RGC LAUR - ROCK GARDEN COMMUNITY UPDATE & MINISTRY REPORT OF JOVENMARLO A. IMPERIO

RGC LAUR - ROCK GARDEN COMMUNITY UPDATE
AND MINISTRY REPORT OF JOVENMARLO A. IMPERIO
https://rgclaur.blogspot.com 

 

Thanks to Pastor Victor Flauta, Sr. and Sister Ruby Tactay for sponsoring my miistry in Laur, Nueva Ecija.

February 28, 2020 - Pastor Victor Flauta, Sr. invited me to come to Laur, Nueva Ecija to help revive The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sitio Pantoc, Barangay San Isidro, Laur Nueva Ecija.

The church was literally inactive. Though not totally abandoned,  the church building was unkempt. The surrounding is covered by grass and wild weeds but a family still meet for worship each Sabbath.

Our ministry started by way of a Ten-day Season of Prayer at the mother church in Laur, Nueva Ecija. Then we started visiting the brethren that are close to the vicinity of Sitio Pantoc, Barangay San Isidro. Soon I had a list of ten prospective sites to open a ministry for Children. I made a proposal to organize a Vigilant Missionary Society to facilitate the formation of Children’s Bible Schools but my proposal was turned down - apparently the reason was the Church have no mature leadership that can be trusted to form a new organization. Though I was not told to abandon my proposed project, I was asked to focus in Sitio Pantoc to make sure that a group will be activated as soon as possible for a church to be organized.

                                   
                                  The church at the background before it was renovated.
                At the foreground is a support group with Pr. Victor Flauta, Sr. and his wife.

So I ventured in the formation of RGC LAUR - Rock Garden Community of Seventh-day Adventists in the vicinity of Sitio Pantoc. I asked the district Pastor if its possible for us to call the place Rock Garden Church of Seventh-day Adventists. His reply was positive on condition that there is really a Rock Garden in the place. As a result, I began exploring the possibility of organizing Rock Garden Communities in other municipalities as a ministry project of the volunteer organizing teams and local action units of H4J - The Homes for Jesus Network of Global Frontiers Institute coordinated by a team of literature evangelists and publishing ministry leaders involved in the formation of TEAM7K LUZON - Alliance of 7000 prayer band members and ministry partners of POAGFI ONLINE - The Philippine Outdoor Academy of Global Frontiers Institute.

I wanted to inform my sponsors, Pastor Victor Flauta, Sr. And Sis. Ruby Tactay about my personal ministry project. So, I introduced myself in the weekly schedule of activities I submitted that I am Founding Director of Global Frontiers Institute - Center for Excellence in Education and Community Development. I also mentioned that I am Founder/Owner of SLA ONLINE - The Streams of Light Academy of Global Frontiers Institute, POAGFI ONLINE - The Philippine Outdoor Academy of Global Frontiers Institute and ECS300 OPEN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM - The organization of accredited schools, colleges, and universities network of Global Frontiers Institute for the purpose of developing resources for a better world for children and facilitating the online formation of academic peer groups, professional associations, and community organizations for growing fruitful disciples to the glory of God. 

An emergency meeting of the local church board of Seventh-day Adventist in Laur was called inviting me to answer questions about my ministry. Apparently, my ministry was misunderstood as a "Business" that is "alien" to the organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and that as soon as possible, I should vacate occupancy of the pastoral house of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sitio Pantoc, Barangay San Isidro, and that my ministry as a "sponsored" lay-worker of the church should be terminated as soon as possible. Thank God. He said: “Fear not for I am with thee”.

I was given one month to look for a place to move. By God's providence , by the end of the month of September we found a place and an opportunity with all the provisions we need to rent a house at the town proper of Laur

I thank God for the experience I had in Sitio Pantoc, Barangay San Isidro, Laur, Nueva Ecija. At least I have learned that a personal ministry of good intentions can be misunderstood. The present culture surrounding our church in Laur, Nueva Ecija is one that is not ready for innovations in doing the Lord's work.

Thanks to the Holy Spirit for enlightenment in overcoming problems like this through the pen of inspiration by Ellen G. White about inventing new ways of becoming acquainted with the people: new plans, new methods, new ways and means in doing missionary work:

"Invent some way of becoming acquainted with the people.... If you will work with wisdom, with heart and soul interest, and with earnest prayer to your heavenly Father, you will find access to souls.... {UL 171.6}

As of now this is the status of the work in Sitio Pantoc, Barangay San Isidro, Laur Nueva Ecija:

Sites for the activation of RGC LAUR Centers of Influence (COI) for Integrated Evangelism Lifestyle (IEL): (4) Namely: Barangay San Isidro, Barangay Canantong, Barangay Sagana, and Barangay Nauzon.

Neighborhood Bible Schools being activated in Barangay San Isidro: 10 (ten) sites namely:

NBS1 - Pantoc 1: Bro Tomo Mercado's Compound and Neighbors

NBS2 - Pantoc 2: Sis. Maja Mercado and Company

NBS3 - Pantoc 3: Bro. Edmar's place with Remelyn and Company

NBS4 - Pantoc 4: Sis. Cely, Lydia, Rex, and Val's Neighborhood

NBS5 - Centro 1: Raiza Gaco and Company

NBS6 - Centro 2: Sardillo's Compound and Neighbors

NBS7 - Centro 3: Wowie's place ko m and neighbors

NBS8  - Centro 4: Edgar Gaco's Place and Neighbors

NBS9 -  Panaulo 1 - Sis. Pacing's Place and Neighborhood

NBS10 - Panaulo 2 - Emily Santos' Place and Neighbors

 

BIBLE STUDY GROUPS (BSG) | No. of Students | No. of Baptismal Candidates as of Sept 30, 2020

BSG1 - Maja and Company - 7 |  1

BSG2 - Remelyn and Company -   5 |  0

BSG3 - Raiza and Company -  7  |   2

BSG4 - Mona and Company  -  16  -  3

TOTAL NUMBER OF BAPTISMAL CANDIDATES FOR OCTOBER 3, 2020 = 6

 

NUMBER OF GROUPS BEING PREPARED FOR NIGHTLY MEETINGS = 2

October 5 - 15, 2020 - Sardillo's Compound and Neighbors

October 26 - Nov. 5, 2020 - Edgar Gaco's Place and Neighbors

I am looking forward to a time when the leadership in the local church at Laur have matured to a point where personal initiatives will be encouraged, new plans and new ways and means are supported and the Holy Spirit is allowed by everyone in the church to enable him/her to innovate and invent new methods of reaching the heart of the people - where no evil surmising or doubt is cast against any good intention to reach the unreached souls for God's kingdom. Thank God, He said: "My grace is sufficient for you"

Link to a facebook video of one of our visits 

Sincerely yours,

 

JOVENMARLO A. IMPERIO