May Mission--Encouragement!
During two weeks in May, we were able to travel to all our church plants and worship with our small faith families. We were also able to provide funds for our new orphanage, provide funds for a desperately needed community well and encourage pastors on the island of Bohol. We also spent time going from village to village sharing the gospel and was able to baptize over 20 precious souls during the trip. God was faithful and provided every need and the strength we needed for the two-week trip.
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GCA Graduation
Our first graduates of GCA received their diplomas on June 30th. Ralph, Vicson, Wilson, and Jilian all completed their high school requirements and have enrolled in a local college to continue their education. Ralph and Wilson will be enrolled in Criminology, Jilian in Education and Vicson will be enrolling in Business. Please remember to lift up these new college students as they chase their dreams.
Summer Missons at Rosemary's
Our youth and many of our children traveled for over a week conducting outreach and VBS on the island of Samar. As one of our youth expressed, "blessed and thankful to be part of this mission trip again." The youth conducted games, provided snacks and taught God's Word to many communities in Samar.
Church plants:
We have churches planted in Leyte, Samar, and Eastern Samar. East Marietta Baptist Church, Philippines is the mother church. Our faith families are growing and we conduct Bible studies, outreach programs and nutrition programs through our local faith families.
East Marietta Baptist Church--Philippines
Established 2011
The mother church of East Marietta Baptist Church, Philippines, was born in December 2011. The mother church conducted its first service under at tarp with bamboo poles. The church moved from the "tarp church" to a Bamboo church in 2012, however, it was destroyed by a Typhoon in 2013. The church rebuilt in 2013 a building attached to the orphanage. Due to the growth of our orphanage, the church was turned into more living space for the children. The church then rebuilt across the campus to our current building. Our current building is capable of meeting the needs of the community. It provides shelter for storms, a distribution point for food/supplies, and shelter for our annual Pastor Conferences. The church is located in Helioctogan and shares the campus with Rosemary's Home of Hope.
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EMBC--Cocoa
Established 2017
In 2017, East Marietta Baptist Church of Cocoa was born during our medical mission. The church was a home church for the first few years but now has a building in the middle of the community. The church has grown from the 8 charter members, to over 25 faithful members. We are in the process of expanding the current church building to accommodate the growth. Pastor Michael Anora surrendered to the pastoral in 2020. He and his wife serve as a bi-vocational pastor for the church. Praise the Lord!
EMBC--Nadacpan
Established 2019
In 2019, East Marietta Baptist Church of Nadacpan was born. Our director had traveled to Eastern Samar and found the community while doing research. The little community is found in a secluded area of the jungle, about a 20 min boat ride down a small river. There were no churches within the community. Pastor Steve called and said brother, we need a Bible believing church in Eastern Samar. The church, meeting in a home at first, has slowly grown from a few children to a small congregation. Please lift this church up in your prayers as they continue to grow and mature.
EMBC--Calbayog
Established 2021
During our summer mission, our family conducted VBS in Calbayog, Samar. Later in the month, members of the community contacted our director, Pastor Steve. They have a desire to hear the Word of God, to be taught the Word of God and to gather and Worship God! With the request, EMBC Calbayog was born. One of our local Bible students will conduct the meetings to teach these men and women the Word of God. Our vision is to build a Bamboo church after local property is purchased.
Established 2021
During our summer mission, our family conducted VBS in Calbayog, Samar. Later in the month, members of the community contacted our director, Pastor Steve. They have a desire to hear the Word of God, to be taught the Word of God and to gather and Worship God! With the request, EMBC Calbayog was born. One of our local Bible students will conduct the meetings to teach these men and women the Word of God. Our vision is to build a Bamboo church after local property is purchased.
EMBC--Caterman
Established 2021
During the youth mission outreach in 2021, EMBC Caterman was born in the inner city of Caterman, Northern Samar. The church is surrounded by extreme poverty. The church, even though young, conducts services, provides much needed meals and is a beacon of hope in a cruel world.
EMBC--Mapanas
Established 2021
EMBC Mapanas was founded earlier, however, the church was on the verge of closing. Pastor Marcos had served the church before he was executed in June 2020. After the youth outreach mission, the church was revived and EMBC Mapanas, Eastern Samar was born.
EMBC--Palawan
Established 2022
EMBC Palawan was born on the land of another future orphanage. Even though the church is under construction, God has already proven truth on the grounds. While surveying the land in May 2022, we were able to lead a man to Christ on the grounds we are building the church. Praise God!
EMBC--Villaba
Established 2023
One of the more difficult church locations, EMBC Villaba is located in Leyte and was established in March 2023. Villaba is a village with no roads and no motor traffic. If you want to attend this house church, the directions is simple--go to the end of the road, walk through the jungle about 20 minutes and you will come into a village. This small village of about 200 people is where you will find EMBC Villaba. Praise God for the uttermost parts of the world that we can go and share the gospel and grow disciples!
Established 2023
One of the more difficult church locations, EMBC Villaba is located in Leyte and was established in March 2023. Villaba is a village with no roads and no motor traffic. If you want to attend this house church, the directions is simple--go to the end of the road, walk through the jungle about 20 minutes and you will come into a village. This small village of about 200 people is where you will find EMBC Villaba. Praise God for the uttermost parts of the world that we can go and share the gospel and grow disciples!
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June 2021--With sad hearts, we announce the passing of Pastor Marcos. Pastor Marcos, pictured below with a black cap, has served EMBC--Naductpan for the past 18 months. He was gunned down by an anti-government group in early June. Please lift up his widow and two small children. Also please pray that our little home church will continue to grow and mature during this tragic time.
Pastor Bible Training!
Pastors for the church plants!
A new ministry began in October 2020 at Rosemary's--Pastor Bible Training! The training will provide essential training for those entering into the ministry. The four-year program will be facilitated through a local Bible College. Our ministry provides lodging, meals, and instruction free of cost to the students. The students enter into an agreement to serve a church plant once completing the curriculum.
A new ministry began in October 2020 at Rosemary's--Pastor Bible Training! The training will provide essential training for those entering into the ministry. The four-year program will be facilitated through a local Bible College. Our ministry provides lodging, meals, and instruction free of cost to the students. The students enter into an agreement to serve a church plant once completing the curriculum.
Humanitarian Ministries (COVID-19)
Meeting physical needs is one part of the ministry that opens the door to spiritual needs. It's hard to witness to a man with a hungry stomach and no money unless you provide him a meal. Our family at Rosemary's been dispatched through the years to assist with meeting needs in the aftermath of natural disasters. We have responded to earthquakes, typhoons, and recently COVID. Many Filipinos were forced to stay home and their income and support for desperately needed food and fresh water quickly diminished. Our home delivered supplies and continued to provide food to some of those that were impacted the most by the pandemic.
Christmas Mission (Gifts in a Gallon)
Every Christmas, the first week of December a team from America goes over to Rosemary's and hands out over 1,000 "gifts in a gallon" which are Christmas gifts in a gallon zip-lock bag. The bag typically goes to the children in the surrounding communities and the bags contains items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, body soap, a rag, and a small toy. This is usually the only Christmas gifts these children receive. What a blessing that we have been able to do this for many years now! When we have the resources, we not only give away the gifts for the children but we also give away over 600 bags for the mothers of the community. These bags are filled with toothpaste, a toothbrush, noodles, and sardines. If you ever feel the desire or God calling you to move this is a mission trip I urge you to be apart of!
Medical Mission
During the Summer of 2017, a team of 13 Medical Professions and lay workers traveled to our home to conduct our first medical mission. During the 10-day trip, the medical staff conducted over 200 wellness visits and treated over 400 local residents with a variety of illnesses. The medical mission team also were able to lead several men and women to Jesus Christ! Two to those that gave their heart to Jesus were later rushed to a local emergency room with life-threatening illnesses. After many days, both ladies were treated and able to return home. This led to both their families starting a home church in their community. Our future plans include building a permanent church in their community. The medical mission is conducted every two years. Due to COVID, our next medical mission will be attentively 2025.
March Mission-Pastors and Wives Conference
In 2014, a vision was born to host a pastor conference to encourage the local pastors after the devastation of Typhoon Yolunda. This has become an annual event that has grown in number and spirit. Local pastors and their wives are brought in for a 2-day conference. The focus is on encouragement, strengthen each other through God's Word and fellowshipping/networking.
We currently have approximately 60 pastors and their wives that attend annually. There is no cost for the pastor and his family, we simply want to help them in their ministry!
We currently have approximately 60 pastors and their wives that attend annually. There is no cost for the pastor and his family, we simply want to help them in their ministry!
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Growing...
We recently expanded our campus with the purchase of another 3 acres. This extra land has given us the opportunity to manage vegetable gardens and farm a small rice field.. The children all help with growing the produce which is used to offset some of our monthly costs.
February Couples Fellowship
During Valentines week at East Marietta Baptist Church, Philippines, we host a couples fellowship for all of our church members and the community. We hope to give them a night to celebrate their marriages and give them a night to worship together. The youth decorate the church, and all of the staff from Rosemary's cook a nice meal and have a guest pastor come and give a message.
Honor Roll Field Trip
At the end of every semester of school (if the budget allows) we take the kids who have worked so hard on an honor roll field trip. This past semester we took the kids to Kalanggaman Island and they loved it! None of the kids or the staff had ever been there so it was a treat for everyone. The waters are crystal blue and they have white sand (most of the beaches here have rocks on the shore instead of sand.) We are so proud of the hard work that all of our student's and teachers have put in this year, we will have 7 graduate from the ABC class and 7 graduate from elementary.
