Happy New Year from Patnongon, Antique, Philippines

My dear Grace Chapel Partners,                                                                                 

I want to wish you all Happy New Year!

Pastor Alagos and I were busy the month of December 2011.

Besides our regular services at Grace Chapel and Tabernacle of Praise, we were the guest speakers for 6 churches for Thanks Giving/Christmas Celebrations, a Leadership Youth Camp, and 3 New Year celebrations.

Thank you for your prayers and support. Without you, this ministry would not be possible!

I will post a pictorial report in a few days when I go to a high speed Internet spot.

                                          

This picture is my laptop. This desktop picture serves as my daily reminder. It says, like Peter, I’ve gotten out of the boat. However, I could not do this ministry without my eyes firmly fixed on Jesus! Sometimes I miss this goal, but in spite of my faithfulness, the Lord is always faithful. I’m learning to walk and sometimes swim with the Lord!

2Corintians 8:3-4 I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could--far more than they could afford!-- pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians. NIV

My love and prayers are with you all,

Steve Bragg
Elder/Pastor
River Rock Church
& Grace Chapel Ministries
Serving in Patnongon Antique Philippines

Email: steve.bragg123@gmail.com
Grace Chapel Blog: http://gracechapelministries.blogspot.com/
Grace Chapel Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-Chapel/207519629261717 
My Story http://youtu.be/6C2DRT2vtjs 
Birth of RRC Esparar: http://vimeo.com/31760794
GET UP! GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH YOU! http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=140361 
Documentary: First Four Churches http://vimeo.com/33566496 

Donations: http://www.river-rock.org/giving.html

Merry Christmas Grace Chapel Partners!

Merry Christmas from the Philippines

My internet is too slow to send pictures or create something fancy. I have to travel to San Jose or La Parola to get a higher speed internet.

Many have asked, so I will let you all know that the flooding in the Philippines missed us. It was at an island south of us in Mindanao. Many are dead and displaced so please continue to pray for them.

For Steven and I this is our first Christmas in the Philippines. It feels more like summer. In fact, it is summer here. The Christmas spirit is excellent!

A lot of families are too poor to buy presents. The giving of gifts and Santa Clause seems to be less important.

Steven will only get one small gift this year. We have told him it is because we live in a different culture and explained the difference of his Filipino neighbors and family. Steven understands. Many times this past two weeks he has told me it is okay he only gets one gift. I believe he is genuinely happy to adjust.

The Christmas spirit here is more about Christ, it seems. Here is an example of what I mean. This is a quote from the Department of Education in San Jose. It reads in part, “To developing functionally literate and God loving Filipinos”.  All schools, including public school, celebrate with great activity Christmas.

My Christmas present from our Lord is being the guest speaker at 5 Churches the month of December. They are the San Rafael Christian Community Church, Hill of Zion Community Church, Buena Vista Christian Community Center, Tabernacle of Praise Community Church, and Gateway Church. For the November Thanksgiving Celebrations I spoke at Buena Vista Christian Community Center, Jesus is Lord Church, and Tabernacle of Praise Community Church.

I guess what amazes me most about speaking at these churches is preaching is not my gift. I believe the Lord blesses my passion and He is present with the Holy Spirit at these services. I have had the great honor of witnessing the Holy Spirit moving the hearts of these congregations.

I pray each of you have a Very Merry Christmas!

Thank you for your love and prayers for us,

Steve, Juliana & Steven

Documentary of our First Four Churches

This is a documentary of our first four churches in the Philippines. It’s only 15 minutes so enjoy!

Just click here and watch the video! http://vimeo.com/33566496

We establish the Lord Jesus Christ’s Church in the remote Barangays of the Philippines. Our goal is to plant a Christian Church in Barangays that have no church. Lord willing, we will plant 3 more churches this year in 2012!

Join and support us by contact me, Steve Bragg, at steve.bragg123@gmail.com You can also learn more about us at http://gracechapelministries.blogspot.com/

May the Lord continue to bless us all,

Steven Ray Bragg

My Testimony

GET UP! GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH YOU!

This is my story, my testimony, written for your encouragement of how I learned that not only I can get up after falling from the ministry, but also after getting up, how I can walk with God. To my amazement God is taking the broken pieces of my life and putting them together as a useful vessel for His glory and my joy.

Read my testimony on this link:

GET UP! GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH YOU! http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=140361

Steve Bragg
Elder/Pastor
River Rock Church
& Grace Chapel Ministries

Serving in Patnongon Antique Philippines

Email: steve.bragg123@gmail.com
Grace Chapel Blog: http://gracechapelministries.blogspot.com/
Grace Chapel Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-Chapel/207519629261717  
My Story http://youtu.be/6C2DRT2vtjs      
Birth of RRC Esparar: http://vimeo.com/31760794
GET UP! GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH YOU! http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=140361  

Donations: http://www.river-rock.org/giving.html

Tabernacle of Praise 4th Thanksgiving Anniversary Celebration

I thought I would share some photos of the Tabernacle of Praise 4^th Thanksgiving Anniversary Celebration this past Sunday. I was the guest speaker and Pastor Alagos was my interpreter.

Tabernacle of Praise’ pastor is Alejo Alagos, my friend and our partner in starting new churches here in the Philippines. Tabernacle of Praise was the next church started after Grace Chapel. Tabernacle of Praise is our model for starting new churches.

Almost a dozen churches where there to celebrate with us. Among them were our first 4 churches that we started; Grace Chapel, Hill of Zion, River Rock Church Esparar and of course Tabernacle of Praise. Also present where the churches that help us in our partnership of starting Christian Churches in Brgy’s where there is none. These Churches are Gateway Church, New Life Mission Church, and Tomyong Christian Fellowship. The other 6 churches present where church’s pastor Alagos has started in his 27 years of ministry. Pastor Alagos has amazingly started 27 churches in 27 years of ministry.

Pastor Alagos will accompany me this April 2012 to visit you all in American. We would love to meet with as many of you as possible               

May the Lord continue to bless us all.

Steve Bragg

Elder/Pastor
River Rock Church
& Grace Chapel Ministries

Serving in Patnongon Antique Philippines

 Email: steve.bragg123@gmail.com

Grace Chapel Blog: http://gracechapelministries.blogspot.com/
Grace Chapel Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-Chapel/207519629261717  
My Story http://youtu.be/6C2DRT2vtjs       
Birth of RRC Esparar: http://vimeo.com/user3366428/birth-of-a-new-church

Donations: http://www.river-rock.org/giving.html   

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

In America, we have the annual tradition that was started by our forefathers of being thankful for the Lord’s abundant blessings of the past year.

King David captured the heart of being thankful when he wrote “O LORD my God, You have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all Your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.” (Psalms 40:5 NLT)

In the Philippines, we also have the tradition of Thanksgiving. It is not based on historical tradition of a country but on the Church being thankful of the many blessings from our Lord. Each November the churches celebrate Thanksgiving. It’s a glorious celebration with food and guest speakers. They celebrate the years the Lord has blessed their church. All this month I went to churches celebrating with them.

I can tell you, after living in America the richest nation in the world and now living in Antique the poorest province in the Philippines, that God is faithful with blessings regardless of wealth or assets. God is indeed full of “wonderful deeds” “too numerous to list.”

Happy Thanksgiving,

Steve Bragg

Elder/Pastor

River Rock Church

& Grace Chapel Ministries

Serving in Patnongon Antique Philippines

Email: steve.bragg123@gmail.com
Grace Chapel Blog: http://gracechapelministries.blogspot.com/

Grace Chapel Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-Chapel/207519629261717

My Story http://youtu.be/6C2DRT2vtjs

Birth of a New Church: http://vimeo.com/user3366428/birth-of-a-new-church

Donations: http://www.river-rock.org/giving.html

Would You Like To Support And Partner With Us In Establishing Nondenominational Christian Community Churches In The Philippines?

Our target is the remote barangays of the Philippines that has no church. We bring the Gospel and establish His Church where there is none.

Our method is straightforward.

1. We obtain permission from the barangay officials.

2. We canvas and invite the people of the barangay to a 2 night Christian Concert Crusade. Jesus Saves Concert Crusade the banners read.

3. We bring the Gospel through song and preaching at the Crusade.

4. We get the names of those who come forward at the call.

5. We follow up and create home Bible studies.

6. We build a bamboo church and parsonage with steel roof and cement floor.

7. Call a pastor. We provide an income for one year and help him build a long term ability to provide for himself.

Tabernacle of Priase First Building 2007

8. The pastor continues to build and establish the congregation and work of the Lord in that barangay.

9. We provide ongoing training and spiritual support for the pastor.

Our goal is to provide a church a firm foothold. Later the congregations will replace the bamboo with concrete block and expand as needed. Tabernacle of Praise was just this way. They now have a bigger church building, and it is concrete block. It is a beautiful building. But more notable is the congregation is mature and in the active process of establishing more church like theirs.

Tabernacle of Praise congregation grew & matured
and built this nice concrete block church building

We have an established track record for this ministry. These are the successful fruits of our labor in the Lord.

1. Grace Chapel – Est. 2006

2. Tabernacle of Praise – Est. 2007

3. Hill of Zion – Est. 2010

4. River Rock Church Esparar – Est. 2011

Tabernacle of Praise 4th Anniversary
This is our model to establish more churches

As you consider your yearend giving, please consider this ministry.

You can make your online denotation or check to - GRACE CHAPEL

You can make this donation through River Rock Church. You will receive a receipt your charitable donation. RRC is a

You can donate online: http://www.river-rock.org/giving.html  

By Mail:

River Rock Church

2008 SE 8th Avenue

Camas, WA 98607

Phone: 360-885-9000

http://www.river-rock.org

Thank you for your love and prayers for our family and for the Filipinos. Many lives are being saved, and this blessing will last for generations.

Steve Bragg

Email: steve.bragg123@gmail.com

Grace Chapel Blog: http://gracechapelministries.blogspot.com/

Grace Chapel Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-Chapel/207519629261717  

My Story http://youtu.be/6C2DRT2vtjs       

Donations: http://www.river-rock.org/giving.html  

Birth of a New Church in Brgy Esparar

Click on this link to view the video Birth of a New Church in Btgy Esparar. It is 4 minutes.

http://vimeo.com/user3366428/birth-of-a-new-church

This film is the end of each of the two nights of the JESUS SAVES CONCERT CRUSADE at Brgy Esparar, Barbaza Antique, Philippines. Those saved at this Crusade are a new Christian Church at Brgy Esparar. They are a new portion of The Body of Christ. There is no other Christian Church in Esparar.

The Born Again Band presented the Gospel in song. Pastor and Evangelist Alejo Alagos presented the Gospel message, and call for Salvation. “The Lord added.”

River Rock Church, Camas & East Vancouver, WA, River Rock Church Philippines, Grace Chapel Ministries, and Elder/Pastor Steve Bragg are the missionary outreach.

Jesus Christ is The Lord!

2nd Night at Brgy Esparar Church Launch

Wednesday November 2, 2011

Jesus Saves Concert Crusade is what the banner read. His name was held high, His love was proclaimed clearly, and He blessed us all with His presents and glory!

The first night more than 20 people came forward at the call to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

The second night more than 60 people came at the invitation!!!! We estimate another 20% in the back raised their hands to received Christ, but didn’t come forward. Included to be saved the second night was the Brgy Captain. She took some criticism for allowing a “non Catholic Religion” crusade in the Brgy. Then on the second night she was the first up front at the alter-call. 

We estimated 200-250 people from the Brgy were there the second night. Plus, we were about 60 workers from Grace Chapel, Tabernacle of Praise, Hill of Zion, and Gateway Churches. Many Pastors from other Churches were there to help.

Pastor Alagos exclaimed Wow, thank You Lord, as the people literally rushed forward to be saved. Tears of joy streamed down my face as I watched in amazement the power of the Holy Spirit moving hearts to receive The Lord Jesus as Savior! Many of the pastors were visibly stunned at the response. Then quickly they began praying with them, and taking names for follow up.

All of your prayers for this new Church were answered. The Lord’s people both in the US and here were mighty in prayer, and the Lord had a huge harvest of His people in Brgy Esparar.

Please continue to pray for the follow up calls, and new cell groups for Bible Studies. We will have 4-5 cell group studies. In two to three weeks we will start building the church building, Lord willing.

I told Pastor Alagos this is a confirmation from the Lord we are in His will. Please keep us in your prayers that we continue in His will and blessing!

Psa 90:16 Let us, Your servants, see You work again; let our children see Your glory.

Psa 90:17 And may the Lord our God show us His approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful! NLT

Steve Bragg

Elder/Pastor

River Rock Church

& Grace Chapel Ministries

Serving in Patnongon Antique Philippines

Email: steve.bragg123@gmail.com
Grace Chapel Blog: http://gracechapelministries.blogspot.com/

Grace Chapel Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-Chapel/207519629261717

My Story http://youtu.be/6C2DRT2vtjs

Donations: http://www.river-rock.org/giving.html

First Night at the Brgy Esparar Church Launch

Tuesday November 2, 2011

After two weeks of intense planning, hanging banners, TV announcements, meeting with families, getting permits and permission from the Brgy officials, and door to door canvassing the concert, praise, and evangelism first night came.

The Reborn Band was a total hit! They were first-class and presented the Gospel in song. They are indeed blessed and talented. I learned that 60% of the Philippine population is young people. Their music and guest singers were on the mark for their audience.

Pastor Alagos gave the message. His message was powerful and blessed. We had a massive sound system that reached the entire Brgy. More than 100 people came out to the event and more than 20 received Jesus Christ as their Savior!

There were two more wonderful praises.

1. The lady I told you about before that we prayed for healing came tonight. Both she and her husband had received Jesus as their Savior when Ptr Alagos prayed for healing two weeks ago. She could not get out of her house because she didn’t walk well. Also, she had a rash that covered her face. Well, she walked to the concert and her rash was gone. The old skin was almost gone and new beautiful skin was appearing. She is a big testimony to the community.
2. Also, one of the leaders of the Philippine rebel Army (NPA) was saved. He is a significant leader among the men and boys there. Giving his life to the lord will have an enormous testimony in the Brgy. Please keep him in prayers.

Please keep night two, tonight, in your prayers.

We had rain on and off, so this is why many wore towels on their heads. This is common to see in the Philippines. J

Elder/Pastor

River Rock Church

& Grace Chapel Ministries

Serving in Patnongon Antique Philippines

Email:steve.bragg123@gmail.com
Grace Chapel Blog: http://gracechapelministries.blogspot.com/

Grace Chapel Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-Chapel/207519629261717

My Story http://youtu.be/6C2DRT2vtjs

Donations: http://www.river-rock.org/giving.html

Please Pray for Brgy Esparar Church Launch

My dear Grace Chapel Partners,

Please be in Prayer for:             

Ø  We will launch a new Church at Brgy Esparar, Lord willing, this Nov. 1 & 2.

Ø  The Launch is a two day concert, evangelistic preaching and prayers for healing at the Brgy Esparar center.

Ø  We have radio and local TV bulletins about the launch to the surrounding communities going on now, one week before the event.

Ø  We have 8-10 Pastors that will go door to door at Brgy Esparar two days before the launch. They will then come back over a 30 day period with follow up of the new converts and Bible studies.

Ø  The Pastor will be Pastor Alex. He is an Elder/Pastor and his family is from that community.

Please keep us in your prayers.

May the Lord continue bless us all,

PS The picture is Pastor Alagos and me.

Elder/Pastor

River Rock Church

& Grace Chapel Ministries

Serving in Patnongon Antique Philippines

Email: steve.bragg123@gmail.com
Grace Chapel Blog: http://gracechapelministries.blogspot.com/

Grace Chapel Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-Chapel/207519629261717

My Story http://youtu.be/6C2DRT2vtjs

Donations: http://www.river-rock.org/giving.html

Pray for our new Church launch in Esparar

Grace Chapel News Letter

October 17, 2011

My dear Grace Chapel Partners,  

I’m sorry; it has been awhile since my last communication. I have been busy preaching in many Churches. Each week is a new challenge for a new message. Preparing a weekly message is a new experience for me. The Lord has been faithful in helping me with my messages. I’m feeling comfortable delivering messages now. Thank You Lord! Some churches invite me back, and new Churches have asked me to come preach. Pastor Alagos is my friend and interpreter. The Lord has blessed me with my friend and partner Pastor Alagos. With the help of Pastor Alagos, this ministry is successful. Like Paul and Barnabas, we continue down the remote roads of the Philippines planting Churches where there is none. We also encourage Churches and Pastors along the way. My ministry is like Barnabas the encourager. Pastor Alagos’ reputation and contacts are remarkably used, by God, to open the doors for this ministry.

In the last News Letter, I shared with you a new Church we started to plant at Brgy (Barangay) Buhang, in Hamtic. We discovered there was already a Christian Church being planted there. Our desire is to plant Churches in remote Brgy that have no Christian Church. As a result, we turned over the Bibles studies to their care.

One Church I had the pleasure of sharing God Word is Gateway Church. Gateway is a Home Church on the beach of Brgy Poblacion in the Municipality of Laua-An.

Gary is the Pastor at Gateway. Gateway Church will be one year old next month. The Church is connected to their home. Both Gary and his wife are High School teachers.

Gateway’s Elder/Pastor Alex started a Bible study in the remote Brgy Esparar, Barbaza Municipality. Barbaza is an hour north on the coast road. Esparar is another ½ hour on a gravel road east toward the mountains. Eight other Barangays are in close distance. They could worship in Esparar. Pastor Alex said he visited a Barangay near Esparar that had never heard the Gospel. Witchcraft is practiced in many of the remote Brgys.

Last week and this week we met with two families in Esparar to make plans to start a new Church there. Pastor Alagos led a husband and wife to the Lord today. They are neighbors of our host family in Esparar. We now have three families! Thank You Lord!

We are working on using our church building in Esparar as an Alternative School for kids that have dropped out of school or could not afford school. The Alternative school program is a Philippine government program. The Philippine government will pay the salary of the Alternative School teacher. This is an enormously needed program in the Brgy. There are many school age kids in these Brgy that no longer attend school. Alternative school graduates are given preference in hiring for jobs. I could not imagine a better outreach program for the Esparar Brgy.

Today, we had a planning meeting to launch the Esparar Church, Lord willing. We met in front of Gateway Church on the beach under the shade trees. There are many projects needed to be completed to launch this new Church. Please keep them in your prayers. The target date for the launch is November 1^st & 2^nd.

Please keep this new church plant in your prayers. Many powerful forces have tried to prevent us from planting Churches here in Antique. We need your continuous and vigilant prayers. Your intercessor prayers on our behalf are essential. Thank you!

Eph 6:18  With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

Eph 6:19  and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, NASB

Many of you answered my plea to donate money for the land to build the Buhang Church on. That money will be used for our next Church plant. Thank you for your glorious generosity. It is because of your prayers and charitable giving we are able to plant new Churches where there is none. May the Lord return to you 1000 fold.

Luke 6:38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

I have met many of the High School kids that you provide scholarships for. Your scholarships are well placed. This is a blessed ministry. Thank you!

Thank you and may our Lord Jesus Christ bless you all richly!

Steve Bragg

Elder/Pastor

River Rock Church

& Grace Chapel Ministries

Serving in Patnongon Antique Philippines

Email: steve.bragg123@gmail.com
Grace Chapel Blog: http://gracechapelministries.blogspot.com/

Grace Chapel Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-Chapel/207519629261717

My Story http://youtu.be/6C2DRT2vtjs

Donations: http://www.river-rock.org/giving.html

The Cost of Buhang Christian Center Hamtic Antque Philippines

Serving in the Philippines

Monday August 22, 2011

The Cost of Buhang Christian Center

Hello Grace Chapel Partners,

Thank you

Again, this weekend was filled with joy and praise. What an excellent opportunity and privilege He has given us to love His people and children here in the Philippines. We, you and I, are indeed partners here in this Philippine Ministry. Without your love, prayers and generosity, my family and I would not be here serving in the Philippines and planting new Churches in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Together, with Pastor Alagos we have helped plant 3 Churches and we are in the process of establishing the fourth Church.

Praises

The new Church Buhang Christian Fellowship has enormous potential. Buhang is a large Barangay. There are other large Barangay in short distance that could easily be reached for the Lord through this new Church. We are praying this new Church will be across the street from the High School and Elementary School. These are large National schools. We are only a few kilometers from the St. Anthony’s College. Also, nearby are the Bible studies now taking place to establish this new Church.

The big praise was the study in the squatter’s area. Last week we only had about 12 attend. This week we had 30 children and 16 adults! Thank You Lord. We fed the children a nutritional snack. I mentioned last week a young man who had recently had his hand cut off. His name is Jun. Jun and his wife and son have opened their home for the study. I modified my message to reach the children. I pray the simplicity of the Gospel will also help the adults understand God’s passionate love for them.

I pray the Lord will help you experience the joy of helping these in greatest need of His love and salvation. Please pray the Lord will give Pastors Alagos, Zamora, his wife Jan and I the wisdom needed to minister here.

Please help

All of the Churches planted so far through Grace Chapel Ministries, and the many Churches Pastor Alagos have planted; each had the land donated for the church building. As a result, we have no budget to purchase land. However, this time it appears we will need to purchase land. I believe it is because we are so close to schools. All of the available lots are for sale and none to be donated. We have the possibility to purchase an excellent site with exceptional growth potential. This site is the same cost per square meter as the others. This one is the same cost and best location. We will be the only Christian Church in this and surrounding Barangays.

Another blessing is the school system will allow us to open an alternative school in this church building and will pay the teacher’s salary! This will be a tremendous outreach to educate the less-fortunate children. We will be a school during the week, a place to worship on the weekend and a facility to launch ministries to the community.

Can you help us purchase the land? It is 200 square meters for 100,000 pesos. It is about $2400 plus another $500 to prep the land to build the church building and parsonage. You may give to Grace Chapel through River Rock Church, Camas, WA.

Prayer Request

Please pray for the second Buhang Bible study. Last week and this week the host family had deaths in the family and funerals the same day as the study. Pray for the Lord to minister to them Lord. Pray that we will be able to minister to them.

Please pray for Julian and I as parents for Steven.

Please pray for me. I have considerable difficulty remembering people’s names and places. I also have even greater difficulty with the language.

Please pray for Pastor Alagos and his family. Pastor Alagos is both a full time school principal and Pastor/Evangelist. Pray that I will be a help and blessing to him and his family.

Please send me your prayer request. I will hold you up before our Lord.

One more Blessing

Pastor Alagos took me to the top of one of the mountains to give a message of encourage to a Church he helped planted 6 years ago. Their hospitality was a great blessing. Pastor Alagos worked with another retired missionary couple the Robinsons from Washington, England. Together, they established the Buenavista Christian Fellowship. Please pray for Mrs. Robinson as she is now suffering from cancer.