Gappal Church Despedida

As Alberta and I thought back to our move into Gappal, we realized that our January 31, 2010 visit to Gappal church was just 1 day short of 20 years from the date we moved into the barrio and started sharing the gospel there. A lot of good things have happened since then. A number of members shared testimonies of how God had blessed them since hearing the gospel. Rudy Agcaoili testified that he had tried many religions previous to Bethany entrance into their village. Through the preaching and teaching of the gospel he has now found the assurance of faith. His daughter Rhoda also testified how she found faith through her involvement in the youth group that was started. Rhoda married Bennie Canaoay who was not yet a Christian but God had plans for Bennie. He became an overseas contract worker in a South Korean factory and experienced the gospel witness again there. God worked in his heart and he received Christ as his Savior there in Korea. Alberta remembers that time well (about 5 years ago) when an excited Bennie called her on her cell phone from Korea to tell her the good news that he was now a follower of Jesus Christ. Bennie thanked us for bringing the gospel to Gappal and sharing with his father and mother in law and his wife. He made a point of challenging the youth of the church to learn the Word of God. He said "I didn't know even one verse of the Bible before going to Korea and finding the Lord". Now his life verse is II Cor. 5:17 - "If any man be in Christ he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold all things are new". When Bennie was finished sharing his testimony I felt like I could have closed with prayer, so complete and powerful were his words. We thank God for the work of the Spirit preserving and growing His church in Gappal.

Pray for us as we prepare to return to the US in June in anticipation of studies at Wheaton in the fall.

Serving Christ With You, Steve & Alberta
ps A despedida is a going away celebration