HAPPY THANKSGIVING

In America, we have the annual tradition that was started by our forefathers of being thankful for the Lord’s abundant blessings of the past year.

King David captured the heart of being thankful when he wrote “O LORD my God, You have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all Your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.” (Psalms 40:5 NLT)

In the Philippines, we also have the tradition of Thanksgiving. It is not based on historical tradition of a country but on the Church being thankful of the many blessings from our Lord. Each November the churches celebrate Thanksgiving. It’s a glorious celebration with food and guest speakers. They celebrate the years the Lord has blessed their church. All this month I went to churches celebrating with them.

I can tell you, after living in America the richest nation in the world and now living in Antique the poorest province in the Philippines, that God is faithful with blessings regardless of wealth or assets. God is indeed full of “wonderful deeds” “too numerous to list.”

Happy Thanksgiving,

Steve Bragg

Elder/Pastor

River Rock Church

& Grace Chapel Ministries

Serving in Patnongon Antique Philippines

Email: steve.bragg123@gmail.com
Grace Chapel Blog: http://gracechapelministries.blogspot.com/

Grace Chapel Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-Chapel/207519629261717

My Story http://youtu.be/6C2DRT2vtjs

Birth of a New Church: http://vimeo.com/user3366428/birth-of-a-new-church

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

Would You Like To Support And Partner With Us In Establishing Nondenominational Christian Community Churches In The Philippines?

Our target is the remote barangays of the Philippines that has no church. We bring the Gospel and establish His Church where there is none.

Our method is straightforward.

1. We obtain permission from the barangay officials.

2. We canvas and invite the people of the barangay to a 2 night Christian Concert Crusade. Jesus Saves Concert Crusade the banners read.

3. We bring the Gospel through song and preaching at the Crusade.

4. We get the names of those who come forward at the call.

5. We follow up and create home Bible studies.

6. We build a bamboo church and parsonage with steel roof and cement floor.

7. Call a pastor. We provide an income for one year and help him build a long term ability to provide for himself.

Tabernacle of Priase First Building 2007

8. The pastor continues to build and establish the congregation and work of the Lord in that barangay.

9. We provide ongoing training and spiritual support for the pastor.

Our goal is to provide a church a firm foothold. Later the congregations will replace the bamboo with concrete block and expand as needed. Tabernacle of Praise was just this way. They now have a bigger church building, and it is concrete block. It is a beautiful building. But more notable is the congregation is mature and in the active process of establishing more church like theirs.

Tabernacle of Praise congregation grew & matured
and built this nice concrete block church building

We have an established track record for this ministry. These are the successful fruits of our labor in the Lord.

1. Grace Chapel – Est. 2006

2. Tabernacle of Praise – Est. 2007

3. Hill of Zion – Est. 2010

4. River Rock Church Esparar – Est. 2011

Tabernacle of Praise 4th Anniversary
This is our model to establish more churches

As you consider your yearend giving, please consider this ministry.

You can make your online denotation or check to - GRACE CHAPEL

You can make this donation through River Rock Church. You will receive a receipt your charitable donation. RRC is a

You can donate online: http://www.river-rock.org/giving.html  

By Mail:

River Rock Church

2008 SE 8th Avenue

Camas, WA 98607

Phone: 360-885-9000

http://www.river-rock.org

Thank you for your love and prayers for our family and for the Filipinos. Many lives are being saved, and this blessing will last for generations.

Steve Bragg

Email: steve.bragg123@gmail.com

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

Grace Chapel Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-Chapel/207519629261717  

My Story http://youtu.be/6C2DRT2vtjs       

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

Birth of a New Church in Brgy Esparar

Click on this link to view the video Birth of a New Church in Btgy Esparar. It is 4 minutes.

http://vimeo.com/user3366428/birth-of-a-new-church

This film is the end of each of the two nights of the JESUS SAVES CONCERT CRUSADE at Brgy Esparar, Barbaza Antique, Philippines. Those saved at this Crusade are a new Christian Church at Brgy Esparar. They are a new portion of The Body of Christ. There is no other Christian Church in Esparar.

The Born Again Band presented the Gospel in song. Pastor and Evangelist Alejo Alagos presented the Gospel message, and call for Salvation. “The Lord added.”

River Rock Church, Camas & East Vancouver, WA, River Rock Church Philippines, Grace Chapel Ministries, and Elder/Pastor Steve Bragg are the missionary outreach.

Jesus Christ is The Lord!

2nd Night at Brgy Esparar Church Launch

Wednesday November 2, 2011

Jesus Saves Concert Crusade is what the banner read. His name was held high, His love was proclaimed clearly, and He blessed us all with His presents and glory!

The first night more than 20 people came forward at the call to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

The second night more than 60 people came at the invitation!!!! We estimate another 20% in the back raised their hands to received Christ, but didn’t come forward. Included to be saved the second night was the Brgy Captain. She took some criticism for allowing a “non Catholic Religion” crusade in the Brgy. Then on the second night she was the first up front at the alter-call. 

We estimated 200-250 people from the Brgy were there the second night. Plus, we were about 60 workers from Grace Chapel, Tabernacle of Praise, Hill of Zion, and Gateway Churches. Many Pastors from other Churches were there to help.

Pastor Alagos exclaimed Wow, thank You Lord, as the people literally rushed forward to be saved. Tears of joy streamed down my face as I watched in amazement the power of the Holy Spirit moving hearts to receive The Lord Jesus as Savior! Many of the pastors were visibly stunned at the response. Then quickly they began praying with them, and taking names for follow up.

All of your prayers for this new Church were answered. The Lord’s people both in the US and here were mighty in prayer, and the Lord had a huge harvest of His people in Brgy Esparar.

Please continue to pray for the follow up calls, and new cell groups for Bible Studies. We will have 4-5 cell group studies. In two to three weeks we will start building the church building, Lord willing.

I told Pastor Alagos this is a confirmation from the Lord we are in His will. Please keep us in your prayers that we continue in His will and blessing!

Psa 90:16 Let us, Your servants, see You work again; let our children see Your glory.

Psa 90:17 And may the Lord our God show us His approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful! NLT

Steve Bragg

Elder/Pastor

River Rock Church

& Grace Chapel Ministries

Serving in Patnongon Antique Philippines

Email: steve.bragg123@gmail.com
Grace Chapel Blog: http://gracechapelministries.blogspot.com/

Grace Chapel Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-Chapel/207519629261717

My Story http://youtu.be/6C2DRT2vtjs

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

First Night at the Brgy Esparar Church Launch

Tuesday November 2, 2011

After two weeks of intense planning, hanging banners, TV announcements, meeting with families, getting permits and permission from the Brgy officials, and door to door canvassing the concert, praise, and evangelism first night came.

The Reborn Band was a total hit! They were first-class and presented the Gospel in song. They are indeed blessed and talented. I learned that 60% of the Philippine population is young people. Their music and guest singers were on the mark for their audience.

Pastor Alagos gave the message. His message was powerful and blessed. We had a massive sound system that reached the entire Brgy. More than 100 people came out to the event and more than 20 received Jesus Christ as their Savior!

There were two more wonderful praises.

1. The lady I told you about before that we prayed for healing came tonight. Both she and her husband had received Jesus as their Savior when Ptr Alagos prayed for healing two weeks ago. She could not get out of her house because she didn’t walk well. Also, she had a rash that covered her face. Well, she walked to the concert and her rash was gone. The old skin was almost gone and new beautiful skin was appearing. She is a big testimony to the community.
2. Also, one of the leaders of the Philippine rebel Army (NPA) was saved. He is a significant leader among the men and boys there. Giving his life to the lord will have an enormous testimony in the Brgy. Please keep him in prayers.

Please keep night two, tonight, in your prayers.

We had rain on and off, so this is why many wore towels on their heads. This is common to see in the Philippines. J

Elder/Pastor

River Rock Church

& Grace Chapel Ministries

Serving in Patnongon Antique Philippines

Email:steve.bragg123@gmail.com
Grace Chapel Blog: http://gracechapelministries.blogspot.com/

Grace Chapel Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-Chapel/207519629261717

My Story http://youtu.be/6C2DRT2vtjs

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

Please Pray for Brgy Esparar Church Launch

My dear Grace Chapel Partners,

Please be in Prayer for:             

Ø  We will launch a new Church at Brgy Esparar, Lord willing, this Nov. 1 & 2.

Ø  The Launch is a two day concert, evangelistic preaching and prayers for healing at the Brgy Esparar center.

Ø  We have radio and local TV bulletins about the launch to the surrounding communities going on now, one week before the event.

Ø  We have 8-10 Pastors that will go door to door at Brgy Esparar two days before the launch. They will then come back over a 30 day period with follow up of the new converts and Bible studies.

Ø  The Pastor will be Pastor Alex. He is an Elder/Pastor and his family is from that community.

Please keep us in your prayers.

May the Lord continue bless us all,

PS The picture is Pastor Alagos and me.

Elder/Pastor

River Rock Church

& Grace Chapel Ministries

Serving in Patnongon Antique Philippines

Email: steve.bragg123@gmail.com
Grace Chapel Blog: http://gracechapelministries.blogspot.com/

Grace Chapel Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-Chapel/207519629261717

My Story http://youtu.be/6C2DRT2vtjs

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

Pray for our new Church launch in Esparar

Grace Chapel News Letter

October 17, 2011

My dear Grace Chapel Partners,  

I’m sorry; it has been awhile since my last communication. I have been busy preaching in many Churches. Each week is a new challenge for a new message. Preparing a weekly message is a new experience for me. The Lord has been faithful in helping me with my messages. I’m feeling comfortable delivering messages now. Thank You Lord! Some churches invite me back, and new Churches have asked me to come preach. Pastor Alagos is my friend and interpreter. The Lord has blessed me with my friend and partner Pastor Alagos. With the help of Pastor Alagos, this ministry is successful. Like Paul and Barnabas, we continue down the remote roads of the Philippines planting Churches where there is none. We also encourage Churches and Pastors along the way. My ministry is like Barnabas the encourager. Pastor Alagos’ reputation and contacts are remarkably used, by God, to open the doors for this ministry.

In the last News Letter, I shared with you a new Church we started to plant at Brgy (Barangay) Buhang, in Hamtic. We discovered there was already a Christian Church being planted there. Our desire is to plant Churches in remote Brgy that have no Christian Church. As a result, we turned over the Bibles studies to their care.

One Church I had the pleasure of sharing God Word is Gateway Church. Gateway is a Home Church on the beach of Brgy Poblacion in the Municipality of Laua-An.

Gary is the Pastor at Gateway. Gateway Church will be one year old next month. The Church is connected to their home. Both Gary and his wife are High School teachers.

Gateway’s Elder/Pastor Alex started a Bible study in the remote Brgy Esparar, Barbaza Municipality. Barbaza is an hour north on the coast road. Esparar is another ½ hour on a gravel road east toward the mountains. Eight other Barangays are in close distance. They could worship in Esparar. Pastor Alex said he visited a Barangay near Esparar that had never heard the Gospel. Witchcraft is practiced in many of the remote Brgys.

Last week and this week we met with two families in Esparar to make plans to start a new Church there. Pastor Alagos led a husband and wife to the Lord today. They are neighbors of our host family in Esparar. We now have three families! Thank You Lord!

We are working on using our church building in Esparar as an Alternative School for kids that have dropped out of school or could not afford school. The Alternative school program is a Philippine government program. The Philippine government will pay the salary of the Alternative School teacher. This is an enormously needed program in the Brgy. There are many school age kids in these Brgy that no longer attend school. Alternative school graduates are given preference in hiring for jobs. I could not imagine a better outreach program for the Esparar Brgy.

Today, we had a planning meeting to launch the Esparar Church, Lord willing. We met in front of Gateway Church on the beach under the shade trees. There are many projects needed to be completed to launch this new Church. Please keep them in your prayers. The target date for the launch is November 1^st & 2^nd.

Please keep this new church plant in your prayers. Many powerful forces have tried to prevent us from planting Churches here in Antique. We need your continuous and vigilant prayers. Your intercessor prayers on our behalf are essential. Thank you!

Eph 6:18  With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

Eph 6:19  and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, NASB

Many of you answered my plea to donate money for the land to build the Buhang Church on. That money will be used for our next Church plant. Thank you for your glorious generosity. It is because of your prayers and charitable giving we are able to plant new Churches where there is none. May the Lord return to you 1000 fold.

Luke 6:38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

I have met many of the High School kids that you provide scholarships for. Your scholarships are well placed. This is a blessed ministry. Thank you!

Thank you and may our Lord Jesus Christ bless you all richly!

Steve Bragg

Elder/Pastor

River Rock Church

& Grace Chapel Ministries

Serving in Patnongon Antique Philippines

Email: steve.bragg123@gmail.com
Grace Chapel Blog: http://gracechapelministries.blogspot.com/

Grace Chapel Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-Chapel/207519629261717

My Story http://youtu.be/6C2DRT2vtjs

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