Pastor Carlos Ilustre & Edna. Breakthrough Church, Payatas, Philippines

New communities/areas here in Barangay Bagong Silangan are continuing to grow both in number and in Christ. These areas are Tumana, Clemencia, Jubilee, Area 4 Extension Sitio Veterans, Area 4 Sitio Veterans, and Area 1 Sitio Veterans.
Small groups called “Life Groups” meet weekly in these areas. In addition, we now have weekly worship services in Tumana with an average attendance of 20 adults and 50 children. Pastor Jonathan Buanhog and his wife Malou shepherd this congregation. And together with a group of four mothers, they help feed and minister this group. A team of high school youth and college students serve in teaching God’s word to the children and youth.
From April 26 to May 2, Pastor Jonathan and his wife Malou led a mission team to Passi, in the Iloilo Province, to visit our two church partners in Sitio Maludlod and Barangay Jaguimitan.
On April 5 to 9, six members of Breakthrough Church joined the Kalinga Missions team to preach the gospel in two rebel communist strongholds, Sitio Tumyangan and Sitio Gaogao, both in the Kalinga Province, for the second time since 2012. We distributed backpacks filled with school supplies and slippers to 100 elementary school children and Tagalog New Testament Bibles to 100 people who attended our Bible Study meetings. Teacher Mailva Ducayag and a local principal are praying that we would be allowed to go back and conduct a medical and dental outreach service in Sitio Gaogao.
Construction update of BCA (Breakthrough Christian Academy school): The remodel of the second floor of the school, above the sanctuary, is 60% complete. Once completed, BCA will be able to increase their enrollment capacity from 120 to 200 students.
Breakthrough Church uses BCA for church services, and upon completion of these additional facilities at BCA, the church will be able to run simultaneous services on the ground floor (170 people) and on the third floor (100 people). Currently, we have three Sunday worship services. Please pray for the ongoing construction, our mission trips to Ma-a dumpsite in Davao City and Barangay Luhib in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, and the men’s group’s inmate ministry at the Iwahig Penal Colony in Palawan.