. We just wear some fancy dresses and we had it during our luncheon fellowship where everyone brings their own meal and we just brought some extra food for the occasion so we did not spend much. But it gives joy to the congregation who insisted that we celebrate it this year. Our bonding to the congregation becomes more stronger and the congregation gets closer to each other. We also include our family picture.
This coming Wednesday march 19-22 will be the Metrowide Youth Camp, which will be held in Bugallon Pangasinan, there are 30 young people from our congregation would like to join it, however due to financial constraint perhaps only 22 will be able to attend the camp because it cost $30 per camper for their registration and transportation allowance. We are still trying to find ways to help them so that everybody can go. Then on April 24-27 the Ladies Retreat will be held in Sunrise Christian College in Butuan City, about 10 of our ladies wants to attend the occasion however they might not be able to go because it cost about $200 per person to attend the said activity for registration and airfare, I told them that I will try to ask some Christians abroad if they can sponsor 1 or 2 of the ladies who cannot afford but are really very eager to go. You can send any donation for their activity in the church’s account.
We will keep in touch.
In His service,
Greg Q. Gallardo, Jr.
Cubao and Marikina churches of Christ Update:
Visitation & Campaign…
The Balubad mission is doing great and God continue to use the mission team to reach out the kids and their parents to bring them to Christ. Every Sunday parents and some kids attended Sunday school and worship services at Twinville house Church.
Brother Sammy Rimorin as seen in the picture together with bro. Mike Altariba teaching bunches of kids new spiritual songs and kids enjoyed singing and listening Bible stories. While the parents studying the Bible under the tree with brother Danni. The mission team as part of their campaign has lunch fellowship with the parents at Balubad. They eat at banana leaves and “kamayan” eating style.
The mission team will conduct another campaign for vacation Bible school (VBS) next month.
Baptism …
New soul was added by the Lord in His kingdom last Sunday March 9. Eileen Cayabyab belongs to a catholic family and was known by brother Danni thru text messages and eventually they study the Bible. She decided to be baptized after almost a year of visiting and attending worship service. She is now faithfully attending service in Marikina and sometimes in Cubao.
Tutorial Center…
After a year of studying and learning some school basics at Friendship Road tutorial center, finally they received their diplomas and medals during the first graduation exercises. It was so nice to see them marching and patiently waiting for their names to be called. Parents were all encouraged during the graduation rites. They pledged to enroll their kids again on the next school year and continue to study the Bible. Brother Danni as part of his speech gives thanks to God and the Metro Manila Ministries in Kansas, USA.
MYC’08 …
Metrowide Youth Camp at Church of Christ camp site in Bugallon, Pangasinan was held during the so called holy week. There are one hundred seventy campers joined the four days summer camp. This year theme “BE AN EXAMPLE” was taken in the book of Philippians.
The youth once more renewed their faith in the Lord and become closer to one another. Brother Danni is one of the main lecturers and he discussed about the example of Christians in love. Every congregation in Metro Manila had their assignments in the whole duration of camp. The Pasig-Centennial congregation prepared the foods, the Cubao and Marikina in-charged in program, the Caloocan prepared the games, the Taguig was in-charged in logistics, the Lagro and Payatas was assigned in security and photo, and the Makati was in-charged in transportation. Unity among the Church of Christ in Metro Manila was strengthened by the annual camp.
Idann de Vera’s Graduation …
Finally, after six years of studying in Elementary level, Idann de Vera graduated on sixth grade. Brother Danni was so happy seeing his only son marching and receiving his diploma.
Wichita, Kansas Update:
Shirley Aquino and Remy Kingsley travelled to Tulsa, Oklahoma for the International Soul Winning Workshop on March 27-29, 2008 to promote Metro Manila Ministries. We have a booth display of the products from the Philippines and a display of what the ministry is providing in the Philippines. The speakers were great and we enjoyed going to some classes. We also enjoyed talking to people and meeting new friends.
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