Chapter 32 – Rev. Famillaran & Rev. Lopez Leadership Br0ught Strong Impact on CPBC Ministry, then...
The Election of Rev. Moley Familaran, President of CPBC on May 1976 and Rev. Edwin Lopez in July that same year, have brought momentum to CPBC ministries the next 8 years. Then it went down and never regained the lost momentum for following years.
In the next 4 years after their elections in May 1976, CPBC reached some strength and height in the Convention ministry that was unprecedented.
At the CPBC Office, Rev. Esfe Tandog provided the needed leadership to consolidate the efforts from the ground. He was appointed Executive Assistant to the General Secretary. With the General Secretary, Rev. Esfe Tandog, produced an instrument for the CPBC ministry to reach out all over the Convention area. He worked and published an 8- pages newsletter known as “Baii-Sulat”, in mimeograph and circulated monthly, reaching out to most of the churches, informing them of what were done during the months and plans to be made on the next months.
Employed CPBC Staff were headed by Rev. Edwin Lopez, General Secretary. Assisting him were 3 Field Secretaries, Rev. Penuelito Sacapano, Evangelism, Rev. Alfeo Tupaz, Stewardship and Apolonio Francia, Christian Education and Rev. Esfeamori Tandog, Executive Assistant and Jun Fabellore, Janitor and general services.
The CPBC Ministries have grown fast. Never in the history of the Convention from its founding in 1938, Think of this. Recruited to work full time for CPBC in 1976-1977, were Rev. Amado Leonares, Rev. Elias Laprades, Rev. Gigare, Rev. Selencino, Rev. Larry Leysa, Pastor Grace Faldas, Pastor Manny Monteclaro, Rev. David Rama, Rev. Norberto Tabligan, Pastor Fred Jacildo, Rev. Jose Tarug, Pastor Lilia Lirazan, Pastor Nora San Pedro, Pastor Nora Gabilo and Ms. Deli Baclagon. Rev. Repolidon was Coordinating Minister for Eastern Mindanao, and Rev. Este, Coordinating Minister for Western Mindanao
The Office Secretaries were Miss Deborah Dean and Mrs. Rizalina Rafols, sssisted by two parttime secretaries.
In 1976 -1977, the component of the Convention in the administration and the programs – Evangelism, Christian Education and Stewardship were 33 full time staff. But starting 1980, the full time staff decreased to 10 full time and even less. Today, in 2017, the full time staff of the Convention is only, 8 persons?
Manning the Business Office in 1976 were Fred Italia, Treasurer, He was assisted by Mr. Ephraem Baluya, Bookeeper and Edwin Gallenero, Assistant Bookeeper.
Under that leadership, the CPBC Evangelism Program of Rev. Penuelito Sacapano strengthened and expanded to many different places in the country—in the towns of Panay & Negros, Romblon, Mindoro, Manila –Luzon. It made stronger strides in both Western and Eastern Mindanao. The planting of new churches and it’s registration with the CPBC show a growth of 200 per cent the last 4 years from 1976 to 1980.
Some ordained ministers, were recalled by Rev. Lopez from hibernations to be evangelists again, planting churches in their assigned circuit areas. Fresh graduates were recruited, like Pastor Tita Grace Faldas of CPU College of Theology and Pastor Nora San Pedro of CBBC, and trained as Evangelists and chuch planters. And every Sunday morning, the Evangelism Program staff, go to their churches with new challenge and carries new expectations
The Christian Education under Rev. Apolonio Francia produced 5 Sunday School materials girded to strengthen the education of adults with “ Eskuela Dominika”. and young people with four different grade materials – Junior, Primary, Kinders, produced with relevance and has started a joint program on writing education materials with the National Council of Churches in the Philippines.
The Eskuela Dominal become a kind of text book, where several members in local churches buy copies for their studies during Sunday Schools for adults. They studied the Eskuela Dominakal before attending Sunday school on Sundays.
Working with Rev. Apolonio Francia, Field Secretary for Christian Education were Ms. Deli Baclagon and Rev. Selencino. They were assisted sometimes by Mrs. Pat Lopez, with her skills on writing and editing. A group of volunteer writers, wrote their assigned manuscripts and readied for printing on time, every quarter and circulated as Sunday School guides. The Kasapulanan offices were designated places where Sunday School materials were available for churches.
The Stewardship Program under Rev. Alfeo Tupaz undertook massive training of church members nationwide on Stewardship. It was designed to educate members from adults to Kinder school to give their tithes and offerings of their income for the ministry. An “Every Member Canvass”, a stewardship process were held for all staff, to maximize their skills on stewardship development and transfer this skills to church members all over the convention area.
Rev. Harold Blatt, an American missionary came to CPBC on request by Rev. Edwin Lopez to help. He was assisted by Rev. Emilio Lapatha, an experts on stewardship technolgy and mobilizing financial resources. They helped train CPBC staff on the art of stewardship with “Every Member Canvass” strategy.
This training was implemented with a two -days week-end seminar, Saturdays and Sundays where all members of churches, from adults, young people to children were provided Biblical studies on stewardship, both from the Old and New Testaments, with tithing as a strong focus and challenge. Then on Sunday morning worship services, each member put their commitment for support in a Pledge Card and gave during worship service as commitment for the whole year.
With the Stewardship call, program plans were made, with financial support planned the whole year, based on the pledges made during the stewardship commitment.
Some 30 CPBC staff were assigned to undertake the Every Member Canvas training all over the Convention several Sundays. I was assigned on one Sunday to Pulupandan Bapitst Church in Central Negros. The response was great. Increased of support was recorded. Most churches gave 10% of their income to CPBC, the 50% of which was also shared with the Kasapulanans.
The church members were also challenged to give one tablespoon of rice, for every cup of rice they will cook every meal. They kept this daily in a Stewardship Basket, and bring to church every Sunday and gave as offerings, specifically for the Pastors and his family’s food.
The 3 CPBC programs – Evangelism, Christian Education and Stewardship with their 30 full time staff, pushed hard the ministry covering Negros, Panay Romblon, Mindoro, Luzon, Manila, Western Mindanao and Eastern Mindanao.
The dynamism of the program could be felt in the churches with more members baptised, more new churches organized and bigger resources coming-in for the ministry of the Convention.
During this time, Rev. Edwin Lopez, sent several lay leaders and pastors, both from the staff of CPBC and from churches opportunities for overseas exposures and to travel abroad and in the country to learn knowledge and skills with other sister bodies in the field of leadership, management and special training ministries . It was during this period a number of scholarships in medicine were given to young people with interests in medicine. Some were encouraged to attend seminars, workshops and related training in the Philippines, Asia and other foreign countries.
Pastor Tita Grace Faldas, Special Minister with . Apolonio Francia, Field Secretary for Christian Education were sent for 2 years aAdvance Studies in West Germany. Rev/ Esfe Tandog, CPBC Executive Assistant was sent for a masteral study in the United States. Rev. Elias Laprades, Special Minister was sent Ecumenical Studies to Bossey Institute in Switzerland. I think, three students were assisted to take Medicine thru a schaolarship from the Board of International Ministries, hoping they will be able to help our people on some medical services.
While the 3 major Programs of the Convention were implemented with force and dynamism, Pastor Rudy Bernal, was assigned to start working on CPBC pilot Urban Industrial and Rural Mission (URIM) at Insular Lumber Company, in Bacuyangan, Hinobaan, Negros Occidental. Pastor Rudy Bernal, He was given a scholarship by a German organization with a 1 year study grant, that provide him opportunity to learn more on Urban Industrial Rural Mission (UIRM) and enrolled again at the College of Theology, Then, he was transferred by Rev. Lopez to the national office, as Deputy to the General Secretary on URIM. He worked in the CPBC office with Rev. Esfe Tandog, the Executive Assistant.
Starting in 1977, 6 years after President Marcos declared martial law, the Baptist Convention’s and with General Assembly’s mandate that year, Pastor Bernal with the General Secretary and the President, conceptualized, planned, resource funds and mobilized needed resources to expand the Pilot Urban Industrial Mission (UIM),started in 1976, the New Frontier Ministries (NFM), the development arms of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, reaching out to all areas in the country where CPBC ministers.
Assisting him starting 1977, is Miss Feraz Baclagon, Secretary. She worked hard, creatively and efficiently, leading services with the CPBC to international Chrstian involvements, in the Asia Pacific Development Aid Ministry. And in 2017, God called her to led the Baptist Convention as President.
No comments:
Post a Comment