The Church of Christ 2834 S. Fairfax Rd., Bakersfield, CA 93307 (661)366-5504

Dear Brethren,
the South Fairfax church in Bakersfield, CA, in recent discussions became interested in contributing toward helping the Quezon City, metro-Manilla congregation (originally Cubao) in the Philippines acquire property for a building of their own. This is the congregation where Roger Wanasen normally attends with his family when he is home. Ever since Roger started this congregation several years ago they've met in borrowed facilities, which he has arranged for. They are currently in their fifth location, and Roger reports that each time they've had to move they've lost a few members. They also have many times had too many people present to fit into the room available, with some members and guests left standing outside.

The metro-Manilla congregation is endeavoring to set aside funds for buying land, to build a small building of their own, and has been saving for that purpose for five or six years, but on several occasions they have needed to dip into their "building fund" to help others in the Philippines who were stricken with disasters. Meanwhile, they are also actively using their resources to support evangelism in the Philippines. The good attitude of this congregation has been apparent to me and they have a good report, to the best of my knowledge, among those evangelists and others who have been able to visit there. On their own, Roger has estimated that they will be able to acquire a small piece of land in 10-15 years. The uniqueness of their situation in Manilla, where there are many millions of people to be evangelized, land is very expensive, and no local brethren have a place of their own adequate for group meetings, has led the church here to the conclusion that help would be appropriate. I want to be clear that neither the congregation there, nor Roger Wanasen, have asked for financial assistance to acquire property. This is an effort undertaken voluntarily by the church here in Bakersfield, to supplement the efforts the church over there has already been making on its own, in the hope that they will be even more effective.

Here is an excerpt of a recent exchange with Roger, in which I asked him about the cost of getting a small piece of land in the right area:

(caf) Can you give me an estimate of how much more the church in Manila would need to get a place to meet?
(rmw) The land is cost to $15,000 for 120 sqmeters @ $104.17 per square meters if the dollars is P48 = $1. If we can produce this amount for the land, the congregation is planning to loan it to the bank for the building and we will pay it in monthly basis. Please include this project in your prayer.

For your information, the church in Bakersfield in considering $4000 as a gift toward this project, in the hope that others will also want to help raise a total of about $15,000-$20,000. They asked that I pass the word to others. No promises have been made to the brethren in the Philippines at this time. Anyone interested in assisting in this effort, or anyone with questions about it, can contact the Bakersfield church by e-mail via cfry@livwat.com