Bible Study at Davao del Sur Provincial Jail - 01-19-2017

Bible study is an action and produces attitudes and actions, leading even to eternal salvation. In the latter part of John 6:63, Jesus specifies: ". . .the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." The Word of God is to be heard in regular and faithful proclamation in the public assemblies of the church (Acts 20:7), and in the ongoing work of each local church sounding out the Word of the Lord (1 Thess. 1:8). 

Every Thursday morning, we continue to preach the Gospel of Christ at Davao del Sur Provincial Jail (also known as Provincial Rehabilitation Center) in Matti, Digos City. There are more than 500 prisoners who can hear the truth and many of them had obeyed the Gospel and are now members of the Church of Christ. This time, brother Jonathan A. Notarte preached the word of God. Brother Joseph Notarte lead the songs and the preachers who cooperated were brother Ben Dulong, Ruel Eloy, Joey Bilang and I (Joshua A. Notarte).

Bible Study at Davao del Sur Provincial Jail - 01-12-2017

Christians are those people who are "the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus," having "put on Christ" in being baptized into Him (Gal. 3:26,27). As Romans 6:4 concludes, ". . . even so we also should walk in newness of life." We will not be able to so walk, however, without a knowledge and application of the correct directions. These directions or instructions are furnished to us in their entirety in the Bible, the Word of God.

The Gospel of Christ was once again preached at Davao del Sur Provincial Jail (also known as Provincial Rehabilitation Center) at Matti, Digos City, Davao del Sur. We are always thankful to see the brethren to continue in studying the word of God. This time, brother Julie Divine A. Notarte, preached the Gospel. Brother Feilpe Tula Jr. lead the songs and the preachers who cooperated were brother Ben Dulong, Joseph Notarte, Jonathan Notarte and I (Joshua Notarte).

Bible Study at Davao del Sur Provincial Jail, Matti, Digos City, Davao del Sur, Philippines

December 29, 2016

"Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do" (Phil. 4:9). What do we see that Paul did? "And Paul . . . reasoned with them out of the Scriptures" (Acts 17:2). He didn't just assert that Jesus was the Christ, he proved it to the Jews with Scripture. Apollos did the same by "shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ" (Acts 18:28). Let us "follow" their example" (1 Cor. 11:1).

We continue to preach on the weekly bible study at Davao del Sur Provincial Jail (also known as "Provincial Rehabilitation Center") in Matti, Digos City, Davao del Sur where about 500 prisoners detained and 77 of them were baptized and become members of the Church of Christ. 

This time, brother Ben Dulong preached the word of God. Brother Felipe Tula Jr. also lead the songs and other preachers who cooperated were brother Jonathan Notarte and Renato Taborada. Sister Susan Dulong, the wife of Ben Dolong also has cooperated.

59 Souls Baptized at Davao del Sur Provincial Jail

December 21, 2016

Are you a member of the body of Christ? If not, you are outside of Christ, in the kingdom of Satan, and lost. We wish for all men to be saved. Life is too short, eternity is too long and hell is too horrible for one to die in a lost condition. The Sinner's Greatest Need .. .repent of his sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 17:30), confess his faith in Christ (Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:10), and be baptized into Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:26-27).

By God's grace, the unsearchable riches of the Gospel of Christ to seek and save the lost was preached at Davao del Sur Provincial Jail (also known as "Provincial Rehabilitation Center") in Matti, Digos City, Davao del Sur. This day, we give all the glory to God for the harvest has come. 59 PRECIOUS SOULS obey the Gospel through water baptism.

For safety purposes, the jail guards only allow us to baptized them by group according the their cell and we are still thankful for it. Every group, my father preached first the importance of baptism according to the great commission of Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16). After preaching the truth, we went immediately to the water put in a drum where everyone could be buried in water.

The pictures shown below were the first batch who submitted to baptism:

The following pictures are the 2nd batch who submitted to baptism. My father, Julie Divine A. Notarte, baptized them. Other preachers who cooperated were brother Ben Dulong, Joseph Notarte, Jonathan Notarte, Felipe Tula Jr., Ruel Eloy and I (Joshua A. Notarte) but we give all the glory to God.

The last pictures below are the 3rd batch who submitted to baptism. Many more prisoners were not baptized this time. Please pray that God may give us another opportunity next time to baptized them.

Bible Study at Davao del Sur Provincial Jail (Male & Female)

December 15, 2016

Have the proper attitude toward the Bible and how it teaches. Produce the scripture for ALL you do in religion, and don't appeal to the SILENCE of the Bible for authority for anything. The Bible furnishes us completely (2 Tim. 2:16-17). We must not pervert it (Gal. 1:6-9). We must not go beyond that which is written (I Cor. 4:6). We must not add to or subtract from its teaching (Rev. 22:18-19).

God continues to open doors for the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ here at Davao del Sur Provincial Jail (also known as "Provincial Rehabilitation Center") in Matti, Digos City, Davao del Sur. Many more prisoners are interested to obey after hearing the truth being preached every Thursday. Our co-preacher, brother Ben Dulong, did a good job in requesting the Jail Warden to conduct a baptism next week and was approved even by our Provincial Governor.

This time, I (Joshua A. Notarte), preached in Female quarters. Together with me was brother Felipe Tula Jr. who lead the songs. Brother Ben Dulong gave some announcement and invitation to the female if ever there are already decided to submit in water baptism. We only spent little time preaching to the female and so many of them are still observing. But please help us pray they will also be converted into Christ.

At the same time, my father, Julie Divine A. Notarte, also preached at Male quarter. Brother Joey Bilang also lead the songs and brother Joseph Notarte has cooperated. We always use sound system so that the prisoners inside the cell could hear. As a result, more than 500 prisoners heard and many of them are very interested in learning the truth.

Bible Study at Davao del Sur Provincial Jail, Matti, Digos City, Davao del Sur, Philippines (Male & Female)

December 1, 2016

We need to preach a certain gospel. Let us proclaim facts, not theories, certainties and not doubts. Truth can be understood (John 7:17; 8:32; Eph. 3:3-4; 1 John 2:21). Preach it with conviction! Act like we believe it! Let's preach with certainty that there is only one way to be saved, one church, one faith, one baptism, one inspired Bible, one Lord, one pattern for worship, one organization of the church, and one absolute moral code.

By God's grace, the Gospel of Christ was preached at Davao del Sur Provincial Jail every Thursday morning. We are thankful for the Jail Warden and its administration for allowing us not only to preach but also to baptize those who are willing to be saved. Many prisoners are ready to obey as they heard the truth for many times during our bible studies. Please help us pray that there will be no more hindrances in their decisions.

This day, we have 2 bible studies at the same time. One in Male and another in Female quarters. Brother Julie Divine A. Notarte preached at Female and brother Joseph Notarte preached at Male. The preachers who cooperated were brother Ben Dulong, Jonathan Notarte, Felipe Tula Jr., Ruel Eloy, Renato Taborada, Joey Bilang and I (Joshua Notarte).

Bible Study at Davao del Sur Provincial Jail (Male and Female)

November 24, 2016

The Bible will help one become prepared to stand before God on judgment. Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this, the judgment.” There will be a day of reckoning for mankind. All men will stand before God and give an account of their actions on earth (2 Cor. 5:9-10). We can be prepared for this great day if we apply the things we studied in the Bible.

We are thankful to the Jail Warden in allowing us to preach the truth to the prisoners here at Davao del Sur Provincial Jail (also known as Provincial Rehabilitation Center) in Matti, Digos City, Davao del Sur. This time, he allowed us to preach not only to the Male but also to the Female quarter. The work became greater and challenging but by God's grace, we believe it will be more fruitful in the future. My father, Julie Divine A. Notarte, preached in the Male with the help of brother Ben Dulong, Joseph Notarte and Joey Bilang (who lead the songs).

At the same time, brother Jonathan Notarte preached in the Female. Brother Felipe Tula Jr. lead the songs and brother Ruel Eloy and I (Joshua A. Notarte) had cooperated.

Bible Study with the Female Prisoners at Davao del Sur Provincial Jail, Matti, Digos City, Davao del Sur

November 17, 2016

The Apostle Paul was willing to "suffer all things lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ" (1 Cor. 9:12). The servant of the Lord possessed this attitude about truth. He was well aware of the value of truth. Truth is in-dispensable to our salvation. Jesus said one must know it to be "made free from sin" (Jn. 8:32). Paul echoes this sentiment when he wrote how it made the Romans "free from sin and the servants of righteousness" (Rom. 6:18). Therefore God desires that all men "come to a knowledge of it that they might be saved" (1 Tim. 2:4). 

We continue to preach the Gospel of Christ at Davao del Sur Provincial Jail where almost 500 prisoners detained. For the second consecutive week, we preached in the Female quarter due to the conflict activity in the male. But thankfully, we find the female prisoners attentive in studying the bible in which we started to study the basic principles, which is the salvation in Jesus Christ. My father, Julie Divine A. Notarte, preached the word of God. Brother Jonathan Notarte lead the songs and the preachers who cooperated were brother Joseph Notarte, Ben Dulong and I (Joshua Notarte).