Palawan Church Report June 30, 2012

My Dear Grace Chapel Partners,

I arrived at Puerto Princesa City, Palawan June 20th. Pastor Alagos and I returned from Palawan yesterday June 28^th. This was one of the highlights of my life. Many times each day I praised God for the opportunity to serve Him. Many times each day the Lord confirmed he was with me in my life and in the ministry He has set before me.

Finishing Our Current Work in Santa Lourdes, Palawan

We are almost complete, establishing the fifth church, in our mission, here at Barangay Santa Lourdes, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines. The congregation is assembled. The Pastor and his family have lived among them 10 years. The building will be completed within a week. There were 4 baptisms this last Sunday. Praise God!

Along the way our Lord has opened doors for us to start another church in Palawan.

Pray for our New Church at Barangay Tagumpay, Palawan

While building the church in Santa Lourdes, the Lord provided an opportunity to visit a barangay 95 kilometers north. This barangay is Tagumpay. Tagumpay means victory! It is a part of the municipality Roxas, Palawan, Philippines. There is no Christian church there. Pastor Alagos’ brother, Prodencio Alagos, is a Pastor living in Santa Lourdes. Pastor Prodencio is willing move to Barangay Tagumpay to plant and pastor the new church there. He has many family members and friends that live in Barangay Tagumpay. When we visited them, they are extremely excited to have a Christian church there. There is no place for Christians to worship. The result has been scattered sheep and no harvest of the lost.

Most of Barangay Tagumpay is a squatter’s area. They are the poorest of the poor. The Philippine government has given each family a small piece of land to build a home on. There are 9 surrounding Barangays that we can minister to. The Tagumpay River is connected to Barangay Tagumpay and has many homes. Some of the homes can only be reached by boat.

We traveled the river, but did not see any of the crocodile that inhabit the river. Pastor Alagos said he was sure they saw us.

At the mouth of the river is the Sulu Sea. Barangay Rizal is located there. It is only 10 minutes from Barangay Tagumpay by road. However, many will not be able to travel to Barangay Tagumpay as they cannot afford the expense. Pastor Prodencio was invited to start a Bible Study at Barangay Rizal. The Lord provided an opportunity to talk with a lovely senior lady who invited us and will host the Bible Study.

*Please pray that early September we will be able to go back to Palawan to dedicate the Santa Lourdes church and launch the new church at Tagumpay. Thank you Lord!

We Have A Plus!

Almost 4 weeks ago, we were invited to Sitio Franks in Barangay Mabasa, Antique to start a church there. Thank you Lord! This is close to where our 2^nd church Tabernacle of Praise is located. It is like Tagumpay as it is also a squatter’s area. This Barangay was destroyed by Typhoon Franks in 2007. The government bought the land and dedicated it to squatters. Each family is given an area of land to build a home. It is theirs long as they live there. It is deeded that way. Each piece of land is just large enough to build a small bamboo home.

We had 3 services at Sitio Franks already. The average attendance is 70. We believe this may become one of our largest churches.

Lord willing, we will start building the Franks church immediately. This will be church number 6. This one will be called River Rock Church Franks. Praise God!

Please keep us in your prayers. We will begin immediate construction of the church building at Sitio Franks. Barangay Tagumpay, church 7, will launch early September, 2012, Lord willing.

Only God!

I am as astonished as you are! When we arrived here less than one year ago, August 6^th, 2011, we were 3 churches. Now we are planning church 7 the first week of September 2012. ONLY GOD could do such as a work as this. Pastor Alagos and I have the next 5 churches in sight. We are laying plans for them now, Lord willing!

Only the Holy Spirit!

·         Only the holy Spirit could move the hearts of the cheerful generous givers for this ministry

·         Only the Holy Spirit could move the hearts of the faithful to unite in prayer for the lost and scattered sheep in the Philippines

·         Only the Holy Spirit could move the hearts of the Pastors wanting to join us

·         Only the Holy Spirit could move the hearts of the leaders in the barangays to clear our way

·         Only the Holy Spirit could move the hearts of the lost and the scattered sheep of the Philippines to repentance in each of these churches

Only in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

·         Only in Jesus name do we call the lost and scattered of our Lord to salvation and repentance

·         Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ do we proclaim

·         Only the Lord Jesus Christ’s Church do we establish in the Philippines

·         Only the hope of the Lord Jesus Christ do we offer to the hopeless

·         Only in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ are broken lives and families being healed

·         Only in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ do we ask the sick may be healed

Only for the Lord Jesus Christ do we live each day in His presence, His grace, and His power! Amen!

May our Lord, Jesus Christ, continue to bless us all,

Steve Bragg and Alejo Alagos