At the close of this recent fiscal year, the work of the United Church of God in Mindanao showed a healthy growth pattern. Following are some of the details:

Baptisms: The recently concluded fiscal year (from July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003) registered 23 baptisms—surpassing the previous year’s figure by 44 percent. We had 16 baptisms then—which was in itself equal to the number of baptisms for the past three years combined.

Membership has generally been maintained with a healthy increase of 10.7 percent. Of the 404 total active membership in Mindanao, 140 of them are baptized, 123 are counted as affiliates, while 141 are children.

Congregations: Fifteen congregations have been maintained in Mindanao. There is a positive change in venue for one. The Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, congregation has been moved to meet in Kidapawan City (capital of Cotabato province). The first meeting last June 21 registered 36 in attendance, with 14 unaffiliated Sabbath and Festival-keepers coming for the first time.

Bible Studies: The mid-week youth Bible studies at the pastor’s home in Davao City established over two years ago still continue to this day. These have a usual attendance of about 20-25. Four have already been baptized since January this year, and two more are scheduled this month. These youth Bible studies are in addition to the regular monthly Sabbath Bible studies.

Kidapawan City Congregation: This is a new congregation reestablished since the problems with the previous association developed some eight years ago. They now meet at the Cooperative Rural Bank of Cotabato (CRB) Mini-Auditorium. This new location takes the place of the Bible study in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat. Please pray for the success of this new congregation.

Income: Last fiscal year’s income grew by 28.08 percent. The year before that was a very good one with a 30.61 percent increase. In spite of the general economic downtrend, unrest, and unemployment we face, God still blessed us with an almost 30 percent increase over the previous year.

Radio Broadcast: An experimental radio broadcast in the Cebuano language called Ang Maayong Balita sa Kalibutan Ugma (“The Good News of the World Tomorrow”) was started over a year ago in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, by one of our local leaders who acquired an FM radio station. Months later, both an English and Cebuano broadcast with the same title started to be produced in Davao City as well.

What presently brings in the most responses is the English language broadcast in Davao City. This broadcast titled The Good News of the World Tomorrow started in Davao City soon after the Feast of Tabernacles last year on a 5,000-watt AM station, and aired early on weekend mornings. That provided the initial incentive to produce the series of radio programs.

After six months, God opened the opportunity to air the program on one of the most reputable FM radio stations in the region, with a power of 10,000 watts. Popularly known as Oldies Radio (100.3 MHz), the broadcast airs at 9:00 every Saturday night. Listeners respond using the popular text messaging technology. The responses to the broadcast have been good.

These are some of the statistics. Let us remember that behind these facts and figures lies the real work of God in individual lives. All credit goes to God.

Reported by Edmond Macaraeg, pastor of the Mindanao congregations