Cell group points people to Christ

By Ruth L. Rebollido

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines--One of the eight cell groups in Cagayan de Oro is called the Bugo Cell Group.

It meets weekly at the home of Ed and Betty Rebollido in Bugo district, about 16 kilometers from Cagayan de Oro City proper. Its first meeting was April 2 with three families in attendance.

The goal of the Bugo Cell is for Jesus Christ to be in its center ministering to members through other members, and as community relationships develop, cell members are to reach out to others in the neighborhood.

Through friendship evangelism, Mr. and Mrs. Rebollido, facilitators of the group, prayerfully invite neighbors to the weekly meetings.

As a result, four new families are now attending the Bugo Cell in addition to the initial group. These four families have also started attending WCG worship services since then.

The Bugo Cell group had an ice-breaker outing June 12. Thirty-nine new people and 10 WCG members participated in a beach outing. They were audience to the baptisms of four individuals who claimed freedom in Christ during the country's centennial celebration of freedom from foreign domination.

It was a moving experience to see God's hands in using this small group to bring people to Christ.

The Bugo Cell Group is now meeting regularly in four houses around the neighborhood. Wonderful things are happening.

God has blessed this group in numerous ways. Cell members, through personal testimonies at meetings, speak of the love, mercy and power of God.

One couple, two of the four who were baptized, now normally start their day singing praises to God and reading the Bible, which was not their previous practice.

Their teenage daughter also commented that her prayer of being led to Christ was answered. She was baptized earlier, after attending a WCG summer camp.

Truly, God's Holy Spirit is present and working in our cell groups. God is using this tool to call people to salvation and to membership in his body.

As Mr. Rebollido commented: "God has spiritually strengthened our cell group. Members are becoming closer to each other; nurturing and praying for one another; sharing joys and sorrows; and have a close relationship with God and his Son, Jesus Christ."

The Bugo cell conducted its first full church service June 28.

BAPTISM-Pastor Johnny Logrono (right), assisted by Ed Rebollido (second from lift) and Percy Macabasa (left), baptizes Sita dela Pena June 12.

CHURCH GROWTH-Thirty-nine people, in addition to 10 members, attended a Bugo Cell outing. Shown here is part of the group. [Photos by Louie Concepcion]