The Tangalan Church of Christ, in the Aklan Province, began a few years ago when Robert invited Juanito to preach and lead home Bible studies. Many accepted Christ and the new church was born. Their numbers increased, and the group soon became too large to meet comfortably in the small house where they gathered.
As they had no other place to meet, they began to worship in a nearby lot. This was fine in fair weather, but they were forced to crowd into a small house when it rained, and the accommodation was not adequate. They looked for a place to rent for their meetings, but no affordable place could be found. The congregation is small, poor, and unable to afford to build a place for worship, so they continued to make the best of their situation and prayed for a more permanent solution.
Their prayers and patience were rewarded in late November 2023, when some generous donors gave gifts through CALM Philippines USA to make building a new meeting place possible. The new chapel, made with bamboo and botong poles, a tin roof, and wall panels was quickly constructed at a cost of (so far) a little over 57,000 pesos ($1,000). The building is 18 feet by 28 feet, which will accommodate approximately 50 to 70 people. The congregation met for worship for the first time on December 17.
The members and guests gathered for a Thanksgiving service the next Sunday and celebrated the blessing of the new chapel. At Pastor Robert’s invitation, three officers from the Tangalan Municipal Police joined in the service and presented gifts to the children.
More work needs to be done. The walls are not complete, the floor needs to be installed, and furnishings are needed, but the Tangalan church now has a place to worship and to carry out their mission: “Loving God and Loving People.”
