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

Thank you 2009

To all the members and friends of River Rock Church

Greetings of peace to everyone

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for your unending love and support to Grace Chapel.

May the Lord showers His bountiful blessings to everyone

Merry Christmas and advance Happy New Year.

Helen Baculna,
Volunteer Coordinator,
Grace Chapel, Patnongon, Antique, Philippines

I would like to add Grace Chapel is now at two weekly services. The second was added because we have many children that are now coming so we have a teaching service for them.

Thanks to your generosity we are continuing to support four students through school.

We also support a Christian radio broadcast that reaches about 175,000 Filipinos weekly with the Gospel of Christ. Thank you Lord! You are so good!!!

The gift we sent for the Christmas celebration was decided by Grace Chapel to be spent feeding those in need.

Thank you for your prayers and support. May the Lord bless your generosity and love for His children and our brothers and sisters in Patnongon, Philippines.

If you would like to support or gift the ministries at Grace Chapel you my give through River Rock Church.

http://www.river-rock.org/index.shtml

In Christ,

Steve Bragg

Encouragement - Praising God on Dry Land

Praising God on Dry Land
Encouragement Volume A-29
10/23/2009

Exodus 14:29 But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

I was looking for a good way to illustrate what is on my heart and how to communicate this Encouragement to you. Then last week Fox News illustrated a segment with a scene from Cecil B. DeMille’s movie the Ten Commandments. The scene is Moses, played by Charlton Heston, standing on the rock overlooking the Red Sea. The Israelites have been freed from the slavery and cruelty of Egypt and are on their way with all the spoil of Egypt to the “Promised Land” “full of milk and honey”. Little did they know that the Lord would lead them to the Promised Land through the Red Sea.

God had used many great miracles including saving them from the angel of death to free them. This last great miracle of saving them from death led to convince Pharaoh to let God’s people go and they were finally freed not only from death but also the horrible condition of Pharaoh’s brutal slavery. So now having been saved from death by lamb’s blood and the terrible condition of slavery the Hebrew are joyfully on their way to the Promised Land. In like manor we are freed from death by the blood of our Lamb, Jesus, and the horrible condition of our slavery to sin and now on our way to our “Promised Land”, heaven.

With that back ground said, here is my encouragement.

The Hebrews knew the Lord well and were saved from Egypt but their faith had not yet been perfected, matured or realized. Now the Lord began His work of becoming their God. As you read through Exodus the “becoming their God”, as I call it, happened through many test and trials. But the first test was the Red Sea.

Now camped with their back to the Red Sea and no way of escape Pharaoh realizes the military advantage and leads his army against the seemingly helpless Hebrew. When the Egyptian army approached it scared the Hebrews so badly they begged Moses to release them back to Egyptian slavery in hopes Pharaoh would not kill them.

They even declared “Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt?” Exodus 14:11

'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." Exodus 14:12

But the Moses said "The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent." Exodus 14:14

Moses opens the Red Sea and the Hebrews walked on dry land with the waters piled high on both sides. When they reach the shore on the other side the Lord drowned the entire Egyptian army, their enemy and trail, when He closed up the Red Sea behind them.

When Israel saw the great power which the LORD had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses. Exodus 14:30.

My friends, sometimes trials or circumstances come upon us that cause great fear and the test or trial is so great that we even question our faith or the reality of our God. We may even become angry towards God.

But now I look back as one who is coming out of what I think was my scariest trial of the last two years unemployed. I see the dry ground on which I walked. Sometimes I even feared the way out by which the Lord took me and my family and sometimes trembled even at the high walls of the sea that surrounded us.

But for the most part of this trail our faith based upon our past experiences with our Lord sustained us. Although, sometimes, our older brothers and sisters had to come to our rescue and remind us “the Lord will fight for you today.”

And I have to say with all humility that the Lord’s dry ground which we walk on are your prayers for us and the many kind and loving things you all provide for us. Thank you my dear friends and family. Nothing was I able to do on my own power but only through the Lord’s strength and His provisions and through His loving servants are we able to survive.

I know that this trial is not over yet and more trials will come that test, strengthen and mature our faith. But these two things I know today:

My faith and my family’s faith in our Lord God are more real today than ever. Also our faith and love for each other, Juliana, Steven and I are greater and more intimate. Our intimacy with the Lord God Almighty and Creator of all is closer and more loving than we have ever known. It’s is hard to understand why the Lord God would care so intimately for me and my family but He does and I am basking in the reality and intimacy of Him and His love.

And secondly, although, I don’t invite more trails and the end of this one is not complete, I know the Lord is my provider and fear is only temporal but the Lords care and love are true and eternal.

And one more closing note. The Lord not only works through our trails for good for us but also as a witness to those who watch. The Lord works through our faith as a witness to the world.

"Then the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD” Exodus 14:18

May the Lord continue to bless us all,

Steve Bragg

Latest News for Grace Chapel

Grace Chapel started weekly services about two months ago in anticipation of me getting there fulltime soon. Pastor Alagos started the services on Saturday afternoons because he does two services at the Mabasa Church on Sundays.

Juliana and Steven are living there now and waiting for me to get there or I will bring them back here for awhile. Please pray the Lord will make which to do clear to me.

Juliana gave her testimony two weeks ago at Grace Chapel. I would have loved to hear it. She is preparing to be my interpreter for the services. What’s that old saying about most people would rather die than speak publicly. Juliana will do well. She taught school for several years. The Lord will teach and empower her.

Steven is adjusting and doing well in school. He just finished a week of chapter tests and got 100% on all but one and on that one he got 61 out of 65. Not bad considering he has to speak three languages in school. The classes are taught in English, tests are in Tagolog, the national language, and his classmates speak Kinaray, the local dialect. WOW! Better him than me!

Juliana just informed me the services are growing fast. “Lots of new faces” she said. There are so many children they just started a service just for the kids. The regular service follows the children service. Juliana and her sisters, Alberta and Helen, are leading songs and helping with the kids.

It is amazing to me the Lord’s blessing for Grace Chapel. He has me here for some reason (hopefully not long) and continues to bless and grow the Grace Chapel ministries.

No new pictures yet. Juliana hasn’t mastered sending pictures. Soon I hope to share new pictures.

We are in the processes of buying another hector of farmland to contribute to our support there. This was made possible by your wonderful and generous support. Thank you. We are getting closer to the time for me to get there permanently. It is all about the Lord’s timing. He will get me there in His Sovereignty. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He will provide the financial means when He is ready.

Please continue to keep Grace Chapel Ministries in your prayers.
You can contribute to Grace Chapel Ministries at http://www.river-rock.org/index.shtml

May the Lord continue to bless us all,
Steve Bragg
Steve.bragg123@gmail.com

Thank You From Brother Mel Antique, Philippines

I'm praying the Lord will provide 12 Pastors for our 12 new Churches.. I'm praying Brother Mel will be one of the 12 new Pastors. This picture is his family and mine.

You can read about the vision for 12 new churches over the next three years in the last blog posted here, "THE NEXT STEP FOR GRACE CHAPEL"

May the Lord continue to bless us all!

Steve Bragg

steve.bragg123@gmail.com

12 NEW CHURCHES IN 3 YEARS

• As I share the prayers and visions for Grace Chapel Ministries I want to say that I believe The Lord has prepared someone or ones with the “silver” or “talents” to answer these prayers. This pattern of prayer, vision, ministries and the provisions of “Silver” or “talents” has been the beginning and continuing pattern of Grace from our Lord and Savior in this ministry. We have the privilege to be a part of the Lord’s wonderful blessings and be a part of His harvest. We thank you Lord for this wonderful privilege and honor to work in Your Kingdom, amen.

• February of this year 2009 Juliana, Steven and I started praying the Lord would send us to Grace Chapel for a visit. Our daily prayer is to be serving at Grace Chapel full time but the Lord has not provided the opportunity yet. So we administer the Grace Chapel Ministries from here in Vancouver, WA along with the help of Juliana’s sister, Helen. It was Helen prayed for The Lord to provide Grace Chapel. As I said before Pastor Kelly started the “bag of Silver” and many are contributing. In the last blog “The Lord Provides Many Wonderful Blessings” the ministries listed are just a glimpse of the increase so far. Only the Lord knows the full extent of the increase of our faithfulness in this effort. I know in my heart and from talking to the local Pastors in Patnongon many people have been saved, many families have been preserved and many of the faithful have been strengthened.

• So, because we can’t be there at Grace Chapel full time as of yet we began asking the Lord for a visit. As a family we asked the Lord in secret. We had no finances to make it happen but we also knew that if the Lord wanted us there He could and would make it happen. About two weeks later Pastor Kelly suggested River Rock Church send us and the board approved to use the money in the Grace Chapel funds to finance the trip.

• Pastor Kelly and the board wanted us to go and be refreshed in the Grace Chapel Ministry and see if the Lord had a vision for what the next step for Grace Chapel would be for us as a family, Juliana, Steven and I and also all of us who make up the international supporters of Grace Chapel, those who support Grace Chapel with prayers and resources.

YES THE LORD GAVE ME A VISION AND HERE IT IS!

Growing the Grace Chapel Congregation and Ministries

These pictures were taken April 2009 at a Grace Chapel Prayer Service

o I will become their full time Evangelist/Pastor

o Grow them by example

o “ambassador for Christ” 2 Corinthians 5:13-21

o One on One Evangelizing

o Evangelism Rallies

o Participate in the festivals and church rallies

o Meeting Pastoral Needs of the Community

o Weekly Services

o Weekly Bible Studies

o Both in my home and creating “Small Groups”

o Discipleship

o Ongoing Ministries of Grace

o Teach Grace Chapel the heart of ministry – “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.” And “love your neighbor as yourself” Matthew 22:37-39

Continue Outreach Ministries

o Scholarships – We currently support 4 students at $20 each student per month over a 10 month school year. These 4 students currently have sponsors that support them through River Rock donations to Grace Chapel. Four students over the next 3 years is $2400 pledged

Start Twelve New Churches over the Next
Three Years

Start Four New Churches Per Year over the Next Three Years

Assist 3 current Pastors/Evangelist that are ready to settle down into their own communities and Pastor full time with their own local Church

Encourage and help these Pastors to multiply themselves

Continue to use the local Christian Radio Broadcast “The intercessors Hour of Prayer”. There are many request to start new Churches through this broadcast ministry

This very productive outreach needs to be financial supported to stay on the air. $60 per month sponsorship will accomplish this. $2,16o for the three years of starting churches

When we broadcast live from a barangay this becomes the outreach catalyst to start a church there. We invite local Pastors, have an evangelism rally with preaching, prayers, bible studies, conversions, baptisms and a new fledgling congregation is started. $60 per broadcast and 4 per year is $720 for the start of 12 Churches

I will encourage, empower, train and help new Pastors

Build a small bamboo Church building with an attached bamboo parsonage in each Barangay

Each bamboo church with an attached bamboo parsonage is $1100 each or $4,400 each year or $13,200 total for all 12 churches

Provide a small supplemental salary for one year to help support each Pastor’s family

Each Pastor will receive a supplemental income of $50 per month for a period of one year as he teaches the local church its responsibility to support the Pastor and his family.

$7,200 for 12 new Pastors


FINANCING

Here is what I need to get there and sustain my family

$20,000 to build our home. Juliana’s family has donated the land – this would be a small modest home of about 1100 SF. It would be brick and cement with and indoor kitchen, bathroom and two small bedrooms. A larger living room area for home studies.

This land is donated for our home and our home will look something like this

Invest in small businesses for our continuing support

These will help support us over the remainder of our lives there and help establish financial stability.

There are four business models that work well there and Juliana’s family has experience with. Also with diversity of incomes comes a deeper level of stability

Providing private loans to farmers
See the Ministry Plan for details

Purchase 3 more hectors of farmland and live off the products.
This is our 1st hector of farmland – Thank you Lord

Purchase a used Air Condition van that would hire out - $5000

Purchase a used small motorcycle with a side car – $2000 - This would be our family transportation and we can also hire it out for public transportation

For a Ministry Plan and Financial Report please email me at steve.bragg123@gmail.com