by Jomarie B. Aquino
Hudson Taylor once said, “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.” Indeed, God supplied everything needed for the church planting work in Dasmariñas, Cavite. Three years ago, God first supplied the desire to the hearts of our church elders to start a church in Dasma. Pastor Jeff together with all other elders started praying for God’s direction ever since the Lord spoke to their hearts. And now as Jesus declared that “I will build my church” — that desire, in God’s sovereign time, finally became a reality as we all celebrated as a church the first worship service of CCSGM Dasma on Sunday, July 23, 2023.
God amazingly worked in the hearts of each one of us to see the beauty of doing God’s will and the joy in our hearts was evident as we prepare the place of worship. Every volunteer willingly and cheerfully used their God-given skills and abilities to help prepare the church building. God surely supplied the desires and willingness of the CCSGM members and leaders to work together as one church for the same purpose – for the sake of the gospel of Christ to be proclaimed as we all believe that “it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). God prepared each one of us through the truth from His word that helped us be “equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17), which “God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
God also supplied the financial needs for the church planting work. A 4-month fundraising was announced weeks before the first worship service of CCSGM Dasma. During the first 2 weeks, we saw the provision of the Lord as the church members lovingly and joyfully support not just through prayers but giving portions of God’s blessing as they acknowledge that no one can outgive God. We are all aligned that as a church we are called to build churches where the gospel of Christ will be preached. And the goal is to lead people to a genuine relationship with Christ. Truly, only the gospel of Christ united us in this way.
One of the awesome provision from the Lord is when someone donated P150,000 to help buy important things for the sanctuary. We are also grateful to the Lord as one brother from CCSGM Kawit donated his treasured guitar and beatbox for CCSGM Dasma. On that same day he testified that God provided new guitar for him given by his wife. Indeed, our “God will supply our every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). The fundraising continues and we are confident that God will continue providing the financial needs of His church.
Our God most especially prepared the hearts of His children who will attend the first worship service. The church planting team went 2 hours early to CCSGM Dasma to prepare everything before the attendees arrive.
We are grateful that the CCSGM family of churches in Cavite including Imus and Cavite City personally joined us to show their support for the work of God. We also felt the support of our CCSGM family outside Luzon and our Sovereign Grace family of churches who are partnering with us in prayers and sending words of encouragement.
A few minutes before the worship service while waiting for the attendees, our worship team practiced the song lineup while we have Marshalls securing the place and Ushers who were waiting to greet the attendees.
A.W. Tozer said, “We must never rest until everything inside us worships God.” This quote summarized what happened during the first worship service of CCSGM Dasma, our hearts were filled with awe as we worship God together with our hearts fixed on the finished work of Christ. We sang songs about God’s “Unmeasured Grace“, praised God for being our “Prince of Peace” and thanked Him for being our “Great Provider” and “Our Loving Father” who loved us even before the foundation of the world.
Pastor Jeff faithfully preached God’s message from Hebrews 10:19-25 to explain to us “Why we should go to church gatherings?”. God’s Word taught us that we should go to church because “God made it possible for us to have a relationship with Him”, because “God made it possible for us to share His grace in us to those who are His as well“, and because “Christ is coming back again”.
Truly, “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). Every one of us who heard God’s message were not able to contain our emotions as we understood and appreciated what the blood of Christ has accomplished not just for each one of us but for His church, His bride, that will soon be with Him as He promised that “I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am“ (John 14:3).
What a comforting truth that Christ is coming back again! This truth will be our motivation to continue the work of God in Dasmariñas because we know that whatever the challenges that we will face, God “will never leave us nor forsake us” (Hebrews 13:5) because Jesus “will be with us even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). And what a blessing to know what we should do as we wait for Christ return – just faithfully preach the gospel!
Thank you Lord! To you be all the glory forever and ever Amen!
You may also watch this video documentation of the church planting work in CCSGM Dasma. Enjoy watching!
