Delivery of Grace to Itogon
by Pastor Abe Bigornia
Being as one body in Christ, any part of the body that is hit by trials is naturally felt by the whole body. GraceDrive Ministries felt the crushing impact of Typhoon Ompong to fellow body of Christ members/believers in the Cordillera Region, particularly Benguet, wherein Itogon was the most devastated. GraceDrive Luzon Team through sister Gissele Palero got in touch with me through messenger expressing her concern about our well being here in Baguio-Benguet, and if there’s anything that GraceDrive Ministries could do to help. After gathering sufficient news, I identified and relayed to sister Gissele that Loacan, Itogon are where mostly we have members of the body of Christ (190 families) who are gravely affected and are in need of help and some in Kabayan, Benguet as well. Such need was then disseminated quickly in the GraceDrive Group Chat and the desire to help became epidemic to the entire GraceDrive organism that spontaneously led to prayers pouring in. The Lord in HIS Great Grace swiftly answered our prayers by providing One Hundred Thousand Pesos(P100,000) through the GraceDrive Ministries. Praise HIM! Praise HIM!
Sister Priscilla Grace L. Pariñal A.K.A. Precy, was one of God’s extending grace as she volunteered to manage the purchase, repacking, and distribution of the relief goods for Itogon. Purchase of goods for relief was done on September 28, 2018, Friday with the help of sister Precy’s husband, brother Joseph. Then on the 30th, Sunday, after worship service at Missionary Church of the Living Christ, repacking transpired that turned out to be a blessed and wonderful work fellowship of MCLC members and some ladies from other churches. A family donated school supplies good for 80 children. Causeway Bay Baptist International Mission Church (CBBIMC), Hongkong , sent Fifty Five Thousand Pesos that Sunday afternoon, so we right away rushed to town to purchase additional relief goods. Pastor Bernie Becbec of Community Baptist Church, Loacan, Itogon sent a final list of 152 church member families as recepients of relief goods. We prepared 175 bags and 25 bags for Kabayan Baptist Church, Kabayan, Benguet. Sunday evening, six Pastors, GraceDrive Luzon Team volunteers from Manila arrived in Baguio and sister Precy warmly accommodated them. October 1, 2018 – Monday morning, relief goods were all loaded in a mini- dump truck then off we went to Loacan, Itogon, Benguet in a six vehicle convoy. After negotiating a narrow, very steep, with sharp curves road, we finally reached Community Baptist Church at Loacan, Itogon wherein many people are already gathered. Sister Precy organized a three station flow of the relief operation-ministry. Counselling per family as the first station, then claiming the relief goods as the second, and snacks/refreshments provided and prepared by some of the Metro Baguio Fundamental Baptist Churches Ladies who joined the relief missions as the third. One of the highlights is in the counselling, wherein we found out that around Fifty Percent of those in the list either were absent or gave way because God brought in many unbelievers and most if not all received the Saving Grace of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! We also Praise and Thank the Lord for the Metro Baguio Baptist Pastors, Men, and Women, who volunteered to minister through counselling and handing out the relief goods. With these, God’s Great Grace was shared spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
“Pastor Abe told me that their initial targets(gracepients of relief goods) are Church members and backslidden brethren of about 152 families. 176 bags of relief goods are prepared. Yet today, the Lord intended 50% of the gracipients to be non-Christian! All of whom heard about their Greatest Need before having the goods.
Doing good to people to point them to the Greatest Good. -This is what HeCares360 is all about. My heart is full. Thanks guys. Thanks to the Greatest!” – Pastor Fred
“It was a blessing. A humbling experience. I’m blessed seeing their smiles that inspite of the pain they experienced they were given hope and light by sharing Jesus and showing an act of kindness.” – Mighty
“To God be the glory. We attended to about 170 families . Christians and none Christians. Tiring but rewarding. Joyful and worth the effort done. Only because of God’s grace and love.” – Precy
To God Be All The Glory!!!