Pastor Ismael Benares Church Planting Story
I am Ptr. Ismael Benares of Banago Alliance Church, I received Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord last May 28, 1990. I worked in one of the business establishments here in Bacolod City for 23 years. But I resigned last June 2017 for the ministerial calling as a Pastor. I am a product of CAMACOP ALL-TEE and very thankful for this program.
I was assigned by DMS Nazer Hasim at Banago Alliance Church as the church Pastor last January 2020. In the middle of covid pandemic, we have opened three places for outreach. One in the house of sister Jamema Udani in Alijis, Bacolod and within our sharing she wished to have a ministry in their farm at Manjuyod, Sitio Mandatag, Negros Oriental.
In the first week of Sept. 2021, I went to survey the place. I am convinced that the place has big potential for church planting. And when I returned to Banago Alliance Church, I shared it to the CMT and the church supported to have a mission outreach at Manjuyod. So before we decided to pursue the church planting, during our worship service, I kneeled down and ask for prayers from the church congregation. And on the 2nd week of Sept. 2021, I and the CMT went to the mission trip.
On the day of our trip, we conducted house to house visitation. Also, we sang Bisaya worship songs, we conducted Bible studies, and praying with one another. I asked them if they are willing to have worship service in their place and they said that they are willing and excited to have a worship gathering. It has been a long time na wla na cla panimbahon, at nangulila na sila sa espiritual na buhay doon sa Mandatag.
On October 8 2021, at 9 AM, nagsimula ang aming unang pagsamba sa mismong kapilya na noon pari ang nagmi-misa. At mga fifteen families ang nakadalo. Pagkatapos noon worship service, ang mga tao doon nag request na sana weekly ang worship service, at nag meeting ang mission team kung pwede ba at kaya ng aming katawan at pera. At naintindihan namin na uhaw cla sa spiritual na bagay sa kanilang buhay, so ang mission team at ang Banago Alliance Church ay sumuporta, sa prayer at financial, gumawa kami ng fund raising pra sa Mandatag, “Piso mo buhay nila sa Mandatag” mission. At sa weekly na wlang humpay na pabali balik doon pra worship service, salamat sa Dios na organized ang Mandatag Alliance Church.
In our first Baptism, there were 18 persons obeyed the Lord. Second batch, 8 persons, and the third batch, 3 persons, with the total of 29 baptized believers — Glory to God. And after 7 months of prayer to the neighboring place called Mabinay, we are able to extend a Bible study sa relatives ni brother Eddie Udani by the grace of God.
And until now the Mandatag Alliance Church ministry continues. And because of the mission, their life will never be the same. They are now saved. They now belong to Jesus and God’s family, and His Kingdom. Previously they are in conflict to each other but now they learned to love and accept each other in Christ. God many times answered their prayers, they prayed for a rain, and God gave them; and many more favorable blessing from God.
They experienced healing, changed lives, salvation and hope in Christ because we reached them by the Gospel of God, Hallelujah! For the mission! All glory belongs to our God, the Lord of the Harvest.