Letter to the Office of the Punong Barangay

Church of the Foursquare Gospel in the Philippines
Eastern Visayas District
BETHEL DIVISION
Youth Department


December 2, 2007

HON. ESMERALDA NIŇADA
Barangay Chairwoman
Bgy. Jabong, Tabontabon, Leyte


Dear Hon. Niňada:

Greetings of peace and prosperity from our Lord Jesus Christ!

Our church here in our barangay is honored to host the upcoming Divisional Youth Camp of the Bethel Division of Foursquare family to be held on December 26 – 28, 2007 with a theme “Batan-on, hain ka na?”

In lieu of this, we are asking for help from your good office. Visitors coming from different places (Abuyog, Alang-alang, Dagami, Dulag, Julita, Mahaplag, Tabontabon, and Tacloban City), whom the majority of them are young people, will be arriving at our barangay on or before December 26, Wednesday. We request the barangay tanods, through your good office, to maintain security measures during the whole duration of the youth camp, that is, throughout days and nights. As host of this divisional activity, it is our deep concern for the safety and security of all the participants.

We are hoping that this event will not only be beneficial to our young people but to our barangay in general. May the good Lord bless us all as we serve Him continually. Thank you so much and more power!

Yours in Christ’s service,

PTR. BRANDO MONDRAGON
Youth Coordinator, Bethel Division

Noted by:

PTRA. JEANISA R. PARAGAS
Youth Director, Eastern Visayas District

Approved by:

REV. JERRY VALDE
Superintendent, Bethel Division

mbr/12/02/2007

Letter to the Church Council of Living Waters Foursquare Gospel Church, Tacloban City

Church of the Foursquare Gospel in the Philippines
Eastern Visayas District
BETHEL DIVISION
Youth Department

December 2, 2007

The Church Council
Living Waters Foursquare Gospel Church
Tacloban City


Dear Sir/Madam:

Greetings of peace and prosperity from our Lord Jesus Christ!

This is in connection with the upcoming Divisional Youth Camp of the Bethel Division to be held on December 26 – 28, 2007 at Jabong Foursquare Gospel Church, Bgy. Jabong, Tabontabon, Leyte. This three-day event will have its theme “Batan-on, hain ka na?” and hopefully be attended by a large number of youth not only from the churches of the Bethel Division but also from other churches to be invited by the organizing committee.

In lieu of this, we would like to ask for help from your local church. It was agreed upon by the divisional youth leaders to borrow several musical instruments from your church. The list is as follows:
1.(1) electric guitar
2.(1) set of drums
3.(1) keyboard
4.(3) microphones
5.extension wires
6.sound speakers

If in any case a damage or loss of any instrument will happen, we agreed that the churches of the whole division will going to shoulder the expenses in replacement of the damaged or lost musical instrument.

Thank you so much for such kind of wonderful act of goodness. We believe that God has something in stored for us in this youth camp. Let us all unite in praying that God will going to minister to His young people which will brought positive change in the lives of our young people.


Yours in Christ’s service,


PTR. BRANDO MONDRAGON
Youth Coordinator, Bethel Division


Noted by:

PTRA. JEANISA R. PARAGAS
Youth Director, Eastern Visayas District



Approved by:

REV. JERRY VALDE
Superintendent, Bethel Division

mbr/12/02/2007

Bethey Division Youth Camp at Hilusig, Mahaplag, Leyte

Foursquare Middle East and Central Asia Regional Update

Dear Prayer Partners. Thank you so much for your continued prayer and support.


RAMALLAH UPDATE

For 10 days various young Muslim men came to our center each day. They met with some Bible College students from a Christian university in America. Each day the Bible College students and the Muslim men spoke and dialoged together for two hours on every subject from religion to politics. It was a great opportunity to sow the Gospel into the lives of 50 Muslim men.

We continue to teach English classes through the ministry of our ministry center. I would especially request your prayers for a middle-aged Muslim man to whom I have just started to give private English tutoring. He is very open to the Gospel, so we are using a curriculum that incorporates the Bible, spiritual themes and the Gospel into the lesson plans.

TURKEY REGIONAL CONFERENCE

In mid-July the regional conference of the Foursquare works in the Middle East and Central Asia was held in Istanbul Turkey. We had leaders from our churches in Bahrain, Dubai, Armenia, Israel, Iran, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Lebanon as well as guest pastors and leaders from the US. On the last day of the meetings all the national leaders stood in a circle, with eyes closed praying, and speaking out one by one how many churches, works in new nations and redeemed individuals we would believe God for in ten years. Then we began to speak out how this would be accomplished. One of the leaders’ reply was especially striking as he proclaimed that it would be the blood and the testimony of martyrs that would be the ingredient that would release God’s outpouring in our region. These leaders are putting their lives on the line for the sake of the Gospel. Continue to pray that they would proclaim the Gospel boldly

Country Highlight: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Country Statistics
Area:
32,000 sq. mi.
Population:
2,563,212
Languages:
Arabic, Persian, English, Hindi and Urdu
Religion:
85% Muslim
8% Christian
5% Hindu
1% Buddhist
1% Non-religious/other

OUR NATIONAL LEADER

Vincent Yusef came to the Lord while living in his native country of Pakistan. Before coming to the Lord he was a boxer with a reputation as a gangster and trouble maker. Shortly after accepting Christ he approached a Foursquare pastor to baptize him. The pastor could not believe this ruffian had accepted Christ and refused, Vincent, still working out the rough edges of his faith, threatened to beat up the pastor if he did not baptize him.

After completing his Bible college education and serving on the board of the Foursquare work in Pakistan, Vincent moved with his family to Dubai. His first job was carrying air-condition units up flights of stairs on his back in the 120 degree heat of Dubai. He began witnessing to co-workers and fellow foreign workers. In 1996 he opened the first Foursquare church in the nation. A couple of years later he gave up his day job and went fulltime in ministry.

Vincent’s home is a constant hub of activity. He lives with his wife, four children and niece in a small three bedroom apartment. His family usually hosts recent arrivals to UAE from Pakistan and India until these individuals can find a job and their own home. There is also an almost constant stream of individuals coming to the home for prayer for healing, deliverance from demonic oppression or other needs. They also host weekly Bible studies and prayer meetings in their home. Vincent is known as a powerful evangelist both in UAE and back home in Pakistan.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK

The Church in the United Arab Emirates is largely reaching out to Pakistani and Indian workers, who make up nearly 85% of the population of UAE. Most of those that they are reaching out to come from Muslim and Hindu backgrounds. Besides leading the central church in Dubai, Vincent has planted home groups in “labor camps”. Labor camps in Dubai are large compounds of many two and three story buildings that look something like 20 “Motel 6s” crammed together. In each small hotel size room, three or four single men live who work for construction or other companies. It is the law in UAE that foreign single men cannot live in regular apartment buildings, but must be housed in these “labor camps”. Vincent has trained workers living in several of these camps to hold Bible studies there.

Another key component of Vincent’s ministry is the training of leaders who will in turn plant churches in other nations. Recently one of their trained leaders moved to Afghanistan and in six months has won and baptized 10 new believers (six members of the NATO forces stationed in Afghanistan and four Muslim Afghanis).

WAYS YOU CAN HELP

1)The law in Dubai is that once a child turns 18 a visa at the price of $2,300 must be purchased from the government. Vincent’s son, Sunil has just turned 18, and needs to purchase a visa as soon as possible or will be forced to leave the nation. He needs at least an additional $1,300 to have enough funds to pay for the visa.

2)The church recently lost their former meeting hall and is now having to rent a hall in a hotel at an increased price. The monthly rent is about $1000 a month.

Contributions for the work in Dubai can be sent to:

Foursquare Missions International
Attn Paulette McCammon
PO Box 26902
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Please note on the contribution that it is for the work in Dubai.

Thanks again for all of your prayer and support.

Scott M. Winter
Serving in the Middle East

Some young people pose for a pic, haha

Regular Church Activities

REGULAR CHURCH ACTIVITIES

SUNDAY

Sunday School 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Worship Service 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 m.n.

Discipleship Training 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

TUESDAY

Chain Prayer 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

Midweek Service 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

THURSDAY

Home Bible Study 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

FRIDAY

Crusaders' Youth Night 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Midnight Prayer Meeting 10:00 p.m. - 12:00 m.n.

SATURDAY

Devotion 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Music Practice 8:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Our Founder

The early 20th century evangelist, Aimee Semple McPherson, was a pioneer of women in religion. Having experienced a profound religious conversion at age 17, Aimee began preaching across the United States and later, the world. In 1918, she established her base in Los Angeles, Calif., where in 1923, the 5,300 seat Angelus Temple was dedicated and became the center of her revival, healing and benevolent ministries. She was the first woman to own and operate a Christian radio station. Her sermons were the first to incorporate the contemporary communications of that day into her preaching of the Gospel. From Angelus Temple she performed an extensive social ministry, providing hot meals for more than 1.5 million people during the Great Depression. She summarized her message into four major points known as "The Foursquare Gospel," and founded a denomination called The Foursquare Church.

Aimee was born October 9, 1890 on a small farm near Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada and was the only child of James and Minnie Kennedy. While a student in high school, she attended a revival service conducted by Robert Semple. By her own account, she stated that at the time she was "cold and far from God" and began questioning the truths of the Bible. During this revival meeting, the message of "repentance" and a "born again experience" pierced her heart with conviction. When Robert began talking about the baptism with the Holy Spirit, it disturbed her so much that she left the meeting. But the Holy Spirit continued to grip at Aimee's heart, and for three days she struggled with such conviction until finally, alone in her room, she threw up her hands and said, "Lord, God, be merciful to me, a sinner." Immediately the burden was gone and the glory of the Lord filled her heart. She had been born again.

As she continued to attend the revival services, she learned that God had even more for her and so she began to seek the baptism with the Holy Spirit. After a time of prayer and seeking the Lord, she was gloriously filled and began speaking in her heavenly language and praising God. Aimee would describe that time by saying, "Each moment I could feel myself drawing nearer, nearer into His presence," and her heart cried out, "Take me, use me, have Thine own way. I am only a school girl. I live on a Canadian farm, but such as I am I give myself to Thee." Aimee said that, with the incoming of the Holy Spirit came a love and compassion for souls that melted her heart with longing for Christian service.

Her desire for serving the Lord seemed perfectly fitted to Robert Semple's evangelistic work and when he asked her to marry him, she quickly responded with a "yes." The two were married and this longing for service was first fulfilled when, before her twentieth birthday, she and her husband of less than two years, embarked on a missionary trip to China. Aimee would have been content to live out her days in obscurity. But what started out as a glorious adventure and fulfilment of God's calling ended with the tragic death of her husband three months after their arrival. Penniless, and alone with a one-month-old daughter, Aimee returned to the United States.

Shortly after returning home, Aimee met and married a businessman, Harold McPherson, with whom she had a son, Rolf. She tried to settle down to a "normal" home-life, but the call to Christian service remained constant. God continually knocked at the door of her heart and said, "Now will you go?" Growing weaker and weaker from sickness, Aimee, while on her deathbed after her second operation within two years, answered "yes" to God's call. Almost immediately thereafter, she was healed.

Knowing that she had to keep her promise to the Lord, she began evangelizing and holding tent revivals, first by traveling up and down the eastern part of the United States, then expanding to other parts of the country. She eventually held meetings in all parts of the world. People began coming in ever-increasing numbers to hear this remarkable lady evangelist. When not in a tent, she would need to find the largest auditorium in town in order to hold the record number of people that would come to her meetings. Often times she would have to share the time with whatever "event" was happening in the town. Like, on one occasion she met in a boxing ring, but had to hold her meetings before and after the boxing match. Once in San Diego, the National Guard had to be brought in to control the crowd of over 30,000 people. People would often stand in line and wait many hours for the next service to begin in order to be assured a seat.

Aimee's charismatic personality was a God-given gift used to draw people to hear her message. Her sermons were not the usual "fire and brimestone" messages given by contemporary evangelists, but ones which showed the face of a loving God, with continual outstretched arms. It was a message about heaven, as a place you wanted to be, and serving Jesus, as the only life that offered true fulfilment.

With Aimee, all were called and all were welcomed. God was no respecter of persons and neither was Aimee. She evangelized when segregation was rampant in the South. Although she invited all to come to her meetings, often times she would go to the "black" parts of town and hold meetings after the main meeting was over. She broke down racial barriers such that one time at Angelus Temple, some Klu Klux Klan members were in attendance, but after the service, many of their hoods and robes were found thrown on the ground in nearby Echo Park. She is also credited with helping many of the Hispanic ministries in Los Angeles get started, and there was even a great Gypsy following, after the wife of a Gypsy chief and the chief himself had been healed in a Denver revival meeting. With Aimee Semple McPherson there was no color, ethnic, or status separation line.

While holding a revival meeting in San Francisco in April 1922, Aimee became the first woman to preach a sermon over the radio. Being intrigued with the possibilities of this medium, Aimee purchased a radio station herself, thus making her the first woman to possess a radio license and operate a station. Through the wonder of radio, Aimee's voice became the most recognizable voice around the world. Since there were not many stations in Los Angeles at its inception, one could walk down the street, especially on a Sunday morning, hear the entire message from one open window to another, get to the destination, and not miss a single word of the sermon.

Weary of constant traveling and having no place to raise a family, Aimee rejoiced when in 1918, God called her to Los Angeles. This was to be her base of operation. God told her He would build her a house in Los Angeles and He did--one for her family and one for His people. For several years she continued to travel and raise money for the building of Angelus Temple and on January 1, 1923, Angelus Temple was dedicated. The church held 5,300 people and was filled to capacity three times each day, seven days a week. In the beginning, Aimee preached every service. It became the spiritual home for thousands of her followers and a base for her evangelistic ministry. What grew out of a desire to have a base of operation to preach the Gospel, quickly evolved into a church organization--supporting and sending out missionaries, providing commissary and community services that were more reliable than the city's own relief programs, as well as a full program of church ministries.

Aimee was famous inside and outside the church. Every city where services were held usually had in attendance civic leaders, as well as pastors representing the local churches of every denomination. She made sure that Angelus Temple was represented in local parades and entered floats into the famous Rose Parade in Pasadena. Her illustrated sermons attracted even those from the entertainment industry, looking to see a "show" that rivaled what Hollywood had to offer. These famous stage productions drew people who would never have thought to enter a church, and then presented them with the message of salvation. Aimee believed that the Gospel was to be presented at every opportunity and used worldly means at her disposal to present the Gospel to as many people as possible.

She was a woman in a man's world, and single at a time when women her age were suppose to be married. But she was willing to go, when God called, and was not limited by what she saw, but believed in the God who called her to fulfill the greatest call of all--the winning of souls.

Aimee once wrote:

"You don't need to be an orator. What God wants is plain people with the Good News in their hearts who are willing to go and tell it to others. The love of winning souls for Jesus Christ sets a fire burning in one's bones. Soul winning is the most important thing in the world. All I have is on the altar for the Lord, and while I have my life and strength, I will put my whole being into the carrying out of this Great Commission."

Sister McPherson, as she was affectionately called by her consistuents, went to be with the Lord, September 27, 1944, while conducting a revival service in Oakland, Calif. Memorial services were held on her birthday, October 9th, at Angelus Temple.

From its beginning at Angelus Temple, The Foursquare Church has now grown to include more than 50,000 churches worldwide. There are currently more than 5 million members in 147 countries around the globe. It presently ranks as one of the three or four most distinguished branches of Pentecostalism.

Our History

“Kay hinigugma gud han Dyos an kalibutan, nga iginhatag Niya an Iya bugtong nga Anak, basi diri unta mamatay an ngatanan nga nasarig ha Iya, kundi makaangkon han dayon nga kinabuhi”. –Juan 3:16--

Tungod hini nga gugma damo nga katawhan han bug-os nga kalibutan an nakakilala ngan kinmarawat han Dyos komo ira Ginoo ngan Magtaralwas. Damo an magraut nga mga tawo an nabalhin han ira mga kinabuhi pagkarawat ha Iya. Nagkamay-ada paglaum an katawhan han kalibutan. Ginpakita ni Hesus an Iya pagigin usa ka Magtaralwas nga Dyos. Hiya ginsakit, ginyubit, ngan ginraysang ha krus. Kundi waray Hiya magpabilin nga patay. Hiya nabanhaw ngan nagsaad nga mabalik ngahaw pagkuha han matinumanon nga mga Kristohanon para makig-usa ha Iya ginhadian—usa nga katataporan nga saad nga angay gud naton kaptan tubtod ha katapusan.

Amo man nga gugma an Iya ginpakita ha aton minayuyo nga baryo han Jabong. Bulan han Disyembre tuig 1992, naabri an Pulong han Ginoo dinhi nga dapit. Gingamit han Ginoo an kinabuhi nira Sister Consorcia Prisno ngan Sister Maria Andaya nga tikang ha Living Waters Fellowship, usa nga Foursquare Gospel Church, han syudad han Tacloban. Ha kamatuoran, waray pagmitingi nga magtitindog hin singbahan hini nga dapit han syahan. Hi Sister Consor, komo usa nga taga-Jabong, in may-ada nga hagna dinhi nga kinahanglan niya pag-atimanon. Tikang ha Tacloban napakanhi hiya pagburu-bisita para pagkita-kita han iya kahagnaan. Hini nga iya pagburu-bisita, waray niya hingalimti an Pulong han Ginoo nga nahisurat ha Mateo 28: 19-20 nga nasiring: Sanglit pakadto kamo ha ngatanan nga mga katawhan ha bug-os nga kalibutan ngan himoa hira nga Akon mga tinun-an. Bunyagi hira ha ngaran han Amay, ngan han Anak, ngan han Espiritu Santo ngan tutdoi hira han ngatanan nga Akon iginsugo ha iyo. Ngan hinumdomi! Dayuday Ako maupod ha iyo ha ngatanan nga mga katuigan tubtob han katapos han kalibutan.” Tungod hini, nagsangyaw hiya han Pulong han Ginoo ha mga katawhan han Jabong. Ngan waray ini makawang kay nagkamay-ada Bible study ha panimalay nira Brother Teodoro ngan Sister Florencia Tindoy. Amo ini an gisasyahani nga pag-aram han Pulong han Ginoo hini nga dapit ngan gintambungan ini hin 15 ka tawo. Dinhi nagtikang an katanom han Pulong ha mga kasing-kasing han tawo.

Tuig 1993 bulan han Enero nadugangan an Bible study hin usa. Nagin sentro han usa pa nga pag-aram han Bibliya an panimalay nira Sister Juliet Ripalda. (Xmissing page 2X)

XXXXXXX

….milagro nga ginhimo han Ginoo amo an pagtambala Niya han sakit ni Sister Rona Diaz nga hadto nga panahon, waray gud matatambal. Ha amo gihapon nga mga tuig, ginpadara han Ginoo hi Sister Wilma Retorca nga amo liwat an nagsangyaw han Pulong han Ginoo pinaagi han matinumanon nga paghatag han ikanapulo nga bahin ngan han mga offerings ngadto ha Dyos. Kaupod niya hini nga mga panahon hi Sister Belen Morante. Dida liwat han Oktubre 27, 1995, gindumara an ikaduha nga bautismo didto han dagat ha may Balyuan Tower ha syudad han Tacloban nga ginpangunahan ni Rev. Rewel Buctuan. An ginbawtismuhan amo hira Sister Rosing Garcela ngan Brother Genaro Condes.

Tuig 1996 inmabut an bag-o nga EVD Supervisor nga saliwan kan Rev. Rewel Buctuan. Amo hiya hi Rev. Herme Quiliope nga tikang ha Negros Oriental kaupod han iya bug-os nga pamilya. Padayon an mga buruhaton para Ginoo ha Jabong. Nagpadayon an mga Bible studies ngan ini in nagin mabinungahon. Dida han ika-24 han Disyembre 1998, upat nga mga kalag an ginbautismuhan. Amo ini hira Sister Vilma Garcela, Sis. Vergie Diaz, ngan Sis. Florencia Tindoy. Ini nga ikatulo nga bautismoin gindumara ni Ptra. Marrieta Ygana didto ha Bachelor Beach Resort, Tanauan, Leyte. Pagaka-Marso 22, 1999, ginbuhat liwat an ika-upat nga bautismo ha tubig. An mga ginbawtismuhan amo hira Bro. Teodoro Tindoy ngan Sis. Marlyn Maluping. Ini in ginbuhat didto ha Bachelor Beach Resort, Tanauan, Leyte ha pagdumara ni Rev. Herme Quiliope. Dida liwat han ika-29 han Agosto 1999, ginbawtismuhan ni Rev. Herme Quiliope hi Sis. Rona Diaz didto ha YKS Beach resort, San Jose, Tacloban city. Amo ini an ikalima nga bawtismo nga gindumara ha iglesia han Jabong.

Diri gud malikyan nga kon damo na an mga sunud-sunod nga mga problema, an usa nga pastor han singbahan in manluya. Bisan ngani an mga Kristohanon ha panahon ni Apostol Pablo, umabat gihapon hin sugad nga problema. Kundi hiya nagdasig han matag-usa nga magin marig-on tubtob han pagbalik han aton buhi nga Dyos. Amo man nga sitwasyon an gin-again ni Ptra. Marrieta. Dida han Setyembre 1999, nagbakasyon an pastora tungod han diri maupay nga kahimtang han iya lawas ngan gin kinahanglan niya hin pagpahuway. Tungod hini nga panhitabo, nawarayan hin magtarangway ini nga iglesia. Dida han bulan han Oktubre, nagkamay-ada meeting an District Council ngan napagkaurusahan han mga pastor nga sarhan la anay an iglesia han Jabong. Tungod hini, dinmugang an kaluyahon han mga Kristohanon dinhi ha aspeto ispirituwal. Kundi darawayon gud an Ginoo kay waray tiya itugot nga an ministeryo nga natikangan ha Jabong in makawang la. Waray kadayon pagsarhi an iglesia han Jabong.

Dida han ika-23 han Enero 2000, nagtikang an ikaduha nga balitang ha kinauhi han nga Kristohanon hini nga dapit. Ginpadara han Ginoo pagbalik ha Jabong hira Sis. Consorcia Prisno ngan Sis. Wilma Retorca kaupod han iya anak nga hi Ptra. Jeanisa Paragas. Hi Ptra. Jeanisa amo an sinmaliwan kan Ptra. Marrieta komo pastor han singbahan han Jabong. Ini nga b ag-o nga pastora in first year college student pala han World Evangelism Bible College (WEBC) ha Bgy. San Rafael, Dulag, Leyte. Disiotso pala an iya panuigopn hini nga mga panahon. Bata pa hin duro para kumapot hin sugad nga dako nga responsibilidad. Kundi iya ini ginakarawat tungod han iya dako nga gugma han Dyos. Tungod hini, nahibalik an pagkadasig han mga magtinuohon dinhi ngan nagkamay-ada na mga young people ngan iba pa nga mga tigurang nga nakabig dida ha Ginoo.

Abril 22-23, 2000, nagkamay-ada Seminar of Revival ha Jabong nga ginpangunahan han aton EVD Supervisor Rev. Herme Quiliope ngan han iya asawa nga hi rev. Ruth Quiliope; Rev. Jerry Valde, an Bethel Division Coordinator; Sis. Thessa Estola, bro. Dicoy Cadizal, Bro. Jojo Estola, ngan Bro. Venerando Cejas, an EVD Youth Coordinator. Hini nga Seminar of Revival, damo an ginbuhat han Dyos. Nahibaro hin dugang an nga Kristohanon parti han Pulong han Dyos ngan nahibaro gihapon hira kon papaunanho magin usa nga madinaugon nga Kristohanon.

Dida han ika-5 han Mayo 2000, naabrihan an outreach ha bungto han Tabontabon ha panimalay nira Sis. Rebecca ngan Artemio Cervantes. Nagpadayon ini nga outreach dinhi nga kaurogan mga estudyante an nag-aatender kay harani man la an panimalay han eskwelahan. An natambong in 30 ka tawo an average. Gindumara ini nga Bible studies ni Sis. Wilma Retorca ngan gin-assistiran liwat hiya ni Bro. Leo Fernandez nga hadto nga mga panahon, estudyante pa han high school. Nagpadayon ini nga buruhaton dida ha Tabontabon. Hini gihapon nga panahon, naabrihan an Pulong han Ginoo ha baryo han Belisong nga kasapit la nga barangay han Jabong.

Dida han pagkapot ni Ptra. Jeanisa komo pastor han Jabong, gin-asistiran liwat hiya hin mga estudyante nga tikang ha Bible school. Amo ini hira Grace Sambire, Myralyn Alota, Zenia Catarig, Abigail Damiao, ngan Helen Tanzon. Dako gud an ira naibulig han singbahan han Jabong ha pagpauswag han ministeryo dinhi.

Dida han ikaduha nga semester han SY 1999 – 2000, usa nga batan-on han Jabong in sinmulod ha Bible school. Amo ini hi Bro. Brando Mondragon. Naabat niya nga gintawag hiya han Ginoo para umeskwela hini nga Bibile school ngan pagtun-an an Pulong han Dyos. Darayawon gud an aton buhi nga Dyos.

41st National Church Convention

On the left is Ate Jean, me and Mark..

Foursquare church in the Philippines grows very rapidly

Which comes first: strategy or prayer?
Jim Montgomery
OC Intenational
September 2005

Below is an excerpt from an article written by Jim Montgomery that I found in the internet (www.churchplantingvillage.net/.../Jim%20Montgomery%20Luke%2010%202b%20Strategy.doc)

"But now I was documenting and analyzing the very rapid growth of the Foursquare Church in the Philippines. While their leaders had never studied church growth strategy, they were growing 36 times faster per foreign missionary than any comparable group!

What they did have was prayer for the sick, prayer for infilling of the Holy Spirit, prayer for provision of local resources, prayer for conversions and rapid growth, and lots more prayer besides."

Upcoming Bethel Division Youth Camp

What: Bethel Division Youth Camp
When: December 26-28, 2007
Where: Jabong Foursquare Gospel Church, Bgy. Jabong, Tabontabon, Leyte
Theme: "Batan-on, hain ka na?" ("Young people, where are you now?")
Speaker: To be announced


Bethel Division is one of the 6 divisions of the Eastern Visayas District of Foursquare Church in the region. It is composed of the following 7 churches: Living Waters Foursquare Gospel Church, Tacloban City; Good News Foursquare Gospel Church, Tacloban City; Jabong Foursquare Gospel Church, Tabontabon, Leyte; Hilusig Foursquare Gospel Church, Mahaplag, Leyte; Alang-alang Foursquare Gospel Church, Alang-alang, Leyte; Abuyog Foursquare Gospel Church, Abuyog, Leyte; and Dulag Foursquare Gospel Church, Dulag, Leyte.

Our Logo

JESUS CHRIST: THE SAVIOR

We believe that (1)while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, the Just for the unjust; (2)freely, and by divine appointment of the Father, taking the sinner's place, bearing his sins, receiving his condemnation, dying his death, (3)fully paying his penalty, and signing with His life's blood, the pardon of every one who should believe upon Him; (4)that upon simple faith and acceptance of the atonement purchased on Mount Calvary, (5)the vilest sinner may be cleansed of his iniquities and made whiter than driven snow.

Scripture References:

1. “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” (Is. 53:5)

2. “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:14)

3. “Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” (Is. 55:7)

4. “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:25)

5. “”Come now, and let us reason together,’ Says the LORD, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.’” (Is. 1:18)




JESUS CHRIST: THE GREAT PHYSICIAN


We believe that divine healing is the power of the Lord Jesus Christ 1to heal the sick and the afflicted in answer to believing prayer; that He who is the same 2yesterday, today and forever has never changed but is 3still an all-sufficient help in the time of trouble, able to meet the needs of, and quicken the body into newness of life, as well 61 as the soul and spirit in answer to the 4faith of them who ever 5pray with submission to His divine and sovereign will.


Scripture References:


1. “‘He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.’” (Mt. 8:17)

2. “For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’”? (Mt.9:5)

3. “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mk. 16:17,18)

4. “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29,30)

5. “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed...” (James 5:14-16)





JESUS CHRIST: THE BAPTIZER WITH THE HOLY GHOST


We believe that the baptism of (1)the Holy Spirit is the incoming of the promised Comforter in mighty and glorious fullness (2)to endue the believer with power from on high; to glorify and exalt the Lord Jesus; to give inspired utterance in witnessing of Him; to foster the spirit of prayer, holiness, sobriety; to equip the individual and the Church for practical, efficient, joyous, Spirit-filled soul-winning in the fields of life; and that this being still the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, the believer may have every reason to expect His incoming to be after the same (3)manner as that in which He came upon (4)Jew and Gentile alike in Bible days, and (5)as recorded in the Word, that it may be truly said of us as of the house of Cornelius: (6)the Holy Ghost fell on them as on us at the beginning.

Scripture References:

1. “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever–the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” (Jn.14:16,17)

2. “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:5,8)

3. “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4)

4. “Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 8:17)

5. “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.” (Acts 10:44-46)

6. “And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.” (Acts 19:6) “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16)





JESUS CHRIST: THE SOON-COMING KING


We believe that the second coming of Christ is personal and imminent; that He will descend from Heaven (1)in the clouds of glory with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God; and that at this hour, which no man knoweth beforehand, the dead in Christ shall rise, then the (2)redeemed that are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and that so shall they ever be with the Lord; that also seeing that a thousand years is as a day with the Lord, and (3)that no man knoweth the hour of His appearance, which we believe to be near at hand, each day should be lived as though He were (4)expected to appear at even, yet that in obedience to His explicit command, (5)“Occupy till I come,” the work of spreading the gospel, the sending forth of missionaries, and the general duties for the upbuilding of the church (6)should be carried on as diligently, and thoroughly, as though neither ours nor the next generation should live in the flesh to see the glorious day.

Scripture References:

1. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1Thess. 4:16,17)

2. “...denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:12,13)

3. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Mt. 24:36,42,44)

4. “...so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” (Heb. 9:28)

5. “ ...‘Do business till I come.’” (Lk. 19:13)

6. “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that hewill gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.”(Lk. 12:35-37)

Our Mission and Vision

MISSION OF THE FOURSQUARE CHURCH

The Foursquare Church exists to glorify God and advance His kingdom. Jesus Christ's command is to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19). Therefore, we are "Dedicated unto the cause of inter-denominational and worldwide evangelism."* These words express our spirit and our focus.

Our call is to preach Jesus Christ, God's Son, as the Savior, Healer, Baptizer with the Holy Spirit and coming King. Our assignment is to develop healthy, growing churches. Our commitment is to plant national churches around the world led by loving servants of Jesus Christ. Churches developed in this manner will reproduce again and again. This makes possible the spread of the gospel to those who have not heard or accepted the message of God's Son.


VISION OF THE FOURSQUARE CHURCH

The vision of The Foursquare Church is to present Jesus Christ, God's Son, to every person in every culture and nation as The Savior, The Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, The Healer and The Soon-Coming King. Since the founding of The Foursquare Church in 1923, that vision has been realized through evangelizing the lost and establishing local congregations in the United States and abroad, through the nurturing and training of believers into leadership on all levels of church life, and in cooperation with other members of the body of Christ at large in the fellowship of the Gospel and the fulfillment of the biblical mandate to be "light" and "salt" on the earth.

Our Core Values

Values central to the life, mission and vision of The Foursquare Church.

CHRIST-CENTERED WORSHIP

We prioritize joyous worship, honoring the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as we extol the life and love of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 11:36-12:1-2).

We hold to the creeds asserting Jesus as God’s virgin-born Son--His sinless life, atoning death and literal resurrection providing salvation (Acts 4:12).

We focus a Christ-honoring, grace-based preaching and teaching ministry rooted in the authority of God’s eternal Word, the Holy Bible (2 Timothy 3:16).

CHURCH HEALTH AND BIBLICAL BALANCE

We prioritize a personal and church lifestyle of vital joy and hope as Christ and His kingdom are described in John 10:10, Romans 14:17 and 15:13.

We promote creative personal and church ministry that spreads the Gospel meets human need and multiplies life-begetting ministries (Phil. 1:9-11).

We prioritize passion with order in worship, biblical grace with obedience in lifestyle, with liberty, wisdom and charity in all things (1 Corinthians 13:13; 14:40).

We embrace all who love Christ, pursuing our distinct sense of mission and values, while affirming the whole church beyond our ranks (Philippians 2:1-10).

SPIRIT-FILLED DISCIPLESHIP

We prioritize the apostolic plan for discipleship as in Acts 8:14-17; 19:1-6, calling believers to decisively open to the Holy Spirit’s fullness and fruit.

We acknowledge the distinct and ongoing gift-giving ministry of the Spirit and instruct in how to minister in His power to Christ’s glory (1 Corinthians 12-14).

We pursue faith-filled prayer, intercession and spiritual warfare with Holy Spirit enabled power and discernment as in Ephesians 6:10-20 and 1 Timothy 2:1-6.

GLOBAL EVANGELISM

We prioritize the apostolic convictions in 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15; being constrained by the love of Christ knowing eternal souls are at risk, and commissioned by the grace of God since all who believe may be saved.

We are constant to our founding call to worldwide, interdenominational evangelism, proclaiming to all that Jesus Christ is the Savior, Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, Healer, and Soon-Coming King (Acts 20:27).

FELLOWSHIP AND MINISTRY

We prioritize planting and growing local churches as in Acts 9:31 and Ephesians 3:14-19, that believers may be grown, nurtured and equipped for ministry.

We cultivate every-member ministry as in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Christ’s will being that His church be the living evidence of His love and power to the world.

We honor the Holy Spirit’s call to and giftings of church leaders under Christ’s commission and lordship, irrespective of age, gender or ethnicity (Acts 2:17-18).

SOCIAL CONSCIENCE

We prioritize the Gospel of Jesus Christ as God’s power unto salvation for all, begetting works of compassion, justice and human aid (Matthew 5:13-16).

We place high value on the sanctity of human life, of biblical marriage and morality, and we welcome ethnic diversity (Isaiah 56:7; Philippians 2:15-16).

We accept the timeless purpose of God through his ancient people Israel, and reject anti-Semitism and all ethnic discrimination (Romans 11:11-27; Acts 17:26).

Our Beliefs

1. The Holy Scriptures
We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God: true, immutable, steadfast, and unchangeable (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).

2. The Eternal Godhead
We believe that God is triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the Three are coexistent, coeternal, and equal in divine perfection (1 John 5:7).

3. The Fall of Man
We believe that man, created in the image of God, by voluntary disobedience fell into the depths of sin and iniquity, bequeathing sin’s nature and consequences to all mankind, with their accompanying loss of intended meaning and purpose (Genesis 1:27; Romans 5:12).

4. The Plan of Redemption
We believe that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, took our place, and with His life’s blood purchased the pardon for all who believe in Him (John 3:16; Titus 2:14).

5. Salvation Through Grace
We believe that salvation is wholly through grace; that no human righteousness or merit can contribute to our receiving God’s love and favor (Ephesians 2:8).

6. Repentance and Acceptance
We believe that, upon sincere repentance and a whole-hearted acceptance of Christ, we are justified before God through Jesus’ sacrificial death (Romans 10:6-10; 1 John 1:9).

7. The New Birth
We believe that the change that takes place in people at conversion is a very real one; that having received righteousness in Christ and having received of His Spirit, people will have new desires, interests, and pursuits in life (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20).

8. Daily Christian Life
We believe that it is the will of God that those who have been born again grow in sanctification, become partakers of His holiness, and daily grow stronger in the faith, power, prayer, love, and service (2 Corinthians 7:1).

9. Water Baptism and the Lord's Supper
We believe that being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is an essential response to Jesus’ command, testifying to His lordship as Christ and King (Romans 6:4). We believe in observing the Lord’s Supper, receiving the broken bread and the fruit of the vine with joy and faith as we partake anew of the life and triumph of Christ’s Cross (1 Corinthians 11:24-26)

10. Baptism in the Holy Spirit
We believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit empowers believers to exalt Jesus, to live lives of holiness, and to be witnesses of God’s saving grace; we expect the Spirit’s incoming to be after the same manner as that in which He came upon believers in the days of the Early Church (Acts 1: 5, 8; 2:4).

11. The Spirit-Filled Life
We believe that it is the will of God that believers walk in the Spirit moment by moment, serving the Lord and living lives of patience, love, truth, sincerity, and prayer (Ephesians 4:30-32; Galatians 5:16, 25).

12. The Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit bestows enabling ministry gifts upon believers, and that these gifts will build up the Body of Christ through edification and evangelism(1 Corinthians 12:1-11); as evidence of a Spirit-filled life, believers should show spiritual “fruit”: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (Galatians 5:22-25).

13. Moderation
We believe a Christians’ moderation should be obvious to others and that relationship with Jesus should never lead people into extremes of fanaticism; their lives should model that of Christ in uprightness, balance, humility, and self-sacrifice (Colossians 3:12, 13; Philippians 4:5).

14. Divine Healing
We believe that divine healing is the power of Jesus Christ to heal the sick in answer to the prayer of faith; He, who does not change, is still willing and able to heal the body, as well as the soul and spirit in answer to faith (Mark 16: 17, 18; James 5:14-16).

15. The Second Coming of Christ
We believe that the second coming of Christ is personal and imminent; the certainty of His coming and the fact that no man knows the hour of His coming prompt our evangelistic efforts; that the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven, the dead in Christ shall rise, and the redeemed will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (Matthew 24:36, 42, 44; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).

16. Church Relationship
We believe that it is our sacred duty to identify ourselves with a congregation of believers with whom we can worship God, observe the ordinances of Christ, exhort and support one another, labor for the salvation of others, and work together to advance the Lord’s Kingdom (Acts 16:5; Hebrews 10:24).

17. Civil Government
We believe that civil government is by divine appointment and that civil laws should be upheld at all times except in things opposed to the will of God (Acts 4: 18-20; Romans 13:1-5).
18. Judgement
We believe that all shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ: the redeemed to be delivered unto everlasting life, and the unrepentant unto everlasting punishment (Revelation 20:11, 12; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

19. Heaven
We believe that heaven is the glorious habitation of the living God and the eternal home of born-again believers (John 14:2; Revelation 7:15-17).

20. Hell
We believe that hell is a place of darkness, deepest sorrow, and unquenchable fire, which was not prepared for man but for the devil and his angels; yet it will become the place of eternal separation from God for all who reject Christ as Savior (Matthew 13: 41, 42; Revelation 10:10, 15).

21. Evangelism
We believe that soul winning is the “one big business” of the Church on earth, and that every hindrance to worldwide evangelism should be removed (James 5:20; Mark 16:15).

22. Tithing and Offerings
We believe that tithing and offerings are ordained of God to sustain His ministry, spread the Gospel, and release personal blessing (Malachi 3:10; 1 Corinthians 16: 1, 2).