In the Ecclesiastical District of Central, in the Philippines, a new local congregation and another extension were recently established. Respective inaugural worship services marked the official establishment of the Pansol Extension, on January 31, 2024, and that of the Local Congregation of BF Road, on February 1. Brother Senen Capuno, district supervising minister, officiated on both occasions.

Local Congregation of BF Road

The Local Congregation of BF Road is formerly an extension of the Local Congregation of Commonwealth. Its 180-seater house of worship located at No. 29 BF Road, Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City “started as a Children’s Worship Service (CWS) venue in this area … and now, it’s a full-fledged local congregation,” shared Brother Elmer Bulos, resident minister of Commonwealth Congregation.

Luis Aco, a head deacon in the Local Congregation of Catubig, Ecclesiastical District of Northern Samar, who used to be the caretaker of the piece of land before it was donated to the Church Of Christ, was just as delighted as the brethren in BF Road. Not long after knowing about the inaugural worship, he immediately traveled from Samar just to be present during the said occasion. “Finally, our long-held dream fulfilled. Since 1995, I and the brethren here were hoping for it to become a place of worship, if not just a center of missionary activities. It’s truly fulfilling it is now a local congregation,” he said.

Genesis Lapira, a head deacon in the Local Congregation of Commonwealth, was among those instrumental for the establishment of BF Road Congregation. He supervised the brethren since it was an extension until now that it has become a full-fledged congregation. “It is a great blessing to us having this place of worship. We will love, protect, and maintain its orderliness and cleanliness,” he said.

Pansol Extension

Pansol Extension is formerly the Purok (area) 41 of the Local Congregation of Templo Central. Brother Marlon Santos is its current resident minister.

The 50-square-meter lot at No. 16 Kaingin 2 Ibaba, Barangay Pansol, Quezon City, where the extension’s 70-seater house of worship is situated, was owned by Zenaida Sapigao Sipin-Basarte, a 77-year-old deaconess, who gladly donated it to the Church.

The brethren’s houses are more than three kilometers away or approximately a 45-minute walk to the congregation’s worship building. Commuting makes such distance a 15-minute ride. But, “in the face of the current economic crisis, commuting has become costly. In addition, the elderly brethren have difficulty walking the distance. So, this recent development is a great help,” said Basarte, who is among the extension’s set of pioneering Church officers.

“The rise of houses of worship in the Church Of Christ is a clear proof of the dynamic leadership of our beloved Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo,” said Brother Capuno. “And the words of God that he teaches lead us to holiness, thus making sure we will receive salvation on Judgment Day.” – With reports from Kenneth Rico and Justine Florentino of the INC News Section