Help Build Church for Remote Village in Philippine
Donation protected
*Who will benefit: Faithful community of Believers in a small, remote village in mountains of Philippines
*What Funds will be used for: Completion of a larger, more functional church building to accommodate the growth of the church.
* When Funds Are Needed: Funds needed before Typhoon season which starts in June and goes through October. Funds will be given to the Fragazzi’s and they will transfer funds to church in Philippines
* Who WE are: This Fund-Raiser was started for Dennis and Chris Fragazi, by Cheryl Moen and their Bible Study/Small Group from EFCC, Escondido, CA. Chris grew up in this remote village and has many family members who attend this church. Fragazi's have a home there, stay there several times a year, and worship with these believers. Fragazi's have shared with us their love and concern for this small community of believers and we have taken on this project to help them FINISH the NATONIN EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
* What the support will mean and how grateful these believers will be for your help: Read below
Natonin is a remote village in the mountains of northern Luzon in the Philippines. To get to the nearest city takes a few hours by motor vehicle. The population is made up mainly of subsistence farmers whose main crop is rice. Until the mid-1960s the society was primarily animist. Then missionaries brought Christianity to the area and translated The Bible into their dialect, which is not Tagalog. Since then there has been a growing Christian population in Natonin and each barrio may have a small church throughout where they can go to worship. However, the particular church this is focusing on is nearest to the town central and is outgrowing the current building they use for church services; this church is called the Natonin Evangelical Church.
Originally, the Natonin Evangelical Church was a very humble raised building with a wooden floor where all ages came for worship services for many years. Eventually the wooden floor began rotting and also had termites so in 2017 the building was upgraded with a concrete floor at ground level, but this was only a temporary fix.
For many years the church members have been praying for church expansion as the membership was growing and there was a need to have a separate gathering place for the children. In 2015 the members had just enough money to start concrete posts for church expansion, which they did by faith. Since their building fund was only enough to complete the posts and beams for the first level, the construction of the building halted.
In 2019 a new pastor who is from another town was assigned to the church and did not have a relative to stay with, so part of the little church was converted to provide a small area for him to live. He is getting paid about $160/month at best.
It pains to see the posts and beams covered with moss for years and their little church service space getting smaller so we provided funds to continue the new building but it was just enough to increase the height of the beams, concrete flooring and roofing. These brothers and sisters are so happy to see progress after years of waiting. We are praying that a hollow block wall will be installed before typhoon season arrives so the roof will not have the chance of being blown off. Typhoon season starts around June and goes to around October.
Please pray for the completion is this building. This growing group of believers will be ever so grateful for for your gift for a place to worship and study God's Word together.
Below:
First picture of new construction
Second picture of church they are currently meeting in!
This is "the church" where they currently meet and will continue to be used for Children's program.
*What Funds will be used for: Completion of a larger, more functional church building to accommodate the growth of the church.
* When Funds Are Needed: Funds needed before Typhoon season which starts in June and goes through October. Funds will be given to the Fragazzi’s and they will transfer funds to church in Philippines
* Who WE are: This Fund-Raiser was started for Dennis and Chris Fragazi, by Cheryl Moen and their Bible Study/Small Group from EFCC, Escondido, CA. Chris grew up in this remote village and has many family members who attend this church. Fragazi's have a home there, stay there several times a year, and worship with these believers. Fragazi's have shared with us their love and concern for this small community of believers and we have taken on this project to help them FINISH the NATONIN EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
* What the support will mean and how grateful these believers will be for your help: Read below
Natonin is a remote village in the mountains of northern Luzon in the Philippines. To get to the nearest city takes a few hours by motor vehicle. The population is made up mainly of subsistence farmers whose main crop is rice. Until the mid-1960s the society was primarily animist. Then missionaries brought Christianity to the area and translated The Bible into their dialect, which is not Tagalog. Since then there has been a growing Christian population in Natonin and each barrio may have a small church throughout where they can go to worship. However, the particular church this is focusing on is nearest to the town central and is outgrowing the current building they use for church services; this church is called the Natonin Evangelical Church.
Originally, the Natonin Evangelical Church was a very humble raised building with a wooden floor where all ages came for worship services for many years. Eventually the wooden floor began rotting and also had termites so in 2017 the building was upgraded with a concrete floor at ground level, but this was only a temporary fix.
For many years the church members have been praying for church expansion as the membership was growing and there was a need to have a separate gathering place for the children. In 2015 the members had just enough money to start concrete posts for church expansion, which they did by faith. Since their building fund was only enough to complete the posts and beams for the first level, the construction of the building halted.
In 2019 a new pastor who is from another town was assigned to the church and did not have a relative to stay with, so part of the little church was converted to provide a small area for him to live. He is getting paid about $160/month at best.
It pains to see the posts and beams covered with moss for years and their little church service space getting smaller so we provided funds to continue the new building but it was just enough to increase the height of the beams, concrete flooring and roofing. These brothers and sisters are so happy to see progress after years of waiting. We are praying that a hollow block wall will be installed before typhoon season arrives so the roof will not have the chance of being blown off. Typhoon season starts around June and goes to around October.
Please pray for the completion is this building. This growing group of believers will be ever so grateful for for your gift for a place to worship and study God's Word together.
Below:
First picture of new construction
Second picture of church they are currently meeting in!
This is "the church" where they currently meet and will continue to be used for Children's program.Co-organizers (2)
Cheryl Moen
Organizer
Escondido, CA
Dennis Fragazi
Co-organizer