It was a cloudy Sunday afternoon.  The sky seemed to pour down its rain and bathe the celebration.  But days before the celebration, the church had been praying for fair atmosphere in the afternoon of June 29, 2008.  The celebration started on time at 3:00pm, and was finished just in time for the all those who came to enjoy.  The rain did not pour down.  Thank God.

That is just one of the evidences of God’s faithfulness to the Solid Rock Bible Congregation (SRBC) which has seen countless other evidences of God’s grace and love for the last 31 years.

We expected about 500 to attend the celebration and the record showed 480 warm bodies that trooped the SRBC compound to witness one of the church’s unusual celebrations.

There was singing.  There was drama.  There was circus show.  There was a raffle draw.  Of course, there was God’s movement through the message that was preached by Rev. Raffy Panlilio, Executive Director of the FIFCOP Mission.

All in all, the celebration was a resounding success.  To God be the glory.

The Macro-Encounter had just been concluded when typhoon “Cosme” started to devastate northern Luzon.  I was told that Pangasinan was at that time under signal no. 2.  But when the clock struck 6:00pm, Saturday, May 17, 2008, Pangasinan was feeling more than a signal no. 2 typhoon.  At around 9:00pm, many houses had been severely damaged and the Solid Rock Bible Congregation (SRBC) church building was not spared.

The morning of Sunday showed in better view the collateral damage that “Cosme” has left behind.  I was supposed to go to church because it was Sunday, but I knew I could not go to church.  I saw houses of some brethren wrecked by the typhoon.  I still went to visit the church building and when I got there I saw the extent of repairs we have to make.  The following pictures were taken one week after the typhoon swooped down in the area.

The damage you see in these pictures has been sort of patched up a little bit.  There was a more horrible sight than what you see here.

The 3-day Marco-Encounter God Retreat conducted for the benefit of the pastors and church leaders of the Pangasinan EGR Network started and ended in success.

There were 31 delegates coming from the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union and Zambales.  The 3-day Macro-Encounter was headed by Rev. Charlie Loranza as Encounter Director.

He was ably supported by a cast of G12 leaders of the Solid Rock Bible Congregation. 

The next Encounter is tentatively scheduled on mid-June.

The Solid Rock Bible Congregation (SRBC) conducted its first “cell-lebration”, a gathering of all members of cell groups handled by cell group leaders of the church.

The church overflowed with about 250 bodies, children excluded.  The cell members came from various locations even as far as Sual, Burgos, Calasiao and Mabini.

The cell-lebration coincided with Mother’s Day, and during the service, a tribute to mothers was presented.  Here are a few pictures from the event.

 Everyone prepares to watch a video presentation.

 Some mothers present a special number.

A picture of one mother is shown on video while the group of mothers present a song number. 

Here is another shot of the song and video presentation.

Mothers line up to receive a small token from the church. 

It’s all systems go for the Macro-Encounter of the EGR Pangasinan Network. 

Pastors and church leaders from Pangasinan, Zambales, Pampanga and La Union will be coming over to the JCSGO Campsite in Libsong, Lingayen, Pangasinan, venue of the Macro-Encounter on May 15-17, 2008.

This is probably the first time that a 3-day Bogota-type Encounter will be conducted in the province.  The purpose of the Macro-Encounter is not just to let pastors and church leaders learn the Bogota-type Encounter but also to have a fresh encounter with God anew.

If you are a pastor and you want to join the Macro-Encounter, you may get in touch with Rev. Charlie Loranza at mobile no. 09203290415.

Every Friday, during the current summer term, a group of students who opened their hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ meet regularly to celebrate God’s goodness in the Christian Clique. The Christian Clique is an informal group of Christians, most of them new in the Christian faith. They are being guided by a couple of Christian teachers who happen to be their teachers in at least one subject.

Here are a few pictures shot during one of their regular meetings.

Clique leader Mr. Jessie Paragas shows a Powerpoint presentation to the group through a laptop.

Sir Jess explains the power of the presence of God as the group listens.

The group attentively watch the Powerpoint presentation.

The clique takes a snack break.

Some of the group pose with Sir Jess after the clique meeting.

Here’s another shot during the snack break.

Four ladies pose for a shot after the Clique meeting.

The Solid Rock Bible Congregation (SRBC) has scheduled its very first Encounter God Retreat (EGR) on May 29-31, 2008 at the SRBC compound.

The expected delegates are members of the cell groups being handled by various cell group leaders of the church. About 30 to 40 delegates are expected to sign up.

The Encounter format is the one being used in Bogota, Colombia, seat of the G12 Vision. The delegates will go through a 3-day incubation with their Maker not just to revive them but to make them fruitful as well.

In related developments, some selected cell leaders of the church will troop to Nueva Ecija to go through a 3-day Encounter which will be conducted by the FIFCOP Mission, the mission organization of SRBC. The Nueva Ecija Encounter will run from May 1-3, 2008.

Also, there will be a Macro-Encounter to be held at SRBC on May 15-17, 2008 which will be attended by pastors and leaders of the EGR Pangasinan Network. The idea of the Macro-Encounter is to pass on the anointing of the 3-day Bogota type Encounter to pastors and leaders so that they can already embark on conducting their own Encounter Retreats. The Macro-Encounter will be handled by SRBC pastors and leaders who have gone through the 3-day Encounter.

Here’s one of the nicest verses I’ve ever read.  It’s calling on men, but I believe women should seriously take it, too.

The World Needs Men…

Are you the man (or woman) the world needs?

If you’re a Christian and you are tired of the old-fashioned styles of one-on-one evangelism, you might find the life-and-death ambigram useful in your next sharing time.

The life-and-death ambigram is a presentation of the words “LIFE” and “DEATH” in one symbol.  It is called an ambigram because on one face you see the word LIFE, and when you turn the symbol 180 degrees, you see the word DEATH.  See illustration below.
              

When used in evangelism, the ambigram could offer a quick sharing of the message of salvation.  Here’s how:

First, show the ambigram to your prospect starting with LIFE.  Ask him if he can read it.  Usually he can read it.  Now turn it 180 degrees and show him DEATH.  Some people have a hard time reading it, but when your prospect does read it, congratulate him for doing so.

Now turn the ambigram just 90 degrees.  It can be read upwards or downwards depending on which side you turn.  But this time ask your prospect to read not upward or downward but sideward.  He could not read anything here.  From this position turn it 180 degrees and ask your prospect to read again.  He could not still read anything because there’s really nothing readable in those positions.

Now explain to your prospect that we only have to destinies: life or death.  A destiny of life is a life lived with and for God.  A destiny of death is a life lived without and not for God.  There’s nothing in between, that is why he can’t read anything sidewards.  It is just a choice between life and death.

Now ask your prospect which one he would choose.  He will, of course, choose LIFE if he is serious, not joking.  Others may choose DEATH, no joke.  If this happens, all you can do is to pray that that person would come to his senses.  If he jokes, ask him not to joke about it.  Tell him he can receive eternal life if he accepts Jesus Christ into his heart as Lord and Savior of his life.  At this point, you may opt to explain the fact that Christ died on the cross for his sin.  Yes, He died but He rose from the dead and is now alive.  If your prospect accepts Him as Lord and Savior of his life, he can have the eternal life that Jesus promised.  When your prospect chooses life and you have told him the meaning of his choice, ask him to pray.

Tell him to pray the prayer of acceptance.  Give him a sample prayer if possible.  When he says he’s willing to pray, lead him to the prayer.  While you say that you will lead him to the prayer, tell him to follow you and say the words sincerely from his heart.  When he does so, you have a new brother born in the family of God, all in five minutes, more or less.

Of course, it is necessary that you have a copy of the ambigram.  Try this evangelistic style and see the results.  God bless you.

This time it’s the Bogota type of Encounter God Retreat that the Solid Rock Bible Congregation (SRBC) will conduct starting next month. This development occurred after five SRBC EGR staff went through a dry run Encounter held at the Masagana Mall along Taft Avenue, Corner Kalaw St., Manila last April 4-5, 2008.

Yes, the Bogota type of Encounter is a 3-day Encounter God Retreat designed especially for the local church. The recommendation of G12 Philippines Director Rev. Oriel Ballano is to do away with the 2-day EGR of the Pangasinan EGR Network. The 3-day Encounter is really custom-designed for local churches so that they can conduct their own. They don’t have to go somewhere else for the Encounter part of PEPSOL.

The five SRBC staff who went to the 3-day Macro-Encounter are: Rev. Charlie Loranza and his wife Tess, Ptr. Jess Paragas, Sis. Kess Malicdem and Sis Angelita Fernandez.

May 14-16, 2008 is the tentative schedule of the Macro-Encounter here in Pangasinan to be conducted by SRBC. Member pastors of the EGR Pangasinan Network are expected to go through this 3-day Encounter for them to see how the Bogota Encounter works and how they can do the same in their own churches later on.