Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
It’s my privilege to share with you how the Lord has been working in and through his people in this local church at Grace Immeasurable Christian Church, Philippines. In particular, the previous month of April 2024 demonstrated God’s faithfulness to us.
Lord’s Day Services & Ministry Programs
Throughout the month of April, we continued our sermon series on Ephesians. We just finished Paul’s exhortations for the children and parents, the servants and masters. It was a good instruction and reminder for our members on how to glorify God in our families and workplaces. And by the last two Sundays of the month, we started meditating on Paul’s concluding exhortation on standing strong in the Lord and putting on the armor of God.
During the afternoons, from 2:30-4:00 pm, we also continued our study group sessions for men and women. The men’s and women’s group gather alternatingly every Sunday. While the men discuss The Masculine Mandate by Richard D. Phillips, the women discuss Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes.
This greatly benefits our adults members in their personal lives, especially in their marriages and families. And I believe strong and healthy marriages and families are foundational for establishing a strong and healthy church as well.
Church Membership & Growth
By the end of February 2024, we started a 7-part membership class for our core group, which was concluded by the first week of April. The membership class module included the basics of the Christian faith as summarized also by the Reformed creeds and confessions, the order of salvation, the marks of the true church, and the privileges and duties of church members.
Upon expressing their commitment to become members of the church, eight (8) families were received into the church family on April 14, 2024. The parents publicly professed their faith, and three covenant children were baptized as well. We are now a total of 25 communicant and non-communicant members since then.
At the same time, through March and April, the Lord has brought eleven (11) guests to join us in the worship service.
Church Organization & Ecclesiastical Relations
By early April, we already started applying for legal incorporation as a church organization through SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission). Once done with SEC, we’ll process other legal requirements to be officially registered as a legal non-profit organization. This can help us more easily relate with the local government and other organizations, which can open opportunities for the ministry. Such legal registration is also necessary so we can open a corporate bank account to help securely and properly administer and steward the church finances.
Last April 21, we also held our annual general meeting as members. We discussed the church’s ministry plans and formed a steering committee to help with different aspects of the ministry.
We’re also continuously building ecclesiastical relationship with others. Last March, I was able to meet again with a group of three (3) pastors interested in forming a Federation. We’ve been studying the Three Forms of Unity and the Church Orders of Dort, URCNA, and CANRC. Although we were not able to meet last April, I’ve been in contact with four (4) more pastors who’s interested in joining the effort to form a Reformed Federation in Cavite, Philippines.
At the same time, last April 6, I was privileged to speak at a one-day seminar hosted by a group of churches, “Oikos Reformed Church,” on the topic “Pressing on towards the Goal.” It gave us the opportunity to widen our relationship with other reforming pastors and churches. They hope to invite me again to speak by December or January next year, Lord-willing.
Short-Term and Long-Term Ministry Plans
As for the ministry plans in church, we’re scheduled to start a Hermeneutics class this month of May. I’ll be using the MINTS Course on Basic Hermeneutics by Dr. Julian Zugg. This will help equip all the members whether for individual study of Scriptures, family worship, teaching Sunday School, or becoming leaders of the church.
By the month of June, Lord-willing, we’ll also start a dedicated Sunday School class for children and the youth.
By the month of July, Lord-willing, we’ll host a Couples’ Dinner fellowship and invited Dr. Nicky Joya (director of Evangelical Leadership Asia) as our guest speaker. This will be a good opportunity to strengthen our member’s marriages and also reach out to other couples outside the church.
Then, by September, Lord-willing, we plan to start a series of leadership training lectures and fellowship with the men of the church. Hopefully, the Lord will bless it towards the calling, ordination, and installation of our Elders and Deacons next year.
Prayer Requests and Opportunities to Support
Please continue to pray for our church, that the Lord will sustain us every Lord’s Day. Pray for me as the church plant pastor, that I will continually grow in my personal walk with God and my gifts as a pastor. May I be found faithful in the ministry of the Word. And may the Lord guide me in leading and helping this church become an established Reformed church.
Please pray for my wife, Yeng, who’s due to deliver our baby anytime now (she’s already 38 weeks pregnant). Pray for strength and wisdom during delivery and afterwards.
Please pray for the Lord’s guidance for the upcoming ministry programs and events, including our Events Committee and the speaker(s).
Lastly, please pray for the efforts to form a Federation with other like-minded Reformed churches in Cavite. May the Lord bring along pastors who will sincerely pursue the reformation of churches through God’s Word. (Pray also for unity of mind, especially in the continuous training of pastors. I hope we’ll all be able to study through MINTS soon).
If the Lord has put it in your heart to also support the church financially (or your church would be willing to extend help), here is a list of needs we’d like to prioritize.
- Legal registration processing
- Shelf and books for church library
- Printing of gospel tracts and booklets
- Extra chairs (20 more chairs)
- Video camera (we’re only using personal phone)
- Other church venue improvements (e.g., signage)
- Sound system improvements
If you want to give any amount in support for any of these needs, please contact us through our Support Page, and we’ll be honored to discuss it with you.
Thank you once again for taking the time to read our ministry update. Your prayers and support are much appreciated. And may the Lord Jesus Christ, the good and faithful Shepherd of his sheep, continually build his church for his glory. Amen.
In Christ,
Pastor Reuel Dawal