News Letter May 22, 2011

Hello Grace Chapel Partners, May 22, 2011


The Lord has been talking to me about prayer. Prayer was important to Jesus and when I read through the Book of Acts prayer is a main theme. Jesus and the early Church were always in prayer. The Church itself was launched while they were gathered and praying in the upper room. One time the church prayed so hard for boldness to share the gospel it shook the house. Everything of any importance needs to be thoroughly bathed in prayer and continually wrapped in prayer before our Lord.

As the time approaches to move to the Philippines I thought I would share things you can be in prayer with me.

1. As praise to our Lord, my son Steven age 9 gave his heart and life to our Lord about a month ago. We took him down the Imbler Christian Church where my 2nd Dad and father in the Lord, Leroy Stolle, is their Minister. Leroy baptized Steven and the Elders laid their hands on him and prayed for his life. They also prayed for us as a family for our ministry to the Philippines and will fund one the Churches there. Wow, the Lord was busy with many blessings on this one. Thank you Imbler Christian Church and thank You Lord.

2. I was approached by Mr. and Mrs. Boycie Javier. They found me through Grace Chapel Ministries on the internet. They are Filipino and live in Texas. They planted a Church in Camancijan, Culasi, Antique. This is only about 65 kilometers from Grace Chapel. Their Pastor left and they are in need of new Pastor. They have built a beautiful church building and parsonage and will support the pastor financially. We just need to help supply the Pastor. We are currently working on this. Please pray the Lord will bring forth the right person to pastor His Church in Culasi.

3. We are supporting 8 students with Scholarships this year. This is 2 more than last year.

4. This week many decisions will be made on things needing to be completed before we leave. These are the closing of our house, Juliana’s US citizenship and child support. These decisions are important and determine when we leave.

5. On July 10th we will be commissioned by River Rock Church to Pastor and start new Churches, Lord willing and by His grace, in the Philippines. I don’t have a time yet but you are all welcome to attend and participate.

Thank you for being my partners in this ministry to the Philippines. Thank you for your faithfulness and prayers.

May You Lord continue to bless us all,

Steve Bragg

Acts 4:31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

Steve's Story Grace Chapel

Hill of Zion church building and parsonage almost complete

Hill of Zion’s church building and parsonage is almost complete. All we need to do now is electrical and plumbing. Thank you all Grace Chapel Partners for your prayers and generosity. Thank you all Grace Chapel, Tabernacle of Praise and Hill of Zion members for your hard work, prayers, generosity and faithfulness. We thank You Lord for Your faithfulness. We thank You Lord for the honor and privilege to work in Your Kingdom, Your Body, Your Church dear Lord Jesus.

2 of the workers gave their hearts to the Lord and 2 more committed to going back to church on a regular basis. Thank you Lord!!!!

Grace Chapel Ministries Jiont Services of Grace Chapel, Tabernacle of Praise and Hill of Zion Churches

March 13, 2011 all three Churches of the Grace Chapel Ministries Patnongon Antique Philippines had a joint service at the Patnongon coast. This service resulted in lots of praising for our Lord Jesus Christ and 17 Baptisms... Thank You Lord!

Good News 21 More Baptisms

Here is a note from Pastor Alagos:

Good news.... This coming March 13, 2011, we will have joint Sunday service a whole day fellowship at El Capitan Beach Resort, Igbarawan, Patnongon, Antique. Churches who will join us are: Tabernacle of Praise Community Church, Grace Chapel and Hill of Zion Community Church. We will have also Baptism service... Hallelujah!!! 9 members from Hill of Zion and 12 from Tabernacle of Praise will be baptized.

Hallelujah our two carpenters and two workers of the Hill of Zion Church accepted the Lord as their savior and they committed themselves to church service and also every Friday night we have our revival night there and the Day Care Center was full of young people every time we have our night service... God is doing great, for their lives were changed by God himself and by the power of his word. They were in tears testifying what God has done in their lives. To God be the glory, Please pray for us.

Please extend my thanks to all our brethren who have laid down their knees for us, God will reward and return back to you all the increase. Thank you so much deep from my heart. I always pray and dream to see you all in person someday if not here... in heaven.... just to say thank you for all your love to us.

Moving to the Philippines

Under Construction

My dear Grace Chapel Partners,

These pictures are of our first of 12 Churches Visioned, The Hill of Zion Church at Macarina Barangay, Antique, Patnongon, Philippines.


The Lord seems to be moving quickly on many fronts in accomplishing the vision of 12 New NT modeled Churches in the Philippines.

I know you all know the story but as a refresher in the summer or 2009 we went to Grace Chapel, Philippines, to see what the Lord would have us do next in the ministries of Grace Chapel. The Lord showed me a very clear vision on how to plant and establish 12 new Churches in the Philippines. 

The Vision:

Pastor Ruela

1. Launch a church from a live broadcast at a Barangay of the Christian radio program we support and have become popular there in the Antique Provence. From the live broadcast bible studies and prayer group form into a small local church.

2. Call a Pastor and provide for his support for one year as he establishes the Lord’s church in that Barangay.
3. Build a bamboo Church and Parsonage.

Hill of Zion members

Of this vision already one church is planted (launched), a pastor is on sight and the church and parsonage are being built as this letter reaches you. I sent you all a picture of the new Church building a few days ago.

Baptisms

In addition we have funding for 2 more of the new Churches. One done and two more funded, provided for. Only 9 more to go, thank you Lord and thank you all that have provided so generously. Thank you for your earnest prayers before our Lord for His Gospel being shared and lives saved in the Philippines.

The Cost: Edited July 2012 - Cost have gone up and the Exchange Rate has gone down of Dollars to Pesos

1. Launch the new Church $ 800

2. Call and 1 year salary for the new Pastor $1140

3. Build a Church and parsonage $3060

Total Cost ONLY $5000

Bragg family’s next step:

1. I will be retiring this May 1st 2011. My retirement is enough to provide for our living and build a house over the next year or so. We will be staying with Juliana’s father next to Grace Chapel while we build a home.

2. Target date to move to fulltime ministry at Grace Chapel Ministries in the Philippines is June-August this year. We have a few things needing to be wrapped up before we go but it looks definite, Lord willing.

Prayers needed:

1. That the affairs of our family to be completed before we go will continue to move well with the Lord’s blessing

2. My prayer and vision is to go to the Philippines with all 12 churches funded. We have 3 funded now and need only 9 more.

My request:

Will you fund these 9 churches at only $5000 apiece? Those of you who can and the Lord has provided please let me know as soon as possible. River Rock Church has committed to matching each Church funded.

My friends think of it, only $5000 to start and build a Church for the Lord. Not just a building, the Lord’s church is not a building but a family of believers with a place to congregate and worship our Lord and a Pastor to love and teach them.

How many will you commit to start? Some of you can provide for one and others can provide for many. We could do more than 12 if the Lord is providing. Maybe you know someone I don’t that would love to be a Partner of Grace Chapel Ministries and establish Churches all over the Philippines.

I love you all and thank you for being a partner with me in such a wonderful and rewarding ministry. Our hearts and Pilipinos lives have been blessed many times so far and more blessings are yet to come.

Matthew 6:20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. NLT

My prayers are with you all,

Steve Bragg

You may give to Grace Chapel through River Rock Church

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

UPDATE: Hill of Zion Church at Barangay Macarina

Dear Grace Chapel Partners,

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I want to share updates on the new church Hill of Zion Church at Barangay Macarina.

Pastor Alagos and his team have been working well in the name of our Lord and the Lord is blessing the people there at Macarina. They have had more people come to Christ. Thank You Lord!

All the material for the new church building and parsonage has been arranged and we are sending the money for that now.

Also, we have our first new Pastor, Pastor Ruela. He has been working there since November.

I will be sharing pictures of Pastor Ruela and the new church build as they come in.

Here is a quote from Pastor Alagos. “With regards to Macarina Church, God is doing great, number of converts were increasing thanks for all your prayers.” 

Please keep in your prayer the youth. Pastor Alagos is taking youth from Grace Chapel, the Mabasa church Tabernacle of Praise Community Church and our new church Hill of Zion Church. These youth are going to a youth conference December 27-29 a 3 day camp at Roma Beach Resort here in Mabasa, Patnongon, Antique. The theme for this camp is "Destined to Win". Many of the youth who have already come to Christ will be baptized there. Let’s pray many more youth will do the same.

What wonderful news for Christmas.

Thank you for your prayers and generous giving to make this happen. We are getting ready to start the next new church so if you can please give for this next new blessing. We learned there are start up cost to launch these new churches so the adjusted new cost is only $3400.00. This includes the launch, building a bamboo church and parsonage and a pastors salary for one year.
 

Thank you all and thank You Lord!