* Delegation #5 - Attending Churches in Manila

After their visit to Negros Occidental from Monday through Wednesday of last week, the delegates had opportunity to visit most of the churches in which we are working in the Metro Manila area.  The first was a visit on Thursday evening to Provident Christian Church in Marikina.  This is where we hold a Reformed doctrine class each week, with Rev. Kleyn leading a detailed study of the Essentials of Reformed Doctrine.

 

Provident Christian Church on Thursday Night

 

Elder Ron Brands gives greetings from Doon and the FMC

 

Fellowship and Pictures

 

 

More Chatting

 

And then ....... Rev. Kleyn ate his very first Balut!

(For the rest of us, watching it was all that we could handle.) 

On Sunday morning, the delegates attended two different churches.  While Gene & Karen Van Den Top accompanied the Smits to Maranatha PRC in Valenzuela, Ron & Sandy Brands went along with the Kleyns to Provident Christian Church.

 

Greeting each other on Sunday morning

 

The Congregation gathered for Worship

Group Picture of PCC

After the class on the Heidelberg Catechism, followed by the worship service, a delicious lunch was served.  (No Balut, though!)

 

Plenty Food for Everyone

 

A Beautiful Day to eat Outdoors

(Especially compared to the weather the delegates had left behind in the Midwest)

 

Chatting together after Lunch

The plan for Sunday afternoon involved driving to Maranatha PRC to pick up Gene and Karen Van Den Top, and then heading to the Berean PRC for their 2nd worship service (4:00 pm).

 

Outside Maranatha PRC in Valenzuela

Smits, Van Den Tops, Brands, Kleyns, Rev. Leovy & Zeny Trinidad, Elder Alvin Castillo, Deacon Johnny Madiem

 

After a brief visit at Maranatha PRC in Valenzuela, we headed to the Berean PRC in Cubao.

 

Getting ready for Worship in the Berean PRC

 

Elders Rod Bongat, Gene Van Den Top, Sonny Umali, and Bien Montoya (from Provident Christian Church)

 

 Visiting with Elder Eric Mescallado, and Rev. V. Ibe

On Monday morning, the two men attended the 7M pastors' training classes.  These are held twice each month.  This time, the pastors met in the building of the First Reformed Church of Bulacan.  Classes were from 9:30 until noon, and were followed again by a delicious spread of Filipino food.

 

Rev. Kleyn teaching Dogmatics (Eschatology)

 

Rev. Smit teaching Exegesis

 

Food and Fellowship

We appreciated very much the willingness of the men (and their wives) to undertake a lot of travel in order to meet and get to know the many saints among whom we are working.  As the work has expanded over the past few years, the visiting delegations find themselves busier in order to visit all the groups.  We trust the visit by the recent delegates helped give them a good sense of and clearer insight into the work the Lord has given us the privilege to do here in the Philippines.  Thanks, Gene & Karen and Ron & Sandy, for your presence and encouragement to us and the saints here.