The Work of the Church in the Visayas and in Sabah can be categorized as gradual but with continued growth. The year 2003, from January to April, saw more baptisms in Leyte area and in Semporna, Sabah. In Leyte are the following individuals: Xavier Boldios, Alma Batigulao, Ma. Gera Merino and Ma. Nelie Merino. In Semporna, Sabah are Artemio Bernal and Mercy Chiu, daughter of Ruperta Betoy, who was baptized during the FOT in Iloilo last year.

The Church in Leyte province started in the middle of April 2001, when Raul Villacote, a former pastor of Jerusalem Church of God, contacted me via long distance call asking if I could visit them in Leyte for a talk regarding the Church.

To date, since that visit, 25 people have been baptized in Leyte and God willing, if He continues to call more people in that part of the Philippines, many more will come to the Body of Jesus Christ.

One of the highlight events of the Visayan Churches was the visit of David Baker, the senior pastor for the Philippines and coordinator of the Philippine Work. He arrived Bacolod in the late afternoon of April 2. The following day, Mr. Baker and I went to Iloilo to see the Feast site in Punta Villa, Arevalo. While in Bacolod, Mr. Baker spent most of his time meeting with Mr. Julag-ay and I, discussing the structural organization of the United Church of God in the Philippines and the important role of the Home Office in Cincinnati.

The Bacolod brethren and the two deacons from Leyte and their wives, were privileged to hear Mr. Baker’s message on the Sabbath of April 5. The morning’s message covered the subject of Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread. The afternoon Bible study was also conducted by Mr. Baker and the message was a continuation of what he covered in the morning. Several questions were asked after the Bible study, and they were fully answered.

On April 7, Mr. Villacote was sent to Sabah to conduct the first Passover service for the brethren there. The Passover was observed by four baptized members. On April 12, the Sabbath service in Sabah was attended by 30 people, including the children.

Attendance and Holy Day Offering Figures

* figure unavailable

Reported by Florante Siopan
Pastor, Visayan Area Churches