As this calendar year closes, statistics show that the Work of God in Mindanao continues on a pattern of healthy growth. Following are updates and details of God’s blessings:

Baptisms. Mindanao registered 16 baptisms during this calendar year. This year closes with 70 baptisms in this region if reckoned since the year 2000.

Membership. Present active baptized membership figure is 159. In addition, we have 145 affiliates, plus 108 children. This gives us a total membership figure of 412. By way of comparison, last year’s general total membership was 366.

Income. For the past six years, our local Mindanao income has grown an average of 23 percent per year. But for the previous fiscal year, the percentage of increase dipped slightly, probably due to the prevailing economic difficulties. However, looking at it another way, the local income during the past six years almost tripled in amount. We are thankful to God that in spite of the general economic downtrend, unemployment, and economic difficulties, God still blessed our membership, coworkers, and donors in this region.

Congregations. Fourteen congregations are meeting every Sabbath in Mindanao. These are located in: Banisilan, and Kidapawan City, both in North Cotabato province; Bunawan and Prosperidad, both in Agusan del Sur province; Butuan City and Santiago (combining with Jabonga), all in Agusan del Norte province; Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental province; Davao City, as chartered city; St. Christine (combining with Diatagon) and Tago, all in Surigao del Sur province; Kiara and Maramag, both in Bukidnon province; Pantukan in the Compostela Valley province; and Sto. Tomas (combining with Tagum City), both in Davao del Norte.

For lack of adequate manpower to care for all of these congregations, coupled with their remoteness, two former congregations have been relegated to the category of scattered members. These are in San Miguel and Tagbina (Brgy. Soriano), both in Surigao del Sur. In their place, Santiago—combined with Jabonga, both in Agusan del Norte—came up to be the latest congregation to be established, because our available manpower has more access to them.

Some may wonder why there are sometimes two congregations in a province. The reason is that those places are actually far enough from each other, such that it takes at least a full-day’s wage (or more) for just one person to travel to a certain location. Add to that the scarcity of vehicles plying those routes in some cases. Thus, it is cheaper for one man to do the traveling to serve them, rather than the whole congregation to do the traveling.

Recent Special Bible Studies. Special Bible studies have been conducted in the town of Compostela, in the Compostela Valley province on the request of some searching for truth. As a result of such Bible studies conducted there weeks earlier, on the first Sabbath of this month of December, a full jeep-load of 18 people attended a whole-day Sabbath meeting in Davao City on their own initiative. Our problem is how to spiritually sustain them in their remote area considering our limited manpower resources at present.

Bible Studies. The mid-week Bible studies at the pastor’s residence in Davao City established over three years ago still continues to this day. Designed more for our young people and students, it has a usual attendance of about 20 to 25. From this group, 13 have already been baptized since. These Wednesday night Bible studies are apart from the regular monthly Sabbath Bible studies, Sabbath school, or other special Bible studies.

Radio Broadcast. We are still on the air in Davao City with The Good News of the World Tomorrow radio program on one of the most reputable and decent English FM radio stations in the city, broadcasting with a power of 10,000 watts. Popularly known as Oldies Radio, at 100.3 MHz on the FM band, it airs the program at 9 p.m. every Saturday night. Listeners quickly respond to our advertised literature through cell phone text messaging by “texting” 0918-904-4444. Responses to the broadcasts have been fruitful. In fact, one individual has recently started attending services mainly through faithfully listening to the broadcasts over a period of time. It is likely that there are similar listeners out there.

GN Newsstand Distribution Program. For about three years now, we have been blessed with Good News magazine stands in the National Bookstore (NBS) at Gaisano Mall of Davao, and later at the SM City-Davao branch as well. These prestigious and popular outlets, together with others in the city were instrumental in building our subscription list in the city to more than 2,000 copies (about one-fourth of our Philippine total circulation figure).

The opening of these outlets initially became possible because when we approached the NBS manager at the Gaisano Mall, she happened to be a former Plain Truth magazine subscriber and noticed the similarity in our magazine. Because of that precedent, we were also able to open another outlet at the NBS branch at the prestigious SM City-Davao.

Recently, in our attempt to open up a NBS outlet in Cagayan de Oro City, the branch manager there forwarded our request to their head office in Manila. The decision was negative. Subsequently, a memorandum seemed to have been issued regulating such activities in all their establishments nationwide.

When one door closes, we believe there is another one ready to open for God’s Work. While that door has done its work, the challenge is for us to find out what and where the next one is. We have some ideas for now, but we need to pray more for God’s leading.

Good Works Program. Some members in this region have been active and became skilled in the production of flower cards for export in our “Good Works Program.” These are hand-made cards (with matching envelopes) artistically decorated with pressed fresh flowers, which have passed strict export quality control. To date, we have already exported more than 1,300 cards to the United States and Germany, and those who produced them have earned some money. In line with present marketing trends, we are developing a Web site to market the products on the Internet. When fully functional, it will be at: www.flowersoncards.com.

Yearly Church Campout. Davao City church has established a tradition for a year-end campout. It will again be at the Eden Nature Park like last year. Sabbath services are held in a natural and refreshing environment. Saturday evening affords time for added fellowship in a relaxed atmosphere, and the opportunity for campfire activities. Sunday is devoted to games and sports activities. Members also take the opportunity to counsel, to share, and to extend fellowship with one another.

Other congregations in this region have conducted similar activities as well. For lack of similar resources, they have outing activities instead at appropriate venues in their areas and at a time convenient to them.

Other Church-related activities:

Youth Camp. A nationwide United Youth Camp sponsored by the United Church of God is conducted every year. For the past three years, the venue selected was the refreshingly cool and beautiful Eden Nature Park in Eden, Toril, Davao City. This past year, almost half of the campers were first-timers. Dubbed as the “Best Camp Ever” the theme was “Character Counts.” Details of that memorable camp can be read and viewed at the designated section in our UCG Philippine Web site: http://www.ucg.org.ph.

UCG Office Operations. God has blessed UCG-Philippines with a facility where Church needs nationwide and responsibilities can be attended to in fulfillment of the commission God has given us. In service to God’s people and the Church, part of the UCG office operations include:

· Maintaining the UCG-Philippines Web site (www.ucg.org.ph)
· Producing a bi-monthly publication called United News - Philippines
· Producing a yearly camp newsletter called United Teens - Philippines
· Producing a documentary video of every United Youth Camp
· Producing sermon video copies on cassette, VHS, or CD (upon request)
· Producing other types of multimedia projects, needs, and requests
· Producing a weekly broadcast for The Good News of the World Tomorrow radio program
· Producing music score sheets and CDs for choral purposes
· Printing the monthly Bible Reading Program (upon request)
· Printing Sabbath school lesson materials (upon local church request)
· Attending to and answering questions from subscribers and listeners
· Handling Philippine mailing operations
· Handling needed Church and office administrative operations
· Other responsibilities assigned to it by Philippine Senior Pastor David Baker

Other plans and challenges:

Manpower training and development is a critical matter and should be our priority and focus for this coming year. Also is the continuing need to find other ways to fulfill God’s commission entrusted to the Church. We need your help and prayers in this regard, even as we seek to be of greater service to all of God’s people and those whom God is calling.