HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

WHO ARE WE?

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IN THE VALLEY
(PONGPONG CHURCH OF CHRIST)

THE PLACE CALLED PONGPONG

Pongpong is one of the remotest barangays of Sto. Tomas in the Province of La Union, Philippines. In the early 60's to the late 80's, you can reach the place by walking five (5) kilometers from the nearest highway. You have to pass through several small rivers by foot. Roads were constructed from then on and now, there is already a well paved road connecting the Barangay to the Highway.

THE FIRST PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL

The preaching of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ did not happen by design of man but of God. It was in 1962 when a Public School Teacher by the name of NATIVIDAD BEJAGON was assigned to teach at the elementary school of the barrio (early calling of the barangay). Jesus Bejagon, her husband used to visit her on week ends. Jesus Bejagon happened to be a student of Philippine Bible College, Baguio City, Philippines. One week end, Bro. Jesus Bejagon had a discussion with one of the preachers of the Jehovah's Witnesses (Watch Tower Society). He was soundly overwhelmed by the experienced Jehovah's Witness preacher. He was not good in speaking Iloco dialect, that's why. However, he (Bro. Bejagon) promised to come back with reinforcement.

The next week end, Bro. Bejagon came with the late CASIMIRO ANNAGUE, a former preacher of the Jehovah's Witnesses who was converted to the Lord's Church. Tatang Miro as he was fondly called, was at that time studying at Philippine Bible College, Baguio City. During the discussion with the Jehovah's Witnesses' preacher during that week end, Tatang Miro came out to have won the argumentation resoundingly. That victory of the sound doctrine started the enthusiasm of elders of the barangay to hear more of the gospel which was first preached by Bro. Bejagon and Bro. Annague.

THE FIRST CHRISTIANS AND EARLY PREACHERS OF PONGPONG

During the last quarter of 1962, several men and women of Pongpong became Christians. FORTUNATO DULAY, BERNARDO QUEZADA, PERING CALONGE, & BERNARDO PANERGO, among several others, were the early converts. BERNARDO PANERGO is now the Evangelist of San Manuel Church, Tarlac. Fortunato Dulay and Pering Calonge died as Christians while Bernardo Quezada went back to the world.

Student Preachers of the Philippine Bible College came to the place on week ends. The notable ones are EUSEBIO TANICALA, REYNALDO JACOB, ALEX JACOB and MACARIO MACATO. Bro. Casimiro Annague, however, remained as the regular visiting preacher. Missionaries KENNETH J. WILKEY, BOB BUCHANAN & DOUGLAS LECROY were constant visitors. All of them experienced traveling on foot for five (5) kilometers to reach the place. They, too, experienced lying on the bare floor covered by floor mat as they slept at night without mosquito net.

During the early 1964, the LACHICA FAMILY led by their patriarchs JUAN LACHICA & GERVACIO LACHICA, MERCADO FAMILY led by DIONISIO MERCADO, PANERGO FAMILY led by ANONG PANERGO, and the VILLANUEVA FAMILY led by FRANCISCO VILLANUEVA, DOCTOLERO FAMILY, were added to the church. During that year, the venue of worship transferred from the residence of FORTUNATO DULAY to the house of JUAN LACHICA, the father of the Blog Editor, Pablo M. Lachica.

When religious debate was still very popular, BRO. TEOFILO ALCAYDE & LEO CORPUZ had memorable discussions with the Jehovah's Witnesses in the year 1965 and 1966. This was followed by exposition of Biblical Doctrines between Bro. Eusebio Tanicala and Pentecostal Preacher. These debates sparked much enthusiasm for the local Christians and contributed to the early growth.

NICASIO FULGENCIO became a regular student preacher of the congregation. He was instrumental in bringing to the fold of the Lord the Blog Editor, RUDY MERCADO, now Preacher of the Diffun Church, BIENVINIDO REANO, who became an Engineer and is still very active. The members of the church still meet at the place of the late JUAN G. LACHICA because he donated a lot for the present chapel to be constructed.

In the 70's to late 80's, ELIZABETH BERNARDO & REBECCA ERECE-BRAGA became regular teachers of children's class on Saturdays and Sundays. The children they taught are now the pillars of the church. Brethren FELIX BRAVO & ADRIAN LIMBAWAN had a hand in the growth of the church by coming to perform marriages of members during these times.

THE CHURCH NOW

The church had grown in number and in maturity. There are three (elders) , PASTOR TRIFON M. LACHICA, PASTOR FELIMON G. LACHICA, AND TEODORICO D. MERCADO, who are overseeing the affairs of the church. Several deacons were appointed to serve the table. The church is served by pastor TRIFON LACHICA as Preacher, with a partial support from the Local Church. He is into farming to augment his income. We become a happy family bound by one love, one spirit, and one goal, that is, to be with the Lord in his Kingdom during his second coming.

The picture attached represent the average weekly attendance. We have grown from a church with an average collection of P50.00 a week to a congregation that has an average of couple of thousand pesos a week.

The church has a yearly budget prepared by the Elders and Deacons. There are still more rooms for improvements. We still are striving to reach that stature the Lord wants us to be. Programs for Evangelism, Edification and Benevolence are being undertaken by the church to maintain that growth in number and in spirituality.

The chapel is under repair for expansion. Donations came from the AGUDA FAMILY of Hawaii, and the SMOKEY MOUNTAIN CHURCH of the USA to augment our budget for capital outlay. The late brother HERMAN TRINIDAD and his wife Sister PERSE TRINIDAD contributed much to the construction of the main building. We are to put up a small room for conference and for office. The pictures attached show the ongoing repairs.

Much of what we are now is due to the influence of MANONG SEBIO TANICALA who is a constant visiting Evangelist until these times. However, much is also to be credited to BRO. BOB BUCHANAN and BRO. KENNETH J. WILKEY who had a special attachment to the late JUAN LACHICA who became the leader of the Church at its early stage. JUAN G. LACHICA, who passed away in 1998 at age 94, considered BRO. KEN WILKEY to be his father of faith.

RECOLLECTION OF THE BLOG EDITOR

The foregoing is based on the recollection of the Blog Editor who was converted during the summer of 1965. He went to Philippine Bible College in 1967 and was part of that institution until 1988.

If there are part that were missing, please give your comments to this blog.