First Water Baptism in 2012

Pastor Rosbert Cortez and Pastor Raffy Reyes with Nanay Vicky of the Intramuros branch.

Pastor Bien Manglo, volunteer pastor.

Children, former street-dwelling teenaged boys, an entire family, and a gray-haired grandmother were among the 74 believers who made a public profession of their faith in Christ through water baptism during the first baptism service organized this year by CCT’s church planting ministry. 

Most of the baptism candidates are from CCT community churches in Commonwealth, Quezon City; Cainta and Antipolo, Rizal; Binan, Laguna; Intramuros, Manila; and General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite.  Seven are former street-dwelling teenagers who are now Alternative Learning System students at the Training and Development Institute in Magdalena, Laguna. More than two dozen are staff in CCT’s various programs. 

A micro entrepreneur from Antipolo City gave the following testimony:

Good morning.  I am Sis. Leve N. Igtic.  I am married and have an eight-year old son.  I have been a member of the CCT Credit Cooperative for six years.  I thank the Lord for how He used the cooperative to show me the way of salvation. I used to pray the rosary at a Catholic church near where I live.  I used to be very devoted to graven images; I even bought a Sto. Nino image at the church in Quiapo.

A cooperative worker once offered to lead a Bible study in my home but I refused. “I will die without leaving this religion,” I said.  I thought born-again Christians belonged to a cult because they don’t worship images.  I praise God that despite my initial reaction He opened my mind to the truth.  I know God loves me.   

Isaiah 44 is a portion of Scripture important to me.  The Lord used it to show me how futile and foolish it is to worship idols -- anyone can take a piece of wood, use half of it as firewood and the rest to make into an idol that he bows down to.

 My husband and I used to quarrel whenever I would read the Bible to him.  I thank God that my husband has also come to the Lord.

The place where we hold Bible studies used to be a part of my junkshop. It had no electricity; we had to use flashlights to read the Bible.  With God’s blessing the place has steadily improved.  Our church has been meeting for six months there now.  We hold a Bible study on Wednesdays, a fellowship meeting on Thursdays, child evangelism on Fridays, youth fellowship on Saturdays, and a worship service on Sundays.  We are able to help some missionaries, and we will soon start outreach Bible studies in two places. 

I asked Jesus into my heart on December 8. Now and in the future I will trust in him alone.

The baptismal service was held on February 4 at the residence of Stephen and  Helen Roxas in Makati.   

Baptism candidates from Cainta, Rizal with Pastor Joel Indico, extreme right,
and Jennifer Contreras, team servant for the Cainta branch 

Pastor Bien Manglo (back row, right) with baptism candidates from Binan, Laguna. 

Brother Fortune Bayucan (left),with Jackie Montano and Analyn Cantabaco
and baptism candidates from General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite.

 Pastor Dave Campanero, chaplain of the CCT Training and Development Institute
in Magdalena, Laguna  with Alternative Learning System students. 

Pastor Ruel Castino (right) with staff and baptism candidates from Taguig City.

Pastor Rosbert, Alvin Rescober (in blue jeans) and baptism candidates from San Andres, Manila. 

Noy Vista, (back row, right) Intramuros community center coordinator,
with Intramuros staff and baptism candidates.

Leve N. Igtic of Antipolo shares how God changed
her from a devout worshiper of graven images
to a Bible-believing Christian.

Church Planting Ministry Holds Third Baptismal Service

Candidates for baptism (in baptismal gowns) with staff of CCT's church planting ministry.  

Sixty-nine believers  made a public profession of their faith in Jesus Christ and repentance from sin when they were baptized during the third baptismal service held this year by CCT's church planting ministry.

The believers are from CCT community churches in Taguig City;  Cabrera and Malibay, Pasay City; San Andres, Manila; San Pedro, Laguna; Bagong Silangan and Araneta, Quezon City; GMA, Cavite; and Antipolo City.

The service was held at the home of CCT board member Stephen Roxas in Makati on November 5, 2011. A total of 180 persons have been baptized by CCT's pastors this year.

Pastor Joel Indico speaks about the
significance of baptism...

...and prays for the believers
about to be baptized. 

CCT staff sing at the poolside during the actual
baptism.

Photos and reportage: Ciara Tan

2nd Batch Baptismal Service

Praise the Lord for 37 new believers from various branches of the Center for Community Transformation who identified themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ by following His command to be baptized, on July 15, 2011.

Pastor Jun Gonzaga welcomes all who
gathered for the service, held at the home
of Board members Stephen and Helen Roxas
in Makati.

Pastor Joel Indico speaks on what baptism
symbolizes: obedience to Christ's command,
ceasing from sin, and identification with
Christ's death, resurrection and return.

CCT staff sing, "Ang buhay ng tao'y nagbabago,
ang puso'y nililinis ni Kristo,
kahit na anong sama't nagkasala,
Ang Panginoon ay babaguhin ka
Kung mananalig sa kanya."

Jocelyn Jabiniao of Quezon City
shares her testimony.

Pastor Rommel Dancel accompanies the singing of
praise and worship songs on the piano.

Baptism candidates from the CCT Bagong Silangan branch
in Quezon City.

Baptism candidates from GMA, Cavite with Fortune
Bayucan, covenant community builder.

Former street dwellers with Kaibigan Ministry staff Ver
Pailona (extreme left) and Arlene Rimando (second from
right).

CCT Pastors, Community Servant-Leaders Attend Hermeneutics Seminar

Twenty-seven staff from different CCT programs and 14 community leaders attended a four-day seminar on  Biblical hermeneutics. The speaker was Pastor Felix Ballon, a California-based Filipino pastor working with the Christian and Missionary Alliance.

Biblical hermeneutics is the theory and methodology of interpreting scriptural texts.  Pastora Cerela Sumido, CCT's spiritual development coordinator, said the objectives of the seminar were to help attendees:

• learn to study the general principles of biblical interpretation
• hone their skills in interpreting the Scriptures
• develop the habit of study and research. 

Leading Children to Jesus

Children of Cabrera, Pasay sing an action song during their VBS graduation ceremony.

Knowing that individuals can be more easily won to the Lord when they hear the Gospel message at a young age, CCT sponsored Vacation Bible School classes in eight locations in Metro Manila during the summer break -- in Cabrera, Pasay City; Taguig; GMA, Cavite; Malibay, Pasay; Araneta, Quezon City; Antipolo City; and Bagong Silangan, Quezon City.  More than 200 children belonging to street dwelling families and community partners heard the gospel story, memorized verses, and learned songs about Jesus.  For these five day classes we used the Jesus: My Saviour and Friend curriculum published by Child Evangelism Fellowship Press.