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ACTS of the PHILIPPINES

A Modern Missionary's Journey Planting Churches in the Remote Villages of the Philippines and Discovering a Powerful Awesome God Along the Way

A Critical Juncture in Our Road of Service in the Philippines

Hello my friends and partners in this ministry,

Our Social Security is being reduced $776 per month. This is because our son Steven turns 16 in October. It will be reduced again when he turns 18.

As a result, we now need help with personal support so that we can continue serving in the Philippines.

As you may already know, we are self-supporting with our Social Security in our mission in the Philippines.

All the donations we ask for, and you have supported go 100% to ministry. We take nothing for ourselves except to help with mission costs like visas and associated travel. Even then, we partner in the expense.

We have asked from time to time for special offering to help with repairs after Typhoon Yolanda and a security fence for our safety. About a year ago, some very special friends started supporting us financially. However, for the most part, it has been our Social Security.

We are praying you will help us with monthly or yearly donations for our continuation in this ministry. Maybe you or your church can help us in the partnership of establishing churches in the Philippines.  

There are many ways to help. You can give through Acts Church in Camas WA a 501 (3) (c) where your donations are tax deductible, or through your church, or directly to us with PayPal.

Please pray and consider collaborating with us in this ministry.

Blessings to you all!

Steve Bragg

You can contact me at my email: steve@riverrockchurchphilippines.com or steve.bragg123@gmail.com 

  

LEARNING TO HEAR GOD

There are times when God is heard loud and clear! But we must learn to hear Him.

LEARNING TO HEAR GOD!     

Today Saturday morning 7-12-14, I was in the shower and the thought came to me that I need to preach at Grace Chapel this afternoon. I thought maybe I could preach last week’s message of HAPPY TOGETHER. It’s a good message I would like Grace Chapel to hear. Then the thought was no you need to preach the message before that LOVE YOUR ENEMIES. Then I thought, but Lord JoJo is their pastor, he will have a message already. I really don’t want to ask him to let me preach. So then no more thoughts of that conversation.

Pastor JoJo is helping with the remodel of our home and after the shower I went out to check on the progress. Pastor JoJo says to me that he wants to finish the project today and ask if I can preach at Grace Chapel this afternoon…

I told Pastor JoJo of my thoughts with God in the shower, and we both praised God with laughter of joy at such an awesome God we have

LEARNING TO HEAR GOD 2

After determining that it was God moving our hearts of me and Pastor JoJo’s together for me to preach at Grace Chapel, the time for service arrived

However, we had torrent rain like in a typhoon. No one had showed for service. I prayed God you moved so much to have me here, and now this rain? But slowly they came. We had more people than usual and even a new person. But still the heavy rain would not letup. We have steel roofs, and when the heavy rain hits it, you can hear nothing else. We waited and waited. Finally, Juliana said Dad you will have to use your big voice and the singing began. We could not hear each other sing.

I prayed again. Lord forgive me for my sins, and anoint this worship service so your word may be heard! I approached the podium, and the rain stopped.

The closing of the message came and just at the end of the prayer the torrent rain hit again.

Powerful, mighty, majestic, awesome, and sovereign is our God! I love serving our Lord!

I love you my LORD Jesus Christ!

Continued Story!

LEARNING TO HEAR GOD 3

This is a summary of the message.

COURAGEOUS LOVE – LOVE YOUR ENEMIES 

Mat 5:44 But I SAY, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES! [Bless those who curse you. Do good to those who hate you.] Pray for those who persecute you! 

It is only possible to love our enemies through Jesus Christ. This command to love our enemies can only be understood through the cross. 

Love your enemies is the central theme of the Bible; the Cross. We were the enemies of God because of our sins; our rebellion. Jesus died for us while we were enemies. It was our sin that caused all of His sufferings. Our sin that scourged Him bloody almost to death, our sin that hung Him on the cross, our sin that mocked Him in His suffering, while suffering for our rebellious sin He said, “forgive them.” It was our sin that caused Him to hold Himself on the cross and suffer the complete penalty of our sin even until His last breath. This was His demonstration of His love for us in order that we could become enemies no more, but transformed to become His beloved children. But it was not possible until Jesus loved us through the Cross!

Rom 5:10 FOR IF WHILE WE WERE ENEMIES WE WERE RECONCILED TO GOD BY THE DEATH OF HIS SON, MUCH MORE, NOW THAT WE ARE RECONCILED, SHALL WE BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE. 

It is only His Church, you and me, who have experienced such undeserved courageous love of selfless sacrifice from our Lord. Even unto great suffering and death that now we can understand the grandeur of God’s love. Only we the church, you and me, having experienced such grand love, can we now express this remarkable love to others, not just our friends, but to those undeserving of our love; our enemies.

We are called to be the Light of God unto a dark, lost and dying world. How great is the Light of our Lord, who loves and sacrificed Himself for the undeserving, you and me. In like manner, how great is His Light as it shines through us loving sacrificially and courageously a world undeserving, who are enemies of God and even us.

It takes courage to reach out and love someone who is our enemy. It took courage of our Lord to love us. This truly is real love, not just to love those who love us, but even to love our enemies. 

Eph 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

Has our Lord put someone on your heart to love sacrificially; courageously? 

Be Courageous and Love them.

We Have a New Student

Christine B. Bacaoco

I have asked help for so many students this year. I’m a little embarrassed to ask for one more. Thank you all and thank God that each student that He sent us was taken care of. You all, Grace Chapel Partners (RRCP), are extraordinarily loving and generous.

Because one more student has come for help, I will ask and see if our Lord has prepared one of you to help her.

This scholarship will make a tremendous difference in Christine being able to attend and finish school.

Her name is Christine B. Bacaoco. She has been attending Grace Chapel and the youth group. She is staying with her grandma who is faithful in worshipping with us.

Christine's scholarship would be $25 per month for the remainder of the school year through March 2014.

Bio Data

First Year High School

Address: Villa Crespo, Patnongon, Antique

DOB: 12/12/1998

Father: Benjamin Bacaoco – farm labor

Mother: Ofelia Bacaoco – house keeper

Thank you all for your love for us.

Your partner in this ministry to the Filipinos,

Pastor Steve Bragg

$100 PER MONTH WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR PASTOR AND FAMILY

Thank you for our love and generosity for our ministry here in the Philippines.

We are continuing to look for support for our River Rock Church Philippines’ Pastors and their families.

$100 PER MONTH PROVIDES SUPPORT that makes the difference for them to feed and provide basic needs for their families.

Two life groups and a church have committed to provide financial support for one pastor each… What a great blessing!!! Thank you Lord!!!

We are now supporting:

1.       Pastor Stephen, wife Sarah and their 4 children of the Santa Lourdes Church in Palawan.

 

 

2.      Pastor JR, wife Edralyn and son Kent of the Hill of Zion Church in Macarina.

 

 

3.      Pastor JoJo and wife Gigi and their son Jabez of the Esparar Church in Esparar.

 

We are now looking for support for Pastor Billy Aclo and his wife Linda and their 5 children of the Sugnod Church in Sugnod.

$100 PER MONTH WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR PASTOR AND FAMILY.

Maybe you or your life Group or church will provide the ongoing financial support.

Will you support Pastor Billy, wife Linda and 5 their children? Pastor Billy is also the Pastor of Jesus Christ Worship Center in Sipac, Malinao, Aklan. This Barangay adjoins the Sugnod Barangay. Pastor Billy is the pastor of both churches. They have a dynamic ministry for both churches.

 

Thank you for your prayers, generosity and love for the Filipinos.

 

Please contact me at steve.bragg123@gmail.com if you wish to support Pastor Billy and his family.

Your partner in this ministry,

Steve Bragg

A CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS

My Dear Grace Chapel Partners - RRCP

We minister God’s love in one of the most needful places in the world. In fact this province is considered one of the poorest in the Philippines. Many of the children at the we churches we start have little to wear. My heart cries seeing them with big holes in their clothes. Some children only have a shirt to wear with no underclothes. Some only have underclothes to wear.

Some loving and generous people from River Rock Church donated a large box of clothes for some special children just in time for Christmas here at Grace Chapel. Thank you all. What a great blessings!

Would you like to send us some good used clothes for our children? We need summer clothing. It’s hot all year here.

You can contact me at steve.bragg123@gmail.com I will tell you how to get the clothes here.

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Steve Bragg

Check out our new Website: http://www.riverrockchurchphilippines.com /

Bible College Opportunity

My Dear grace Chapel Partners,

We have a great opportunity to train our Pastors and Christian workers. Asian Theological Seminary in Manila http://www.ats.ph/ provides the training. Our students can get Certificates of Completion, BA, MA, and Doctorate degrees.

First Love International Ministries http://www.firstloveinternational.com/    accommodates the classes on Boracay Island near us. They provide the classes, room and board for FREE!

The classes are provided once a month for a week.  So once per month they travel to Boracay to attend the classes. The classes are for only one week each month.

Everything is provided FREE with the exception of travel to and from.

I’m praying someone or ones can help the students with the travel expenses. The travel expenses are 600 pesos or $15 per student by public transportation.

Think of it the students get a quality Bible degree and pastoral training for just $15 per month.

Because the classes are only once per month our current pastors and workers can continuing pastoring and attend college.

I pray the Lord is providing someone/ones to provide the transportation cost of $15 per month. Currently we have 4 who want to attend the college. I believe we will have more students soon. These students are dedicated servants of the Lord.

This is a big answer to prayer. Pastor Alagos and I were talking about how we might start a Pastor Training School because at the rate we are planting churches, thanks to you all, we need more pastors. This opportunity came by way of referral by someone at RRC. Now Pastor Alagos and I can focus on our mission of planting churches, and pastors can be trained close by FOR FREE, with the exception of transportation. Thank You LORD!

Your partner in this ministry,

His servant,

Steve

Our First Youth Group YG

Saturday July 21, 2012 we had our first Youth Group. Lord willing, we will continue the Youth Group each Saturday afternoon.

We had 41 youth show up! They came from Grace Chapel, Tabernacle of Praise, and RRCP Franks/Mabasa. Next week we are praying youth from Hill of Zion and Gateway will attend.  It was a big blessing for all!

Also, all the pastors from each church met. We will also continue meet each week. We pray many blessing will come from our fellowship.

Blessings,

Steve Bragg

Steve.bragg123@gmail.com

A Call to Macedonia

Worship at Brgy Mabasa/Sitio Franks

My Dear Grace Chapel Partners,

A Call to Macedonia

“A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them” (Acts 16:9, 10).

Worship at Brgy Mabasa/Sitio Franks

More and More our work here to plant churches for our Lord Jesus Christ takes on the likeness of the work (Acts) of the Apostles in the Book of Acts. We have many similarities. Maybe one day I will write a book titled the Acts of the Philippines.

In this comparison, like Paul’s call to Macedonia, we received a call back to Barangay Mabasa and a new Sitio that is part of Barangay Mabasa called Sitio Franks. A Sitio is a smaller area of a Barangay. Sitio Franks is a squatter’s area. The neediest live here. Sitio Franks was a place wiped out by Typhoon Frank several years ago. Thousands of lives were lost in Typhoon Frank here on our island. The Philippines’ government bought this land and donated it to the neediest. They can have a small piece of land as long as they live there. Most families who live at Sitio Franks are fisherman.

Thank you Lord for the children! 

Tabernacle of Praise, our second church in this work, came under extreme oppression. This caused Tabernacle of Praise to leave the church building they used for worshiped in Barangay Mabasa to avoid the oppression. This church was started in 2007. Pastor Alagos, during this time, built a strong congregation. With our Lord’s blessing they were able to overcome the storm. When the congregation decided it was time to leave the only available place to rent for worship was in the neighboring Barangay Igbarawan. This was hard on the Mabasa congregation as most walk to church.

All were feed a nutritious meal

The Lord always turns hardships to blessing. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). This verse should be our banner. Always the Lord causes proposed evil to good. We continually pray that our work here for our Lord is “according to His purpose.”

Our first blessing is we lost none of the Mabasa church, Tabernacle of Praise; not a one! Their faith has increased through this, and they are stronger in the Lord. Even their giving has increased to meet the challenges of the increased expense.

The second blessing is many are now attending from Barangay Igbarawan. Our average attendance in Mabasa was 25-35 people. Now, in their new location we are 80 plus. If everyone came at the same time, there would be standing room only. After only 2 weeks at the new location, we are planning a second service! Praise God! His providence is absolute!  Magnificent are His blessings! Faithful is His care of His children!

The third blessing is the people who had only attended occasionally or who had stopped attending, called a meeting and want us back in Barangay Mabasa. Also, the people of Sitio Franks have donated a piece of land for us to build a church building for worship.

Worship Service at Brgy Igbarawan

We had our first combined worship service of Barangay Mabasa and Sito Franks this evening, Sunday June 10th,2012. I estimated almost 60 attended. We feed lots of children! A family donated their home for the service. Next week we will meet in another home. It appears we will meet house to house until we build the church building. WHAT A BLESSING!

Lord willing, Tabernacle of Praise will be 2 services in Barangay Igbarawan Sunday morning and 1 service at Sitio Franks Sunday afternoon!

PLEASE KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYERS. I’M SURE THE ENEMY IS NOT DONE. PRAY WE CONTINUE TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL OUR OF LORD JESUS CHRIST. IT IS ONLY BY HIS MIGHT, PROTECTION, AND BLESSING THAT WE HAVE SUCCESS IN HIS MISSION AND MINISTRY HERE, IN THE PHILIPPINES!

IN JESUS NAME, AMEN!

Thank you for your partnership in this ministry to the Filipinos.

Steve Bragg