Palawan Report

August 8, 2017

Recently Pastor Alagos visited our churches on the island of Palawan.

Here are some highlights of the churches.

Bahile House Church

Barangày Bahile is almost 73km from Puerto Princesa City ànd along the way to Underground River. this barangay is composed of the mixed tribe like Agutaynen, Cuyonin at Palaweno. We have a house church here that was started 3 yrs ago with Pastor Prudencio and Oab. There is a couple here that ever-since the house churçh started dreaming to have a permanent structure for a plaçe of worship. Just 4months ago she discovered that the next lot to which they squat is àn abandoned lot with no owñer and it was a miracle that the govt. Awarded it to her, and now she needs to pay some amount by faith for the processing fee to own it. In her excitement, she stated a skeleton nipa hut for a place of worship for her family, relatives and people and tribes around for she promised that whatever blessings she might receive, the best portion will be given to God. I really amazed and knelt down in thanksgiviñg to God with such a great faith, hallelujah. AMEN!

      

                            

RRCP House Church Sitio Madahon of Buenavista Puerto Princesa, Palawan UP -dates!

Sitio Madahon is a Tribal area of Barangay Buenavista composing 3 tribes like Agutaynen and Cuyonin, this is composed of 20 houses and their livelihood is mostly fishing and mat making using native grass taken from the middle of the forest. RRCP house church was started here with Ptr Oab our Tribal Pastor from Buenavista and now the work was delegated to his daughter-in-Law Aina. They used to gather at the small nipa house and sometimes under the tree if no raiñ. There were 7 families regularly gathered here. Their faith and hunger for the word of God is incomparable and so inspiring. Please spend some time to pray for them and for the blessings that would meet their needs and salvation in the name of Jesus. Ameñ!

           

RIVERSIDE CHRISTIAN CEÑTER

RRCP PÀLAWAN REGION PASTORS' MEETING AND FELLOWSHIP AT RIVERSIDE CHRISTIAN CEÑTER OF RRCP SITIO MARANAT, BACUNGAN PUERTO PRENCISA, CITY, PALAWAN.

The meeting is composed of 28 pàstors, elders, workers and youth leaders coming from 6 RRCP Churches and 7 house Churches of Palawan Region. The meeting was so exciting, everyone came with expectation and thirsty heart for the Lord. Their presence was filled with love and concern for each other....what a blessing to see the manifestations of the ACTS Churches in the bible. Thank you RRCP family for living in the culture of love, compassion, faith, and humility in the Lord Jesus Christ for your love and faith empowers our desire and hope to serve the Lord in more greater heights and more deeper commitment. I LOVE YOU ALL IN THE LORD! ... Amen!

            

                         

Santa Lourdes Church

Sunday worship service at Santa Lourdes RRCP. There some people coming from Buenavista, madahon, Maryugon, Bahile, SalvacionManalolo and upper Santa Lourdes churches and house Churches. What a blessing everyone come with excitement eager to hear the word of God and to see each other. Thank you very much RRCP Brethren for the Love that you have to us and to the work of the Lord. Be strong and of good courage. Amen!

    

Thank you, Lord, for these blessings. There is now fourteen churches in Palawan.

Thank you prayer partners and supporters. It is only by our partnership with the Lord this is possible.

*Reports were written by Pastor Alagos. 

Pastor Steven Ray Bragg

Palawan Report 8/27/14

My Dear Partners of RRCP

Pastor Alagos said “truly Palawan is God’s grace!”

Madahon House Church 
Palawan Tribes of Agutaynon, Batac, and Tagbanua

Two years ago Pastor Alagos planted our first church on the island of Palawan, Philippines at Barangay Santa Lourdes. Since that time, our Lord Jesus Christ has grown us into the RRCP Palawan Region consisting of three churches with church buildings and six house churches. We have had about 70 baptisms and our total weekly attendance is 400-500. We are reaching our target of the unchurched and dechurched in the remote areas of the Philippines that have no other church.

10 Baptisms

Visiting the Palawan Churches

Buenavista Tribal Church
Palawan Tribes of Agutaynon, Batac, and Tagbanua

Maranat House Church

Maryogon House Church
Cuyonin Tribe  

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

• We went to Palawan to visit and encourage churches. Our Lord, however, provided our First Annual Palawan Regional Convention with 8 of the 9 churches in attendance.
• We also had our first monthly pastors and leaders meeting for the Palawan Region consisting of 3 churches with church buildings and 6 thriving house churches.
• THE QUESTION to the leaders: “if we knew for sure Jesus coming was imminent and soon, what would we do different?”
• THE ANSWER: reach further and quicker into the remote areas with house churches.
• Pastor Alagos and I went to encourage and came away encouraged.

First Palawan Region Pastor's Meeting

OUR LORD GOD IS AWESOME!

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 in action! 

Your Partners in this ministry to Filipinos,

Pastor Steve Bragg and Pastor Alejo Alagos

RRCP - PALAWAN UPDATE

My Dear Grace Chapel Partners - RRCP

This August 22-26 Pastor Alagos and I will be on the island of Palawan, Philippines. We will celebrate the 3^rd anniversary of RRCP Santa Lourdes church, break ground for the new church building at Barangay Buenavista in the tribal area, visit all of our 9 churches including house churches, and 22 baptisms are scheduled. PRAISE THE LORD!

RRCP - PALAWAN UPDATE  

RRCP Santa Lourdes Palawan

From Pastor Alagos

When I look back the ministry 3 years ago, When US Embassy denied my entry to USA so instead of going to US my wife and me and Joshua went to Palawan for a mission journey for 15 days and there we started a 2 night’s crusade at Santa Lourdes, Puerto Princesa City. During those time God has showered his mercy for the people and in that 2 nights many have experience healing and we had started many bible studies.

Three Years Later

RRCP Santa Lourdes (with a church building) have 72 people last Sunday with Ptr Stephen and Sarah.

·         They have also 3 house Churches located at Sitio Maranat Bacongan with 23 people, Barangay Bahili with 4 families or 15 people and Barangay Manalo with 10 people attended last Sunday.

·         Praise the Lord they have also many strong men and elders that handles these house churches. Pastor Steve and I will be there on this 24th for their anniversary.

·         They have 15 people to be baptized when we arrived.

RRCP - Christ Transformation Center (with a church building) at Tagumpay Roxas Palawan with Pastor Larry and Judy have increased attendance of 40 including children and Young people,

·         They have 7 people for baptism on 22nd of this month when we arrived there.

·         They have 5 Life groups surrounding the nearby Barangay and Sitios.

·         They have one house church at Sitio Candelaria 9 miles going to the mountain with the attendance of more or less 35. This is the place having many malnourished children.

RRCP Buenavista (church building under construction) with 4 tribes namely Coyunin, Tagbanua, Batac and Agutaynon with Pastor Oab our Agutaynon Pastor have also improved their attendance.

·         Last Sunday 46 people attended the service.

·         He have two house Churches namely Sitio Dahondahon having 16 people and the other one at Sta. Fe very far from his place with 3 families.

·         We are about to start the church building there.

·         Pastor Oab have also raised 2 leaders working with him. We will be there on the 22nd.

Pastor Purdencio Alagos our Evangelist

·         Improved the attendance at RRCP Mariogon House Church with 18 people attending the service.

·         He is also about to start another house church in another mountainous barangay.

AMEN, AMEN! EVERYBODY ARE WORKING VERY HARD FOR THE HARVEST OF SOULS. Please pray for us, Pastor Steve and I will go to Palawan on August 22-25 for our 4th Mission Visit, We will be doing again Baptisms in the river hope that crocodile will not be there.

THANK YOU LORD. This happened all because you pray, AMEN! To God be the glory

Serving the Tribes of Palawan

One of the great pleasures we had was to provide Typhoon Yolanda food aid to 31 families of one of the Philippines original tribes.

Pastor Alagos "As I enter in this place my tears won't stop flowing for something that I don't know. After the message tribe people were crying loudly as they come to know the hope that is from the Lord. Pray for them! We will build church there pray that God will provide. AMEN."

Hope to the hopeless through loving GOD and loving others.

Each family received rice and groceries 

The Dump Site

Pulang Lupa Christian Church is located at the Dump Site. The church’s Pastor is Juliet (Joy) Rosido. She has lived among them ministering for 15 years. 

We were able to feed 58 of the families with the Typhoon Yolanda aid. Her dedication to the church there is inspiring. 

She lives among them by choice because of love. She has been isolated with no help. We have made a new friend.

She said "no one has ever helped us before."

Family living at the dump site

Pastor Juliet (Joy) Rosido

Just In Time for Christmas

More Aid for Yolanda Victims in Palawan, Philippines

Blessings Just In Time for Christmas

I don't have pictures yet. I just wanted to share this blessing as it is unfolding just now.

We are conducting feeding programs for the Typhoon Yolanda victims in the vicinity of our six churches on the island of Palawan, Philippines.

These families are receiving rice, noodles and can goods thanks to I.D.E.S. and River Rock Church USA & Philippines.

• Barangay Santa Lourdes - Repair 3 homes and feeding 52 families
• Barangay Tagumpay - Feeding 38 families
• Barangay Candelaria - Feeding 26 families
• Barangay Mariogon - Feeding 26 families
• Barangay Buena Vista - feeding 31 families
• Barangay Maranat - Feeding 24 families

Today and tomorrow we are feeding 173 families or approximately 1211 people just in time for Christmas. (The average Filipino family is 7).

Please keep Operation Philippines http://www.operationphilippines.com/ in your prayers.

Video of: A Twofold Blessing

My Dear Grace Chapel Partners of River Rock Church Philippines (RRCP)

Video of: A Twofold Blessing - http://vimeo.com/48412990

It is only 5 minutes and a BIG BLESSING!

Dedication of RRCP santa Lourdes

This is a video of A Twofold Blessing in one weekend:

First, is the dedication of the River Rock Church Philippines Santa Lourdes at Barangay Santa Lourdes, Porto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. It was launched April 2012. The church building is not complete yet, but they congregate to worship and give thanks to our Lord Jesus.

Launching of RRCP Tagumpay

Second, the launching of a new church, River Rock Church Philippines Tagumpay, with a two night Jesus Cares concert crusade at Barangay Tagumpay, Roxas, Palawan, Philippines.

Prayerful need:

We need only $300 to complete the Santa Lourdes church building. It needs the cement floor completed, finish cementing of the inside and outside walls, and paint.

Launching of RRCP Tagumpay

Is there someone who would donate the $300 to complete the church building? Please let me know. $300 dollars or 12,000 pesos for the Santa Lourdes church is too big for them.

Thank you my friends and Partners,

Steve Bragg

Pastor/Elder
River Rock Church
& Grace Chapel Ministries

Serving in Patnongon Antique Philippines

Email: steve.bragg123@gmail.com

Grace Chapel Blog: http://gracechapelministries.blogspot.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    

Grace Chapel Partners – A Big Blessing

My Dear Grace Chapel Partners,

I want to share a blessing of our new church in Palawan, RRCP Santa Lourdes.

If you will recall, Pastor Alagos and I just got back from Santa Lourdes, Palawan two weeks ago. We were there to start their new building.

The blessing is they ran out of the budgeted money to complete the church. It is almost done. The members are finishing the church themselves. They are poor, but each family is contributing a week of labor and a sack of cement.

Wow, they are taking ownership of their place to worship. They will have the joy of participation and knowing that this is truly their place to congregate and worship our Lord.

They are becoming the church in Santa Lourdes. They will have their first worship service next Sunday. I have asked for pictures to share with you all their partners.

Also, the Santa Lourdes’ church is organizing to go to Tagumpay to help us plant our next church there. Tagumpay is 95 kilometer north of them. Please help us pray for the Tagumpay launch the last week of August, Lord willing.

We serve an awesome God!

Thank you for your partnership in this ministry.

As you can see, Filipinos are being blessed. They are becoming our Lord's Church in Barangay Santa Lourdes. Our Lord is faithful in His love to the Filipino people. We have the blessing of being His vessels. We have the blessing of our Lord letting us participate. The church in Santa Lourdes is experience the same blessing. Thank you Lord!

Your servant, Steve

9 Days on the Island of Palawan

My Dear Grace Chapel Partners,

See the video on this link https://vimeo.com/45223189

This is a pictorial and video presentation of our 9 days on the island of Palawan, Philippines. We are completing our church plant at Santa Lourdes, Palawan. We visited 2 new Barangays Tagumpay and Rizal, Palawan. Lord willing we will start a new church at Barangay Tagumpay this September 2012. We traveled down the alligator infested Tagumpay River to view the homes and families that can be reached by the Tagumpay Church. Brother Julius rips open 2 coconuts with his teeth. We visit very small uninhabited island of great beauty.

Blessing,

Steve Bragg

Palawan Church Report June 30, 2012

My Dear Grace Chapel Partners,

I arrived at Puerto Princesa City, Palawan June 20th. Pastor Alagos and I returned from Palawan yesterday June 28^th. This was one of the highlights of my life. Many times each day I praised God for the opportunity to serve Him. Many times each day the Lord confirmed he was with me in my life and in the ministry He has set before me.

Finishing Our Current Work in Santa Lourdes, Palawan

We are almost complete, establishing the fifth church, in our mission, here at Barangay Santa Lourdes, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines. The congregation is assembled. The Pastor and his family have lived among them 10 years. The building will be completed within a week. There were 4 baptisms this last Sunday. Praise God!

Along the way our Lord has opened doors for us to start another church in Palawan.

Pray for our New Church at Barangay Tagumpay, Palawan

While building the church in Santa Lourdes, the Lord provided an opportunity to visit a barangay 95 kilometers north. This barangay is Tagumpay. Tagumpay means victory! It is a part of the municipality Roxas, Palawan, Philippines. There is no Christian church there. Pastor Alagos’ brother, Prodencio Alagos, is a Pastor living in Santa Lourdes. Pastor Prodencio is willing move to Barangay Tagumpay to plant and pastor the new church there. He has many family members and friends that live in Barangay Tagumpay. When we visited them, they are extremely excited to have a Christian church there. There is no place for Christians to worship. The result has been scattered sheep and no harvest of the lost.

Most of Barangay Tagumpay is a squatter’s area. They are the poorest of the poor. The Philippine government has given each family a small piece of land to build a home on. There are 9 surrounding Barangays that we can minister to. The Tagumpay River is connected to Barangay Tagumpay and has many homes. Some of the homes can only be reached by boat.

We traveled the river, but did not see any of the crocodile that inhabit the river. Pastor Alagos said he was sure they saw us.

At the mouth of the river is the Sulu Sea. Barangay Rizal is located there. It is only 10 minutes from Barangay Tagumpay by road. However, many will not be able to travel to Barangay Tagumpay as they cannot afford the expense. Pastor Prodencio was invited to start a Bible Study at Barangay Rizal. The Lord provided an opportunity to talk with a lovely senior lady who invited us and will host the Bible Study.

*Please pray that early September we will be able to go back to Palawan to dedicate the Santa Lourdes church and launch the new church at Tagumpay. Thank you Lord!

We Have A Plus!

Almost 4 weeks ago, we were invited to Sitio Franks in Barangay Mabasa, Antique to start a church there. Thank you Lord! This is close to where our 2^nd church Tabernacle of Praise is located. It is like Tagumpay as it is also a squatter’s area. This Barangay was destroyed by Typhoon Franks in 2007. The government bought the land and dedicated it to squatters. Each family is given an area of land to build a home. It is theirs long as they live there. It is deeded that way. Each piece of land is just large enough to build a small bamboo home.

We had 3 services at Sitio Franks already. The average attendance is 70. We believe this may become one of our largest churches.

Lord willing, we will start building the Franks church immediately. This will be church number 6. This one will be called River Rock Church Franks. Praise God!

Please keep us in your prayers. We will begin immediate construction of the church building at Sitio Franks. Barangay Tagumpay, church 7, will launch early September, 2012, Lord willing.

Only God!

I am as astonished as you are! When we arrived here less than one year ago, August 6^th, 2011, we were 3 churches. Now we are planning church 7 the first week of September 2012. ONLY GOD could do such as a work as this. Pastor Alagos and I have the next 5 churches in sight. We are laying plans for them now, Lord willing!

Only the Holy Spirit!

·         Only the holy Spirit could move the hearts of the cheerful generous givers for this ministry

·         Only the Holy Spirit could move the hearts of the faithful to unite in prayer for the lost and scattered sheep in the Philippines

·         Only the Holy Spirit could move the hearts of the Pastors wanting to join us

·         Only the Holy Spirit could move the hearts of the leaders in the barangays to clear our way

·         Only the Holy Spirit could move the hearts of the lost and the scattered sheep of the Philippines to repentance in each of these churches

Only in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

·         Only in Jesus name do we call the lost and scattered of our Lord to salvation and repentance

·         Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ do we proclaim

·         Only the Lord Jesus Christ’s Church do we establish in the Philippines

·         Only the hope of the Lord Jesus Christ do we offer to the hopeless

·         Only in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ are broken lives and families being healed

·         Only in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ do we ask the sick may be healed

Only for the Lord Jesus Christ do we live each day in His presence, His grace, and His power! Amen!

May our Lord, Jesus Christ, continue to bless us all,

Steve Bragg and Alejo Alagos

Building the Church in Santa Lourdes, Palawan

Dear Grace Chapel Partners,

Tomorrow I leave to meet Pastor Alagos on the island of Palawan. Our new church is in the municipality Santa Lourdes on Palawan. Please pray for Pastor Alagos and me as we will build their new church building over the next 9 days, Lord willing.

Also please keep us in your prayers as Santa Lourdes has the malaria mosquito.

Thank you for your prayers,

Your servant, Steve

River Rock Church Santa Lourdes Report

My Dear Grace Chapel Partners,

PRAISE:

Our new church, River Rock Church Santa Lourdes, on the island of Palawan, now has 65 people attending the weekly Bibles studies. Their Pastor Stephen Mahusay is on fire to grow this church! We are getting weekly reports from Stephen about new people that are coming to the studies.

June 22^nd Pastor Alagos and I travel there to start the new church building. This building will be a little bigger and more expensive because all building material is shipped in. With the growth they are already experiencing we pray the extra expense will be well worth it. PLEASE KEEP THEM ALL IN YOUR PRAYERS.

REQUEST:

We have switch to a new radio station that will give us coverage to 1/3 of the Philippines. This will be a great advantage because many of our new churches will be launched through the Christian radio program.

In the current broadcast, reaching only our island, Pastor Alagos receives up 600 texts each week from listeners. The Gospel is preached, lives are changed, and families are strengthened from this radio ministry.

The cost however, is almost double. Therefore, we are looking for a sponsor to help us with the extra cost of $75 dollars per month.

Please let me know if you can provide for this valued ministry.

Thank you for your prayers, support and partnership in the awesome ministry to the Filipino people.

Steve Bragg

Email: steve.bragg123@gmail.com

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