Berean: A Case Fora Church-base Bible School

Overview: Stating the obvious..

* Dr. Eli Javier

It has been said that the initial physical evidence of an Assembly of God Church in the Philippines is an unfinished building. *This one is another proof of that statement. (Sad, really.)

But in this unfinished facility, is housed a church that has already made a difference in the Philippines in terms of Church Planting, Training of Workers and Mobilization of Believers.

Undeterred. We started something here. We are committed to

become a discipling church engaged not only in evangelizing the lost but also in equipping the believers, leaders and church planters. We just need help to complete this project to facilitate what we set out to do.

A Discipling Church! First Assembly

exists to make disciples of all people by causing them to seek Christ, to know Christ, to grow in Christ, to serve Christ and to share Christ to our community and the world!

Roxas City. Population: 130,000

45 Minute flight from Manila.

Fame: “Seafood Capital of the Philippines.”

Languages: Ilonggo, Tagalog, English.

Information: Roxas City

Pioneer: Rev. Roger Fernandez, 1970-1977.

Pastors: Rev. Rey & Zenaida Calusay (in the picture), 1978 to the present.

First Assembly Roxas Missions:

Growth and FacilitiesThe Original 250 Seat Chapel, with extension. C. 1983.

In the rented Theatre, c. 1986

Growth and Facilities

Rented Rooftop of Christine Mall, c.1989

In the New Building (unfinished), c.1999

To empower every believer to become ministers!

Our Aim in Discipleship

3 Sunday-Services:07:00 a.m. Dialect10:00 a.m. English05:00 p.m. Ilonglish

Present Facility. Weekly usage

3 Sunday-Services:A sample night rally, for evangelism.

Present Facility. Weekly usage

3 Sunday Church-School Classes: For Children, (3-12 years old) . Operating like a ... School!

Present Facility.

Leaders Development Classes: Every Wednesday, 5pm.

Present Facility

Christian Resource Center: Weekdays.

Present Facility

Basic Discipleship Classes:Saturdays, 9-12 am.

Present Facility

Movers (Youth Meetings: Saturday, 3pm.

Present Facility

Present Facility: Movers, Chi Alpha Meetings

A Church-Planting Church: The First Assembly Roxas Missions has been in the frontline of church planting, as Headquarter for S.O.S. (Summer Of Service) -a Church Planting Mobilization of ordinary believers.

More than 500 churches were planted in the last 22 years using SOS.-(this is more than 10% of the total Assemblies of God Churches in the Philippines!)

2 Decades of Harvest!

SOS Church Planting: We are providing a Church Planting Laboratory for Churches so that they too can reproduce themselves in church planting.

We learn to walk by walking. We learn to talk by talking. Therefore we learn to plant a church by actually planting a church!

2 Decades of Harvest

Training Church Planters: The First Assembly Roxas Missions has been training “workers” through a Church-based Bible School, the BEREAN School of Ministry.

To conserve the new church-plant, it is essential that we train our own Church Planter!

2 Decades of Harvest

BecauseEventually Radical Equipping Affects Nations!

Berean School of Ministry For the last 22 years:More than 500 Graduates who are now Church Planters, Pastors and Missionaries.

The First PGCAG missionaries fully supported by the Philippines AOG Churches were graduates of BEREAN School of Ministry!

Warren Aragona, Jose Estrebilla, Fred Capapas, Jesse and Grace Villagracia,

Free-Tuition Bible School. The whole school fee of $70 to $100/year (P3,000+) is for the materials that the students will receive, not for teachers’ salary.

We don’t maintain a dormitory. Some students are adopted by our members into their homes for the whole school year. Some stay on rented rooms or apartments in the community.

URGENT: We need the school facility in the present building of First Assembly!

BEREAN School of Ministry

Berean School of MinistryIn those early days, some classes were held at Pastor’s home.

Or in a backyard – (for the whole year!)

Berean School of MinistryIn the Parson’s kitchen..

Or in the Church hall..

Berean School of MinistryA squeeze – Berean Classroom. Only 25 students per year can be admitted for lack of space.

A different way of doing church.

•We Empower •We Engage•We Evaluate•We Expand

The Berean Facility Project: Total Cost: $100,000 (PH 5,000,000)

◦From FARM: $20,000 ◦From Donors: $80,000

This Facility will Provide the following for the Berean School of Ministry:◦Lecture Rooms◦Library and Resource Center◦Prayer Room◦Kitchen and Dining Room◦Toilets

Now, Help Us To Do More!