It was an unassuming building beside a rough road that runs and rolls over a rugged terrain. The walls were made of kalakat, the pews of uneven wood slabs. There were no fancy windows, nor was there an utra-modern sound system.
Yet, within Pangian Church one finds a sense of peace and reverence that is too often absent in big-city churches.
Perhaps it was in the way one hears only the speaker on the pulpit and not much else, or in the way one is supposed to leave his shoes outside the door, or even in the modesty of the old electric guitar and the slightly different way the vernacular hymns were sung.
Then again, perhaps it was all of these blended into the way the local brethren showed their hunger and eagerness for eternal truths we have come to share with them.
We first witnessed their eagerness and diligence two months ago in the neighboring locality of Bito. We have since committed ourselves to visiting them in their own church, meeting their needs wherever possible, and sharing precious truths we ourselves continue to study.
The brethren have started a Bible Markings Program where the young and the old study the Bible together. During our visit, ten Bibles were turned over to the church officers for distribution to needing members.
The Sabbath services were filled with messages of present truth and encouragement shared by Elder Gil Tagolgol, Elder Paquito Esperanza, Bro. Anthony Larita, and Sis. Wylie Ann Mariano. They requested for a lecture on health, and we were more than happy to oblige with Sis. Gladys talking about the need for keeping the body clean and Sis. Risha Catubigan sharing about our body's need for rest in order to rid it of toxins. Sis. Jowena Saliling also shared experiences from her youth that have led her to her present devotion to the Lord.
Music made the worship services even more meaningful as the brethren of Royal Valley and of Pangian took turns sharing the gift of song in praise of God and in encouragement of one another.
Although new to the message of reformation, the brethren of Pangian have begun to change old ways of observing the Sabbath and maintaining health.
What the church needs now are more resources, access to more information, books and other learning materials - tools that will help them improve on the truths we have shared with them.
We stayed one more night in Pangian, comfortable in the warm hospitality of Bro. and Sis. Tanyo and their grandchildren. These grandchildren were youngsters who, time and again, have made themselves available for service in their little church, and who have expressed their eagerness in learning more and more about present truth.
In the little church of Pangian, we are once again reminded that the size of a church is not as much the breadth or length of a building as it is the genuine eagerness for righteousness possessed by its members.
Yet, within Pangian Church one finds a sense of peace and reverence that is too often absent in big-city churches.
Perhaps it was in the way one hears only the speaker on the pulpit and not much else, or in the way one is supposed to leave his shoes outside the door, or even in the modesty of the old electric guitar and the slightly different way the vernacular hymns were sung.
Then again, perhaps it was all of these blended into the way the local brethren showed their hunger and eagerness for eternal truths we have come to share with them.
We first witnessed their eagerness and diligence two months ago in the neighboring locality of Bito. We have since committed ourselves to visiting them in their own church, meeting their needs wherever possible, and sharing precious truths we ourselves continue to study.
The brethren have started a Bible Markings Program where the young and the old study the Bible together. During our visit, ten Bibles were turned over to the church officers for distribution to needing members.
The Sabbath services were filled with messages of present truth and encouragement shared by Elder Gil Tagolgol, Elder Paquito Esperanza, Bro. Anthony Larita, and Sis. Wylie Ann Mariano. They requested for a lecture on health, and we were more than happy to oblige with Sis. Gladys talking about the need for keeping the body clean and Sis. Risha Catubigan sharing about our body's need for rest in order to rid it of toxins. Sis. Jowena Saliling also shared experiences from her youth that have led her to her present devotion to the Lord.
Music made the worship services even more meaningful as the brethren of Royal Valley and of Pangian took turns sharing the gift of song in praise of God and in encouragement of one another.
Although new to the message of reformation, the brethren of Pangian have begun to change old ways of observing the Sabbath and maintaining health.
What the church needs now are more resources, access to more information, books and other learning materials - tools that will help them improve on the truths we have shared with them.
We stayed one more night in Pangian, comfortable in the warm hospitality of Bro. and Sis. Tanyo and their grandchildren. These grandchildren were youngsters who, time and again, have made themselves available for service in their little church, and who have expressed their eagerness in learning more and more about present truth.
In the little church of Pangian, we are once again reminded that the size of a church is not as much the breadth or length of a building as it is the genuine eagerness for righteousness possessed by its members.
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