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!

Macarina's Hill of Zion Church Update

Grace Chapel Partners,




The Road to Macarina

 I want to give you an update on our new church at barangay Macarina's Hill of Zion Church.

First we need prayers for Pastor Alagos. He is having heart problems. He is resting and on medication while they figure out what is going on. Please pray for our Awesome God to heal him. Amen

We have had three Sunday services now at Macarina and here is a quote from Pastor Alagos. “Last Sunday we were there and the attendance were 18 young people 12 children and 6 adults because up to now Macarina is very busy doing the harvest and drying of rice grain. Good if this year we can start having there even a bamboo chapel and a little parsonage so that we can also stay there for a day or just two days a week together”… We will be making arrangement to build the bamboo church and parsonage so they can stay there as requested. It is a long way to travel back and forth in one day.

Pastor Alagos requested if we can buy a guitar and have a Karaoke machine repaired for the Hill of Zion Church. The hilly and often muddy road makes it hard to carry the ones they have back and forth. The total cost will be about $170.00.

One more big praise. Kenneth Mabry, son of Doug and Kim Mabry, who attend here at River Rock Church, will be going to help Pastor Alagos with the Hill of Zion Church. Kenneth graduates from Corban University this January. Kenneth is 22 years old and has a heart for missions. Pastor Alagos will be letting Kenneth live with them and involve Kenneth with the youth at the Hill of Zion Church. Also, Kenneth might be helping school teachers with English as Kenneth’s Bachelor degree is in communication. Kenneth will be there for 2-3 months and is paying his own way and volunteering his time, thank you Kenneth. Please pray Kenneth will receive a confirmation of God’s will for his life. Pray that both Kenneth and those he minister’s to there will be blessed and our Lord Jesus’ name will be glorified in this unique opportunity.

Thank you for your prayers and support. These blessings for the Filipino people are because of your willing and gracious hearts.

Because Jesus lives,

Please Continue to Pray for the New "The Hill of Zion Community Church"

Hello Grace Chapel Partners,


Please continue to hold up this new church The Hill of Zion Community Church in your prayers. It is still in the birthing stage. Pray the Lord will empower and bless this new portion of His Body. Several attempts have been made over the years to start a church here by different denominations and none where successful.

Pray God's blessing and He will sustain the new church and bring glory to His name as we plant this new church in His name Jesus.

Here is a note from Pastor Alagos:

"We have been Macarina last sunday and people were busy because it was harvest time and they need to work fast to save grains from rain. Despite of that several children and youth gathered together and we have a wonderful time together worshipping God, teaching songs and bible study. Next sunday we will have early bible studies and after that worship service. Please pray for us.

Thank you very much for all your love and support to us. God Bless you

Love,

Pastor Alagos"

Planting our first of 12 Churches

Grace Chapel Partners,


Well, I’m excited to report the beginning of our first church is underway. Despite rain, again, the Crusade launched the past October, 9th, 2010. PRAISE GOD!

The new Church is called “The Hill of Zion Community Church” and 95 people accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior the first night! Many healings took place also.

Here are some quotes from Pastor Alagos:

“the weather condition was not good yet we pursue our crusade at Macarina last Saturday night and you know God did amazing things.”

“The crusade started at 6.30 Pm. Despite of the rain the plaza was pack up with people and even before the crusade starts they were all standing with their umbrellas and raincoats. 200 more or less people responded and I was in tears looking at the hungry crowd waiting for the word of God”

“46 members from my church, Grace Chapel, El Shaddai and 6 Pastor friends joined the team and saturated the whole place in the morning and afternoon of the crusade. They themselves testified the overwhelming responses and goodness of the people in that barangay. We go home late night at 11pm the way in going there was very risky and praise God for his grace for all of us. We have many contacts there and starting today 6 workers will be there for bible study/follow-up and this coming Sunday we have scheduled a Sunday service at 8am-11am.”

“Effective Sunday and so on Ptra Edna Alagos my wife will be a pastor of Macarina for less than a year together with her is Norberto Ruela Jr. our youth leader as worker/helper of Ptra Edna and I will be there also every Sunday until the church will be fully organized. Praise God the barangay offered the Day Care Center to be our temporary church.”

Edna is teaching the ladies and children during the week and with the youth ministor Reula. Pastor Alagos does the preaching and teaching.

When we organized everything, we will name the church as "The Hill of Zion Community Church.”

“Thank you very much for all the support you have extended to us. May God give you the increase. God bless you. I will email all the details and progress report if I cannot do it this week, next week I’m sure.”

Love and Prayer,

Pastor Alagos

My friends this is the result of our love, prayer and faith in our Dear Lord Jesus Christ and the power of His Holy Spirit.

Luke 10:2 And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

Grace Chapel News - Church 1

Grace Chapel Partners,


I wanted to bring you up to date on the progress of our first church plant. Please continue to keep this in your prayers. As you look at this date for prayer remember they are a day ahead of ous, 16 hours.

Here is the latest news, in part, from Pastor Alagos:

Warm greetings. Thank you very much for all your prayers. The following are the plans for starting our new church. On Sept. 17-18 we will have training and revival fellowship at Tabernacle of Praise Community Church. There will be 40 selected members from our church, from Grace Chapel and 2 churches that I’ve planted last year also a community church. We will have refreshing fellowship and I will be their speaker. Participants will help on the crusade to be launched on September 24-25 at Barangay Macarina, Patnongon, Antique 15 kilometers from the town proper.

And now more good news on the second church from Pastor Alagos:

I have a surprise update for you!! after we planted our first church this October I have already another target place in the school which I've assigned. I started a bible study there and we have already two families who have committed their lives to the Lord Jesus. Probably by November we can conduct crusade there and before the end of this year we can plant our second church. Please pray for us.

Thank you very much for all your prayers and support..... May God give all the increase to those hearts who have committed for Grace Chapel Ministries.

Thank you very much.

Love and Prayer,

Pastor Alagos



My dear friends and partners of Grace Chapel your prayers are working and many have been generous in giving for this wonderful work of God the loving and caring of the Filipinos in Antique, Philippines. Many will be saved and families will be blessed as the result of our love and care in the name of Jesus.

What a great honor and privilege to be in the service of our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my privilege and honor to have you all as partners in this awesome work.

My warmest love in Christ to you all,

Steve

Grace Chapel Book 1

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