GOODBYE, Bro. Jimmy!

“God holds our tomorrow.” We don’t know when our time will be. The death of our brother, Jimmy Plaza of Manikling, San Isidro, Davao del Norte, was unexpected. He met an accident and, after two weeks in the ICU, God took him.

For his family, our brother's death is not a loss but a gain. The nightly wake services were turned to a public evangelism crusade and they used the time as an opportunity to share God’s message to the people who attended the services.

Bro. Jimmy Plaza was one of the constant financial supporters for our “Nahisulat Na” Radio Program. Together with his family, he was re-baptized last summer camp meeting (May 2008) by Pastor Patrick Herbert of Tucker-Norcross SDA Church/Gilead Institute of America.

Two weeks before his death, the Royal Valley brethren visited him in the ICU and extended not only financial help but also moral support to the family. His daughter, Iris, initially believed that his condition was improving but finally gave up. Most of the RVSDA brethren, with the elders and family all present, empathized with the family. The brethren went to Manikling (a four-hour travel from Davao City) the day before the burial and took charge of the program.

Even with this event, the RVSDA brethren were happy to witness the faith and the spirit of Bro. Jimmy's wife, Sis. Bebe, and his daughter, Sis. Iris, and how they remained active in missionary work.

PANGIAN CHURCH: SEEKERS OF TRUTH

Our hearts were filled with joy to meet these brethren who are “hungered for righteousness.” All the church members are active and eager to know more of the present truth. The Pangian Church of SDA Conference is not under the mission/conference of SDA but under another conference different from the local church conference. This church is in Malita, Davao del Sur.

The church members are resourceful and diligent in studying the Bible together. They want to learn more of the Spirit of the Prophecy and live the life of our pioneers.

Our meeting with them at Bito Church last May 29-31 was a revival and reformation meeting and they were very happy to learn so much. Sis. Wylie Ann Mariano gave them a set of pocket SOP books and their joy was beyond expression. The Royal Valley SDA Church also promised to give ten Bibles for their Bible Study.

We will meet again for another series of studies this coming August. Let’s pray for these brethren.

(1) Elder Paquito Esperanza as Divine Speaker;(2) Sis. Mariano with the head elder of Pangian Church; (3) the Pangian church members; (4) Elder Leve Catubigan for the Sabbath Reformation; and (5) the Pangian Youth

LOCAL CONFERENCE CHURCH OF SDA INVITES RVSDA

A Camp Meeting of the Local Conference of SDA was held at General Santos City on the last week of May 2009. More or less 300 members of this church conference were present from different parts of Mindanao. The conference, through Ilang Church, invited Sis. Risha and Bro. Leve Catubigan of the Royal Valley SDA Church as their speakers. "Reformation" was the theme of the week-long camp meeting. Some of the conference's member churches are new to this message while others have already accepted the messages and lived by it.

The topics shared during the camp meeting were: "Why Our Work is Not Yet Finished," "Health Message and the Leaders' Responsibility," "The Isaiah 58 Message," "Death Begins in the Colon," "Fecal Analysis," and "Enema."

A positive response was received from the brethren who really accepted the message. Others, however, still struggle to accept these present truth messages.

Bro. Leve and Sis. Risha spent only two days with the meeting and proceeded to Malita, Davao del Sur for another important task.

Pictures: (1) Sis. Risha with the All Church Pastors and Women's Ministry members of Local Conference; (2) Sis. Risha on Isaiah 58 message; and (3) The participants while listening.

MEDICAL MISSIONARY WORK

Royal Valley SDA Church members learn how to do medical missionary work everyday. Hearing one another's experiences encourage us to do this. Every week, we learn new things to share with others. Every Sabbath afternoon, after testimonials (2-3pm), another hour is spent for a medical missionary evangelism class (3-4 pm). Some of the church members, especially those who are engaged in the medical line, are tapped to conduct the health lecture.

"Medical missionary work is the right hand of the gospel. It is necessary to the advancement of the cause of God. As through it mena and women are led to see the importance of right habits of living, the saving power of the truth will be made known. Every city is to be entered by workers trained to do medical missionary work. As the right hand of the third angel's message, God's methods of treating disease will open doors for the entrance in the present truth. Health literature must be circulated in many lands." Testimonies, vol. 7, page 59.

"SAVING THE WORLD THROUGH GOD'S WORD"

For this year, the Publishing Department of the Royal Valley SDA Church scheduled May 10 as Tracts Distribution Day. The church believes that "we are fast approaching the end. The printing and circulation of the books and papers that contain the truth for this time are to be our work." (Testimonies, vol. 9, p.69)

"God will soon do great things for us, if we lie humble and believing at his feet...More than one thousand will soon be converted in one day, most of whom will trace their first conviction to the reading of our publications."Review and Herald, November 10, 1885.

To date, about 25,000 flyers about Sabbath and about Health (GODSPLAN) have been scattered.

"WORKING WITH THE LORD"

This was the theme of our summer camp meeting. The church is engaged in many activities and members need to be founded and guided by the Bible and the Testimonies. The camp meeting was a good avenue to reflect if the work of each member is solidly grounded on the plan of work God entrusted to him or her. More than anything else, the member’s connection with the Lord is most important in sharing God to other people.

The elders gave their messages in connection with the theme, and a workshop was also conducted. Health messages were also part of the meeting. All present were blessed by the talents shared by the Garcia Memorial Church Youth Singers. Other activities, including a medical mission and cooking demonstrations, made the camp meeting not only an inreach but also an outreach program.

Every participant and visitor was blessed by the meeting!