09 May 2009

Church inaugurates an Edifice of Faith

For more than a decade, faith has become a potent tool in the making of a new multi-million Adventist Church in Catarman, Samar in Central Philippines. As church members convened on May 9 to inaugurate their beautiful church—the Edifice of Faith—several church and government leaders joined them to praise God for keeping their faith through difficult times as funds came in trickles through these years.

“We walk our faith believing that what the Lord started in us He will bring it into completion,” said Jeane Tejano Pelayo, master of ceremony of the event and one of the church members.

“Even before we started constructing this church we had been facing financial struggles and challenges but we didn’t shelve our plans even when it took us years to make it a reality,” recounted former Congressman Harlin Cast Abayon, when asked of his personal testimony and involvement in the project.

Prior to the church celebration at Sabbath School and inaugural worship, a cutting of ribbon was done with the participation of Atty. Abayon; incumbent Congresswoman Daryl Grace Abayon; Dr Jonathan Catolico, communication director for the Adventist Church in the southern Asia-Pacific region (SSD); church elders; and government dignitaries.

“This edifice is evident that faith works through people who know no limit to God’s beneficence,” said Dr Catolico in his inaugural address. “And we are here to praise God for a four-fold celebration: A brand-new Sabbath, a brand-new church, a brand-new congresswoman who has recently taken her oath at Philippine Congress, and an unwavering faith that propels church members to begin a more aggressive but gentle stance in expanding the Lord’s kingdom here in Catarman,” Catolico added.

During the celebration, a special recognition was given to the benefactors of the project and sponsors of the program including those who traveled from Luzon, other places of the Visayas, and Mindanao. The three officers of the Church in Northeastern Mindanao also came to the event.

The Paranaque Choir, the Chosen Few Quartet, and several others made the celebration joyful with their beautiful musical renditions.

In the afternoon of the Sabbath, a special dedication of the church officers and members was done. [AND Staff]