“God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.” Such words we sing and such words were true in the opening of the mission outreach at Mabalacat, Pampanga, for it was born quite unexpectedly and quite unusually.
On April 15, 2007, Cornerstone Baptist Church decided to accept Joel Dayrit’s request to transfer and be a member of the church. Providentially, that very same day Joel received a text message from his mother informing him that the pastor of the church where he came from, had just resigned from office. He immediately thought of transferring his whole family to another fundamental Baptist church. He also thought of advising his former church mates to do the same, if they would seek his help. But when he visited and talked to them on April 23 and 24, he found out that most of them had no plans of transferring to other churches. H“God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.” Such words we sing and such words were true in the opening of the mission outreach at Mabalacat, Pampanga, for it was born quite unexpectedly and quite unusually.
On April 15, 2007, Cornerstone Baptist Church decided to accept Joel Dayrit’s request to transfer and be a member of the church. Providentially, that very same day Joel received a text message from his mother informing him that the pastor of the church where he came from, had just resigned from office. He immediately thought of transferring his whole family to another fundamental Baptist church. He also thought of advising his former church mates to do the same, if they would seek his help. But when he visited and talked to them on April 23 and 24, he found out that most of them had no plans of transferring to other churches.
He discovered that their plan was to stay, pray, and seek for another pastor. By that time they have already approached a certain church in Angeles City, requesting for a man to pastor them. Providentially, that church had no available man who is qualified and able enough to fill the vacant office. The “shepherdless” sheep had to look elsewhere for help.
Feeling that the responsibility fell on his shoulders, Joel communicated the condition and needs of his former church to his new pastor, Pastor Jed Raquintan. Initially, Pastor Raquintan did not want CBC to enter into the scene, since another church was already actively helping them. But he told Joel that if the other church would cease to help, he would schedule a time to visit them. When it became evident that the other church was giving way for CBC to help, Pastor Raquintan finally scheduled a date to visit them.
On May 19, 2007, Pastor Raquintan and Bro. Joel traveled to Mabalacat, Pampanga to visit the unherded flock. Pastor Raquintan tried to discover the heart condition of each believer. He wanted to know if the people realized and recognized their faults and if they had the right heart to begin a new work. He told them that he wants to meet all of them on May 27, at their place of worship.
On May 27, 2007, after the morning service at CBC Quezon City, Pastor Raquintan, and three other men went to Mabalacat, Pampanga. When Pastor Raquintan and his company arrived at the meeting place, the believers had already been there, waiting for hours. A short service was conducted. Pastor Raquintan preached a message about waiting on the Lord from the last few verses of Isaiah 40. After the message, the invitation, and the closing prayer, Pastor Raquintan disclosed what he had in mind. He proposed to start a new mission work in the area. He told them that the mission work would be under the leadership and authority of CBC Quezon City. He further informed them that like other CBC mission outreaches, the mission outreach will bear the name Cornerstone Baptist Mission and it will go through the proper process towards becoming an independent church. He then enumerated to them the five steps of the church planting process. He said that the first step would be to gather on Saturday afternoons for Bible study, prayer, and worship. At first, the believers were dissappointed. But after their questions were answered and after Pastor Raquintan challenged them to prove their sincerity through patience and compliance, they unanimously agreed. And so on June 9, 2007, Pastor Raquintan with the help of his daughter, Sis. Ruth Naomi and Bro. Joel Dayrit, started to conduct Saturday services at Mabalacat, Pampanga. The following week, Pastor Raquintan’s wife, Sis. Eden joined the missionary team.
Most of the believers were either backslidden or spiritually weak when the work began there. Thus, only a handful of people faithfully attended. But as the workers prayed and toiled, God gave the increase. The mission outreach is the youngest. But the work proves to be fruitful as more and more believers are becoming steady and spiritually strong. No less than 20 people, excluding the children, are regularly attending the Saturday services. Three believers were baptized by Pastor Raquintan on August 25. More than 20 believers have applied for church membership.
May God continue to work in His mysterious ways and perform his wondrous works in and through the mission outreach at Mabalacat, Pampanga.