Rev Dr Jose Lagapa

Thank the Lord for this great blessing. We gather for the first Philippines Missions Camp and Conference on November 20-22, 2024. It is by His grace and mercy that Christ BPC’s Church Camp grew into something bigger. May this bring even more glory to His Name. Our God has made this gathering possible, turning what seemed impossible into a reality through His provisions.

There are three blessings from the Lord as this turns into a Missions Conference instead of being just a Church Camp. With churches as mission stations, the Lord is shaping our hearts and minds to keep building these stations into churches. Churches should not be the end of missions. They must serve as a way to carry on the work of missions.

The first blessing I recognize is God’s reminder that our work is not done yet. It is an unfinished commission. To plant a church and build its walls is not the end of our task but merely the start of something greater. We must reach out, establish missions, and carry the work further. When Paul set out on his first journey, he did not simply visit the places he preached. He returned to them, again and again, to strengthen what had begun, “confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that (they) … must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). After the first missionary journey, Paul later “said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.” (Acts 15:36). After the second missionary journey, Paul “after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples” (Acts 18:23). The book of Acts ended with these words: “Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him” (Acts 28:31).

Second, this gathering is not merely for missions. It is also for those who carry the mission: the missionaries. Every Christian is called to teach the Word. We are all missionaries. Each of us is meant to bring the message of Christ to others. Every believer knows that without someone telling them the gospel, they would still be lost by now. But someone stepped forward, moved by the love of Christ, and passed on the words of God. Our founding Pastor, the Rev Timothy Tow, wrote, “The supreme motive of missions is the love of Christ which compels us (2 Corinthians 5:14). If then there is not enough of the love of Christ in us so that we take our place in the vast missionary programme as spelt out in the Great Commission which Christ has given to His church in Matthew 28:18-20, then it is possible that we do not know what it means to be saved in the first place—our supposed faith is a spurious one.” In these last days “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24:12). In churches, many face the enemy’s assault. Some grow weary, their faith wavering. But let us remember the love of the Lord Jesus Christ, a love that
strengthens us to endure as His missionaries.

The third blessing (though I believe there are still many more) is not merely about the work and the workers of missions but the very field itself. Here, at this Camp and Conference, we gather as part of God’s harvest. We are all saved by grace through faith in Christ. The Apostle Paul showed us the way. He followed his Master, Jesus, without favoring one tribe or tongue over another. He understood that missions are for all people. There is no place for bias based on country or culture. He humbled himself, spoke with the common folk, and engaged the learned. In every chance he found, he shared the gospel, knowing it held the power for salvation. You and I are part of this mission. There are still vast fields waiting for us to reach them.

New Church Building at Trinidad

The inauguration/dedication service of the new church building of Trinidad Bible-Presbyterian Church in Bohol, Philippines was held on Saturday, November 23, 2024. We thank the Lord for using True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church, Singapore, to provide most of the funds.

TESTIMONY FROM KOREA

Pr Park Jung Il

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)

Greetings from Korea to Dr Jeffrey Khoo and the beloved members of True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church (TLBPC). As we wait for the final month of this year, I reflect on the grace that God has poured upon me and our church throughout 2024. This year, our church chose Joshua 1:8 as our theme verse, setting our direction to boldly challenge ourselves in faith and experience the living God in all aspects of our lives.

Experiencing God’s Comfort and Love through My Wife’s Cancer Relapse

My wife and I were invited to the Church Camp of TLBPC in 2024. However, in May, my wife’s cancer was found to have relapsed which prevented us from attending the camp. I was deeply shaken and overwhelmed by this news. However, prayers, comfort, and love from TLBPC and believers around the world were a great source of strength for us.

God continued to pour His grace upon us during this trial. I received the joyful news from a recent check-up that the cancer is no longer visible on the scan, which was a miraculous result through prayer. While my wife still receives chemotherapy every three weeks, we are incredibly thankful and relieved to be out of a major crisis.

Learning Humility through
Serving Two Souls

This year, God sent two new members to our church. These individuals are still in the early stages of their faith journey, and naturally, they were inexperienced and struggled in various areas. At times, they were stubborn, and at other times, they acted contrary to God’s will.

As their shepherd, I felt the responsibility to guide them correctly. However, I also realised my own pride and reluctance to humble myself. I was tempted to let them go, thinking they would not listen to my words. Yet, God fought for them in ways I couldn’t. He humbled their proud hearts, corrected their misguided paths, and led them back to righteousness. Through this, I learned to trust that God is truly alive and working in the hearts of all believers.

Experiencing God’s Provision through Church and House Construction

This year, God showed His amazing provision for both our church and our home.

First, our church underwent renovation. The once old and shabby sanctuary has been transformed into a beautiful space, and it fills our hearts with joy every time we gather to worship. We are grateful for the new space to share God’s presence with others.

Additionally, we were blessed to build a new house close to the church. The house has become a place where our family can focus more on ministry and service. It also provided a place for my wife to recover her health. Most importantly, the house includes a spacious area where we can fellowship with church members and host guests. We now have a place where we can break bread together and engage in meaningful conversations with visitors. This has been a wonderful blessing for both our church and our home life.

Throughout the building process, many unexpected challenges arose, but every time we prayed, God provided solutions. Through this experience, I saw that God, in His perfect timing, allowed us to build a house for His glory, and I am deeply thankful.

Understanding God’s Purpose through Joshua 1:8 and
Resolving for the New Year

While cleaning our new house, I came to understand more deeply why God gave us the verse Joshua 1:8. Just as God led Joshua and the Israelites in their conquest of Canaan, He has led us into spiritual battles this year. At times, fighting the battle of faith seems difficult, but God has been with us every step of the way, strengthening our faith and granting us victory.

After the battles, I have come to trust more fully in God’s living presence and His work in our lives. This is why He leads us into spiritual battles — to deepen our trust in His reality and power.

As we approach the new year, I commit myself and our church to serving God’s work even more diligently. I will continue to fight the spiritual battles entrusted to me with all my might, so that those who have supported us from afar may find joy in seeing God’s work in our ministry.

Words of Gratitude

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Pastor Dr Jeffrey Khoo and the members of TLBPC who have been praying, encouraging, and showing love to me and our church. In the new year, I pray that we may continue to meditate on God’s Word and live victorious lives in faith. [Email Nov 7, 2024]