acts29Volume 21 Issue 09 • February 27, 2011

Christian Bible Baptist Church official Sunday publication• 32nd Anniversary Special Issue •

Great Grace in the Church…”and great grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:33b

from your

DR. ED M. LAURENA

outlineVictorious Christian Living (Fervency in Giving)2 Corinthians 8

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“I. The fervency of the Macedonian believers in giving demonstrated the grace of God. A. Giving is the work of grace in the believer’s heart. B. Giving is the work of faith in the believer’s hand.

II. The fervency of the Macedonian believers in giving declared their genuine love for God. A. Genuine love must be expressed. B. Genuine love is well-expressed through sacrificial giving.

III. The fervency of the Macedonian believers in giving documented the guiltiness of others before God. A. The Macedonian Churches were examples in giving . B. The Macedonian Churches’ giving must examine our giving today. IV. The fervency of the Macedonian believers in giving discharged the guidelines of support for the work of God. A. God’s work is supported by believers’ fervent giving. B. God’s work is sustained by believers’ faithful generosity.

It is possible to give without loving, but it is impossible

to love without giving.

God has given us two hands-one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for sharing.

As one looks down the street of St. Francis Homes II Subdivision, and down through the ‘CBBC Compound’, he would have easily thought that the members of this church are extravagantly wealthy. Or, as many think, CBBC receives so much financial support from the Americans.

Of a fact, Christian Bible Baptist Church has many wealthy members—members who are rich in faith and are excessively in love with the Lord’s work. Indeed, it has been receiving full financial support for the sustenance of the ministry—not from Americans, but from the abounding grace of God.

CBBC started as a small mission work in East San Pedro. With the name, Christian Baptist Mis-sion, it formally opened its first Sunday service on January 22, 1978 with 13 young people/adults and 29 children in a rented apartment.

On January 23, 1979, the mission was organized into an independent, Bible-believing Baptist church, bearing the name, Christian Baptist Church. After a year, in 1980, as more members were added, the people were taught to give. It held its first anniver-sary and celebrated the giving of first fruits offer-ing. God’s bountiful grace was really at work as the church started to support missions even when it was just a one-year-old church.

The Church moved to a new location in San Pe-

dro Ice Plant along the National Highway in 1981. It was a result of both Dr. Ed and faithful members’ continuous hard work after the Church had gone through a split. It was not long till the place could no longer accommodate the growing number of people. Hence, in 1983, there was again a need for a new and bigger place.

Together with the members, the Pastor found a lot in St. Francis Homes II Subdivision. Prayer vigils were held with members in every corner of the lot, claiming the prop-erty. Indeed their prayers were answered, and God gave the 500 sq.m as He continually provided for the members who generously involved themselves in “sacrificial giving.” Construction began even if the church’s cash in hand was just half of the lot price.

Before the year 1984 ended, the Church occupied the building with just the roof and walls. The first service en-couraged the members to give more. The Pastor continu-ally encouraged the Church to give to complete the walls and the roof. As the Lord graciously provided, the building was finished in 1985—after a year. A lot beside the first building was then purchased and another building was constructed to house the Christian Bible Baptist Academy in 1986.

In the year 1987, to accommodate the growing num-ber of people, the members gave sacrificially and another adjacent lot was purchased. Construction began and con-tinued until 1988-1989, simultaneous with the steady in-crease in attendance.

The “Old Building” was completed and dedicated in 1990, during the time that the average attendance of the church reached 1,000. The second floor of the building was first used for the graduation ceremony of the first batch of both the CBBA and the Bible Seminary gradu-ates. The Lord added faithful and cheerful giving mem-

bers and CBBC was able to share the blessings by sup-porting 48 churches and missions all over the Philippines.

The year 1992-1993 proved again God’s provision. He

blessed the Church when it purchased another property in the same street where the old Church auditorium was located.

In 1995, the continuing increase in attendance required a bigger auditorium. A 280sq.m. lot was purchased and the construction of a new auditorium was started and lasted for three years. Construction temporarily stopped due to op-position of neighbors. Challenged, Dr. Ed encouraged the members to continue building by faith in 1997. It was during this year that a new three-storey building with a mezzanine and roof deck, currently called the "New Building," was started on two adjoining lots purchased the previous year. A four-door apartment was also bought which now houses the church staff and the orphanage.

Though only 50% of the "New Building" was completed, the auditorium be-came usable for the church's 19th Anniversary in 1998. It was finally finished dur-ing the year 2000. When the Church moved to the new auditorium, it hit the mark of an average attendance of 2,000. In 2003, the Church purchased 2 new proper-ties—a four-door apartment (presently used as Ladies and Academy Staff’s Dor-mitory) and the two-storey house formerly rented for use as the Men’s Dormitory.

CBBC continued to strengthen its members with its theme, “Grow In Grace” in 2006. Of a truth, CBBC did grow in grace as evidenced with another property bought and reconstructed. It became the “Dr. F.R. Hernandez Building,” in mem-ory of Pastor Fortunato Hernandez, the faithful “Filipino Baptist Patriarch” and the father-in-law of Dr. Ed. Likewise, in the same year the edifice which used to be the Pastor’s house in front of the New Building underwent renovation to be a three-story building that will serve as an extension of the CBBC Auditorium.

CBBC adopted “Expand Our Horizon” in 2007 as its year’s theme. On that year, another property at the back of the Ladies’ Dormitory, now fondly called as “The Pagkatipunan Kingdom”, was purchased. CBBC continued to expand its ministries, missions and properties. The blue print of the Baptist City was pre-sented to the Church and members were asked to pray for its realization.

On September of 2009, Project Nehemiah “The Vision Unfolds” was present-ed to the church. It was the perspective of the New 4-storey Building. After three years, the renovation of the house in front of the New Building was finished. The building was dedicated in November last year (2010) and is now CBBC’s Administration Building. The ground floor is a lobby which is used as a room for the first time visitors class on Sundays and currently as an extension for the An-niversary service. The second floor contains Sunday School rooms, and the third floor houses the Pastor’s Office and Conference Room. The fourth floor called “the Prophets’ Chamber” are made up of four rooms where visiting pastors and

preachers can rest and stay for several days.These massive church properties started with only a 10x20-square-meter lot.

It was worth a little over Php50,000 when it was purchased in 1984. With only Php30,000 cash on hand, the construction began…

Today, the church properties total more than two thousand square meters. All are totally paid for!

Like what Dr. Ed always says, “What is the use of a big building, if there are no people? We construct more buildings to bring more people in and to get more people saved!” As CBBC toils and labours, while looking through the years ahead, it sees the fulfillment of building a Baptist City by God’s grace and for His pleasure. Oh, how great the grace of God is to a church which continually pur-sues to fulfill the Great Commission—to go and reach the world for Christ. Glory be to God who gave the privilege for every member to be a part of this great New Testament Church!

SALAMAT SA IYO, AMING DIYOS, SA KATAPATAN MO SA CBBCby Sis. Beata Agustin

Walang patid sa pagmamahal!!!Ganyan ang katapatan Mo, aming Diyos, sa CBBC mula sa pagpapala Mong bukal

Kaya matagumpay ang 32 taon naming banal na pagsisikap para sa Iyong ikararangal…Sa Iyo ang marubdob naming pasasalamat sa pamumunga ng aming pangangaral.

Walang pagod sa pag-aalaga!!!Ganyan ang katapatan Mo, aming Diyos, sa CBBC sa kalinga Mong matiyaga

Kaya matagumpay ang 32 taon naming pamumuhay sa Iyong biyaya…Sa Iyo ang magiliw naming pasasalamat sa paglago ng aming pananampalataya.

Walang humpay sa pagpapatnubay!!!Ganyan ang katapatan Mo, aming Diyos, sa CBBC sa liwanag ng Iyong pag-aakay

Kaya matagumpay ang 32 taon naming makalangit na paglalakbay…Sa Iyo ang maalab naming pasasalamat sa pagpapatuloy ng aming masayang pagbibigay.

Walang sawa sa pagtingin!!!Ganyan ang katapatan Mo, aming Diyos, sa CBBC bilang Amang maalalahanin

Kaya matagumpay ang 32 taon naming pananalangin…Sa Iyo ang malugod naming pasasalamat sa pagsulong ng aming dakilang adhikain.

Walang tigil sa pagpapatawad!!!Ganyan ang katapatan Mo, aming Diyos, sa CBBC na lagi Mong iginagawad

Kaya matagumpay ang 32 taon naming makatotohanang paglalahad…Sa Iyo ang maligaya naming pasasalamat sa pagtutuwid ng aming paglakad.

Walang katapusan sa pagtutustos!!!Ganyan ang katapatan Mo, aming Diyos, sa CBBC na tuwina’y kumikilos

Kaya matagumpay ang 32 taon naming paglilingkod nang taos…Sa Iyo ang magalak naming pasasalamat sa pagtanggap ng aming gantimpalang lubos.

Walang hanggan sa pagtatangan!!!Ganyan ang katapatan Mo, aming Diyos, sa CBBC na di matatawaran

Kaya matagumpay ang 32 taon naming pagbubunyi sa Iyong pangalan…Sa Iyo ang masigla naming pasasalamat sa pagtibay ng aming paninindigan.

ACTS 29 - Christian Bible Baptist Church official Sunday publication

ANG sabi ni Hesus, “Ako ang daan, ang katotohanan, at ang buhay: walang makapupunta sa Ama kundi sa pamamagitan ko.” Juan 14:6

Wala nang iba pang makapagliligtas sa iyo mula sa impierno. Magtiwala ka kay Hesus ngayon! (Roma 6:23)

“Kung ipahahayag ng iyong bibig na si Hesus ay Panginoon at mananam-palataya ka nang buong puso na Siya’y muling binuhay ng Diyos, ikaw ay maliligtas”. Roma 10:9

1. Aminin mo na ikaw ay isang makasalanan. Roma 3:102. Talikuran mo ang iyong mga kasalanan (magsisi). Gawa 17:303. Manampalataya ka na si Kristo Hesus ay namatay para sa iyo, nalibing at

nabuhay namagmuli. Roma 10:9-104. Sa pamamagitan ng panalangin, tanggapin mo si Hesus sa iyong puso

bilang iyong Tagapagligtas. Roma 10:13

MANALANGIN KA NG GANITOPanginoon, ako po ay isang makasalanan at nangangailangan ng kapatawaran. Nanampalataya po ako na nadanak ang dugo ni Hesus at Siya ay namatay sa krus para sa akin. Tinatalikuran ko na po ang aking mga kasalanan. Tinatanggap ko po si Kristo Hesus sa aking puso bilang aking Tagapagligtas. Amen.

Kung tinanggap mo si Hesus bilang iyong Tagapagligtas, ito na ang simula ng iyong bagong buhay kay Kristo (Roma 8:1). Ngayon:

1. Basahin mo ang iyong Biblia araw-araw upang makilala pa ng lubusan si Kristo Hesus.

2. Makipag-usap ka sa Diyos sa panalangin araw-araw. 3. Manambahan ka sa isang simbahan na pinapangaral si Kristo at ang Biblia

ang tanging pamantayan.4. Ibahagi sa iba si Kristo Hesus.

Ayon sa Biblia, Iisa Lamang ang Daan Patungong Langit!

church

reading

February 20 & 231st AM Service2nd AM ServiceSunday AfternoonWednesdayFirst Time VisitorsBaptisms

2,7431,8291,429

6191,671

6

MORNING EVENINGMon Deut. 23-25 Ps. 55Tue Deut. 26-28 Ps. 56Wed Deut. 29-31 Ps. 57Thu Deut. 32-34 Ps. 58Fri Joshua 1-3 Ps. 59Sat Joshua 4-6 Ps. 60Sun Joshua 7-9 Ps. 61

YOUTH QUOTES

"Never tell a young person that something cannot be done. God may have been waiting for

countless centuries for somebody ignorant enough of the

impossibility to do that thing."

BYF will resume after our Anniversary month.