US Visa Decision

My Dear Grace Chapel Partners,

We Can Always Trust
Our Lord's Care For Us

Pastor Alagos was denied the US Visa.

All the documents were in order. The Embassy gave some reasons for the denial. However, we placed this in God’s hands, so their reasons have no authority in this matter. This was our Lord’s decision alone, blessed be the name of our Lord!

We will take this as the Lord’s will. So many times we don’t understand the decisions of our Lord. But because we know He loves us, we trust in Him. God sees what we cannot. By faith in His love, we rejoice that His decision is by His Divine Love.

I’m deeply disappointed. I’m also comforted knowing that it was our Lord’s decision and not theirs.

Through our many trials and victories this past year we have come to understand this verse well.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

My prayer just now is we will come to understand the Lord’s decision over time. I pray we will know sooner rather than later.

I will see you all in the US the last two weeks of April.

May our Dear Lord continue to bless our lives with His grace!

Your Brother in the Lord,

Steve Bragg

Praying and Fasting for Pastor Alagos US Visa – Last Prayer Day!

Hebrews 4:16

My Dear Grace Chapel Partners,

 

This is our last prayer for Pastor Alagos to be granted a US visa. In less than 1 hour at 7:30am Pastor Alagos will begin his interview at the US Embassy, Manila, Philippines.

 

We believe all the documents needed to grant the visa are in order. What remains is their decision to grant the visa. The US government is granting very few visas at this time for Filipinos.

 

This is why we have made an appeal to the Highest Authority, The Lord God Almighty, Himself. He is the Highest Court. No one can stand against His will. If it is our Lord and Savior’s will to have Pastor Alagos in the US, it will be so. When God said “let there be light” it was so. No darkness could stand in the way of His command!

With this in mind, today beginning at 7:30am Manila time and 4:30pm  Pacific Standard Time, I’m asking for one last earnest prayer from you all to our Lord that it would be our Lord God’s will to have Pastor Alagos in the US.

If the Lord Wills

Jas 4:15  Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that."

 

***It is good and comforting to know that whatever the Lord’s will, it will be right it for us all***

God Says If We Desire Something to Pray

Php 4:6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Rom 1:10  always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you.

 

Thank you all for your loyalty and diligence in this matter.

 

May our Sovereign Lord hear our prayers and supplications, in Jesus name!

 

As soon as I have any word on our Lord’s will, I will let you know.

Steve Bragg

Why Start a New Church in Igsoro?

Hello Grace Chapel Partners,

I have held each of by name up before our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I have asked Him to bless you, your families, and finances. If you sent me a specific prayer request, I have held it up to our Lord, also.

I was asked by one of you, why start a new church in Igsoro? It's a good question and here is the answer. With this detail, I hope it will enhance your prayers for this new church, Lord willing.

Hill of Zion Church Building

Our goal is to plant Christian churches in barangays where there is no Christian church. Most of these Barangays are remotely located. Most churches have capitalized on the Barangays nearest the main roads. So we try to go where there are none. We want to take the Gospel where it will have the greatest impact.

Igsoro is extremely remote, deep in the interior. There are still tribes there. I’m told I may be the first white man for many there to see.

 

There is a lady who lives there, Irene, who is an alternative school teacher. It’s the only school there. Both Irene and her husband live in Igsoro.

Hill of Zion First Year Anniversay Celebration
December 2011

Irene is a Christian. She has a Bible study in her home. She had heard of us and has been trying to contact us for two years and finally did a few months ago. Several denominations have tried to start churches there but finding pastors to live there is hard and there is no money for support. The locals are very poor. The churches that have gone there before have been unsuccessful. Igsoro’s remote location hinders many ministries, regular services, and shepherding of the people.

Lord willing, when we go we will build a church building. The Alternative School will use that building during the week. We will be bringing the Department of Agriculture up to help them also. Pastor Alagos has connections with them. Through our connection with the Department of Education we will try to get the Alternative School program enhanced.

Hill of Zion lanch with a Concert Crusade

We also have a trained Pastor who is willing to go and live among them. We will build an attached parsonage to the church building. Sister Irene is willing to donate the land for the church and give the new pastor 1 hector of land to help support him. He can plant crops and start a piggery, and have poultry, etc. We will support the new Pastor for one year. Our support is much more than he will need there so he can use it to start developing the land that is given him.

There are 3000-4000 Filipinos in that community.

I hope this helps to focus your prayers and support for this new church and this ministry. We need both your prayer and financial support to start these new churches.

(The pictures are of the Hill of Zion church building that we built. The parsonage is attached in the back. It has a cement floor and steel roof. The Hill of Zion congregation will repalce the bamboo walls with cement block later as they grow. This is our model.)

You can make your online donation to Grace Chapel

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

 

Or mail to:

Grace Chapel

c/o River Rock Church

2008 SE 8th Avenue Camas, WA 98607

Phone: 360.885.9000

Blessings,

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/

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

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

 

Birth of RRC Esparar: http://vimeo.com/31760794

GET UP! GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH YOU!

http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=140361  

Documentary: First Four Churches http://vimeo.com/33566496   

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   

Pastor Alejo Alagos Second Run at a US Visa

Hello Grace Chapel Partners,

Pastor Alejo Alagos will make a second and final run at attempting to get his US Visa from the American Embassy in Manila. Alejo was turned down the first time because they thought he would go to the US work illegally, and send money to his family. His trip to meet you all and be ordained by River Rock Church (RRC) was well documented.  They turned him down anyway. They did not even consider the letters from Dr. Elder David Robinson, Pastor Kelly and I as valid.

We are much better documented this time. Our documentation will be overwhelming. However, the interview will only be a few minutes and a knee jerk decision. The interviewers will see hundreds that day! No will be the typical decision.

So, I’m asking that we enlist God with some earnest prayer from Grace Chapel Partners. I’m suggesting that we pray (and fast if you’re able) for 10 days prior to the interview and during the interview. If God wants Pastor Alagos in the US, He will make the way. But first He may want to know if Grace Chapel Partners, River Rock Church, Imbler Christian Church, and Faith Baptist Church want Pastor Alagos in the US. Each of us praying for 10 days will show the Lord we are serious about this event.

With confidence I can say you all will be blessed in meeting your brother Pastor Alejo Alagos from the Philippines. Pastor Alagos has started 27 churches in his 27 years of ministry. He is a Principal for two elementary schools, and a full time Pastor/Evangelist for our Lord and now Grace Chapel Partners, River Rock Church, Imbler Christian Church, and Faith Baptist Church.

HERE IS THE PROCESS. I will remind you all each day for 10 days to pray (fast). The rest is between you and the Lord. The 200 Grace Chapel Partners, Elders from River Rock Church, Imbler Christian Church, and Faith Baptist Church, in concert, on their knees before the Lord should be an awesome event!

Pastor Alagos interview is March 30^th at 7:30 am Friday, Filipino time (Manila). This will be 3:30 pm Thursday Pacific Time, your time.

I WILL SEND YOUR FIRST REMINDER MARCH 21^ST.

Thank you my friends for your kind attention to this. I am excited to see you all and introduce Pastor Alejo Alagos to you, River Rock Church, and Imbler Christian Church. We hope to have the process of the Philippine government to recognize RRC in the Philippines under way and maybe completed by the time we arrive April 16^th. Church number 5, RRC Igsoro, is in the planning stage now. Once we are recognized by the Philippine Government we have a dozen independent churches that have asked to join us. Your prayers and guidance is well needed for us here.

***We currently have speaking engagements at RRC and Imbler Christian Church. If you would like to meet with us or have us give a presentation at your Church please let me know.

May our Lord continue to bless us all,

Steve Bragg

steve.bragg123@gmail.com

Little Mother

Many of you will remember Little Mother. She is the one who was caring the full size baby. We came to her aid with prayers and offerings to pay for the cesarean section and medical care.

Her boy is Peter John. He will turn 4 on March 11^th, 2012.

God is good when He works the love of His people.

Steve Bragg

Encouragement: In the Lord Almighty’s Presence I Stand

I wrote this encouragement a few years ago and shared it with you then.  I just published it on faithwriters.com

It’s a short encouragement and I think you will like it.

You can read it here.

Encouragement: In the Lord Almighty’s Presence I Stand http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=143527

Along With Trails Comes Blessing

Pastor Steve Bragg

Pastor Alagos is a Grandfather.

Along with trails of the burn comes the wonderful blessing of Pastor Alagos’ first grandchild born today. John Louie is the grandson’s name. He was named John because the Apostle John was blessed by our Lord, and Louie means love.

John’s birth into our world was a miracle. The Doctor’s examination and ultrasound just a few days ago indicated that if John was born now he would be premature and need to go to a different hospital for premature care.

John, quite to the doctor’ surprise, was born today on time and healthy. John weighed in at more than 7 pounds.

Pastor Alagos burns are healing at what I would call an accelerated rate. I am so amazed at how much progress is made each day. In my humble opinion his rate of recovery is miraculous, as well.

We serve an Awesome God.

Steve Bragg