Church of the Nazarene in the Philippines

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You can’t call him this early!”  Naomi cautioned me, as I began to press the numbers on the phone.  “Well, if I don’t call him now,” I replied, “we can’t take him at all.”  The phone rang on the other end, and I was soon talking to a friend from Palau who was living and working in Manila, Philippines.  God transformed my life and I wanted that same deep transformation for my friend.

At its official beginning as a denomination in 1908 the Church of the Nazarene had a little over 200 churches and 10,500 members scattered across the U.S and around the world - an average of approximately 53 members per church.  Even today, reports continue to say that we are a denomination made up of small churches.  We look forward to zone rallies, conventions and assemblies, camp meetings, and celebrations to connect to others and encourage each other in Christlikeness.  In the last General Assembly in 2005, more than 30,000 met at the Indianapolis Convention Center and RCA Dome, and were joined by another 15,000 via the Internet.

The church members in Palau do not get the opportunity very often to participate and celebrate with other Nazarenes.  Today my friend would have an opportunity to celebrate with other members of the Church of the Nazarene, an opportunity to see how God is blessing the denomination and an opportunity to grow in holiness.  I wanted to encourage the spiritual progress he was making since coming to the Philippines.  “Do you want to come with us to the Living Water Church of the Nazarene anniversary and the Centennial celebration in Southern Tagalog?” I asked, and quickly warned, “It will be a very long day.”

With his enthusiastic “Yes!,” we all three headed to the Living Water Church anniversary.  The lesson for Sunday school was on spiritual discipline: “Fifteen Areas in Which We Need to Exercise Discipline as a Christian.”   As I translated the Tagalog to English for my Palauan friend, I thought “This is one of the best lessons I have heard on spiritual discipline, and just what we needed.”  My friend was learning that the spiritual battles and prayer burdens we face as Nazarenes are the same - no matter the size of the congregation, culture or language of the church.  “That lesson was just was the Lord has been teaching me over the past few months” my friend told me as we drove out of that area.

“Let’s put it into practice,” I said,  so as we traveled to our next meeting, we prayed together and talked about the Sunday school lesson.  Silently, I prayed that this would continue to be a day of encouragement and growth for my friend.  We met District Superintendent Tino Roranes, who guided us to a gym in the middle of a community where Nazarenes were already beginning to assemble for the Centennial Celebration.

The Southern Tagalog district has struggled to grow but now has sixteen organized congregations with six new starts.  We rejoiced to see representatives from church after church arrive and fill the gym to overflowing.   Over 500 people, more than one-half of the total membership of the district, had gathered for worship.  They sang.  They testified.  They told the glorious history of the church. The District Superintendent taught a special session on our distinctive doctrine of heart holiness.  Afterward, they prayed for God to come in a mighty way and bless them.  They cried out to God to help them reach their neighbors.  The service was just what we needed.  We saw hundreds of Nazarenes rejoicing, filled with hope and determined to serve God no matter what the future holds.

I asked one woman what had changed in her life.  How had she become a Christian?  She said that she started coming to church because of the invitation of the pastor.  Her family was much more peaceful now and they were learning a great deal from the Bible, she and her husband were learning to live together well.  I was encouraged that God is still changing people.  I prayed silently for her that God would continue to change her and her family.

It had been a very long day.  As we headed home, the three of us were tired, but rejoicing in the services we had attended.  It was my first time in the community and we lost our way.  We kept stopping every little bit to ask directions, and finally an hour later, I found a road I recognized.  Would this weary day cause my friend to forget what he had seen and heard?  “Thank you for inviting me to attend these celebrations,” my friend exclaimed as we ate supper on the way home.  “It was so encouraging to see our church and to be around Christians celebrating. It was just what I needed.”

By ten o’clock Naomi and I were home reflecting on our adventures and realizing the blessing of God on the Church of the Nazarene in Asia-Pacific.  As I drifted off to sleep, I was drowsily thinking, “Thank you Lord, we are a church of God transformed members who enjoy celebrating.  This day was just what we needed.”

October 4, 2008, a perfect sunny Saturday, the Angeles City First Church of the Nazarene started off their Centennial celebration with a blast, 47 cars, 31 tricycles and 20 motorbikes filled up the major highways of Angeles City. “There was a heavy traffic behind us and the motorists were quite anxious about what was happening”, DS Agbuya said, excitedly re-telling the celebration. The motorcade started from the very first spot where ACFCN started to the major highways of the city and up to where the church is now located.

Angeles City First Church of the Nazarene’s Centennial celebration started on September 14, 2008 with a feeding program for 100 plus children in the community repeated each Saturday until the 27th.  On September 21st they celebrated the Nazarene Academy’s 21st Foundation day.  The 44th church Anniversary of Angeles City First Church of the Nazarene was celebrated on the 28th of September and then after, they have celebrated the 100th founding year of the Church of the Nazarene. It was indeed a busy month for the church.

The Centennial Sunday Service was more overwhelming when more than 1000 people came to join the celebration. “The church was full packed and we could not accommodate everyone inside, so we prepared tarpaulin and tents outside for the people outside.”, said DS Agbuya “and we have received 67 new members”. The morning service was attended by the City Mayor of Angeles City and 4 baranggay Captains. “Our church building is too small” DS Agbuya expressed with a sigh as he told me how packed the whole place was.

The celebration lasted until the evening where it was highlighted by the 75 Voices Choir’s concert. It was a joint choir of the 3 different choir groups of the church; the children’s choir, high school choir and the college choir. “We were planning to have a 100 Voice Choir, but our platform could not just accommodate them all!” said DS Agbuya laughing as he remembered how the choir squeezed on the platform. The choir sung contemporary music and the all time favorite hymns of the Church of the Nazarene. It is simply amazing that around 400 young people attended the concert! The night was specially dedicated for the young people.

ACFCN is the largest Church of the Nazarene in the Phillipines with a membership of 467 as reported during the 2008 district assembly.  They are now getting bigger and look ready to be a Mega church in Angeles City. ACFCN’s celebration was just one of the celebrations as the Metro Luzon District’s churches celebrated the Centennial locally. Other churches like Moncada Church of the Nazarene had their 33rd church anniversary on October 12, 2008 and made it as an extension of their centennial celebration. Praise God for the wonderful and celebration of Metro Luzon District!

“Even if I fail in my class because of my absences due to coming here to attend the Centennial celebration, it will be alright because the school and my classes will always be there for me but to celebrate the 100 years of the church will pass only once in my life time”

TACLOBAN CITY- Despite considerable distance from local churches all over the district to Tacloban City, around 300 Nazarenes gathered at the First Church of the Nazarene in Youngfield Tacloban City on October 7-8 2008, to commemorate the year of uniting holiness churches and movement which resulted in the founding of the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene on October 13, 1908 at Pilot Point Texas.

Though the original name was changed to what we have now ”Church of the Nazarene “, still the Spirit of Pentecost, was present during the 18-hours celebration commencing at 7pm on the 7th and lasting until 1pm on the 8th.

Highlights of the celebration were Praise and Worship Jam and Mini- Concert. Each church took part with their sets of contemporary music. Dulag Church NYI rendered a Centennial Opera inspired by the Hallelujah Chorus, Called Unto Holiness with the Centennial theme “Out of many, out of One many”, was such an extra- ordinary presentation that it was the only presentation to receive a standing ovation among all those participating.

Fun has become more intense and vibrant during the Centennial Trivia, Bible quiz, and Name the Tune game. Youth, adults and even children were all striving eagerly to give correct answers for the prize at stake.  One student commented, “Even if I fail in my class because of my absences due to coming here to attend the Centennial celebration, it will be alright because the school and my classes will always be there for me but to celebrate the 100 years of the church will pass only once in my life time”

At 4 am on October 8, the delegation had a prayer walk to Balyu-an Tower facing Cancabato Bay, one of the historical spots in Tacloban City.

The congregation sat on the steps of the amphitheater as DS. Edgar Longcop shared the morning devotional message taken from Revelation 2-3, the Letter to 7 Churches. Rev. Longcop emphasized the secrets of victorious Christian living and encouraged the church to achieve her vision by becoming obedient to what the Spirit says to each of those who hear God’s Word.

Seven groups were formed to intercede for the District and Local Church Planting programs.

During the final service, Certificates of Recognition to outstanding pastor and lay were given. including those who have serve in the district ten uninterrupted years. Among the awardees were Rev. Lydia Valdez and Pastor Restituta Gallardo as the oldest surviving ministers in the district. Sister Remy Deloria also was awarded as the longest serving Lay Representative to District Advisory Board and Philippines National Administrative Board, from 1987-present.

We salute our people and we praise the Lord for their faithfulness, loyalty and continuous support of the Church and District. More Power and Growth to Eastern Visayas District Church of the Nazarene. Long live Church of the Nazarene and Congratulations for your 100th birthday!

Nearly 200 Nazarenes gathered at 6:30 AM near the Third Largest Mall in Asia and began to walk joyfully down the Baywalk toward The Cultural Center of the Philippines. Their aim? A new congregation in the City of Manila. Read the rest of this entry »

The Luzon District, Philippines reported that a large number of new starts have begun this year. The district assembly, on January 25, heard from 17 different new starts. Some had just begun while others were worshiping now on a regular basis. There was excitement and joy all during the assembly as the district and local churches turn their attention to reaching lost people through church planting. Read the rest of this entry »