New Life in Christ Fellowship 3.9

HISTORY

Founders of the NLCF:

Originally, the NLCF, started as a Charismatic movement. The outbreak of the Charismatic phenomena in Butuan City began in March 1979 when a husband and wife team organize a Bible study group informally. The Church started with a woman who was suffering from heart trouble. After Zenda Guerrero prayed for that woman, the Lord healed her miraculously. A Bible study then started in their home.

The Guerreros used to be active member in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. According to their testimonies, their lives had been full of bitterness, resentment, sorrows and despair-especially that Zenda was suffering from heart trouble. However, the Lord Healed her when a neighbor shared to them the healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ. After accepting Christ as their Lord and Savior, and found truth, they separated from the Catholic Charismatic in 1977 and made their own community whose teaching was taken mainly from the Bible.


HEADQUARTERS/DOMICILE:

While yet a movement, the fellowship had no officers and no permanent domicile. In fact, the Christian pioneers met for the first time at the Guerreros residence. They continued to meet here for fellowship, praising and worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ.

By the end of 1979, membership increased. Attendance reached 50 forcing the fellowship to look for a place of worship. The whole year of 1980 up to the middle part of 1981, they had rented a place. But that time around 100 persons were attending Sunday Services regularly. On April 1982 ,the fellowship had increased again to less than 200 and move to a bigger building .

BUILDING PROGRAM

Ever since the birth of this church, effort have been exerted to put up a church building .The Guerreros initiated to donate their residential lot where the church be constructed. With initiative of the Guerreros, the members were also encourage to and support financially. On December 12,1983 by God's grace we were able to finished constructing the church building accommodating 500 people.

Ordination of Sis. Zenda V. Guerrero and installation of the church council :

Since Eric was working full-time in his secular work at Xerox, Sis. Zenda had function as a full-time worker. On February 8, 1981-in recognition of her leadership as acting pastor of the fellowship for the first 2 years. Sis.Zenda was formally ordained as minister by Rev. Max Chismon of the Philippine Aid Ministry.

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LOCAL CHURCH

Sis Zenda suggested that the organization cease as a movement, be established as a local church and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In a meeting held on March 17 1981, the church council agreed to fully authorize the registration of the fellowship with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Manila and thereafter to incorporated as a religious corporation and named "NEW LIFE IN CHRIST FELLOWSHIP INC." The fellowship was considered on Feb. 26, 1982 with the SEC.Reg.NO.010 3484.

DRAMATIC CHANGE IN NLCF

According to Bro. Eric , he had heard God calling him to go full time, but keep in responding to God by saying ,"Here am I Lord, send my wife!" During that time, Eric was fearful to leave his job because he thought that his job was his security for his family. The year 1982 saw a dramatic change in the NLCF, when Bro. Eric give up his job and went full time in the ministry. Bro. Eric enrolled at Tung Ling Bible School in Singapore.

JAIL MINISTRY

In 1981, Pastora Zenda initiated to minister and visit the prisoners at the Butuan City Jail, Doongan. She had found out the openness of the prisoners to the gospel. At first, the prisoners were so hesitant to listen to the word of God because of the bitterness and the resentment they felt. Vengeance was always on their mind against their accuser. But with sister Zenda's persistence visiting them, praying for them and showing all the kindness, acceptance and compassion to the prisoners, they were convinced that the gospel they were presenting is true. All of them accepted Christ as their Savior except Ruben, the notorious criminal. Pastora Baby did not stop sharing to Ruben the Love of Christ for him, not only in words but in deeds. Finally in 1982 Ruben was converted and became an effective witness due to his newness in life not only to his jail mate but also to the policemen. Ruben became the Christian leader in the jail and was awarded as the best parolee. Out of the jail ministry there were prisoners who became an active Christians, and there were two prisoners who became pastors in the NLCF satellite churches after their release.

CAMPUS MINISTRY

Ministering to the youth had been a regular activity of the NLCF since 1982. This includes Bible studies, youth fellowships in different schools. Prominently, a youth camp was designed as an annual activities of the NLCF. There were also a free Bible distribution to the students with the financial help from James' Mc. Pherson's church,Australia.

A student center called "The Sekel" was opened as complimentary facility to the campus ministry. The facility would serve as a place of gathering for the students in their vacant time. Free tutorials and most especially Bible lessons were conducted.

A year later "The Sekel" was closed due t financial reason. The NLCF church could no longer afford to pay the rental and could not afford to pay a full time worker. This year 1994, the Lord led us to open a campus ministry in Cagayan de Oro with the help of the New Zealand team led by Shane Harvey and Glen Waters from Australia. The strategy used was the anti-drug campaign. The mayor of Cagayan de Oro Pablo Magtajas had endorsed the team to the City School division and had given them permit to visit the 20 schools in Cagayan de Oro. It was a successful ministry in the campuses, thousands accepted Christ as their Savior. The ministry again was stopped due to lack of funds and a full time campus worker.

The Opening of the Christian Television (CTV 4):

In 1993 after the prayer and fasting done by the officers of the NLCF, lead by Zenda, the Lord told her to open a TV station . In 1986 the license to operate the CTV 4 was filed at the National Telecommunication Commisson. Upon the filing there was no awareness how hard was to acquire a license for t.v station. Three years after in 1989 with much prayer and fasting a license was granted to the NLCF to operate a Christian TV station. The first Christian TV in the Philippines.

The Church planting Program:

Apparently Church planting is one of the gifts of the NLCF. By 1985 five daughter Churches were planted. Ending of 1993 we were able to plant 30 Churches and 9 of that Churches were planted by the help of the Australian friends through their team leader Pastor Rod Plummer of the Christian Family Centre , Sumner Park, Brisbane Australia.

The Opening of Butuan Christian Community Schools:

The NLCF opened the Butuan Christian Community School in the year 1989. The School started with 35 children and a 3 teachers and a cashier. Now the BCCS grew in number from 35 to 531 children with branches in the municipalities of Nasipit and Cabadbaran. The BCCS also are accepting children from a poor families and give them free tuition fees, books, uniforms, food and medical assistance.

The Opening of Pastoral Training School ( PTC ):

After attending Bible school from Singapore, Eric and Zenda did not stop training their own people. They knew that one cannot be considered successful in the ministry if there is no successor. The training program was started in 1983. It was called SOM ( School of Ministry). After the training for 3 months, the students were given the opportunity to function as leader in the mother church. When they are found faithful in the ministry and show their calling as a pastor, They will be assigned and send to pastor the daughter churches of NLCF. Pastor Eric and Zenda Guerrero saw the need of the satellite pastors, their inadequacy to pastor a church, they need a deeper training especially in the area of pastoral work.

In 1991 a pastoral training course PTC was started by the financial sponsoring of the GLA and the OBC New Zealand. The PTC graduated 21 students. By and large , the PTC can be rated a success to the glory of God. There were lecturers who served at the PTC. They were Rod Plammer , Peter Nathan , Michael Sim, Graham and Shirley Cummings , Max Chismon and others.

Last 1994, we are praying again to open a Training School preferably pastoral training school, to meet the need of church planting which the NLCF is in need of 10 pastors to handle the new churches that will be planted this year. On May a team from CFC , Australia will be planting a church in Bohol.

The Love Family From Ausrtralia join the NLCF:

September 1994, finally the Love family came as missionary from Australia to assist the NLCF in building a training fascilities in Cagayan de Oro City. Praise God that the vision of the NLCF was realized when these missionary came.. They were able to solicit funding from Australia to finance the purchase of the land and building the said fascilities. April 1995 the construction of the training school was finished. The first Pastoral Training Course using the NLCF fascilities started on June 1995. Their goal also is to help our pastors and struggling satellite churches by assisting them in their livelihood program. They challenged Australian Christian to help support this project

The goal to Plant 50 Churches by the year 2000:

On the last quarter of 1988, the Australian team headed by pastor Rod Plummer started to work with the NLCF in planting churches in different Villages in Butuan City. 1990 saw more of the NLCF expanding and planting more satellite churches. The support of the Australian Christian and GLA were also notable especially in church planting activities. A total of 30 churches were planted until 1993.
To plant 50 churches by the year 2000 became the vision of NLCF since 1989. This year 1994, the NLCF plan to plant 10 churches , and this will be possible by the power of God.
Be blessed as you take a glimpse of the on-going ministries of the church and know more what the Lord has been doing in His body.

Surely, He is always able to display His greatness to those who long for Him …