by Mario Baluyut, PamPAC

Last August 26, 2009, Bagong Pag-asa United Methodist Church conducted a medical mission sponsored by the Korean Methodist Church in South Korea. Bagong Pag-asa is one of the 39 local churches in East Pampanga District. It is located in San Nicolas, Mexico, Pampanga. Their medical mission reached out to the whole community in the barangay and neighboring areas.

One of the medical assistance recipients was a little girl named Liezl Dulay, born with a cyst between her eyes. The cyst was about 3cm X 5cm in diameter. Liezl’s parents informed the Korean doctors that (Liezl’s) physician advised them to have have the cyst removed immediately. They sought support from government agencies and private institutions but received only promises of assistance.

The Korean missionaries were very touched by Liezl’s story. They prayed for her and decided immediately to help her. Rev. Kim, a Korean missionary to the Philippines, followed-up the little girl’s case. He sent her videos and pictures to He Sung Korean Methodist Church. Until one day, the Dulay family received the good news that Liezl would go to Korea for a free surgical operation!

Liezl and her mother stayed in South Korea for three weeks and came home from a successful surgical operation. Great joy is reflected not only on Liezl’s beautiful face but on her whole family’s. With this blessing, the Dulay family decided to commit their lives to the Lord. They have become active members of Bagong Pag-asa United Methodist Church. The Lord has indeed added a new family not only to Bagong Pag-Asa but to the entire Christian community!

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by Katrina Loreto, QCPACE

Hi! I’m Katrina Rose Loreto. I study at Gen. Roxas Elementary School. My church is Del Monte United Methodist Church where I attend to Sunday school. I learned many. That’s why I love it! It teaches me to experience more and to be good, obedient, smart and listen to others. It is so good for children to study about the bible and Jesus. Jesus is in the bible. What about you, do you also go to church on Sunday? Me, I go for it is Sunday school and I have more experience again to God. It makes me to respect more people and the Bible tells me where is the way to light so I promise not to tempt to evil. I remember again and again the Bible for every time. I remember God and his promises to the peopleand all. We have activities again teacher writes our topic about Kings. Jesus is a King. The meaning of praying is we always pray and that is we are talking to God that’s the meaning of praying. So it means we can talk to the King Jesus and that’s our activities. After that we draw the King and Jesus born. After it is finish and now we pray and thanks to God for all.

Katrina Loreto is a special gradeschooler from Del Monte UMC. The account above is unedited. – ed.

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The Laguna District of STPPACE, led by husband and wife Rev. DS Joel and Julie Capulong, partnered with the Philippine Children’s Ministries Network (PCMN) to minister to children that were affected by typhoons Ondoy and Santi. In coordination with Sta. Cruz UMC through Rev. Leonardo Famisan, P60, 000.00 worth of school uniforms were distributed to 100 children in Silangan Elementary School and Santisima Elementary School last January 8 and 9 this year.

During the event, a feeding activity which is part of the PCMN program was conducted where they cooked a special kind of flavored rice. There was also a story-telling for children and distribution of booklets entitled “Book of Hope”. Set of toys sponsored by UNICEF were distributed to churches for them to set up a place for children called “Children’s Friendly Space”. Christmas seemed not over yet when these children received gifts as they are still in the process of moving on from the flood that struck their homes.

Meanwhile, separate relief operations were also conducted in other flood-affected areas in Laguna. On January 18, volunteers from Laguna District visited Barangay Malinta in Los Baños to give grocery items from PCMN to families wrecked by the recent typhoons. Present during the event was Barangay Captain Bagnes who assisted in the distribution of P500.00 worth of goods to each of 50 families. These families were situated along the shorelines of Laguna Bay not until their houses were washed away by the typhoon. They temporary lived in tents in a nearby lot but now transferred to some vacant areas where they could put up their homes. These residents were banned to go back to their location because the municipal government labeled the area as danger zone. Most of them are fishermen and highly depend on the sea for livelihood and have lived there for almost 30 years now so many of them can’t leave their place

Another relief operation was conducted last January 22 at Purok Dos, Barangay San Roque in Victoria, Laguna which also included a feeding program for 120 children in the area. The Laguna District is coordinating with the PCMN for possible rehabilitation program for these communities.

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by Francis Fajardo, BulPAC

From its humble beginnings, Methodism in the Philippines has gone far. This is evident through the growing number of churches in different provinces including Bulacan, being the first province to become an annual conference.

Bulacan was then a part of the Middle Philippines Annual Conference (MidPAC). It was called Bulacan District. It was one of the first provinces where early missionaries pioneered the church planting. Today, many of the oldest Methodist churches in the Philippines are found there.

The 80s marked the fastest growth of Methodism in Bulacan. During Rev. Jose Padang’s superintendency, it grew from one district into two. The 1992 Central Conference then created Bulacan Philippines Annual Conference or BulPAC. On May 19, 1993, BulPAC held its First Regular Session in the historic city of Malolos, Bulacan with Dr. Emerito Nacpil as presiding bishop. It was composed of three districts, namely: North, South and East District.

After 16 years the three districts became four. During its last Regular Session, the annual conference created Northeast District a new one. The number of local churches in each district are: Northeast District with 22 churches from 5 municipalities; Northwest District with 22 churches from three municipalities and one city; the East District with 24 churches from five municipalities and one city; and the South Bulacan District nesting from 3 municipalities and 1 city. District Superintendents are Reverends Emil Macarasig, Crisolito Mendoza, Benito Orbe and Ismael Sarangagaya respectively.

The United Methodist Church in Bulacan continues to grow. It remains committed in carrying out the last commandment of Jesus Christ of making disciples. The present leaders envision that Bulacan Philippines Annual Conference will grow into two annual conferences in the future.

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Peace is like a commodity that everyone wants to buy. People will do almost anything just to attain it. At different periods in history men have worked to bring about peace. Negotiators, counselors, courts, threats, blackmail – all in pursuit of peace.

Christ’s peace should live in our hearts. It must be the place where the most beautiful things are cherished and should prosper. It should rule every area of our life. There can only be true peace when there is transformation of the heart. When there is true forgiveness, when hatred is replaced with love and you learn to love your enemies. A person’s peace with God through Christ must be the basic foundation of peace.

When a person has peace with God he is no longer hateful, selfish, bitter nor anxious. He no longer has his own agenda for life. He has only the agenda of Christ. In Colosians 3:15a , Paul says: “ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts”. Let us, then, join St. Francis in his prayer:

Lord, make me a channel of thy peace;

that where there is hatred, I may bring love;

that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;

that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;

that where there is error, I may bring truth;

that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;

that where there is despair, I may bring hope;

that where there are shadows, I may bring light;

that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.

Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted;

to understand, than to be understood;

to love, than to be loved.

For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.

It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.

It is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.

Amen.

The real meaning of peace is reflected in this anecdote:

There was once a king who would offer a prize to an artist who could paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The king looked at all the pictures but there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them.

The first picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw it thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But when the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest – in perfect peace.

Which picture do you think won the prize? Definitely, the king chose the second picture. Do you know why? “Because,” explained the king, “peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace.”

So in closing I say peace be with you. Peace be with the whole United Methodist community!

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by Mervin Montano, STPPACE

The Tayabas Mission, now organized as a local church, dedicated its new sanctuary on January 9, 2010 with Bishop Lito Tangonan was their guest speaker. The 8,732 square-meter lot is located at Brgy. Calumpang, Tayabas, Quezon.

The site was referred by Pastor and lawyer Ramoncito Mison of Pansol UMC (QCPACE) to Rev. Joe and Deaconess Lilibeth Vicente of Tayabas Mission. Owned by the Anacan family, it was used for growing small organic medicine plants. The lot has a duplex that is good for camps. There are other existing structures that were originally intended for drying organic medicines but can be used for other purposes. Other facilities may also be developed in the spacious lot. During the dedication service the lot manager, Mr. Ronnie Anacan, told the congregation that the lot’s monthly rental will be given as a tithe.

DS Orbe of Bulacan Philippine Annual Conference (BulPAC) East District said that the new site for Tayabas UMC is God’s answer to their prayers. They were looking for a place to serve as headquarters for their mission work when they decided to adopt Quezon Province as a mission area. It was indeed no accident that Ptr. Joe and Deac Lilibeth were assigned to this area after their 11 years of ministry in an established church in Quezon. Prior to this the worker-couple rented a house as a place of worship for the Tayabas Mission.

Tayabas UMC has been a mission point for 13 years. Now, new opportunities have just opened for them for expansion. A Methodist doctor who is serving at the municipality of Tayabas is actively supporting this congregation while municipal employee Mr. Larry Amonan Jr. now serves as Church Council Chairperson.

Others present during the event were Mrs. Jean Grace K. Tangonan;MEA staff Mesdames Nitz E. Nicolas and Beng R. Coloma; Rev. Dr. William A. Umipig, his wife Connie along with clergy and laity, all from Quezon District; Rev. Joel Capulong and laity from Laguna District; BulPAC East District clergy and laity; sponsors of Tayabas UMC; and the Tayabas-Lucena UMC congregation.

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By Caroline Abalos-Santos, PamPAC

Differences are inevitable. People may be heading to the same destination but through different tracks. They may talk about the same idea but carry it out in different ways. It is these differences that unite and divide us.

The church is an association of people with overwhelming differences, from ways of thinking to manners of living. Coming together at the Annual Conference with personal and church issues, not to mention of the breathtaking tension of the upcoming appointment reading, leaves for a lot of aggression.

The Annual Conference is a deciding and policy making body of the church. It’s concerns may include constitutional amendments and passing of resolutions. With its diverse functions and people, the “call to order” at the beginning of the session becomes a license for the opposite. Inflammatory words become the language of many, using derogatory names to address people and agitation as channel of expression. The conference that aims to unify God’s people becomes the reason for separation and cold relationships.

Since the 2008 General Conference we have been encouraged to partake in “holy conferencing” – a manner in which different people come together to recreate and rebuild the church and its people. John Wesley said that holy conferencing, or coming together toward mutual discernment and direction, is a means of grace. This grace provides the capacity to deal with different issues harmoniously in spite of our differences, the understanding beyond disagreements and the humility to comply with what is agreed upon by the body even if it is not our personal desire. This means a step closer to unity!

We all have our concerns. Conferences offer the privilege to hear and to act upon our needs. Upon taking the floor, stating our inquiries and expressing our desires, let us not raise our voice but improve our arguments. Let us make people understand through peaceful process. Let us invite them to where we are, to wear our shoes, for only then will we be understood. We will then have come closer to true compassion.

Seeing everyone in the conference as a child of God is one of the guidelines. Thus our manner towards each other is also our concern. We must keep our relationships not only functional but also harmonious. In doing so we must develop our craft in relating well. Let us give up winning over one another. Let us stop insisting that ours is the only absolute truth. Let us develop that sense of trust through sharing, listening and acknowledging that one might have a better perspective. Let us not debate – let us dialogue. Let us talk with care, listen with care and confront with care. Then we will experience what holy conferencing offers – not order, but life.

In closing let us all ponder the thoughts of Desmund Tutu: “It is unity that we are talking about, not uniformity. What is needed is to respect one another’s point of view and not to impute unworthy motives to one another or to seek to impugn the integrity of the other. Our maturity will be judged by how well we are able to agree to disagree and yet continue to love one another and to cherish one another, and seek the greater good of the other.”

Adjourned!

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by Minchie Sy Quimsiam, QCPACE UMYF

Hundreds of young people gathered together to worship God during our district’s most-awaited Christmas Institute. It was held at Union Theological Seminary in Dasmarinas, Cavite. As a second-timer, I was eager and excited for the things that would happen in my five-day stay. With the theme “Siya Mismo”, Ptr. Cedillo expounded on Acts 17:27-28: “God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, we are his offspring.”

The Christmas Institute was used by God as an instrument in molding us to be His better followers and servants. For as His offspring, we must prepare and be ready to be builders of God’s Kingdom. By grace, I was able to learn new habits that allow me to dwell in Him more. Words are not enough to express how much I was blessed in this camp. As others would probably complain: Bitin! This is true especially to first timers who can’t get enough of the Christmas Institute. But I knew that it doesn’t end there. It is in reality the beginning of a new journey with God.

I was also happy meeting new friends from other local churches and to see people who have the same belief as mine. There I found new brothers and sisters who serve as my partners in the ministry. Truly, CI was life-changing. It refueled my faith. It was a revival to the new generation of the UMYF as we live with the challenge “Siya Mismo: ang simula at pagbabago.”

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Aetas from Zambales' mission church render their traditional dance.

Zambales District celebrated with a Thanksgiving Assembly at San Antonio Youth Center last 21 November 2009. The theme was “Pasalamatan Ang Dios Na Pinagmumulan Ng Pag-asa.” Bishop Lito C. Tangonan was the guest preacher, and over 500 members  attended. This was also in line with the district’s vision to establish a local church in San Antonio, Zambales. It is the only town in the province that does not yet have a United Methodist Church.

The activity started with a parade around the town proper, with tracts and flyers distributed to the community. It was followed by a thanksgiving service and a symbolic releasing of balloons while people formed a big circle. The district also planned to conduct a follow up evangelistic crusade on 17 and 18 December  2009 at the town plaza, in collaboration with its local churches near the area and the District Committee on Evangelism.

This activity was a response to Zambales District’s experience with this year’s spate of typhoons. Members, particularly in Botolan, Zambales, were gravely affected. The district mobilized its Disaster Response Committee to meet their needs. Together with the help and support of local churches, annual conference, district superintendents of Manila Episcopal Area and the MEALAB Kamalig Relief Operation it engaged its members in rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts. The Disaster Response Committee also received relief assistance from East and West Pampanga Districts, Bataan District, United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), Asuncion A. Perez Memorial Center Inc. (AAPMCI), and Kapatiran Kaunlaran Foundation Inc. (KKFI).

Though Zambales District was a victim itself, it blessed others by sharing its resources with other victims of calamities in Anda, Pangasinan, East and West Pampanga Districts, Tangos UMC, and with AAPMCI and MEA relief operations. Zambales District survived and continues the faith journey.

The recent typhoons disturbed the peaceful life of Zambales District. Church ministries have been affected. Church members lost properties and their livelihood. Roads and agricultural areas were destroyed, affecting the business sector, farmers and the economy of the entire province. And yet one thing remains: Mission. Indeed, Zambales District is a witness to the community in the midst of calamities.

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People from both the United Methodist Church (UMC) and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), including the members of the PCU management committee, faculty, clergy and lay were witnesses to the signing of the Deed of Reconveyance of lot-title to the Philippine Christian University – Union Theological Seminary (PCU-UTS) at Taft Campus, Manila on 22 October 2009.

For the last 10 years, the UMC through the Philippines Central Conference (PCC) and UCCP, which are partners in the PCU-UTS merger, have been confronted with a series of contentious issues regarding the ownership of lots of the then Philippine Christian Center of Learning- PCCL-UTS Taft campus. Chairman of the PCU Management Committee Atty. Felix D. Carao, Jr. said that the signing of the deed of reconveyance is a manifestation of a genuine commitment to the restoration of a truly ecumenical endeavor, a covenant unity between the two churches. He congratulated the leadership of UMC for paving the way for reconciliation.

From L-R: Atty. Oscar Ferrer, past PCC Chancellor; Quintin Doromal; Bishop Rudy Juan of BEA; Atty Felix D. Carao, Jr., PCU Management Committee chair; Bishop Eliezer Pascua of UCCP; Rev. Mel Bautista, PCC-BoT chair.

Bishop Eliezer M. Pascua, General Secretary of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines was thankful for this significant event in the life and ministry of both UMC and UCCP. On the other hand, Bishop Rodolfo A. Juan, President of the United Methodist Church – College of Bishops assured everyone “that the UMC will continue to work together in the life and ministry of PCU and to rise up above its limitations and differences in order to work harmoniously with its partners in the years to come.” Bishop Juan also thanked the officers and members of the UMC Board of Trustees, the Chancellor and the Treasurer of the Philippines Central Conference for their contribution in the success of this undertaking.

In a gesture of solidarity representatives from various PCU organizations were also present during the event.

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by Mervin Montano

With the theme “Together in Mission Towards a Future with Hope”, the Southern Tagalog Provisional Philippines Annual Conference East (STPPACE) held its first annual Workers’ Convocation at the PACE-Conference Site at Kaytikling, Taytay, Rizal from 18-20 November 2009.

On its first year of existence as a provisional annual conference, the former Laguna-Quezon Mission District faces the challenge of mission work, making this the main focus of the 3-day event.

Recent typhoon Ondoy and Santi hit Laguna heavily, sparing no one in the community. It is in this light that mission work became the major concern of STPPACE despite its limited resources. The United Methodist Church quadrennial theme “A Future with Hope” continues to inspire STPPACE to do mission work.

Speakers at the event include Bishops Lito Tangonan and Jose Gamboa, Ptr. Joey Floresca, Atty. Carlos Cao, Rev. Jun Villalon, and Quezon and Laguna District Superintendents Rev. Dr. William Umipig and Rev. Joel Capulong, respectively.

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Being in relevant and sensitive positions in the church, 19 newly appointed and non-’graduating’ District Superintendents (DS) of the Manila Episcopal Area (MEA) underwent an orientation-seminar emphasizing conflict transformation at the UCCP Shalom Center, Ermita, Manila from 26 to 27 November 2009.

“Being a DS is a holy calling. It is important to renew a vision on conflict transformation. And his first role is to create a listening environment”, quipped Rev. Dr. Jose Sotto, one of the six resource persons during the seminar. The lecture was highlighted with scenes from the musical “Fiddler on the Roof” wherein Rev. Sotto emphasized the power of listening. The movie served as a model on how conflict becomes transformational in such a way that it strengthens relationships. He also said that conflict transformation must begin and focus mainly on the people involved and their relationships.

Ending his lecture with Psalms 139, Rev. Sotto explained that this biblical passage tells a lot about the connection between conflict and knowing.  As the psalmist struggles, he becomes more transparent before God. The psalmist’s conflicts and his honesty about them actually strengthen the power of knowing as he comes to understand new truth and experiences God in fresh and powerful ways.

Other lectures included in the 2-day orientation-seminar were: Duties/Responsibilities of a District Superintendent, Appointment Making, Orientation on Statistics, Church Management and Administration and Church Worker’s Evaluation.  Resource persons were Rev. Ciriaco Francisco, Bishop Solito K. Toquero, Rev. Abraham Datu, Rev. Dr. Dave Pascua and DS Rev. Johann Osias respectively. Rev. Shin You Ho, Administrative Pastor of the Korean Central Methodist Church, and Mr. Aquilino “Pong” Javier, former President and current Communications Officer of National Association of Filipino American United Methodist (NAFAUM) were also present during the program.

The MEA office also successfully produced a compilation handbook of resource materials that will serve as a guide and a reference tool especially for the district superintendents under the Manila Episcopal Area.

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The Pampanga Philippines Annual Conference’s (PamPAC) Board of the Ordained Ministry (BOOM) conducted a workers’ study session and fellowship last 25 October 2009 at Doña Margarita Resort, Balas, Mexico, Pampanga. This event was designed and developed by the BOOM in accordance with the four quadrennial thrusts.

The study session was concerned primarily with the enhancement of church leadership. It challenged workers to continue their education with zeal and helped them to utilise their fullest potential in order to fulfill the mission they were called to.

Rev. Ciriaco Francisco of Central UMC lectured on “The Pastor’s Role in Fulfilling the Mission of Jesus Christ Towards a Transformed World.” He stressed the importance of pastors’ participation in Christ’s transformational mission. Rev. Jaycee Salangsang, BOOM chairperson, viewed the study session as very timely. “Our churches need competent leaders today,” Rev. Salangsang said.

Forty pastors attended the activity, including West and East Pampanga district superintendents Revs. Deogracias Cruz, Jr. and Reynaldo Calalang, respectively.

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“Pastor, akyat na po tayo sa bubong, mataas na ang baha” were the trembling words of Jean, my deaconess, as the water reached my waist and the church‘s musical instruments started to submerge.

I was having breakfast with my wife when Bro. Sonny, our temple-keeper, announced that the water would soon get inside the church. My son Gamaliel was watching his new DVD movie. It was 6.30. By 9.00 AM Bro. Sonny’s prediction had become reality. The church was inundated. The current was so strong we couldn’t even go out to buy food for us to eat.

We proceeded to our multi-purpose hall, thinking that it was too high for the flood. But the waters continued to rise and submerge the building. It was 11.00.

It was 3:00 in the afternoon when Deaconess Jean, who is four-month pregnant, decided to go to the ceiling of church office because of the rising waters. Four kids accompanied her there. Two hours later the waters were at its worst. The entire area of Robles Subdivision had become an ocean! Thank God, a good neighbor invited us to spend the whole night in their 2-storey house. It became our evacuation center. Nine adults and 14 children stayed in that 10-square meter room that night.

There were no meals from lunch time until morning of the next day. Darkness passed without us getting any sleep; we were fervently praying for God’s protection. In these circumstances I remembered God’s promise in Hebrews 13:5b-6:

“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?”

September 26 is indeed a memorable day for me. It is the day when my faith was put to the test. It is hypocrisy to say that I was never afraid because in my heart, I truly was. In fact, I was praying ceaselessly. Hoping that the water would not reach the ceiling. Yet God is my protector and shelter at that time of dire need. We put our trust in Him and relied on his very promise.

Indeed, God never leaves us. Though the water was wide the eye of God is a thousand times bigger than the volume of water. He provided blanket for us to spend the night. Indeed, God never abandoned us. The rains continued pouring out, yet the hand of God continued to cover us. He provided a shelter for us to stay.

There are always events and happenings that affect our lives. And even affects our faith. But remember the promise of God, whatever happens or whatever crisis we have, God will never leave us nor abandon us. Amen.

Rev. Peralta is currently the administrative pastor of Cainta United Methodist Church. -Editor

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