INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN

~  MISSION  ~

THE CHURCH IN RAGAY,

CAMARINES SUR, PHILIPPINES

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FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE CHRISTIAN CHURCH - RAGAY

RAGAY, CAMARINES SUR.  Ragay is a city of 44,154 people about 7 hours bus ride from Manila.  A few years ago, it was accessible only by railroad (an even longer trip).  Since a major hi-way was  run through it,  Ragay  has been inundated with every imaginable cult and religion.  It is also in an area that is still strongly affected by communist insurgents and Marxist doctrine.  The result is a spiritually hungry people, who are somewhat confused and sometimes fearful to take a stand for the truth.  Those who were trapped into what turned out to be false are suspicious, often bitter, and sometimes hostile to newcomers.    Our attendance is still small, less than 50, although our yearly mission teams from Navotas  gather180 - 250 kids for a Vacation Bible School. A team from the Malabon church conducted Vacation Bible School in 2004 with more than 200 kids.   Our success will depend on steadfast proclamation of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Our relative success so far in this area has largely depended on our determination to be there long-term, even in times of trouble.  Our new building here is now in use and our plan is to make this our center for Bicol missions. 

BICOL REGION.

RAGAY is part of the BICOL REGION of the Philippines:
BICOL is the area southeast of Manila at the southern end of Luzon Island  Both our church in Navotas and I, individually, have devoted much of our mission outreach efforts here for many years.  This is basically an agricultural area.  They speak a different dialect, Bicolano, with a number of other minor dialects among mountain tribes.  Except for a few cities in the area, it has been mostly neglected by missionary efforts since World War II.  We have focused our attention and strategy in this area in three basic areas: Ragay, Goa and Caramoan.