A Trip to the North East is a report on the recent trip of Bro. Babes Paulate, our International Director to the cities of New Jersey and New York.

I.  New Jersey

My trip to visit New York and New Jersey was a wonderful experience.  I was able to see finally the purchased property of WIN New Jersey (Word Christian Fellowship International), an entire six acres.  The property has a building that houses the sanctuary, the children's classrooms, the pastor's office and several function rooms.  Plans to schedule spring and summer activities were being lined up by ministries.  It is quite an exciting time for all church members who are happy and expectant of good things to happen because of the new church property.  Several savings can also be made because venues for church and ministry activities will not be rented anymore as the church building can cover all of them. Pastor Mando and Ces Zacarias toured us to check the buildings and the grounds outside.  The savings and the prudent spending of the church have finally paid off with this accomplishment of a purchased property in the United States, which will value now for a million dollars.  Due to the location, property equity is expected to increase in value. Our congratulations to the New Jersey Congregation!  You will serve as an inspiration and example for our other churches who are planning to by their own properties also.  God bless you always!

II.  New York

The New York congregation meets the 18th Floor of Pennsylvania Hotel, which is across the subway station along 33rd Avenue. For so short a time, WIN New York, has sparked growth bringing joy and good news to our members in the United States(USA).  New York is a hard place to plant a church and even grow a church but against all odds.....growth has happened.  My trip to New York was to award a minister's certificate to Bro. Robert which we presented right after the preaching.  Right after the church service, members continued to stay and broke into small groups for their regular I-Care Groups.  The systematic study of the word and the care for one another continued even after church.  After the I-Care, we all marched to a restaurant that reasonably prized and sumptuous enough. The church members continued their fellowship in a New York restaurant.  It seems like no one wanted to go home. It was reported to us by the pastors led by Pastor Ferdie Melendrez, that several outreaches have been made.  Outreaches have been organized in Jersey City(New Jersey), Connecticut and Boston(Massachusetts).  In these outreaches families are being formed into congregations, which will become churches one day.  Pastor Ferdie Melendrez just recently launched a book, tracing the Christianity in the Philippines prior to the Spanish Colonization. This book will serve as a very good thesis as he pursues his doctoral studies in one of the seminaries in New York.

Congratulations Pastor Ferdie and your pastoral staff for a job well done!

Written by: Rev. Babes Paulate
WIN International Director