We all want to greet our dear general superintendent a Blessed Birthday. Pastor Rey, thanks to your leadership and contagious passion for the ministry. Please take a break today from your work and celebrate! NB to readers: Greet the celebrant by clicking the “Leave Comment” link below.
Above are pictures sent by Revs. Conrado Lumahan and Fred Torres showing the damage inflicted by the recent super typhoon to our bible school in Binalonan, Pangasinan (Luzon Bible College). It is being reported that 70% of towns in Pangasinan are still underwater. Below is a letter sent by Rev. Visca to our ministry partners around the world – perhaps the best way to describe what is going on here in our country today.
The humanitarian effort we are doing to our brothers and sisters and neighbors who were affected by the recent typhoon Ondoy is indeed a back breaking job. We keep pushing to the limits of our physical capacity to extend help to those who are in need because of God’s care and compassion and because of you at the other end praying and supporting us. At the end of the day, every time we deliver the relief goods or provide medicine to each of the victims, it is being paid back by a new picture of a smile in their face – a picture of new hope.
The relief work of PGCAG is on-going. It is now a back-to-back job due to the catastrophic damage of another typhoon to properties and lives of the people in the northern part of Luzon. Around a hundred kilometers north of Manila, the rest of the provinces are cut off. Major roads are impassable due to flooding. We are hoping that the flooding of Pangasinan province will subside soon. Rev. Jerry Balbuena, the overall coordinator of PGCAG Disaster Response and Relief Management Group together with The National Director of Convoy of Hope Rev. Raul Manuel is planning to visit and deliver reliefs to our brothers and sisters in the north as soon as the roads are passable.
Last Monday, October 5, the PGCAG Health Care Ministry was reactivated. Dr. Jay Angeles was tasked to organize the Filipino medical team. The Filipino medical team work side-by-side with the Health Care Ministry sent by AG WMD USA. Since Tuesday, October 6, the health care conducted medical missions in AG churches in Metro Manila and nearby provinces affected by typhoon Ondoy. Jesus Harvest AG San Pedro in Laguna, AG Jesus Unlimited God San Mateo in Rizal, AG Dream Builder Ministries Meycauayan in Bulacan, AG Jesus Cares Malinta in Valenzuela City, Payatas in Quezon City and AG Marikina. Next week, AG Marilao in Bulacan. The medical team and counselors have treated and prayed-over an average of 400 patients a day. It has been observed that every time we close the medical mission, a few people still keep coming in the hopes of the mission work be reopened the following day. But we can only do so much on a given day.
We are facing another challenge. It’s been a week now and typhoon Pepeng still hasn’t moved out of the Philippines’ area of responsibility. Last Thursday, we received the bad news from our brothers and sisters in the north- Ilocos region, La Union, Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija has been heavily flooded. The Cordillera Regions have been experiencing landslides and mudslides and were cut off from the lowlands.
Rev. Alfredo Torres, president of Luzon Bible College, sent the following text messages: “Luzon Bible College campus in Binalonan, Pangasinan is now 6 – 7 feet deep. Road is not passable anymore, water current is so strong from river due to release of water from dams. Pray for us I’m sure you want to rescue us but you cannot do it immediately. Help us pray.” Second message: “Water almost reaches our second floor…all our offices, classroom, computers, equipments in chapel, cars, pigs, everything in the kitchen underwater because of the immediate rise of water and strong current arrived midnight. Our school fence collapsed due to strong water current.”
From Pastor Brian Lopez, AOG Baguio City: “Seven AOG members died in landslide. Their home taken by mud. A church in shambles (destroyed) in Trinidad because of the landslide. Wind is strong. Rain is non-stop. School and offices canceled. Marcos Highway and Kennon is closed due to landslides. Power outage rumored to be cut soon. We opened the church for anyone who needs shelter. Or relief collection remains good. (Baguio City) proper is alright. Keep us in your prayers.
From Dr. Lem Engcoy, APTS, Baguio City: “So sad but it’s true…Yes we can only do so much. We helped an AG member in Beckel . The whole family died when the house covered by a mudslide.”
From Ptr. Agnes Niebres, Villasis, Pangasinan, informed us by text that they are now accommodating 13 more children at the second floor of their house. The problem is that they are running out of food.
Brothers and sisters in faith, our calamity-struck nation is far from over. Though our government is trying its best to send rescue and relief into our country’s typhoon battered places, impassable roads renders “Help” helpless. At the same time God is awakening the generosity among our own people… many of whom are walking the extra mile.
The Bible says that God is always in control. He can literally intervene in the hardest of situations. All He desires from us is to keep believing and trusting in His Power and Wisdom.
We’ll be keeping you posted. I’m looking for a window where I could at least find rest from all these calamities… but looks like it may take a while. Our people need immediate assistance.
The PGCAG, Convoy of Hope Philippines, STDC and AGMF organized an adhoc committee to respond to the recent calamity. As it is now widely known, continuous rains brought on by typhoon “Ondoy” last Saturday flooded many communities in Metro Manila and other provinces of the Northern Philippines.
We are asking our partners worldwide to assist us in this difficult time many Filipinos are experiencing at this very moment. Some of our pastors are directly affected by this calamity. Even our own Gen. Treasurer Jerry Balbuena’s house was submerged in water. Last night we visited Rev. Flor Samson who was rescued by one of her members from the rooftop of the church building.
Please send you donations to:
Bank of the Philippine Islands – BPI Savings Account #0193-2507-26
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM
Branch: Marulas, Valenzuela City
Account Name: Philippines General Council of the Assemblies of God
All support in the form of goods/kinds may be sent to:
Rev. Jerry Balbuena, International Charismatic Service Worship Center, Mayflower St., EDSA Central, Highway Hills, 1554 Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines
A group of Filipino delegates participate at the Asia Pacific Theological Association’s Theological Symposium held in Sydney, Australia last Sept. 8-9, 2009. Theme for this event is “Pentecostalism, Power and Exercise of Authority.” The symposium was held at Alphacrucis (formerly Southern Cross College). In the picture: (R-L), Alex Fuentes (APTA Executive Director; Jerry Erojo (Academic Dean, MRBC); Abe Visca (APTA Board Member); Mark Hopkins (Executive Vice-President, Hillsong International Leadership College; Joseph Suico (APTA, Board Vice-Chair).
Recently at the PCEC’s general assembly, the PGCAG was reported to have an average annual growth rate of 12.1% from year 2000 – 2008. This means that the Assemblies of God in the Philippines remains the fastest growing Evangelical denomination in terms of number of local congregations. Following PGCAG is the Christian & Missionary Alliance (CAMACOP) with 3% AAGR. There are now close to 4,000 local churches that belong to the PGCAG.
