Next thing that happened, the two men invited us to come and share the Gospel with their family and friends. We went to Sikatuna the next Sunday, and many folks got saved. We began leading Bible studies, and gathered as a "house church" on Sunday mornings. This photo (at right) shows a grass nipa hut; this is the typical-size house for a family in Bohol. Yes, this photo shows the entire hut; and yes, it's crowded when we have Bible studies in a house.

CURRENT STATUS
OF CHURCH
We now have seven families as core members of this church (about 40 people), and we have ministered to an additional 10 families in the town. We are now constructing a hollow-block (cinderblock) building for church meetings, as the church has outgrown every house they can meet in.

Pastor Lito Buchan and wife Elza, with two of five children — Glaiza (standing) and Kendrick (in daddy's arms).

We need another $300 to finish two more walls of the building, but we are meeting in the unfinished building anyway because it already has a roof, concrete floor, and two walls.

The Sikatuna church is now pastored by Lito Buchan, who graduated from our leadership school in June 1999; we commissioned Lito on Sunday, August 1, 1999. When we first met Lito, he was not a Christian; in fact, he was a defender against Christianity. Prior to that, he was part of an anti-rebel vigilante group that killed and murdered the opposition. Through time, lots of prayer, and God's sovereign hand, Lito's heart was changed. He is now tending a flock made up of his very own neighbors and relatives.

Our ministry now owns a rice field, about two kilometers from the future church building; the field is spring-fed, so it doesn't depend on rainfall for its water supply. Lito Buchan grows the rice; he keeps half of the harvest for his livelihood, the other half goes back to the Island Impact ministry to feed Bible school students, the children's ministry, and our children's home ^[1].

The Sikatuna church meets in its own hollow-block church building. With capacity for 150 people, it's the biggest building among all our churches. This is really helpful during the rainy season, when meeting outdoors would be impossible. The Tagbilaran City church helped with construction, lumber, and hollow-block. Thanks to all of you for your prayers and generous donations!

Prayer requests

Please pray for Pastor Lito Buchan and his family, especially in the areas of physical and spiritual strength, wisdom, and edification.

---

Island Impact's e-mail address is john@islandimpact.org.
Web-site address: http://www.islandimpact.org
All photos ©John Mory except where noted otherwise.
Web-site design by James.com.

^[1]We want to make a home for these children, not an "orphanage".

TO TOP OF THIS PAGE