The Baptist Men of Lifegate Church, Leganes, Iloilo

                                                   Chapter 57

I would like to share the story of the Baptist Men of Lifegate Church. I have been a member of the church for many years, when we decided to built our home in Buntatala, Leganes. We joined Lifegate Church, which before was known as Leganes Baptist Church. The Kinder School was to be started as another church ministry. It must be be registered and must have a a legal personality. The church was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commmission (SEC) and Department of Education & Culture (Dept. Ed), both government agencies.

Lifegate Church has a unique ministry. Rev. Albert Valdez is the pastor. Assisting him was his wife, Pastor Joy Lopez Valdez, in charged of the music and education ministry of the church.

Lifegate Church, is under the Chairmanship of Mrs. Jeanette Deocampo Artajo, President. The church underwent a major renovation with the supervision of Engr. Carl Jacar, member of the church and the Baptist Men. There were different organizations in the said church, composed of the Senior Citizens, Baptist Men, Baptist Women, Young Couples, Young Professionals, Young People and the children. Each of the said organization has its officers and functions.

We have a Church Choir that renders songs of encouragementvery Sunday Worship Service. We have different groups that were assigned to render Special Music and Offeratory Music. We have a Violinists and several guitarists that assist Pastor Joy Lopez Valdez in the Music Ministry. We often have a lovely and inspiring Worship Service.

Every Sunday, there were families assigned as Altar decorators. There were also persons who were assigned to gather the offerings. We have often 3 offerings every Sunday. Then, after the Benediction by the Pastor, the Church Chairperson, Mrs. Jeannete Artajo stood on the pulpit to announce some developments and upcoming activities of the church. A visitor who attended the Worship Service for the first time were called and introduced to the congregation.

We have Sunday School after the service. But before that, we take a break for our snacks, together with Baptist Women and the Youths, who loves snacks after worship . The Baptist Men loves to drink Brewed Coffee or Three-in-One coffee. Then we gather for our Sunday School. I would like to share only what we are doing during the Baptist Men’s Sunday School.

It was quite unique. Some churches in the Province of Iloilo, Iloilo City and Inner Iloilo area have only 5 Baptist Men joining Sunday School. In other churches, only about 10 attended Sunday School. More Baptist Women attends Sunday School on Sundays. At Lifegate Church, we have more than 30 Baptist Men members, 20-25, attended regularly Sunday School.

Our Sunday School starts often at 10:45 A.M and ends at 12:00 noon. It was always an inspiring and lively Sunday School. Every body were called to participate in the disucssions and where challenged to asked questions. Then some others were asked to answer the questions before them. We gave credit to our Sunday School teacher, Engr. Rollin Deocampo for his faithfulness, dedication, commitment in being our teacher and mentor in Sunday School.

Every one of us, are anticipating coming of next Sunday, and participating in Sunday School, for our spiritual and educational growth. It is also in Sunday School that we learn to speak and to discuss important issues. We were blessed and inspired with the topics that we’re studying every Sunday.

Our Baptist Men organization were led by our officers, Ramonito Buenafe, President; Vicente Quilino, Vice President; Alex Artajo, Secretary, Engr. Rollin Deocampo, Treasurer. Every First Sunday of the month, Rev. Alberto Valdez, led the Sunday School together with the different Church organizations. There we discussed quite different and important issue. Rev.Valdez encourages every one to participate in the discussions. If no one asks questions, Rev. Valdez asked the need questions to ask.

We also have our Cell Groups meetings, where sharing of testimonies and discussions were made. There were 4 Cell Groups at Lifegate Church. Cell Group 1 held their fellowship every Saturday. Cell Group 2 have their meetings every 3rd Saturdays of the month. Cell Group No. 3, meets every 3rd Sunday of the month. And Cell Group No. 4 meet’s every 4th Saturday of the month. Often, the Cell Groups have lunch among themselves during their meetings.

Every Friday at 6:00 PM in the evening, we have our Baptist Men’s Fellowship. It is a day that each of us are looking forward with eager anticipation. We often arrived at the house of the Fellowship host at 5:45 PM. We were provided with coffee and bread or native delicacies while having conversation. Often, we start our meeting at 6:00 PM sharp.

I joined the Baptist Men Fellowsip because I want to learn the dynamics of the groups learning processes. The Baptist Men of Lifegate Church - Leganes, has a unique and wonderful story of faith and service to God. I don’t know if there are pastors like me, who after they retire, were joining the fellowship of Baptist Men in their churches. Some Pastors only stay at home and do their household chores. It’s difficult to have continued fellowship with other pastors after retirement. It will be best for Pastor, after retirement to join the Baptist Men fellowship, for strength and nourishment of the spiritual and educational lives.

Our Baptist Mens fellowhip every Friday evening is a wonderful fellowship ever. At the start of every week, we are looking forward to the coming of Friday evenings. We start the fellowship with snacks, courtesy of the host’s family. The leader for the day fellowship was assigned ahead of time, so that all will be ready before the start of the meeting. The Speaker, for the fellowship is always the host Baptist Man, unless he asked somebody to be the speaker in his behalf. He also voluntarily prepare dinner for us, after the fellowship.

I observed that the fellowship Speaker, prepares his message in advance. He used most of the days in the week to study, prepare and construct his message. Hosting the Baptist Men’s fellowship is a great way to learn. The host was forced to study, do research, to share God’s message for us. It will helped him to nourished the Word of God for his growth.

We usually brought with us the Hiligaynon Hymnal every fellowship. We sang a hymn or two. It is followed by a prayer, led by an assigned leader. Then we share our testimonies – sharing why we are thankful to God for the week. What they Lord has provided us and our family during the week. We thank God for our lives, our jobs, our health. Even our songs. We attentively listen to the person who is sharing his testimony of God’s goodness. It’s a wonderful opportunity for each of us, because it gives us strength and courage. After the sharing, the fellowship Speaker share God’s message for us. Most often, about 15 minutes of reflections on God”s words.

We stood together and prepare to pray. We were remined of what and who to pray. We were asked to pray for each assigned family. We pray for our sick brothers and sisters. We prayed for the children that have some sickness. We prayed for our children. Each were given the tasked to pray for our fellow sick brothers and sisters. We pray for the olds and the aged. We went on the list of sick brothers and sisters. We look for the sick Those who were not able to attend worship.

Then, we joined hands. We sang prayer songs, like “ I Cast All My Cares Upon You” or “I Know the Lord Will Answer All My Prayers”. Then, we silently prayed for those we were assigned to pray. We prayed for the person and the family on our left. Somebody was assigned to close our fellowship, and prayed for all of us. We clasped each others hand. We shaked hands of each other.

Then, we went on our Friday Fellowship Dinner. We have continued conversations. And fellowship drinks, cokes, some home made drinks, and mints.

The Baptist Men of Lifegate Church is reaching out. We have started a fellowship with the Baptist Men of Nabitasan Baptist Church. A joint fellowship is held some Thursday afternoon with Nabitasan Baptist Men. And Nabitasan joins Lifegate Church every every Friday at 6:00 PM. We join together in fellowship, with songs, Bible Study, sharing, testimonies, prayer and fellowship dinner.

We reached out further. The President of Lifegate Church Baptist Men, Mr. Arnel Sipe was elected President of the Inner Iloilo Circuit of Baptist Men Fellowship comprising churches in Iloilo City, Ito Baptist Church and Ito Grace Baptist Church in Cabatuan; Consolacion Baptist Church in San Miguel; Cadagmayan Baptist Church and Sta. Barbara Baptist Church in Sta. Barbara; Amparo Baptist Church, Pagsanga-an Baptist Church and Pavia Baptist Church in Pavia;

Lifegate Church, Nabitasan Baptist Church and Cari-Mayor Baptist Church in Leganes and Zarraga Evangelical Church and Green Vale Baptist Church in Zarraga. A general assembly of the said organization is held, quarterly every year. Here Mr. Arnel Sipe, with the circuit officers, looks for ways to strengthen the the Baptist Men of Inner Circuit Conference.

And most recently, Engr. Rollin Deocampo, a Deacon and Treasurer of Lifegate Church-Leganes, and former Vice President of the Iloilo Baptist Men Organization (IBMO), was elected President of the said organization. Lifegate Church, with Engr. Rollin Deocamp, is now reaching out to the whole of Iloilo Baptist Men for joint efforts for strength and service in the Lord’s works.

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