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

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015

It is New Year’s Eve already in the Philippines. The good food is ready and waiting for the guest.

In my heart, I’m hoping for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ this year. I’m ready and watching!

In my prayers, I’m hoping that we will plant many more churches – that many will be saved – many lives and families will be healed – many malnourished will be fed. Amen!

I pray for God’s best in each of your lives! I will take time to left each of you in prayer over the next few days!

Because He lives!

Steve Bragg

Typhoon Ruby

Typhoon Ruby gone – Thank you Lord for your protection!

The typhoon missed our home in Antique on Panay island, but there is ruin all around us. The eye was north of us. Only the outer bands reached us.

However, Philippines is a nation of poverty. It's the bamboo home that is hit hardest. It's the fishing village family that lives off the daily catch. They had many days of no fishing, some bamboo homes are need of repair or rebuilt, some boats damaged. It's the very small family farmers that lives off the small crop that's now downed and soaked. Little is all they have. They lose much! Most when they lose little it’s all they have. The results are often starvation and exposure to the elements.

In general this typhoon was not the super typhoon they predicted, yet many are in great need.

We need lots of prayers!

Please Pray With Me

In The Name of Jehovah-Jireh “The Lord Will Provide.” “Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, "In the mount of the LORD it will be provided," (Genesis 22:14). NASB

Please pray for these three ministries. 

1.      Monthly Budget  

One of our scholars

I want to take this time to thank you all for your tremendous generosity both in your financial giving and prayers! You all have hearts for our Lord and His work; the Harvest. “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,” (Luke 10:2).

We need some help with our monthly budget. 

At this time we are running a little short of our budget for pastors and student scholarships.

If I max out our current giving with no margin for error, we are 5 students short of funding. These are existing students. As you know, a student scholarship is $25 per month and a pastor’s monthly allowance is $100. A commitment to either would help us greatly! Thank you.

2.     Repair of Hill of Zion Church 

Hill of Zion in Barangay Macarina is our third church and built October 2010. It is all bamboo walls with a cement floor and steel roof. The land is donated farm land outside of the Barangay.

We have now purchased land to build the church in the Barangay. We need to move the church to the new land. The new place is in town and will help the church grow. The old land is flooded during the rainy season and not accessible. It is also time to replace the bamboo. 

Hill of Zion RRCP Worship Service

This time we will construct a cement block lower wall to get the bamboo higher off the ground and maybe give us few more years of bamboo life. The expense to construct the new church is only $2,500.

It’s a small church and parsonage and mostly bamboo, but fits well with this community. The community is excited to have the new church in an area that is easily accessible. The land owner who sold us the land, gave us a good deal. Normally, the land would be 100,000 pesos ($2,500). However, we purchased the land for only 15,000 pesos ($350).

3.     An Exciting New Ministry for Malnourished Children

Background  

I've learned to see malnourishment in the eyes of a child

Our feeding program in Barangay Mabasa is being noticed by the Philippines government. Pastor Alagos is also the Principal of the Mabasa Elementary School. He has documented that the students on our weekly feeding program at our Mabasa Church have improved in academics at the school. If we can demonstrate, for one year that a holistic program will increase the academics of the children, then there will be government funding to continue the program! The Philippines government has also noticed that the schools that provide Christian Values Education in the schools make more productive young adults. The Christian Values Education decreases the delinquency level also. As a result, the government is asking the schools to provide more nondenominational Christian Values Education. It is one of Steven’s seventh grade, graded courses at his public high school.

Application – Children’s Care Center (CCC)

Each Saturday for three hours we will provide:

• ·         Nondenominational Christian Values Education
• ·         Tutoring in math and reading comprehension
• ·         A nutritious meal
• ·         Note: The students that also attend Sunday services at Barangay Mabasa’s Franks/Mabasa Christian Center or Barangay Igbarawan’s Tabernacle of Praise will continue to get a nutritious meal on Sunday, as well. CCC will be open to both Mabasa and Igbarawan communities as they are neighbors.

The Cost:

• ·         A quality teacher - 1000 pesos ($23) per week
• ·         Nutritious meal for 30 students - 500 pesos ($12) per week.
• ·         Approximately $150 per month for 30 students. That is approximately $1.16 per student to feed and tutor once a week. We are praying for 60 students.

*Because RRCP is a Certified NGO (Non-Government Organization), if we can demonstrate with the CCC program the improvement of the academics and behavior of the less fortunate students over a one-year period, the government will release funding for the program. PLUS, we will be able to offer this program through all of our churches with funding aid from the government.

The picture at the top of the page is Elvie. She is one of our supported schalors grade six. Elvie also attends Mabasa Elementry School and Tabernacle of Praise. She is one of the students that would attend our CCC program.

Thank you all for your awesome love and care for the Filipino people!

I love you and thank you all – each and every one of you!

COURAGEOUSLY LOVE GOD AND EACH OTHER!

We have the feet, hands, and experience. Together with your prayers and generosity we can share Jesus’ salvation and His love!

Your partner in this ministry to Filipinos,

Pastor Steve Bragg

Urgent Prayer and Fasting Needed

I'm asking Christians to fast and pray. Our newly finished Franks Mabasa Church is about to be lost and

many families will be hurt without God intervention.

The political powers of Patnongon and Mabasa are trying to seize the land of our church and evict about 20 very needy families.  This land is designated for those who are in the greatest of need. The government allows them to build a simple bamboo homes. The agreement is the can use the land for a home, and when they move away someone else can build there. Most are simple fishermen.

The previous Barangay captain along with the Governor's blessing allowed us to build a church there for the people.

River Rock Church Philippines loves their neighbors.

In the year we have been there we have:

·         We have a weekly feeding program for malnourished children.

·         Provided medicine for those who got sick with the outbreak of Chikungunya.

·         We provided Aid for Typhoon Yolanda Victims by feeding 59 families 1120 kilos or 2464 pounds of rice.

·         As Typhoon Yolanda Aid, we repaired 15 homes.

We have done our homework they say they want to evict about 20 families to build a school. Well, there are schools to close to allow a school to be built there. Plus this is too dangerous of an area to build a school this land was flooded during both Typhoon Franks and Yolanda. The next Typhoon will ruin any school built there. I believe there is another reason that is either a political or financial gain to get this land.

The newly elected Barangay Captain of Mabasa and Mayor of Patnongon first act is to evict the poorest of people destroy their homes, and seized the nicely built and new church building and parsonage. They say they will provide an area away from the ocean to build a home. Well, they are FISHERMEN! They need the sea!!

If the politicians have their way, about 20 families will lose their homes with no place to go and the communities of Franks and Mabasa will lose a Church that loves and serves them.

The Bible says:

Ephesian 6:12  “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” NLT

Pastor Steve Bragg

River Rock Church Philippines

Franks Blessing Presentation video https://vimeo.com/80705407
YOUTUBE: http://youtu.be/P4XQJiuWx0w 

Pastor Larry and Judy Laureano are moving to Tagumpay

My Dear Grace Chapel Partners RRCP
 

THANK YOU LORD - PRAYER BY PRAYER

Pastor Larry and Judy Laureano

 

Pastor Larry and Judy Laureano are moving to Barangay Tagumpay on the Philippines island Palawan this Saturday, June 1, 2013.

They have been living near me pastoring an independent church for the last 6 years. They have been the in ministry 15 years.

They are from the Tagumpay area and have been praying our Lord would provide a ministry in Palawan. Tagumpay is close to their home. They have family and friends there.

We have been praying for a pastor for Tagumpay, and they have been praying our Lord would send them. Thank you Lord for answered prayer.

Please pray with me that the Lord will be with them as they unite the Tagumpay church and get it ready to build their church and parsonage buildings. I’m confident that Pastor Larry and Judy will bring honor and glory to our Lord as they serve Him there. They are both dynamic and enthusiastic church planters and servants of our Lord Jesus Christ,

 

THANKS TO PASTOR STEPHEN AND WIFE SARA MAHUSAY

Barangay Tagumpay is the last of the recent 8 churches that need to be

Sara, Pastor Alagos, Pastor Stephen at the
Tagumpay church launch

completed. There has been countless blessing in the planting of this church.

• When we launched the church almost 1 year ago there was an open arm acceptance from the people.
• In the 2 night church launch with a concert crusade, 60-80 people came forward at the altar call for salvation and repentance.
• Today we feed more than 100 children weekly and more than 30 adults attend a weekly Bible study.



Second Night Response to the Gospel
at Tagumpay

I want to give a special thank you to Pastor Stephen and Sara Mahusay and other leaders from our new church in RRCP Santa Lourdes who travel weekly to Tagumpay to pastor the Tagumpay church. The trip is 3 hours one way by motorcycle, but they are faithful, and the fruits of their labor are evident.

We are praying that Pastor Larry and Judy will be able to complete the process of securing the church property, and we will build soon.

 

Your partner in this ministry to the Filipinos,

Pastor Steve Bragg

www.riverrockchurchphilippines.com

steve.bragg123@gmail.com

 

Thank You Sponsors for Your Scholarships!



Pastors Alejo Alagos & Steve Bragg

I would like to express my deepest gratitude for your generosity and love for the ministry here and love for the Filipino people we serve.

We Now Have 4 New Scholarships!

 

Answered Prayer!

 

Prayer 1 & 2

 

Jose and Donesa both have scholarships now. These students would not have been able to attend school without their sponsors.

Prayer 3

 

Then another sponsor volunteered. So I prayed, Lord what child is this sponsor for? Then I remembered that last year I was so impressed with a college girl that takes care of her many siblings and attends college. I asked the Lord if we could help this girl. I had forgotten about her, but God had not! My prayer is answered. 

Prayer 4

 

Yesterday I talked with Pastor Alagos about the new students. I commented that we were not helping any students in our new Sugnod church. I prayed Lord if could show the Sugnod people love by helping one of their students. That afternoon, yesterday, I came home and opened my email and another couple had committed to sponsoring a student. Pastor Billy is looking for the student we will help in Sugnod. GOD IS SO GOOD!

Thank you to each sponsor that will continue your scholarship again this year!

 

Thank you for the 4 new sponsors this year!

 

WE NOW HELP 20 STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND SCHOOL THIS YEAR!!!!

 

THANK YOU LORD JESUS!

“For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints” (2Corinthians 8:3,4)

 

Your partner in this awesome ministry to the Filipinos,

Pastor Steve Bragg

Email: Steve.bragg123@gmail.com

Website: www.riverrockchurchphilippines.com

Getting Ready for Daily Vacation Bible School (DVBS)

Praying for you

We are praying for each other.

At our prayer meeting, Friday night, we prayed for our Daily Vacation Bible School (DVBS). We also prayed for all of our supporters everywhere.

We thank God because of your prayers and gifts that we will be giving DVBS through our 9 churches in the Philippines.

We praise God and thank Him for your faithfulness. We have asked our God to bless you all 1000 fold.

Please keep us in your prayers as we reach out to children and parents in 9 Barangays, in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Getting our lessons ready

Getting our hearts ready


 

Encouragement - Training for Warfare

Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war,
 my fingers for battle." - Psalm 144:1

 

The people of this Barangay believe the source of this
water has evil spirits. We prayed our LORD JESUS
would bless the water source and Jesus be the source of
 blessings for the Barangay.

I’m discovering the weapons of the spiritual warfare that I face:

•  Prayer – God goes before me to battle the enemies that I cannot. The Apostle Paul says our battle is not against flesh and blood (people) but spiritual forces of darkness (Ephesians 6:12).

•  Forgiveness – mercy – grace – When I meet people that come against me, I must use the weapons of God. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount "forgive those that persecute you." Jesus applied this 0n the cross when He said “forgive them for they know not what they do.”

 Spiritual warfare is not easy. It is not easy to forgive those who try to hurt you. But, I must remember it was MY SIN that held our Lord on the cross. I was the one that Jesus was speaking about when He said forgive them. Forgive Steven, for he knows not what he does. Because I’m forgiven, it is a little easier for me to forgive.

 Forgiving others is not easy, but what war is easy?

 

May our LORD continue to bless us,

 

Steve Bragg

Please Pray for Us!

RRCP Prayer Partners,

Yesterday we asked our churches to begin a 40 day fast. They will fast something each day and pray. Maybe you can join us in this praying and fasting experience.

We are fasting and praying for 3 things.

1.       To know the will of God for our life. To live out this precious gift of life that He gave us in His will with His blessing (Parable of the Talents).

2.      What is God’s will for our life in His church? How has He gifted us for service and to start living out our talents and gifts.

3.      They are praying for the First RRCP International Convention November 16-17. They are praying for the speakers coming from America. They are praying God will prepare them for the messages they bring and us for the hearing and doing of their messages. Our theme is LEADERSHIP… DOING THE LORD’S WORK – THE LORD’S WAY!

Please pray for our speakers at the convention Pastor Kelly Backstrom from River Rock Church and Pastor Iokea a Pastor of RRCP living in Texas. Pray that not only will they encourage us, but that they too will be encouraged.

·         Both men will be guest speakers at our River of Life radio program that reaches 1/3 of the Philippines. This program has become popular. There are many listeners. Pray for their messages and the hearing of their messages.

·         They will be visiting and speaking at each of our churches individually for their anniversary and thanksgiving celebrations. November is the month that the churches celebrate. They thank God for how many years they have been a church and the many blessing of our Lord for the past year.

·         Both pastors will be addressing many independent churches and associations.

Please pray for us that we will be prepared for our guest. Our expenses are not yet fully raised.

Please pray that our Lord will provide the finances for our next new churches. We are prepared to start 5 churches in 2013.

Please give thanks that our Lord provided for us to start 5 churches this year! Thank You LORD!

 

Your partner in this ministry,

Steve Bragg

Steve.bragg123@gmail.com

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