SECOND YEAR ANNIVERSARY - COUNTING BLESSINGS

August 8^, 2013 was our 2^nd year Anniversary to live and minister here in the Philippines. All praise goes to our God. He has taken very good care of us. Our health is good. We have food enough to eat. We have a good home. Our Lord’s provisions are awesome!

In the past 2 years with our Lord’s blessings.

• In two years, we have planted 5 new churches with church and parsonage buildings.
• We have started 2 new house churches
• We have a total of 11 churches, including 2 house churches.
• We have many Life Groups.
• One church has joined us, and three more are “in fellowship” to join us.
• We organized to be recognized, by the Philippines government, to become River Rock Church Philippines (RRCP) Inc.
• I, Steven Ray Bragg and Alejo F. Alagos were ordained as Pastors of River Rock Church.
• Gary Docallos was ordained as Pastor of River Rock Church Philippines.
• Alexander Dongon became our first appointed Elder of River Rock Church Philippines.
• We provide salaries for 7 pastors.
• We have children’s feeding programs in 5 of our churches.
• We sponsor with school scholarships 22 children.
• Local governments have recognized us for our efforts to help the Filipinos.
• We have implemented Operation Kindness. Through operation Kindness, we have repaired many homes, feed hungry people, provided clothes, and medical assistance.
• We have encouraged many pastors and congregations of all denominations.
• Pastor Alagos and I are heard on the radio 5 hours per week. We reach almost 1/3 of the Philippines sharing the Good News and encouraging people in their faith.
• We have received grants to build three more churches.

Thank you Lord Jesus for Your kindness us that you allow us to serve you.

Thank you Lord, for Your kindness to the Philippines people.

Thank you Grace Chapel Partners and River Rock Church for your prayers and finances to make these ministries of love powerful and awesome in our Lord’s name Jesus Christ!

Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse.

Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.

Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre.

Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.

Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! (Psalms 150:1-6)

Counting Blessings

Sometimes things happen quickly around me, and I react and proceed as the Lord leads, or He has prepared me to proceed (most of the time). As I have said before, daily I’m giving thanks to our lord for His blessings!

To today I stepped back and recounted the blessings. The counting actually started last week when I reminded my sister Helen that her prayer for a church in Dacutan and the $100 RRC gave me became God’s blessing Grace Chapel in the Philippines. Yesterday, one of the pastors that help started Grace Chapel stopped by for prayer. I told brother Jo Jo, he planted the seed and now we are 7 churches. Also, yesterday, I thanked the first donor to the Grace Chapel Ministries. To each of these I recounted how much God has blessed the beginning seeds of love and the magnificence of God’s blessing in our efforts.

Just now I want to thank you all that are Grace Chapel Partners and River Rock Church. This awesome ministry of our Lord to the Filipinos is brought about by each of us, His servants, and His blessings. It is the result of you and me moved by God through the Holy Spirit. When I see God bless, I don’t know who is blessed more, me or them. I receive the blessing of participation and the blessing of giving. I pray that as you read the news of our progress you share in the blessing of participation and giving, as I do. Today as I recounted the blessings I was moved to tears of joy, knowing God’s hand in this.

The Blessings

·         We now can educate our new pastors and church leaders at Asian Theological Seminary for free! Six students are starting August 28. My prayer is for 10 in training.

·         By the end of the month, we will be 7 new planted churches, Lord willing.

·         We have funding for one more church. Funding for 2 more churches in 2013 will soon be in the application process. We pray for approval! My prayer is to plant 4 churches in 2013. Please keep this in your prayers.

·         We now are able to provide salaries for our pastors continually.

·         We provide scholarships for 14 high school students.

·         Our churches are growing. They are spiritually healthy and productive.

·         Gateway Church in Barbaza has joined RRCP.

·         With Gateway Church added, RRCP is now 8 churches.

·         We have completed application to become RiverRock Church Philippines RRCP. (RiverRock is now one word due to a similarity of another church name.) Please pray it will be approved soon!

THANK YOU LORD!

Steve Bragg

Pastor/Elder

River Rock Church

& Grace Chapel Ministries

Serving in Patnongon Antique Philippines

Email: steve.bragg123@gmail.com

River Rock Church Philippines:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/RiverRockChurchPhilippines

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

River Rock Church Philippines Slideshow http://youtube/GZP3GlIQTt0

Birth of RRC Esparar: http://vimeo.com/31760794

Documentary: First Four Churches http://vimeo.com/33566496  

9 Days on the Island of Palawan https://vimeo.com/45223189

A Christmas Story Philippines 2011  http://youtu.be/ouw_OEiMc28  

Encouragement: In the Lord Almighty’s Presence I Stand

http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=143527  

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