"Lord What More Can I Do?"

My Dear Grace Chapel - RRCP Partners

I have put the attached picture as my desktop picture. Each time I open my computer it is there and I pray “Lord empower me to do more.” My prayers are usually met with great emotion!

Will you put this picture as your desktop picture and pray with me?

"Lord what more can I do?"

Their Story:

On the second day, of the Barangay Sugnod church launch, Pastor Alagos, me and others hiked to a mountain spring, the Barangay’s water source. It is said that evil spirits are there at the water source. We went to pray and ask God to bless the spring. After we had a good swim! It was very hot that day, and the water was cool and refreshing. Thank You Lord!

On our way back the first house was this one. I had seen the house before, but not the family. We stopped and engaged them. In the picture are 7 of her 10 children. The boy on the right has big sores on his legs. The little one with the white shirt (that is all she is wearing) looks malnourished. All the little ones are malnourished, I believe.

One of our partners has started a Child and Care Fund.

He is asking others to join.

With his money we provided food for the family. November 3^rd we will return. The father has a large boil or something like that, on the back of his neck. His job is carrying large sacks of rice that rub against this great sore. It is bigger than a baseball. His Dr. has requested further test, but they are too poor to follow through. We will use the Child and Care Fund to help their Dad get the needed test. Lord willing, we will use any money left over to buy rice for the family.

Will you post this picture on your desktop and

help me pray for them and others like them?

That night, the second night of the crusade, this family brought 3 other families with them to the crusade. They are attending the Bible Study now.

God bless,

Your partner in this awesome ministry,

Steve Bragg

Website: http://www.riverrockchurchphilippines.com/

 

Please help by donating through our SECURE website:

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

RRCP Website

River Rock Church Philippines Has a New Website!

Check it out!!!

www.riverrockchurchphilippines.com


Thank You LORD!

Please Pray for Us!

RRCP Prayer Partners,

Yesterday we asked our churches to begin a 40 day fast. They will fast something each day and pray. Maybe you can join us in this praying and fasting experience.

We are fasting and praying for 3 things.

1.       To know the will of God for our life. To live out this precious gift of life that He gave us in His will with His blessing (Parable of the Talents).

2.      What is God’s will for our life in His church? How has He gifted us for service and to start living out our talents and gifts.

3.      They are praying for the First RRCP International Convention November 16-17. They are praying for the speakers coming from America. They are praying God will prepare them for the messages they bring and us for the hearing and doing of their messages. Our theme is LEADERSHIP… DOING THE LORD’S WORK – THE LORD’S WAY!

Please pray for our speakers at the convention Pastor Kelly Backstrom from River Rock Church and Pastor Iokea a Pastor of RRCP living in Texas. Pray that not only will they encourage us, but that they too will be encouraged.

·         Both men will be guest speakers at our River of Life radio program that reaches 1/3 of the Philippines. This program has become popular. There are many listeners. Pray for their messages and the hearing of their messages.

·         They will be visiting and speaking at each of our churches individually for their anniversary and thanksgiving celebrations. November is the month that the churches celebrate. They thank God for how many years they have been a church and the many blessing of our Lord for the past year.

·         Both pastors will be addressing many independent churches and associations.

Please pray for us that we will be prepared for our guest. Our expenses are not yet fully raised.

Please pray that our Lord will provide the finances for our next new churches. We are prepared to start 5 churches in 2013.

Please give thanks that our Lord provided for us to start 5 churches this year! Thank You LORD!

 

Your partner in this ministry,

Steve Bragg

Steve.bragg123@gmail.com

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

RECAP – FOR YOUR REVIEW!

My Dear Grace Chapel Partners,

RECAP – FOR YOUR REVIEW!

I want to recap the blessings of this ministry with you. God is quite astonishing. I repeat often that I’m surprised that He would use such a flawed person like me to work in His Kingdom. I’m also delighted that Grace Chapel Partners has become such an effective group of partners in this ministry.

Together, with our Lord, we have accomplished so many fabulous ministries to the Filipinos.

Our Primary Ministry

To date we have started 8 new churches!

New Churches	Sitio	Barangay	Town	Providence	Island	Established
RRCP Grace Chapel	Dacutan	Padang	Patnongon	Antique	Panay	Aug-06
RRCP Tabernacle of Praise		Igbarawan	Patnongon	Antique	Panay	Nov-07
RRCP Hill of Zion		Macarina	Patnongon	Antique	Panay	Oct-10
RRCP Esparar		Esparar	Barbaza	Antique	Panay	Oct-11
RRCP Franks/Mabasa	Franks	Mabasa	Patnongon	Antique	Panay	Jul-12
RRCP Santa Lourdes		Santa Lourdes	Porto Princesa		Palawan	Jul-12
RRCP Tagumpay		Tagumpay	Roxas		Palawan	Aug-12
RRCP Sugnod		Sugnod	Malinao	Aklan	Panay	Sep-12

*We have organized these churches as River Rock Church Philippines (RRCP). We are still a location of River Rock Church, but this organization helps the Philippines churches accomplish much in the Philippines the same way being a legal church in the US helps.

** 5 churches have asked to join us. We are considering them now.

Pastor Salaries

We provide salaries for 7 of our Pastors.

Christian Radio Program

We provide the River of Life radio program. Pastor Alagos has a weekly, 1 hour Christian radio program that reaches almost 1/3 of the Philippines. This program is popular!

Student Ministries

·         We provide 14 high school students scholarships.

·         We provide financial assistance to 12 Bible College students. 4 of these students are RRCP pastors.

Children’s Feeding Program

With your gifts, 2 of our churches provide a weekly feeding program for children. These 2 churches are RRCP Franks/Mabasa and RRCP Tagumpay. Both churches are in disadvantaged areas were many children are malnourished.

Child and Care Fund Ministry

Each month, the Lord makes us aware of children that need help with food, medication, clothing, any vital care that might be needed. We provide for children and their parents. These are wonderful gifts of love from our Lord! The 2 families we help at the Sugnod launch are examples.

WE ARE NOW OUT OF MONEY TO START MORE NEW CHURCHES

Our last 3 churches are in varying stages of completion. We have the funds to complete these.

But we now have no money to start more new churches.

Our next new church, Lord willing, will be at Barangay Magarang. There is no Christian church there. The Barangay Captain and council have invited us to start a church. We currently are using the Barangay hall for our weekly Bible study. Land has been donated to build the church and parsonage. Our target is to launch this new church in December of this year!

***Will you consider providing the finances for this next new church? $5000 provides for the launch, church building and parsonage, and 1 year salary for the pastor.

Our vision is to plant 5 new churches on many of the islands in 2013. Lord willing. Will you provide for these, as well?

Your partner in the ministry,

His servant,

Steve Bragg

Please inform me of any designated donation/gift
steve.bragg123@gmail.com

Donations can be made through River Rock Church
Donations: http://www.river-rock.org/giving.html 

Successful Launch of RRCP Sugnod!

 

I’m happy to announce that we successfully launched RRCP Sugnod this past weekend September 28 & 29, 2012.

Sugnod, like many of our churches, is in a depressed area.  There are no other churches in Sugnod. There is a Catholic Church building, but only once a year the priest comes to hold a service. The word Sugnod means pile of dead bodies. During WW2, one of its last battles fought here. After the battles, they piled the dead bodies and burned them. This city is currently an area of many beheadings. Because of this we had to get a permit from the city Malinao. The Mayor of Malinao provided a police presence during our 2 night crusade launch.

Pastor Alagos mother-in-law donated land for the church. She is also willing to donate land for our new pastor and family to farm if he wants. They are eager to have a Christian church and pastor in their Barangay.

Their new pastor is Beltran J. Aclo (Billy) and his wife Linda. We had been invited to start the new church in Sugnod several months ago. However, as we were getting ready, we discovered Pastor Billy was holding a Bible Study in Sugnod already. His passion is to start a new church in Sugnod. As it turns out, Pastor Alagos and his wife Edna and Billy and his wife Linda graduated from the same Bible School. They know each other well, and we have the same beliefs and values. More importantly, we are saved by the same Jesus Christ and belong to the same Church, Jesus Christ’s Church. Pastor Billy has an independent church, Jesus Christ Worship Center, in a neighboring Barangay Sipac that has been there for 6 years. 

The first day of the launch the Lord provided an opportunity to teach the children.

Pastor Billy’s wife Linda and Pastor Alagos’ wife Edna teach the gospel message and children’s Christian songs. I told them the story of David’s faith as he battled the giant Goliath.

 

 

 60% of the Philippines population is youth. Our youth groups from Jesus Christ Worship Center and Tabernacle of Praise provided the Gospel through song, dance, and drama.

 

 

 

 

Pastor Alejo Alagos preached the Gospel message of salvation through our Lord Jesus both nights. When he called them to repentance and salvation they responded.

Add caption

Pastor/Evangelist Alejo Alagos

 

First Night Response

 

Second Night Response

 

15 families made commitments to attend RRCP Sugnod. Pastor Billy will follow-up with those who responded to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Within a few weeks, we will begin to build the church building and parsonage.

 Praise and Glory to our Lord Jesus Christ,

Pastor Steve Bragg

River Rock Church
Serving in the Philippines

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

 

RRCP Sugnod - Getting Ready

My Dear Grace Chapel Partners,

Barangay Sugnod

We are getting ready to launch our 8th church, River Rock Church Philippines Sugnod. Sugnod, like many of our churches, is in a depressed area.  There are no other churches in Sugnod. There is a Catholic Church building, but only once a year the priest comes to hold a service.

The word Sugnod means pile of dead bodies. During WW2 many battles were fought here. After the battles, they piled the dead bodies and burned them. This city is currently an area of many beheadings. Because of this we had to get a permit from the city Malinao. The Mayor of Malinao is providing a police presence during our 2 night launch.

Planning Meeting

Two weeks ago we traveled more than 4 hours by motorcycle to reach Sugnod. There we had a planning meeting with Pastor Alagos mother-in-law who is donating land for the church. She is also willing to donate land for our new pastor and family to farm if he wants. They are eager to have a Christian church and pastor in their Barangay.

These last two days we were in Sugnod again securing our permit from the Mayor and talking with the Chief of Police. They are also excited about the many community programs we will bring. As you know our values are to change lives through Jesus Christ and transform communities by “being the Church”. That comes from our value DON’T JUST GO TO CHURCH – BE THE CHURCH. I talked to the Mayor about “being the church” to Sugnod. His response was “yes, you want to walk your faith not just talk it!” I could not have said it better!

Malinao Meyer

Pastor Alagos and I also finalized hiring Sugnod’s new pastor, Billy Aclo. We had been invited to start the new church in Sugnod several months ago. However, as we were getting ready, we discovered Pastor Billy was holding a Bible study in Sugnod already. His desire is to start a new church in Sugnod. As it turns out, Pastor Alagos and his wife Edna and Billy and his wife graduated from the same Bible School. They know each other well, and we have the same beliefs and values. More importantly, we are saved by the same Christ and belong to the same Church, Jesus Christ’s Church. Pastor Billy has an independent church in a neighboring Barangay that has been there for 6 years. Pastor Billy wants to join his church, Jesus Christ Worship Center, to RRCP. We will begin the process. In the meanwhile, we hired Billy to be the new pastor of RRCP Sugnod. It was Pastor Billy that secured the permits and meeting with the Mayor and Chief of Police. He is well known in the communities there and loved. WOW! We serve an awesome God! Our God always is in control.

This next Friday and Saturday evenings, September 28 & 29, we launch the Sugnod church with a concert crusade. We have hired a Jeepney that carries 30 people. The Jeepney will take people from our churches here to help with the crusade. They will go house to house Friday and Saturday. They will get the names and addresses of those who respond to the call for salvation and repentance. Pastor Billy and members of his church will follow up and start home Bible studies.

There are powerful strongholds that have kept the Church out of Sugnod!

•           WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS THAT OUR LORD WILL TEARDOWN THESE STRONGHOLDS!

•           PRAY THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS POWERFUL IN CONVICTING THEIR HEARTS AND LEADING THEM TO REPENTANCE.

•           PRAY THAT WE WILL ALL BE SAFE.

IN JESUS NAME!

Your partner,

Steve Bragg

Birth of the Franks/Mabasa Church

Franks/Mabasa Church

My Dear Grace Chapel Partners - River Rock Church Philippines

 

The Birth of this new church is different from the others. There was no church launch with a two day concert crusade like the others.

In the book of Acts, the Macedonia church was started with a call to come “help us”. The new Franks/Mabasa church was started the way.

Act 16:9  A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10  When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.



Dedicating the Land

Tabernacle of Praise, our second church, left the Barangay of Mabasa because of persecution. The congregation left the beautiful building and answered the call to be the Lord’s church. In order to stay in that building they would have to compromise their faith. They choose to stay faithful to our Lord. They acted in obedience and left a very beautiful building behind.

The only other way they could congregate to worship was to rent a building in a neighboring Barangay, Igbarawan. The Lord has honored their faith and the people of Igbarawan are blessed as well with Tabernacle of Praise to serve them.

But the Lord was not done with blessing their faith!

The people of Franks a Sitio a smaller neighborhood in Mabasa and the people of Mabasa felt a loss when Tabernacle of Praise left Mabasa. Even though, they were not regular attenders of Tabernacle of Praise or members at all, they missed the church there that served their community.



Church Building Laid

The Captains and Counsels of both Franks and Mabasa called a meeting with Pastor Alagos. They told him that if the church would return they would donate the land to build the church. The land was donated, even with the blessing of the Governor of Antique our province.

However, instead of Tabernacle of Praise returning we are building a new congregation and church building. The people of Franks/Mabasa started meeting in homes. Pastor Alagos and I hold a worship service there each week. There is a significant presence of our Lord there with each worship service.

Last week all the materials for the building were delivered. This last Sunday, September 8, 2012, we dedicated the land, and now the building is being built.

We service an awesome God.

 

Steven Ray 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

A Twofold Blessing - Church Dedication & Church Launch
http://vimeo.com/48412990

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*<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