The month of July 2004 in the Visayas Churches has been one of continued progress in many ways.

In terms of attendance, Tacloban congregation has a significant increase of people who continuously attend the Sabbath services. It started when the son and a number of grandchildren of a member, Cesar Adona took interest in the Church of their father and grandfather and kept on attending continuously. Leo Adona, a lawyer, started attending the Church Sabbath services when his father Cesar committed to follow God and asked for baptism a few months prior. Attendance in Tacloban during our last visit, or (the fourth Sabbath of July), was significant with Raul Villacote’s effort in reaching out to more people in his previous association. The fruits of his labor are obvious. We thank God for the help that Raul made to the Church.

In Tubod, Isabel, two individuals have asked for baptism last July 17. We held the event in one of the natural spring resorts of Isabel. One is Flaviana Merino, the 66-year old sister of our two members in Isabel—Dickson and Nely Merino. Flaviana, together with Dickson and Nely, is also the daughter of our member, Maria Merino. The other lady who was baptized on the same occasion is Chery Merino, 29-year old daughter of our deacon in Sabang, Baybay congregation. We praise God for their calling and their inclusion to the household of God.

In Iloilo, we have formally started a Sabbath Service in Citadel Building, near the University of the Philippines, Iloilo Branch. It is beside the Iloilo Doctors Hospital. The venue is on the third floor of the building and is air-conditioned. We started with ten people in attendance. Services starts at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 11:00 a.m. every Sabbath.

Plans for the immediate future is to hold a Public Bible Lecture or Bible Study inviting all subscribers in Iloilo and Panay area. On that aspect, we be advertising the United Church of God services in local dailies. We are asking the help of our brethren through their prayers that God will call more people in that part of God’s Work for His glory.

We are also scheduled to visit our brethren in Sabah the latter part of August to help the brethren with their plans in attending the F.O.T. in Iloilo this year. We pray that there will be no problems that will arise to obstruct the plans especially in their travels.

Festival preparation is underway for the whole of the Visayan brethren. We are looking to the most joyous and fruitful F.O.T. ever. A number of people from outside of the Philippines will come and keep the Festival that points to the millennium, the time when the Kingdom of God will become a reality and the first fruits of God’s harvest together with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will rule and there will be abundance and peace for a thousand years.