Northshore Church Planting in Negros Occidental-Philippines, A Trip of a Lifetime
Negros Occidental
How lovely on the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace
And brings good news of happiness,
Who announces salvation,
And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Isaiah 52:7
The words of the prophet Isaiah echoed in my mind as the team from Northshore climbed the beautiful Mount Canlandog in Negros Occidental, one of the southern islands of the Philippines.
It was Saturday May 28th and the culmination of a week that I will keep in my heart for many days to came.
Our partner in the Philippines, Pastor Noel Banasing, is a good friend and a faithful servant of God. I have known him for 11 years and he always inspires me to keep going in ministry, even when circumstances seem to say it is time to give up.
Years ago, he invited me to be on the board of his nonprofit organization, Redeemer of Life Ministry. I turned down the invitation, not because it wasn’t a noble cause, but because I felt that the ministry had to be Filipino led and owned. Noel agreed and now a board of six pastors and leaders from the island of Negros leads this organization that is committed to sharing the gospel in remote areas of the island where other people will not, or cannot, go to plant a church.
Noel partners with and supports local pastors from those remote areas with the help of Northshore Baptist. I am honored and blessed to report from the seven churches in the Philippines (it sounds so apocalyptic and prophetic!).
It will be hard in a few words to express all that the team from Northshore experienced in the 10 days we were on the island. As it has been said, a picture is worth a thousand words . . . so please enjoy and praise the Lord for what he is doing around the world.
*Click on pictures to enlarge
NORTHSHORE CHURCH PLANTING IN NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, PHILIPPINES
Pastor Noel Banasing, Founder and Director of Redeemer of Life Ministries, focuses on church planting, reaching the poorest and most-isolated communities with the gospel. He reaches out with social assistance in the form of disaster relief, feeding programs, preschools, adult education, pastor development, and micro-business enterprises.
Noel and Jackie Banasing, Pastor of Silay Grace Baptist Church (70 members) and Kabugwason Christian Community church (38 members).
PASTOR NEMUEL AND DAISY CAAGOY, GUINSANG,
DIVINE GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
Recently married, this couple serves in a village situated around a river in the sugar cane fields. It is a very poor area which was damaged by recent floods. Northshore also supports a preschool and feeding program for 15 children there and sent reconstruction funds to help with the rebuilding of the bamboo houses.
PASTOR NORBERTO AND RENELYN ALFARO, CANLUSONG MOUNTAIN
About two hours from the city, he travels to his birthplace with Pastor Noel each week to hold services there.
A VBS was held this year with 70 + children attending.
PASTOR JESUS AND FLORADEMA MONSERATE,
CAMANG-CAMANG BAPTIST CHURCH, ISABELLA
This is a remote neighborhood in the town of Isabella in the southern end of the island.
A group of 24 children meet under a bamboo structure.
PASTOR RECARDO AND HYLEEN GRACE,
JIRED BAPTIST CHURCH, MAMBAGID
This young couple ministers in this fishermen’s community so isolated that the only way to reach the place is by walking or train cart.
35 regular attendees and a great group of young people.
PASTOR NORBERTO AND RENELYN ALFARO
Pastor Alfaro and his wife also pastor Emmanuel Christian Community Church and preschool in the relocated slum of Bon-Bon in Silay City. They have 49 members and a thriving preschool that needs our help.
PASTOR NESTOR AND TEODORA VEGAFRIA, MOUNT CANLANDOG,
VICTORY BAPTIST CHURCH
The most remote church plant of Redeemer Life/NSB is found on a mountain top—beautiful people with many needs. The only way to reach the village is by horse or walking. Currently, the children of the village do not receive an education and this is a great burden for their pastor.
PASTOR MARLON AND JOY TICAR, BACOLOD CITY,
GOD’S WORD BAPTIST CHURCH
Situated in a poor neighborhood, he ministers three times a week to 75 people.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRIP
Our team members: Ken Moore, Philip and Julia Carmichael, Jim Lindquist, and Pastors Ben Izzard and Hilario Pardo, presented a two-day teaching program about church multiplication based on servant leaders. This Pastors’ Conference was organized by Redeemer Ministry and Northshore Baptist.
The teaching was well received and we enjoyed interacting with pastors of different denominations, ages, and ministry types.
Great food and fresh mangos each day
But the most significant parts of the trip were the visits to the churches and experiencing, once again, the heart and the love of my dear brother and friend Noel Banasing for his people.
No doubt that AIM (Adventures in Missions), our Sunday School Class, will be happy to know that we lived out the name on this “adventure” to the ends of the earth, to the remote areas in the Visayas, the most southeastern part of the Philippines.
If you want to know more about future “Adventures in Missions” please sign up for our GLOBAL MISSIONS BLOG.
Thanks,
Hilario Pardo
Global Missions Pastor
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Recent Comment
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Ronn W:
Said on May 8, 2012
....Being a small part of this story is sooooo amazing and watching the studen...
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Peggy C:
Said on May 4, 2012
Beautiful beyond description. Thank you, Hilario, for sharing about the young ...
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Pam:
Said on February 26, 2012
A difficult, but insightful, thought...that the men involved in this also need...
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Todd:
Said on February 25, 2012
Thank you, HIlario. I can't think of anything else to say right now except tha...
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Dave:
Said on February 24, 2012
Hilario, that was incredibly well stated. Thank you for having the courage to...
the opportunity we have to partner with ministry leaders around the world is amazing. i am so proud of our global mission team and their focus to international church planting and pastor/leader development! “beautiful are the feet of those who bring the gospel!”
This report is very encouraging! What a blessing that so many from NSB were able to see first hand what God is doing among the poor in the Philippians! Praise God!
Our church planting ministry among the urban poor in the Greater Rio Area is growing as well. We are eager to return to Rio de Janeiro as soon as we are fully funded. Praise the Lord
Absolutely amazing to see what God is doing through the lives of many. This report is faith strengthening and enlarges your world! Thank you!
What a blessing to read and see the wonderful people of the Philippines. Having been there, many look familiar and I long to see them again and many new faces that make my heart leap and sing for joy to see how the Lord is blessing the work in that area. Praise God from whom ALL BLESSINGS FLOW.