UPDATE: Hill of Zion Church at Barangay Macarina

Dear Grace Chapel Partners,

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I want to share updates on the new church Hill of Zion Church at Barangay Macarina.

Pastor Alagos and his team have been working well in the name of our Lord and the Lord is blessing the people there at Macarina. They have had more people come to Christ. Thank You Lord!

All the material for the new church building and parsonage has been arranged and we are sending the money for that now.

Also, we have our first new Pastor, Pastor Ruela. He has been working there since November.

I will be sharing pictures of Pastor Ruela and the new church build as they come in.

Here is a quote from Pastor Alagos. “With regards to Macarina Church, God is doing great, number of converts were increasing thanks for all your prayers.” 

Please keep in your prayer the youth. Pastor Alagos is taking youth from Grace Chapel, the Mabasa church Tabernacle of Praise Community Church and our new church Hill of Zion Church. These youth are going to a youth conference December 27-29 a 3 day camp at Roma Beach Resort here in Mabasa, Patnongon, Antique. The theme for this camp is "Destined to Win". Many of the youth who have already come to Christ will be baptized there. Let’s pray many more youth will do the same.

What wonderful news for Christmas.

Thank you for your prayers and generous giving to make this happen. We are getting ready to start the next new church so if you can please give for this next new blessing. We learned there are start up cost to launch these new churches so the adjusted new cost is only $3400.00. This includes the launch, building a bamboo church and parsonage and a pastors salary for one year.
 

Thank you all and thank You Lord!

Macarina's Hill of Zion Church Update

Grace Chapel Partners,




The Road to Macarina

 I want to give you an update on our new church at barangay Macarina's Hill of Zion Church.

First we need prayers for Pastor Alagos. He is having heart problems. He is resting and on medication while they figure out what is going on. Please pray for our Awesome God to heal him. Amen

We have had three Sunday services now at Macarina and here is a quote from Pastor Alagos. “Last Sunday we were there and the attendance were 18 young people 12 children and 6 adults because up to now Macarina is very busy doing the harvest and drying of rice grain. Good if this year we can start having there even a bamboo chapel and a little parsonage so that we can also stay there for a day or just two days a week together”… We will be making arrangement to build the bamboo church and parsonage so they can stay there as requested. It is a long way to travel back and forth in one day.

Pastor Alagos requested if we can buy a guitar and have a Karaoke machine repaired for the Hill of Zion Church. The hilly and often muddy road makes it hard to carry the ones they have back and forth. The total cost will be about $170.00.

One more big praise. Kenneth Mabry, son of Doug and Kim Mabry, who attend here at River Rock Church, will be going to help Pastor Alagos with the Hill of Zion Church. Kenneth graduates from Corban University this January. Kenneth is 22 years old and has a heart for missions. Pastor Alagos will be letting Kenneth live with them and involve Kenneth with the youth at the Hill of Zion Church. Also, Kenneth might be helping school teachers with English as Kenneth’s Bachelor degree is in communication. Kenneth will be there for 2-3 months and is paying his own way and volunteering his time, thank you Kenneth. Please pray Kenneth will receive a confirmation of God’s will for his life. Pray that both Kenneth and those he minister’s to there will be blessed and our Lord Jesus’ name will be glorified in this unique opportunity.

Thank you for your prayers and support. These blessings for the Filipino people are because of your willing and gracious hearts.

Because Jesus lives,

Please Continue to Pray for the New "The Hill of Zion Community Church"

Hello Grace Chapel Partners,


Please continue to hold up this new church The Hill of Zion Community Church in your prayers. It is still in the birthing stage. Pray the Lord will empower and bless this new portion of His Body. Several attempts have been made over the years to start a church here by different denominations and none where successful.

Pray God's blessing and He will sustain the new church and bring glory to His name as we plant this new church in His name Jesus.

Here is a note from Pastor Alagos:

"We have been Macarina last sunday and people were busy because it was harvest time and they need to work fast to save grains from rain. Despite of that several children and youth gathered together and we have a wonderful time together worshipping God, teaching songs and bible study. Next sunday we will have early bible studies and after that worship service. Please pray for us.

Thank you very much for all your love and support to us. God Bless you

Love,

Pastor Alagos"

Planting our first of 12 Churches

Grace Chapel Partners,


Well, I’m excited to report the beginning of our first church is underway. Despite rain, again, the Crusade launched the past October, 9th, 2010. PRAISE GOD!

The new Church is called “The Hill of Zion Community Church” and 95 people accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior the first night! Many healings took place also.

Here are some quotes from Pastor Alagos:

“the weather condition was not good yet we pursue our crusade at Macarina last Saturday night and you know God did amazing things.”

“The crusade started at 6.30 Pm. Despite of the rain the plaza was pack up with people and even before the crusade starts they were all standing with their umbrellas and raincoats. 200 more or less people responded and I was in tears looking at the hungry crowd waiting for the word of God”

“46 members from my church, Grace Chapel, El Shaddai and 6 Pastor friends joined the team and saturated the whole place in the morning and afternoon of the crusade. They themselves testified the overwhelming responses and goodness of the people in that barangay. We go home late night at 11pm the way in going there was very risky and praise God for his grace for all of us. We have many contacts there and starting today 6 workers will be there for bible study/follow-up and this coming Sunday we have scheduled a Sunday service at 8am-11am.”

“Effective Sunday and so on Ptra Edna Alagos my wife will be a pastor of Macarina for less than a year together with her is Norberto Ruela Jr. our youth leader as worker/helper of Ptra Edna and I will be there also every Sunday until the church will be fully organized. Praise God the barangay offered the Day Care Center to be our temporary church.”

Edna is teaching the ladies and children during the week and with the youth ministor Reula. Pastor Alagos does the preaching and teaching.

When we organized everything, we will name the church as "The Hill of Zion Community Church.”

“Thank you very much for all the support you have extended to us. May God give you the increase. God bless you. I will email all the details and progress report if I cannot do it this week, next week I’m sure.”

Love and Prayer,

Pastor Alagos

My friends this is the result of our love, prayer and faith in our Dear Lord Jesus Christ and the power of His Holy Spirit.

Luke 10:2 And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

Grace Chapel News - Church 1

Grace Chapel Partners,


I wanted to bring you up to date on the progress of our first church plant. Please continue to keep this in your prayers. As you look at this date for prayer remember they are a day ahead of ous, 16 hours.

Here is the latest news, in part, from Pastor Alagos:

Warm greetings. Thank you very much for all your prayers. The following are the plans for starting our new church. On Sept. 17-18 we will have training and revival fellowship at Tabernacle of Praise Community Church. There will be 40 selected members from our church, from Grace Chapel and 2 churches that I’ve planted last year also a community church. We will have refreshing fellowship and I will be their speaker. Participants will help on the crusade to be launched on September 24-25 at Barangay Macarina, Patnongon, Antique 15 kilometers from the town proper.

And now more good news on the second church from Pastor Alagos:

I have a surprise update for you!! after we planted our first church this October I have already another target place in the school which I've assigned. I started a bible study there and we have already two families who have committed their lives to the Lord Jesus. Probably by November we can conduct crusade there and before the end of this year we can plant our second church. Please pray for us.

Thank you very much for all your prayers and support..... May God give all the increase to those hearts who have committed for Grace Chapel Ministries.

Thank you very much.

Love and Prayer,

Pastor Alagos



My dear friends and partners of Grace Chapel your prayers are working and many have been generous in giving for this wonderful work of God the loving and caring of the Filipinos in Antique, Philippines. Many will be saved and families will be blessed as the result of our love and care in the name of Jesus.

What a great honor and privilege to be in the service of our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my privilege and honor to have you all as partners in this awesome work.

My warmest love in Christ to you all,

Steve

Grace Chapel Book 1

Click here to view this photo book larger

12 New Churches - It Begins

Dear Grace Chapel Partners,


This Picture is Myself, Pastor Alagos and Family

By God Grace we will start the plant of our 1st New Church the third week of this month!!!! We will need lots of prayer and fasting for those who are able. Please mark the third week for extra prayer.

                                                                                                      

Below is the a copy of the email I just received from Pastor Alagos. I won't share all the emails but I thought this one was special as it shows the heart of Pastor Alagos and those that work with him. May the Lord bless us all as we unite to plant this new Church and harvest the Lord's own in the Philippines.



Here is Pastor Alagos:



Dear Bro. Steve,

Praise God for what the Lord has done.!

We were on fasting for the past days with regards to our forthcoming Crusade to be conducted third week of this month to certain place in the town of Patnongon. I have already organize the group from our church to work with me and this week I am planning to meet the barangay captain for the schedule so that I can start announcing it in the radio. The plan will be a 2 night concert crusade and the highlight is the live taping of my radio program. There will be a massive evangelism during the day and after two days group bible study will begin 3xweek.Depending on the flow of bible studies( at least 3 centers)., in a 1-2 months time we can gather them in one place and finally construct a church and assigned a Pastor. My wife and I will be working with that pastor for a month time before finally he can work independently with my guidance.Bro. Steve please pray for us especially the needs for this 2-day crusade. We will be borrowing some equiptments from the other church and we will be networking some close friends to work with us. We have a lot to prepare but I know God will be with us and He will meet every need. We are banking for your back-up support of prayers, may God in his glory will visit that barangay and bring people to him. The Lord said when we praise him, he will draw near people to him.

Last night I dream that you and I were walking at the middle of a very wide field of rice ready for the harvest but I was in tears because many people just passing by, they just do the harvest anywhere they like and many grains have waisted away. Then all of the sudden fire from heaven came and consumed the feild ....there was a great fire and we run away for our lives. I woke up and I begun to seek God in my prayer and I remember our plan of crusade this coming October and I can no longer wait for that as the Lord supplied our needs so I said Lord we will have crusade this September and just dropby in the internet and read your message. Praise God, Hallleujah .... surely he will make things beautiful in his time.

Tomarrow i will be in that place to make some contacts and to meet the barangay captain so that I can schedule the final date of the crusade. I know that theres a lot of hardwork on this matter but with God's grace and favors we can do all thing through Him who strengthens us. Please page our prayer partners to pray for us and for this fortcoming crusade... May God meet every needs.

Thank you very much for your love and concern to us.

Love and Prayer,

Pastor Alejo Alagos



Thank you Dear Lord for the priveldge to be a part of Your wonderful Love to the Filipino people,

More About 12 New Churches

Dear Grace Chapel Partners,     


As I shared last week I received confirmation that Pastor Alagos, our Pastor at Grace Chapel, and other churches leaders there in the Philippines had the same vision as I do about starting the 12 Churches. They have been praying for the Lord to provide the finances and I had been praying for leaders to carry it out… What a great confirmation of the Lord’s providence. Of course I would say Grace Chapel itself is a grand confirmation of the Lord’s Grace and Mercy. Amen

Last week I asked you to pray and fast and this week I'm asking you to be a part of starting these 12 new Churches.

So here is the vision.

Grace Chapel currently supports Pastor Alagos Christian Radio Program “The Intercessors Hour of Prayer.” From this program come many request for Pastor Alagos to do the program and evangelistic outreach in neighboring Barangay. So with many days of preparation, prayer and fasting they arrive and many are saved and blessed. The Mabasa Church that you all have received communication about was started just this way. Pictures are attached

One: We start the Churches through the outreach of the radio Program.

Two: Pastor Alagos has already been active training Evangelist/Pastors

Three: Once a small congregation of believers is established we build a Church, parsonage and help support the Pastor for one year while he grows and establishes them to be self supporting.

Here is the cost: (UPDATED JULY 10, 2012

Launching the church - 2 day concert crusade $850

Build a Bamboo Church and Parsonage with cement floor $3000

Support a new Pastor and family for one year $1140

Total Cost for a Church Building, Parsonage and Support for One Year is ONLY $4990

My friend, how easy is this? ONLY $4990 will establish a Church in the Philippines

It’s clear the lord is in this… Will you be in this with Prayer and I'm asking you to be in this Financially also?

YOUR CAN CONTRIBUTE THROUGH RIVER ROCK CHURCH. Just check the Grace Chapel drop down and make your donation.

https://river-rock.ccbchurch.com/trx_submit.php?type=public_gift

Or you many send a donation to:

River Rock Church
2008 SE 8th Avenue
Camas, WA 98662
360.885.9000
Thank You Lord for such an awesome opportunity to work in Your Church.

Luke 10:2 These were His instructions to them: "The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields.

Please email or me if you have more questions.
Steve Bragg
steve.bragg123@gmail.com

Grace Chapel - 12 New Churches

I’m so excited I just had to share!


If you remember last year when we went to the Philippines it was to minister to Grace Chapel Ministries. But Pastor Kelly had also said “While you are there listen to what the next step would be for Grace Chapel… hear what God says.


Well, it was very clear we were to start 12 churches in three years and most the plan to accomplish this was laid out clear.
A year has come and gone with not much progress with the exception of generous donations building up in the Grace Chapel funds… thanks to all of you.
So now, I just received confirmation that God has been working on the hearts and minds of those in the Philippines who can accomplish the vision that they too have the same vision for starting the churches.

God has been working around the world setting into motion this vision (plan). Pastor Alagos and others in the Philippines have also been fasting and praying to start these churches.

My friends we need fasting and praying. That is what I’m asking all of you to do. Please fast and pray for these new churches.

We are working out details now and as the details come about I will be sharing it all with you.

WE ARE PRAYING AND FASTING TO START TWO OF THESE CHURCHES THIS YEAR!!!

Hallelujah, The Lord is good!

Grace Chapel Extended & Our FourthYear Anniversary

Grace Chapel Partners,

Check out the pictures of the new Grace Chapel extension finished just in time for our 4th Year Anniversary Service July 31st 2010

Hard to believe but it has been 4 years since the Grace Chapel's dedication and 5 years since Pastor Kelly Backstrom of River Rock Church, Camas, WA issued the $100 Challenge based on the Parable of the Talents Matthew 25:14-30. Pastor Kelly said, "Take this $100 and invest it in the Kingdom and see what God does with it."

The Lord's increase of $100 over the last four years:
A local Chapel of Worship for the Patnongon residents - Feeding the less fortunate - Helping with medical emergencies - Helping Pastors start home businesses to feed their families - Student Scholarships - Supporting Christian Radio Program - Starting more Churches - Fertilizers and Insecticides for the struggling farmers - Guitar for a blind man that sings for his food - Sending students to a Christian Leadership training camp - Evangelism Rally's - Vacation Bible School - Encouraging Pastor's - Saving the lost and encouraging the saints - and the pleasure of us all being able to help and the privilege of service in The Lord's Kingdom, His Church

Thank You Lord Jesus,

Extending Grace Chapel

More good news!

Praise God we are extending Grace Chapel. Thank you all for your generous donations.

The attached pictures show the current extension is a tarp. The new extension will be permanent.

We'll send more pictures when completed.

Please help me thank our dear Lord for His goodness and pray for those who are working hard to complete the extension.

By the Lord's grace,

Steve Bragg
Home Office 360-254-0055
Cell 360-601-5287
Fax 360-216-4477
steve.bragg123@gmail.com

Grace Chapel's First Vacation Bible School

What a wonderful blessing from the Lord.

Here is the report Alberta Baculna at the end of VBS
"Last May 17 - 21, 2010 the Grace Community Church hold a VBS. The class was composed by 15 primary and 20 beginners. The 2 volunteer teachers was Sis. Lucia Mandeoya handling the beginners and Sis. Alberta Baculna handling the primary. The snacks was sponsored by Sis. Josefina Murias. During graduation the parents on the children attended and they're very happy for they witnessed the presentation of their children. The 2 classes rendered a song that they had learned in the VBS. The children enjoyed in their different activities."

Steve Bragg
Home Office 360-254-0055
Cell 360-601-5287
Fax 360-216-4477
steve.bragg123@gmail.com

Not My Life but Yours

I have been praying a whole new way.

I continue to pray for River Rock Church & Grace Chapel and their ministries, friends; supporters of Grace Chapel, family and Lord please in Your time send us and establish us in fulltime service at Grace Chapel.

But my new daily prayer is simple. Lord this day and my life are Yours not mine. May this day and my life be a blessing to You. I will do my best today to live my life without sin by Your power and grace and I want nothing of my life today except to live it in Your will Your way. I have no agenda… Let this day unfold as You will.

I no longer care about if I live in this house or my car nor do I pray about such specifics in my life. As many of you know I can say that boldly as I came very close to living out of my car last year. The Lord will sustain me and my family wherever we live. But I praise Him each day for this nice home and we are warm and have good food, etc. Whatever life the Lord unveils for me it is the life and purpose He desires for me. My goal is to be ready to live it. My trust in Him has been confirmed. Thank You for Your goodness, Lord. I hope this life is pleasing to Him because I love this life He has giving me. What better joy than to live in your created purpose and in the blessing of the One who created you.

I have some schedule of course but even at work the result of what must be done I no longer worry about but just do my best all day and live with blessed expectancy.

IT IS WORKING! I feel the power and presence of the Lord in my life to a greater degree. And I feel a greater purpose and see greater results, Kingdom results, in and through my life. I can see God working in and around me. I feel a deeper sense of awe about the Lord and a growing humility in me. I no longer wish to do anything in my own strength or accomplish my own agenda. I only want to live in His strength, grace, love and His purpose for this day and this life He has given me. And I have exciting expectancy and joyful praise all day.

I’m exploring with enthusiasm the reality that this is not my life it is God’s. He gave it to me, He gives me each breath, He died to make it eternal, He is preparing a place for me in heaven and He offers me abundant life right now today Ephesians 3:20. He expects me to live my life for Him. Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. The Apostle Paul’s life, after he met Jesus, was lived in the presence and purpose of Christ continuously. Paul is our example of a mature Christ follower. 1 Corinthians 4:16 & Hebrews 13:7

Jesus said He did nothing on His own but only what His Father had given Him to do. Our goal is to mature in Christ and to become “Christ like”. 1 Peter 2:21

I love You Lord! Help us all to become more like You. Amen

Steve Bragg