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These are just a few of our
dedicated and faithful pastors. Many of these pastors have worked with us for
years. They receive two dollars a month from our mission as help on their fare
to get to the monthly pastors meeting. We have started an Adopt a Pastor
program, we are trying to raise 25 dollars a month for each pastor. This is less
than a dollar a day. Please pray with us that this endeavor will be completed.
As we obey the call of God on our lives, we count it an
honor and privilege to work together with these pastors. We are striving
together to reach the Philippine Islands with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The
Harvest truly is great with over 80 million people, 7,000 islands, 75 dialects
and languages. Our goal is to send forth laborers from the doors of Faith Bible
Institute with a burden and zeal to work for God! The cults are rampantly
spreading their heresies. May the voice of God compel us to carry the truth to a
lost and dying world. Now is our time and chance. Please don’t waste the
opportunity and responsibility that God has entrusted to YOU.
REACH THIS GENERATION.. .WHATEVER IT TAKES.
Greetings Brethren In Christ.
I am Pastor Bernardo A. Estacio Jr. They call me Pastor
JunJun in short. I am pastoring at Raraburan, one of the Barangay’s of Laoag
City. We have held our services on my mother’s front porch for four years now.
I’ve been pastoring for eight years now. I am also a teacher at our Bible
School., Faith Bible Institute. I was also elected as one of the Board of
Trustees recently, having the position as Treasurer of the organization. Why am
I telling you this? I’m telling you this not because to boast in myself, but
because this is the result of the miracle of God in my life, that I’m one of the
millions that God has changed. Because of Him my life is useful, and meaningful.
He made my life the way He wants it to be. My parents have different religious
backgrounds, my Dad was a Jehovah’s Witness and my Mom was a United Church of
Christ member, but we were sent to a Catholic school. During my early years I
did not understand the importance of having a relationship with God. I did what
ever I wanted. I joined a fraternity when I was in High School. I was very
dedicated to my fraternity and they made me one of their officers, MS No. I -
meaning Master Initiator No. I. I was proud of what I was doing and they taught
us to give importance to our brotherhood. My studies were affected and I had
failures in my subjects. Thus began my personal problems, even worse when my
Father went abroad to Australia and stayed there for a long time. This resulted
in my Mom and Dad separating. Bitterness sprung up in my heart and I was very
cruel to my brothers and sisters, sometimes I would slap them on their face and
kick them wherever I wanted. I even almost killed one of my brothers. They
called me “ the black sheep” of the family. Whenever I was with my friends I
pretended to be happy, but they didn’t know I had a big cut inside my heart that
was causing me to ignite whenever small problems occurred. I was possessed by
the devil. I wanted my soul to get loose but I couldn’t until the moment I
responded with a small prayer and said, “lead me Lord I’ll follow”. At that
moment I felt the power of God inside of me and then signs were coming
confirming God’s leading. One pastor said why don’t you go to Bible School. I
resisted, but God was telling me to go. The school had already started for a
week, but still God was convicting me to go. That’s when I decided to go
praying... Lord, I don’t know how to open a Bible, I don’t know how to find
verses, I don’t know how to pray, but if this is what you have prepared for me,
please help me.” That was my prayer in Bible school, and I learned much about
God. Because of this incredible experience in my life I can say that you and I
are serving a living God. I seen my mother crying, not because of problems I am
causing but because she was looking at her son preaching the goodness of God at
my graduation. I was the Valedictorian of the class of 1996. I am proud to say
that God is the God of miracles, to Him I give ALL the glory, honor, and
praise!! Thank you!
By: Rev. Bernardo Estacio Jr.
Pastor Jun-Jun has three children and is a
very faithful worker in the ministry here. His whole family is a great asset to
the work of God here.
Pastor Jun-Jun’s sister, Fenilyn,
also has a stirring testimony. Fenilyn grew up her whole life an honor student.
This earned her a place at the Philippine Science High School in Manila, where
the elite went. After high school I asked her if she was coming to Bible school.
She just smiled at me. She had been given a scholarship to Mariano Marcos State
University, and felt that Bible school wasn’t her class. However, through her
first year at the university the Lord dealt with her heart to come to Faith
Bible Institute. This was a very difficult step for her, because she was
expected to get an education and help her family financially because they are
poor. However, she chose eternal riches over earthly riches. The day she came to
the school I told Fenilyn that God had her there not just for the education, but
mostly so that he could work on her personally and mold her into the vessel He
desired her to be. Here is a story she shared with us describing what God had
done for her. “There was a father and son sitting in the lobby of a very nice
hotel. They watched in amazement as the wall opened and this older woman walked
in and the wall closed. A few minutes later the wall opened again and a
beautiful young lady came out. The man looked at his son and said, “Go get your
mother!” She said that’s what God has done with her life at Faith Bible
Institute. She came ugly with pride, and God marvelously changed her into a
vessel he could use. She graduated valedictorian of her class. I taught
Fenilyn’s missions class and kept telling them that God had a perfect plan and
place He wanted to use them. God did! She is now working in Samar. The least
evangelized province in the Philippines. This is 30 hours away by bus. This is
her mother’s home area. Fenilyn and her mom have been faithfully working there
pioneering since 2002. They meet in their little house for now, but are praying
for the funds to build a church, ten thousand dollars. They have 10 adults, 30
young people (one is presently attending Faith Bible Institute), five different
Bible Clubs for children, with forty children each. They also hold Home Bible
Studies as part of their outreach in two different villages. Samar is a great
and white harvest field. Please keep Fenilyn and her Mom in your prayers as they
reach those in spiritual darkness.
The Almighty, the Holy Ghost who created the Heavens and the earth, picked mc up
from the miry clay and put me (transferred) on the highway of holiness. He chose
me and made me a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master’s use. I
thank God He changed my life!
I came from a family whose religion was Roman
Catholic; I thought I would be saved because of my own works. I started reading
the Bible when I was 10 years old, but my heart and mind were blind. In those
days of spiritual blindness, in spite of reading my Bible and praying (mostly
like the Catholic ways of praying), my heart was looking and desiring something.
I was dry and empty! I grew up in a very poor family. One day because our
situation was so hard, I prayed that if God would get me out of poverty that I
would serve Him. Our God granted me my request, He sent a minister of the gospel
to our house and he introduced to us the gospel of salvation.
In the beginning I refused to obey what the pastor
shared, but inside of me I was being compelled to obey, until one early morning
I awoke from my sleep and a verse in the Bible flashed into my mind. “Repent ye
therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out, when the time of
refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” I was wondering because I
was not yet familiar with Bible verses. That morning I confessed all my sins to
God and repented and I promised to serve Him. Since then (Jan. 1, 1986) until
now I have that refreshing from the presence of the Lord. Since my life was
renewed by God, I started sharing the words of God to our relatives, and
neighbors in our barangay. I was the first one saved in our family and in our
barangay.
When I was saved, I loved to share the Word of God that
I knew. I loved to pray, read the Bible, attend church services, but still my
heart was looking for something, which I didn’t know and understand. Then I
enrolled at Faith Bible Institute. For the first time I heard about righteous
living, holiness both inward and outward and how to live a modest life. Since
then I have felt satisfaction in my heart!
I finished my 3-year Bible training in March 1990. God immediately sent me to
Cabugao, Ilocos Sur (very far from my family). Day after day I did not cease to
go house to house sharing the Word of God. I was conducting 14 Bible studies
every week. After three years of pioneer work in Cabugao, God gave me another
assignment, teaching at Faith Bible Institute. I continued with the work of the
Lord in Cabugao. Praise God! The Free Gospel Church in Cabugao has two daughter
churches.
I was 17 years old when I surrendered my life to Jesus
and I have served the Lord now for 18 years. Like the testimony of Caleb... the
Lord kept me alive as He said these 85 years...
“and now lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong
this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me, as my strength was then, even
so is my strength now for when both to go out and to come in.” Joshua 14:10,11
I am forever grateful to the Lord, He changed my life
and now He uses me to change the lives of others!
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
Rev. Dominador Viernes, pastor of Cabugao Christian
Center.
It was May 21, 1989, when God spoke to me to go to
Bible School and to prepare for the ministry. I attended a family thanksgiving
service of my former and late Pastor Riven. That is where I head the message of
God preached by Pastor Orlino Daquioag from Isaiah 6:8. “Whom shall I send, and
who will go for us?” I felt like His message to Isaiah, was firmly spoken to me.
I was saved before that time and I know that there were times before, that I
felt something speaking in my heart with a word of “serve.” I understood that it
was God speaking to me.
I remember a time, when I was alone on a hill praying,
near our house, that I just found myself in the presence of God in a unique way.
How sweet was His presence. I was really innocent about the words I was
speaking, but I knew that I was with my God. I was 14 years old at this time.
And through His grace, He used my late Pastor Riven to bring me to salvation and
to develop spiritually in my soul.
My mother was already saved at this time. But my father
was still a drunkard and a smoker, living away from God. It was very hard and
dangerous for me to live right beside non-God fearing people. From my childhood,
I was filled with fears and I was very shy. I had a hard time even facing
people. I was greatly affected by the attitudes of those around me. Many times I
would see fights within our family and even among our neighbors. But. Praise the
Lord, He is very powerful and wonderful. He sa~ ed me and changed me and He also
can change others too. 1 even thank God, for all the unexpected things in my
past. I now understand, that He also has used past bad experiences for His
better plan in my life. The fears and troubles that I faced, became tools in the
Master’s hand to develop within me a burden for others in their spiritual life.
I responded to the Spirit, speaking to my heart, as Isaiah 6:8 was preached. I
said. "Yes. Lord. I will serve you, in fact, I really do not know how."
During lunch. Sis. Salmasan, a student of Faith Bible
Institute and Marites Tolentino of Lay Institute for Evangelism, both challenged
me to study in Bible School. I just said, without thinking, “How can I go? I
don’t know anything about Bible School. What will my parents say? I know that we
do not have enough money for me to go to school.” But. I felt compelled in my
heart, to say yes.
At home, I told my parents of my desire to go to Bible
School. My mother was very happy, and immediately agreed, because she testifies
that is her desire that God would personally touch each of her children. She
wanted us to understand the importance of serving Him. But my father was not
going to agree. He was afraid because he thinks that I will not be able to stay
away from my family. I had a heart problem, since I was a little child. But none
can stop the will of God.
It was on June 9, 1989, that my father and Pastor took
me together to Faith Bible Institute. Through Rev, and Mrs. David Cook, I was
admitted as a student. By their help, along with many others, I was able to
finish my three-year course at Faith Bible Institute in March 1992. Mostly
dreams, visions and burdens were in my heart during my days in Bible School for
my home place, Camanga, Badoc, I.N. I really thank God for all the staff, the
missionaries, the guest ministers, pastors, my late pastor and his family, my
parents and my family for their support. God used them as instruments in doing
His plan in my life, and giving His blessings to me. He made me experience in
many ways His being Jehovah-Jireh in me. He sustained my every need, and He
healed me from sickness and fear. He stays with me. He is so real in my life. He
made Jean new, praise God! Truthfully, I had many crying experiences while I was
getting older in Bible School. I fell in love with my Alma Mater, Faith Bible
Institute. But my burden for my home place was still there and the same. Before
I graduated, the principal, Bro. David Cook, asked if I was willing to work with
them in the school. I said I would like that, but I need to pray for sure. I
found no reason not to accept the position.
From
June 1992 until now, I have worked in my Alma Mater. In 1995, my home place was
in need of a pastor, after months of a great spiritual storm in our church. Some
of the people that remained requested me to be the pastor for them. They
requested that the Board of Trustees of the Free Gospel Churches of the
Philippines would allow my church to be a member of their organization. Thank
God, Camanga has been accepted as a member of the Free Gospel Churches in the
Philippines. I was officially installed as pastor by Rev. Hermie Vivit. Working
in a place where a strong storm has just passed through is hard. It is like you
have to start all over again. Small and big trees that fell, you have to carry
them up, and help them to stand again. God is good enough, and He alone is the
source of all success in life. By the help and support of the Free Gospel
pastors, missionaries, staff and students of Faith Bible Institute the work in
Camanga is going on, for the glory of God.
We really appreciate the Rev. Lyle Berg family, because
they have been a channel of God in helping us to get a church building. Bro.
Berg brought a visiting minister, Pastor Jimmy Collins from the states, to
Camanga to minister. He was the instrument God used for raising the money for a
lot and a church building. We understand their faithful love for God, and that
is how they gave for God’s sake in Camanga. Thank you also for those of you who
have helped. A special thanks to
Bro. Jimmy Collins for helping to provide us with a building, where people
in this place can come and worship the Lord. Even the later generation, if Jesus
tarries, will have a place to come and
find God. My hearts says, “My God is Real.” I thank Him so much for saving me,
changing me and for calling me into His ministry. The best place to be is in His
hands.
Written by Pastor Jean Mahor, pastor of Camanga
Christian Center.
Praise God for His faithfulness and
marvelous love to mankind! I am Virgilio B. Notarte, a native of Barangay Laoang,
Northern S a m a r Philippines. I am 39 years old. I came from a family with an
average income. We are 8 children, and I am the 4th child. When I graduated from
the elementary level, I was adopted by my grandfather (My mother’s uncle). My
grandfather was a well-known attorney in our town, and he was so very
influential. He met all my financial and material needs, and that’s the reason
why I did what I wanted by hook or crook.
In our school, we organized a group of students who
were Activists, and because I lived under the care of my Lob (grandfather), I
became influential to my school mates in the secondary. They chose me as the
leader of the organization. All the problems of my co-members, and even the
non-members of the said organization were told to me. I was the one who was
making transactions with the concerned people, even the highest official in our
school. This was continued until my 4th year in the secondary. Until one day, we
had contact with the outside force (the New People’s Army-Communist insurgents).
Our organization became stronger, because of their support to us. I continued my
role as one of the leaders in our school, without the knowledge of my Lolo.
When I entered college, I was still an active leader,
because the High School and college had only one campus. I took up Associate
Agriculture Technology, because this was the choice of my Lob, due to the fact
that he owned a vast agricultural land. Although, this course was against my
will, for my preference was engineering, I still tried my best.
Our secret organization was made known to the military,
and they tried to catch me. I stopped schooling for I was already “Wanted” in
our school. I went to the mountain to join the NPA’s, and that’s the only time
my grandfather knew my activities. He did not like my decision, but I was forced
to go and he had done nothing. I stayed with the NPA’s in the mountains for one
year. We fought for our ideals and principles. We fought for our rights. But
during my stay with them, I did not have peace. All that I had were worries,
fears, and stress for I did not know what the future would be. Our situation was
very risky. So in 1984, 1 decided to surrender to the military. With the help
and influence of my Lob, I was given amnesty.
I went to Manila to seek a job. I became a waiter for 6
months. In my work, almost every night there was trouble and as one of the
employees, I had to defend the business I was working with. This was observed by
my boss. So he made or appointed me as a “bouncer.” The duty of a bouncer is to
serve as a mediator between two quarrelling parties. I was good in boxing, and
knew how to fight. Above all, I was brave to face trouble. After 3 months, I
committed “Homicide Murder” because of the kind of work that I had. I was
incarcerated in the city jail, for one year.
Life inside the jail was very difficult. There was a group of Christians (Maranatha
group), who were coming to preach or tell the Gospel to us in the jail, every
Sunday. At first I did not listen. I did not even go near to them, for I did not
believe what they were telling. In other words, I was adamant to God's words,
for I knew I would be saved. Why? I am a Catholic member. Yes, my family belongs
to a very religious family. I had 3 grandfathers who were priests. My mother was
a very diligent leader of the religious group of women, and I had a nun sister.
But sometimes, there was that curiosity that tickled me. In my bed, I made a
hole for me to peep, when the group was having their praise and worship. One
time, there was an anointed pastor giving his message telling that “Whoever that
one was peeping, to come out because Jesus loves you.” He told this 3 times, and
I did not know why I came out from the room where my bed was, and I went near
them. They entertained me, and there I was convinced to receive Jesus Christ as
my Savior. I confessed all my sins, and I even cried when I realized how good
the Lord is in my life, that despite all the wickedness, despite all the worst
things that I did throughout my life, He is still there, caring and loving me so
much. That was October 1985.
My prayer, when I had known Jesus as my personal
Savior was, “If you are really true, make a way that I will get out free from
this jail.” Until January 1986, praise God, I was given a “parole,” meaning I
went out from the jail and was free again. I was so happy and there, I promised
to serve God with all my might.
I lived a normal life outside the jail. I served God,
and I became a member of the Christian Mission Network in Quezon City. Then I
was introduced to Pastor Willy, who told me about and promoted the Faith Bible
Institute here in Ilocos None. Because of my desire to know more about God’s
words, I came to study in the year of 1992, second semester. Although, my family
was against my belief, I had decided to follow Jesus. There were many trials and
challenges, that came across my way in following Him, but Mark 8:34-38.
And now, I am already a full pledged pastor of the Free Gospel Church of Sta.
Maria, Piddig, Ilocos Norte. I have been a pastor for 14 years.
Written by: Rev. Virgilio B. Notarte.
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Last updated,
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