CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CHURCHES (CFC)

Kabankalan, Negros Occidental, Philippines

Background Information

Founded in 1907, Kabankalan was named after the bangkal tree (nauclea orientalis, otherwise known as Leichhardt pine or Yellow Cheesewood) that abounds in the area. It was officially granted component city status in 1997 and has a population of 149,769 people (during the 2000 census), occupying 697.355 km²which is about the size of Singapore. With an impressive City Hall to symbolize its progress, Kabankalan City has been steadily growing in aspects of economy, education, industries, transportation and local governance.

Kabankalan lies 90 km south of Bacolod, the provincial capital of Negros Occidental (50 minutes from Manila and 30 minutes from Cebu by air). The hour’s drive from Bacolod airport takes one through large expanses of rice fields and sugarcane plantations. A further half-hour drive takes us to CFC’s mother church located at the village of Paglaum.

Update

In the space of just over a year since our (Dr. Sos and Ricky Uy) first visit in July 2009, God’s faithfulness is gloriously evident in the vibrancy of the worshipful community and its hunger for the Lord.

Since beginning his ministry with 5 people in his home, Ps Sammy Pacleb has planted more than 28 congregations and continues to break new ground for the Kingdom of Heaven while Ps Ferdinand Balongis (who has brought the worship team to a new level) pastors the home church.

On this occasion of our visit in November 2010, Sunday school teachers from 28 daughter churches including many who came down from the mountains attended workshops over a period of three days.

This was the first such training for these teachers. Reference and study materials distributed to them will serve to guide and inspire them with fresh ideas in their instruction of the children.

All materials are being translated into the local language.

We visited the CFC church at Aturgar, nestled in a low mountain range. More than 100 children were waiting for us but due to recent rain, our vehicle nevertheless got stuck in a muddy patch on the winding route up the slopes. Fortunately we were already near, and many youth from the church came and helped to extricate us. All this was soon forgotten as the children blessed us with a wonderful worship service!

The rapid growth of the outreach ministries spearheaded by Ps Sammy have brought new challenges. Typically when a head or elder accepts Christ as Lord and Savior, the village or community will follow suit and they will expect the head or elder to continue to lead them in their newfound spiritual life. Many of these new leaders (and new converts) have dedicated their lives to following Jesus and are undergoing intensive theological study, discipleship and training. They will typically come down from the mountains to Paglaum early in the week for this, and then go back in time for their Sunday services each week. Some of them are more than a day’s journey away. This requires overnight lodging but the church building has insufficient room for accommodation.

We held meetings with Ps Sammy and a local contractor for renovation work on the Paglaum premises to relocate a water tower and the cooking area at the back of the building and to provide space for a study area for which the funds have been generously provided through contributors “LOGOS Fundation” Slovenia, via Sos Ministries. A member of our group also helped to supply a portable generator capable of running basic equipment such as computer/sound gear to support the field ministry in the mountains.

Meanwhile we continue to join with Ps Sammy and Wennelyn and the church in prayer for a purpose-built facility for the Bible school, to be located in Kabankalan city itself, which would be more conveniently accessible not only by the church’s own students but those from other churches as well. Moreover, occasional visiting lecturers/speakers could also be accommodated there. The funds needed to be raised will amount to US$35,000 for the development cost and US$42,000 for the land.

Rice Field at Cauayan

We visited this project near Kabankalan started when Dr Stefan Sos was there in July. Since then more than 60% of the purchase price has been paid up, leaving a balance to be raised of US$6,500. The harvesting of the current crop has just been completed. Prior to this, there had been one crop planted by the previous tenant, that was harvested by Ps Sammy. Then earlier this year the seedlings planted by Sammy’s people all died in the severe drought resulting in a total loss. So this Christmas harvest will be the first real crop planted and reaped by them. We arranged to provide condiments for the 28 churches to come together in praise and thanksgiving for this, the first real fruit of their field, with a rice-porridge harvest celebration dinner. This crop is sufficient for a net yield of four months’ supply for the Bible school. Such is the faithfulness of God our provider.

Cow Project

The pastors all have to work in the fields for their livelihood (CFC’s typical weekly offering averages around US$10). Many pastors earn up to US$30 per month. Ps. Sammy wanted to raise funds to buy a few good cows. Starting with the poorest pastor, each would be given one cow that they must agree not to sell. Over the course of a year, at a small fee paid to a sire, a baby cow would be produced, which would belong to the pastor (this one he can keep or sell). The mother cow then is passed onto the next pastor in line and so on.

Since they live in the mountains covered with grass for the cows to graze upon, there is no cost to feed them. A good cow costs US$350. We have started this project going with five cows so far.

Cebu Ministry

We met with Ps Shamgar (Sam) Cosipong who came to Kabankalan with Ps Edwin Casido. Since Dr Stefan Sos was there in July, services have been running at Rizwood Tower CFC, Cebu City every Sunday. Again, we praise the Lord for providing a year’s rental for this facility.

Recently Ps Shamgar has been doing outreach in Talisay City and will begin activity at Lapu Lapu early in 2011.

Any enquiries concerning support for the above projects may be directed to Ricky & Janice Uy our SE Asia coordinators at digital.lynx@hyperbit.net.

Ricky & Janice Uy

November 2010