All praises and glory to the Most High God, who abounds His Church with immeasurable blessings. He never ceases to amaze the true believers with His magnificent works.
In the morning of the 27th day of August 2018, some of the brethren of the Most Holy Church of God in Christ Jesus started to gather in a piece of land, located somewhere in the Municipality of Hermosa, Province of Bataan, Philippines, to take part in the ground breaking ceremony to mark the onset of the development and construction of Gabay Center.
Every year, during the months of May until August, the brethren contributes a pledged amount to be used by the Church Administration as funds for special projects, especially in building structures where Christian fellowships shall be held. The said piece of land has a total area of 21,202m2 or 2.1 hectares, situated in Barrio Bamban, Hermosa, Bataan. The land was purchased by the Most Holy Church of God in Christ Jesus as the brethren’s Minhah (Hebrew: מתנה, meaning: gift) to the Church for the sole purpose of glorifying and exalting the Most High God. The Church Administration agreed to name this project, GABAY CENTER. The development and constructions for the Gabay Center are expected to be completed by the year 2021, a year before the Church’s Centennial Celebration. Once finished, the place will be a venue for various activities like team buildings, retreats, camping, seminars, religious gatherings and more. The Gabay Center will be open to accommodate certain activities from various religious sectors and denominations.
The day started gloomy, for the past week had a rainy weather. The route from Roman Hi-way going to Gabay Center was still undeveloped. You can expect to drive along a muddy and rocky road. However, those weren’t enough to hinder the brethren to attend to this momentous and historical event.
From Left: Bro. Jehiel (Jose Israel Capistrano), Bro. Ezri (Emmnuel Valerio), Sis. Esthemoa (Elaine Joy Caparan), Bro. Cordero (Josiah Pascual), Bro. Micaiah (Mike Angelo Eusebio)
The Seven Bishops (Church Administration) were all present to preside over the ground breaking ceremony.
Ministers, choir members, and some brethren from different provinces and cities in Luzon have gathered to witness the event for this is an excellent work of God for the Most Holy Church.
The program officially started approximately thirty minutes after nine in the morning. The master of ceremonies, one of the Church Presbyters, Elder Neriah (Israel Atraje), started by greeting the brethren and all the invited guests from the local government of Bataan.
After the greetings and the purpose of the event was explained, it was now time to glorify and praise the Most High God for a very spirit-filled gathering through a prayer leaded by one of the Presbyters, Elder Uzziel (Danilo Franciso).
After all the thanks and praises were sent to the Most High, Brother Mishael (Emmanuel Valerio), the current Minister-in-charge in the province of Bataan, and the Minister-in-charge for the development of Gabay Center, read the scroll imprinted with the pledge of all the contractors, engineers and architects in exerting the best of their efforts to make the project a success within the given timeline.
Of course, to make the event more lively and spirit-filled, the program included performances from certain choir groups. Agape Choir sang 2 hymns entitled “Imno ng Pasasalamat” (Hymn of Thanksgiving) and “Let God be Exalted.”
While The New Jerusalem Choir (composed of deacons and deaconesses) sang “Nakikita Ko ang Dios” (I Can See God) and “Sa Paanan ng Hari” (Before the King’s Feet).
Of course, this event will not be complete without preaching a short Gospel delivered by the Church General Bishop himself, Elder Hiel (Isagani Capistrano).
He reminded everyone all the hardships and trials that the Church and the previous administrations went through with regards of securing lands, chapels and properties of the Church that lead to igniting the hearts of the Church Administration and the brethren of the Most Holy Church of God In Christ Jesus with a burning spirit to purchase and secure properties that the Church could call its own and which the brethren can rightfully and peacefully use to hold various activities in giving glory to the Most High God.
Elder Hiel highlighted in his sermon the new and great things that God is doing for the Church during the latter days. He told how the brethren were able to unite in purchasing a building worth Php 8,000,000.00 to be used as the Church’s central office during the first quarter of 2011 and all the lands purchased and chapels built in different places using the Minhah of the brethren each year. Now, God has provided the Church this piece of land; a land which no one ever imagined that the Most Holy Church could acquire and will be developed into an activity center for the Church and will be opened to other religious denominations. It is impossible to finish this project to the unbeliever’s perspective considering the current financial capacity of the Church. But believe it, God has been providing everything needed to make this project a success.
After Elder Hiel delivered his sermon, the dedication ritual leaded by Elder Sear-Jasub (Eranio Pascual), one of the Church Bishops, commenced.
To start the ritual, the Seven Bishops signed the dedication scroll signifying that the land has been already dedicated for the glory of the Most High God. After that, the time to bury the time capsule began.
The time capsule contains the site development plan, photos of some church activities, some of the Church evangelization tools, the Church flag, the scroll containing the pledge of the project team, and the dedication scroll.
After burying the time capsule, Elder Cristiano (Julito Belisario), one of the Church Bishops, summoned the brethren to each pick up a rock and put them on top of the time capsule to build a shrine.
Following the burying of the time capsule, all the Ministers present waved the Church flag signifying their commitment in encouraging the brethren within their jurisdictions to be involved in accomplishing this project for the glory of God.
The ceremony closed with a prayer leaded by Elder Abimib (Mario Payawal), one of the Church Bishops and the laying of the benediction by the Seven Bishops leaded by Elder Hiel.
After the event, everyone can be seen smiling for the Most High God has once again proved that He will stay true and faithful to all His promises to the Church. All of it is being fulfilled in due time. By the near future, all of these lead to one purpose: ANG KABANALBANALAN AY MATATANGHAL, SA IKALULUWALHATI NG KATAASTAASANG DIOS (THE MOST HOLY CHURCH SHALL BE EXALTED, FOR THE GLORY OF THE MOST HIGH GOD).
