I am so proud to be a part of the WBS Austin Office. WBS has helped greatly in laying the groundwork for a church planting mission in the Philippines.

You will find it interesting that the Central Baguio Church of Christ is (CBCOC) the result of our labor in the Lord largely through WBS. Prior to the launching of CBCOC last February 9, 2003, the Baguio Mission Team (BMT) has been using the WBS since May-December 2002 because of our unified conviction that by enrolling (sowing) quality names, God will give the increase (Bible Study “prospects”) and it was so! As a sort of information, CBCOC had only 12 core members during its launching, and, after one year, it went up to 47 then to 90 the following year. Now – after two years and 7 months – the Lord's church has 110 members.

The number of interested seekers has been so great that we would just print out their names from our Database, and we visit them in their homes with our most friendly smiles on – with WBS flyers and lessons in hand – as we start building a friendly relationship until finally, after several studies with the Bible, they are baptized. This is how WBS helped build this new church in Baguio City, the Philippines’ summer capital of about 350,000 people.

Another recent church planting mission was in Tagaytay City, some two-hour bus ride from Manila. The Tagaytay Church of Christ (TCOC) was launched last June 5, 2005 under the leadership of Ems Layco. Prior to the start of the work there last January 18, 2005, a group of leaders and preachers led by Jun Patricio, Greg Gallardo, Bert Tupas, Bert Patricio and many others have been frequenting the place with a vision of starting a church in this city which is home to more than 200 thousand people. For almost two years, these missionary-minded brethren visited Tagaytay with their hands full of tracts and WBS flyers and enrolling dozens of mostly Roman Catholic folks. Having realized that that the field is now ready for planting and reaping, this group of concerned brethren coordinated with Salvador Cariaga about starting a church in the area. Salvador then immediately started planning, coordinating and sharing the idea with the Baguio Mission Team (BMT). This led to the establishment of a Missionary Training Program (MTP) – later renamed the Missionary Apprenticeship Course or MAC – which became a major ministry of the CBCOC. We implemented this program in June 2004 with 6 young responsible men and women. This first batch eventually assisted Ems Layco from January to June 2005 resulting to the establishment of the TCOC.

This October, two more church planting work will be started – one in San Carlos City, Province of Pangasinan (Northern Luzon) and in Tuao, Province of Cagayan (Northern Luzon). WBS has been playing a great part in the San Carlos church planting mission because since April to August 2005, San Carlos Mission Team (SCMT) Samuel Seridio our Missionary Associates (MAs-2nd Batch) conducted once a week WBS flyers distributions in the area. They enrolled lots of names, found contacts and surveyed the place intensively. Now the time has come...the San Carlos Mission Team led by Samuel Seridio is now ready to go, prepared and excited to conquer the city with the Gospel of Christ and with the help of God!

WBS also was heavily used as an seed-sowing tool in Tuao. From May to September of this year, the WBS team led by Sharon Gonzales (WBS-Philippines Operations Manager) was requested by the Medical Action, Relief, Counseling and Healing (M.A.R.C.H for Christ), an international medical mission team led by Cebu businessman Chito Cusi, to conduct a massive WBS campaign at least once a month. It was in Tuao where we got the highest number of enrollees to date, thanks to our WBS team and our MARCH partners.

Brethren, WBS is not only a GROWTH tool but also a CHURCH PLANTING tool. This can be attested to by many of our WBS partners from Austin, Texas like Tex Williams, George Robinson, John Reese, Ron Pottrberg and many more who witnessed the fruits of our joint efforts. Yes, it is a joint effort because without our WBS teachers, the Austin Office, our local coordinators and volunteers, and primarily without God’s blessings, whatever has been accomplished thus far would not have been realized.

To God be the glory!