THANK YOU EVERYONE

RIVER ROCK CHURCH PHILIPPINES 

Thanks you for your prayers, love, and generous donations to make the ministry to Filipinos possible.

Our mission is to plant New Testament Churches in the remote, isolated areas of the Philippines, where there is no other Christian Church, which loves their community in Jesus name.

Fulfilling the Great Commission

“Therefore, as you go, disciple people in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I've commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).

Fulfilling the Great Command

“He answered, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. And you must love your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10:27).

Pastor Steven Ray Bragg

Missionary to the Philippines

Feeding More Kids

Hello RRCP Partners,

Thank you, Harvest Pack and ICM for you love and care.

Fourteen of our twenty-eight Philippines churches are on the island of Palawan.

On Palawan, Harvest Pack is supplying the food packs through ICM to feed our malnourished kids.

All of our churches are in remote areas of the Philippines where malnourishment is high. Harvest Pack and ICM are answers to our prayers.

Each of the fourteen churches is feeding malnourished children for one month. The feeding programs are held at the church, elementary school or Barangay Hall. The elementary principals, teachers, and Barangay officials participate in the blessing. 

Your partner in ministry to Filipinos.

Pastor Steve Bragg

___________________________________________________

ONLINE DONATIONS: https://actscamas.breezechms.com/give/online 

• Create an account if you have not already.
• Use the Operation Philippines or River Rock Philippines drop down and proceed.

BY MAIL:

• River Rock Church 3520 NE 3rd Ave, Camas, WA 98607.
• Make the check to River Rock Church Philippines

“The King will answer and say to them,
‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them,
you did it to Me.’ (Matthew 25:45).

Good News All Around

Hello RRCP Partners,

Good News! Thanks to the generosity of Acts Church I’ll be able to attend the Winema Week of Missions in Cloverdale, OR.

Request: As usual I’m looking for a vehicle to use July 30 thru August 10th. I know not everyone has an extra car, but maybe one of you may have? Please let me know if you can help.

More Good News! We started the T.E.E. study (Theological Education by Extension). We have 28 pastors, teachers, and teens in the two-year course. Praise God! Thank you Lord.

Our goal is “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12, 13). Amen!

Please pray the TEE course will the same effect for our churches on the Palawan Island. We hope to start the course there soon.

More More God News. We are now fully funded, thanks to the FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH of PHOENIX FOUNDATION to start construction of the church building for our Barangay Salvacion church, Puerto Princesa, Palawan Philippines. 

Your partner in ministry,

Steve Bragg

Qualities of Church Leadership - The Man of God

First, by way of criticism let me establish a comparison to the Man of God. Many churches have gone the way of the business model. Formulas for success and copying successful models seems to be the signs of the times. Business models produce a product of large churches. The success models produce the same.  Although Biblical education is important, education now has replaced the sold out man of God who is filled with the Living God in his heart and soul. The man of God may be overlooked due his lack of an MA and so on. Books abound on success formulas and models. But what I’m not seeing are books and teachings of the power of service through holiness. Serving by the dedicated life and humility. The man of God serving in, by and through the awesome power of God and His blessings.

So the comparison is the business model produces mega churches via messages and programs geared to produce the product of multitudes of people. The Biblical model would be a man of God humbly but in the power and blessing of God speaking repentance to hearts resulting in thousands hearing the call of the Gospel unto salvation.

One of the interesting introductions I have encountered in the mission field is the “Man of God.” Rather than business and success models, I believe we need a more Biblical model of holy men of God in this day of evil rather than men willing to tickle ears and pursuing the appetites of their own desires and fame. “Whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things” (Philippians 3:19).

The “Man of God” leader.

I know many leaders answer the call of God and are willing to drop their nets and follow Jesus Christ. Men willing to lose their lives and then find the power of God serving the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

An interesting study is a term the “man of God” in the Bible. It is mentioned numerous times in the old and New Testaments.

Deu_33:1  Now this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the sons of Israel before his death.

1Ti_6:11  But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.

1Ti 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

2Ti_3:17  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

So number one, we need men of God. Men who have given it all up and continue to give up the world (1 John 2:15ff) to serve their Savior.

Second, are men who love God with all they have and all they are, Luke 10:27. Men who love God so strongly there is room for nothing else. Men who will love His people. Men who are willing to give their all for His people. “Have this attitude in yourselves” (Philippians chapter 2).

Third, and important is men of God filled with the Spirit of God.

Act 5:32  "And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."

Rom_8:9  However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Rom_8:14  For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

1Co_2:14  But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually appraised.

The Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit of God, is not impotent as many would want to believe. He is powerful and active in the lives of God’s men: God’s Church! He is the third person of Elohim, and He is not dead! The Holy Spirit is more than a seal. The apostles and leaders of the early church needed the power of the Holy Spirit so why would we as leaders of His Church today want to deny it. If we preach the Gospel of Jesus, we will need all of God including the power of the Holy Spirit.

Number five is we need men of God who pray. Men who understand that to accomplish the ministry given to us by God, we need to be in continuous communication with Him. Men who follow the simple instruction of our Lord’s example of prayer in Mathew 6 with praise and focusing on His will. When we move in His will, He answers our prayers in even greater ways than we can imagine. When we are in His will and ask to accomplish it, then He goes before us, because His will is providential and insured by Him. If we are in His will, we will see and experience the power of God in the task before us.

1Jn 5:14  This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

1Jn 5:15  And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

 Act_4:31  And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

Last and most important is this is His Church, not ours. He is responsible for the success of His Church. It does not come from business or success models or education or talented people. It comes from God and Him alone. If we are accomplishing His will of sharing the Gospel unto salvation, then He adds daily. We are simply vessels for His use. If we are His vessels, then we walk confidently in His power and with His blessing. If we are His vessels, then we are His men: the man of God.

The Church comes by the power of The Confession "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Because as Jesus said “upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” Matthew 16:16ff). 

Therefore, we are only His servants and not His lords. He is its Savior, and we are not. 

We are not the leaders of His churches, but men of God in His Church.

His Church was purchased and is guaranteed by His blood and only His.

Act 20:28  "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

A good read is Acts 20:17-38.

Church leadership must be men of God: the Lord’s shepherds and leaders in His Church.

For a good comparison and enlightenment for shepherds are first read Ezekiel 34 (bad shepherds) and then John 10:11-18 (The Good Shepherd – good shepherds). (Thank you, Dr. David)

I pray we are not the hired hand, but men of God (a man of God) laying down our lives and sacrificing our lives, all for Jesus and His sheep: His Church.

Sincerely,

Steve Bragg

My Testimony & Praise to My Trustworthy & Faithful God

MY TESTIMONY 

of my Lord’s awesome care for my family and me.  

Psa 91:9 If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,
Psa 91:10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.
Psa 91:11 For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go.

I’m thinking about this promise in my life: the miraculous times of His protection here on mission in the Philippines.

I pray that I have made My LORD, The Most High my life. I try to count on Him alone for everything. Although I’m not perfect in this, it is my daily desire.

VERSE 11 RINGS OUT FOR ME. I know His angels have protected me, my family, and my mission companions countless times that I know of and who could know the protections that I don’t know of. Like, traveling to San Jose and back without incident.

So today, I began to think of times my Lord’s angels have saved me and my mission companions from accident and even death.

These are not in order but as I remember.
1. The Lord took me, Pastor Alagos and Edna through about a dozen men armed with hatchets and machetes which had gathered to ambush and behead us. We traveled through the center of them, and they seemed to be frozen and did not reach out to hurt us.
2. We launched a church with a heavily armed police escort to protect us from the violence of men who killed others before when they tried to start a church there. There was no incident. That church is now called Victory Christian Church and is doing well. I believe our Lord’s angels are on full-time duty there to this day.
3. I incorrectly opened my car radiator and boiling water exploded all over me. I received NOT ONE BURN!
4. Pastor Alagos and wife Edna were traveling home from a mission late one night during a typhoon. Their motorcycle stalled just before a washed out bridge. Had the motorcycle not stalled they would not see the washed out bridge and gone into the raging water. The motorcycle ran fine after that to get them home safe.
5. For two years, weekly, we traveled home late at night as much as 200 kilometers during heavy rains, high winds, and typhoons and always we arrived home safe.
6. Traveling long distances, soaked from the rain and wind we did not get sick.
7. We crossed many rivers with fast water wading and also on motorcycle safely.
8. While traveling at night weekly for almost two years, avoiding dogs, carabao, cows, bulls, drunk drivers and drunk men in the middle of the road, we always with only close calls arrive home safely.
9. A dog viscously bit my hand and left no wounds or marks. There was only thick saliva left on my hand.
10. Our home has been protected through every typhoon.
11. In almost five years in the mission field, we have had no major illness. We are exposed to mosquito diseases of dengue, chikungunya, malaria and also tuberculous and typhoid fever, and yet we are well.
12. At age 67 years old, I’m in good health and strong mentally and physically. Thank you Lord!

P.S. We are tithers and also give generously to those in need. I say this not to brag or be prideful but as an encouragement of how faithful God is when we trust Him.

Ephesians 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,"

1. Even though I was two years unemployed in the USA and went to zero dollars with no income in sight, we have never gone hungry or been homeless.
2. Our mission work and personal lives are generously blessed in the Philippines. God always provides for each mission and personal need. I should be even bolder in what our Lord can accomplish in sharing the Gospel and helping the helpless.

OUR GOD’S PROMISES ARE TRUSTWORTHY. HE IS EVER FAITHFUL.

It is much better to count on Him rather than myself or others.

Your partmer in ministry,

Steve Bragg

Stop Hunger Now - Philippines

Thank you Stop Hunger Now – ICM
and
River Rock Church Philippines

We just finished one of our first 28 days feeding program for the moderate to severely malnourished children in Minoro Philippines.

The end results were 32 children gained an average of 3.6 kilos or 7.9 pounds. The children’s ages were 1 to 11 years old. Three of the children almost doubled their weight.

Praise God for the increase and blessing!

All of our 28 churches are participating in feeding the malnourished children program. The food is specially formulated by Stop Hunger Now for malnourished children.

Thank you, everyone, for your prayers and support to make this ministry possible.

Steve Bragg

New Feeding Program for Malnourished Children

Specialized Feeding Program

Each of our 28 RRCP churches is starting a 28 day feeding program for malnourished children. Each church barangay has selected 42 moderate to severely malnourished children to be fed. They are being fed a specialized diet to bring them out of malnourishment. The food is supplied by ICM (International Care Ministries).

These are pictures of children from Minoro.

Purok President of Minoro, Apgahan, Aquilino Tamodez overseeing the feeding program.

A Letter from Pastor Tony Williamson

Pastor Tony Williamson is here for our Youth Camp 2016. What a huge blessing to all. He has helped us with two Youth Camps and our last International Conference. If you know Tony, you know everyone was blessed, and we cannot wait to have him back. We ordained him as a River Rock Church Philippines Pastor to guarantee his return. J

Pastor Tony asked if he could give you all a challenge.

ABOVE & BEYOND  

In my most recent visit to the churches in the Philippines, I was again blessed by the hearts of God’s most precious believers. I was humbled by their faithfulness and dependence on him in everyday situations. I enjoyed hearing their stories, sharing meals, and living life together as we traveled from church to church. I praise God for amazing growth of the churches as God continues to add to their numbers. The Holy Spirit is truly evident in their lives and their hearts as they are transformed into His likeness.  I’m reminded of Jesus answer to John, when from prison John the Baptist sends messengers to ask Jesus if he is the one. Jesus replies, “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.” (Matt. 11:1-6)

As we traveled I realized that safety was imperative to the continued growth of the outline areas (barangays), it is also vital to the feeding programs going forward.

The purchase of the new van (seen here) was a true blessing and instrumental in accomplishing God’s mission.  So, I wanted to thank you for all your support and prayers and challenge you to join me in raising extra cash to pay off the loan on the van.  The current balance is $ 16,000.00. Paying off the van would alleviate the payment and save the interest. Please continue your ongoing support, but consider ways God can use you as we sacrifice for His Kingdom. I love all of you; Steve will keep us informed as God provides. 

His servant,

tony williamson

ONLINE DONATIONS: https://river-rock.ccbchurch.com/w_give_online.php  

Create an account if you have not already.

• Use the Operation Philippines or River Rock Philippines drop down and proceed.

BY MAIL:

River Rock Church 3520 NE 3rd Ave, Camas, WA 98607.

• Make the check to River Rock Church Philippines. 

Please notify me if you will be contributing to the van. steve.bragg123@gmail.com  

Prayer Request - Amazing Ministries

My Dear RRCP Partners,

We have two amazing ministries approaching. Please keep these in your prayers.

1. Our National Youth Camp 2016 held this April 28-30. Thanks to your generosity, our youth will attend for free. Their registration is to memorize one of our theme verses. The theme is BE HOLY. The theme scripture is 1 Peter 1:13-19. Pastor Tony Williamson will be our honored guest speaker. We are anticipating 200 youth. Please pray our youth will be moved to a greater commitment to our Lord.

2. Malnutrition Feeding Program. As you know, our churches are in the remote areas of the Philippines where malnutrition is high. We have experience as much as 69% moderate to severe malnutrition in some communities. Thanks again to you we have a weekly feeding program in 12 of our 27 churches. This is a huge blessing. We have been praying how to do more. Hungry children weigh heavy on my heart.

Recently we were introduced to ICM International Care Ministry. Along with many other programs to help the poor and hungry they have developed food packs formulated for malnourished children. ICM is supplying enough food packs to feed 42 children from each of our 29 churches daily for one month. This daily one-month feeding will elevate most children out of the moderate to severely malnourished category – PRAISE GOD!

Our goal is to work with each local community (Barangay) government to implement the daily feeding program. We are praying this will also help the relationship of the RRCP 29 churches and the communities they serve.

Our ministry is to feed 1,218 children 34,104 meals over a 28 day period. WOW PRAISE GOD!

Please pray the enemy will be defeated in his attempt to disrupt this ministry. Lord willing we will start the feeding program May 11, 2016. 

Your partner in ministry,

Steve Bragg

WE DID IT!

WE DID IT! 30 BIBLES!

THANK YOU EVERYONE - THANK YOU LORD!

Your partner in ministry,

Steve Bragg

New Bibles

     Can you help us get these Bibles 

to our pastors and leaders?

This year not only are we continuing to start new churches, but I'm also concentrating on Biblical education for our pastors and leaders.

I'm praying to get all of our pastors and leaders the same translation. I've decided on the English Standard Version (ESV). 

I found a good price through familychristian.com. They have a leather bound full version Old and New Testament for only $7.99.

Plus they are small enough to carry easily. 

We are praying for 30 Bibles or more, Lord willing.

You can order as many you would like.

• 1 Bible for $7.95
• 3 Bibles for $23.95
• 10 Bibles for $79.55

If I can order them soon, Pastor Tony Williamson can arrange the shipping for only $95 before he comes to the Philippines April 27.

*Below is how and where to donate.

**Please let me know by email how many you are ordering so I can earmark the funds. steve@riverrockchurchphilippines.com 

Thank you & Happy Resurrection Day!

Your partner in ministry,

Steve Bragg

ONLINE DONATIONS: https://river-rock.ccbchurch.com/w_give_online.php  

Create an account if you have not already.

Use the Operation Philippines or River Rock Philippines drop down and proceed.

BY MAIL:

River Rock Church 3520 NE 3rd Ave, Camas, WA 98607.

Make the check to River Rock Church Philippines

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news” (Romans 10:14, 15)! ESV

"THAT’S MY KING!”

From my heart to yours:

My problems always seen so big when I get my eyes off of just who is my Lord and savior.

This "message" and project helped me get my eyes on Him.

"THAT’S MY KING!”

The late Dr. S. M.  Lockeridge, a pastor from San Diego, California

said these words in a sermon in Detroit in 1976:

APPLICATION:

Ask someone to read this sermon with you as a responsive reading. Instructions: Read the BOLD PRINT together - YOU read the NORMAL PRINT- THEY read the ITALICIZED PRINT.

“My King was born King. The Bible says He's a Seven Way King.

o    He's the King of the Jews - that's an Ethnic King.

o    He's the King of Israel - that's a National King.

o    He's the King of righteousness.

o    He's the King of the ages. He's the King of Heaven.

o    He's the King of glory.

o    He's the King of kings and

o    He is the Lord of lords.

Now that's my King. Well, I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him? Don't try to mislead me. Do you know my King?

o    David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork.

o    My King is the only one of whom there are no means of measure that can define His limitless love.

o    No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of the shore of His supplies.

o    No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.

o   He's enduringly strong.

o   He's entirely sincere.

o   He's eternally steadfast.

o   He's immortally graceful.

o   He's imperially powerful.

o   He's impartially merciful.

That's my King.

o    He's God's Son.

o    He's the sinner's Savior.

o    He's the centerpiece of civilization.

o    He stands alone in Himself.

o    He's honest. He's unique.

o    He's unparalleled.

o    He's unprecedented.

o    He's supreme. He's pre-eminent.

o    He's the grandest idea in literature.

o    He's the highest personality in philosophy.

o    He's the supreme problem in higher criticism.

o    He's the fundamental doctrine of historic theology.

o    He's the carnal necessity of spiritual religion.

That's my King.

o    He's the miracle of the age.

o    He's the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him.

o    He's the only one able to supply all our needs simultaneously.

o    He supplies strength for the weak.

o    He's available for the tempted and the tried.

o    He sympathizes and He saves.

o    He's the Almighty God who guides and keeps all his people.

o    He heals the sick.

o    He cleanses the lepers.

o    He forgives sinners. He discharged debtors.

o    He delivers the captives.

o     He defends the feeble. He blesses the young.

o    He serves the unfortunate.

o    He regards the aged.

o    He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek.

That's my King … do you know Him?

o    Well, my King is a King of knowledge.

o    He's the wellspring of wisdom.

o    He's the doorway of deliverance.

o    He's the pathway of peace.

o    He's the roadway of righteousness.

o    He's the highway of holiness.

o    He's the gateway of glory.

o    He's the master of the mighty.

o    He's the captain of the conquerors.

o    He's the head of the heroes.

o    He's the leader of the legislatures.

o    He's the overseer of the over-comers.

o    He's the governor of governors.

o    He's the prince of princes.

o    He's the King of kings and He's the Lord of lords.

That's my King!

o    His office is manifold.

o    His promise is sure.

o    His light is matchless.

o     His goodness is limitless.

o    His mercy is everlasting.

o    His love never changes.

o    His Word is enough.

o    His grace is sufficient.

o    His reign is righteous.

o    His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

 I wish I could describe Him to you . . . but He's indescribable. That's my King. He's incomprehensible, He's invincible, and He is irresistible. I'm coming to tell you this-

o    The heavens of heavens can't contain Him, let alone some man explain Him.

o    You can't get Him out of your mind.

o    You can't get Him off of your hands.

o    You can't outlive Him and you can't live without Him.

o    The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him.

o    Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him.

o    The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree about Him.

o    Herod couldn't kill Him.

o    Death couldn't handle Him and the grave couldn't hold Him.

That's my King!

o    He always has been and He always will be.

o    I'm talking about the fact that He had no predecessor and He'll have no successor.

o    There's nobody before Him and there'll be nobody after Him.

o    You can't impeach Him and He's not going to resign.

That's my King! That's my King!

NOW Ask yourself:

“IS HIS KING MY KING?   

IF YOUR ANSWER IS NO, 

I HAVE GOOD NEWS FOR YOU …

HE WANTS TO BE!

This encouraged my faith.

You are in my heart and on my mind.