Church of God Fellowship Manila

“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” -Proverbs 11.14
“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient...”
-2 Timothy 2.24
“the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. -Titus 2.3

In the few years since assembling as a fellowship, it has become a custom to seek counsel from elders, as well as from elderly women. Even young people are exercised in seeking counsel from any number of adults instead of merely figuring things out among their age group.

Sometimes, specific issues are raised and studied with prayer and Scripture around what are now known as roundtable discussions, on a Sabbath afternoon. Family relationships, conflicts among friends, questions, trials and difficulties, are addressed. Topics or things counselled about become subjects of sermons or sermonettes of the elders, or subjects for Bible studies, or even subjects for more roundtable discussions. Even brethren needing help in money matters or school-age teenagers seeking advice on what course to take in college.

Ultimately, the person counselling is led to the point where he has to understand the importance of looking to God directly for the help that he needs, and not to a person he thinks could give him the help. Sometimes, the person helping feels he is standing between God and the person to be helped and feels he is thwarting God’s hand in working with the person or worse yet, the person needing help ends up looking to human help and not to God. This happens in money issues, a most difficult thing to counsel about (where cash can easily become the answer most readily accepted)

But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not; and when you are converted, strengthen your brethren. Luke 22.32 KJV

Everyone, from the youngest to the eldest in the fellowship, is encouraged to speak during the Sharing Portion after Sabbath service worship. Also, this is when the elders give updates in detail about fellowship activities, experiences in and ways to preach the gospel, connecting news and current events to Bible prophecies, as well as spiritual principles related to the trends and pressures of the times, in family life, school, workplace, human relationships.

Everything is shared. Fruits from brethren’s harvests, or seasonal bounties in public markets, plants, formulas, recipes, baked products, produce, health tips like the use of herbs and herbal alternatives.

“That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” -I John 1.3

We are still learning how to fellowship, differentiating it from visiting or socializing. The first two years of being a fellowship were most difficult, as each of us had to get to know each other, learning to love. Still, people gravitate to those they get along with easiest. So that for example, temporary shelters during the Feast make unexpected neighbors. “You can never really get to know a brother until you’re in the same cottage,” is a common observation.

Back home, six days of sweating it out, along with a perceptible detachment from the things that truly matter, can sometimes provoke singles to say that “there seems to be no one I can really talk with.” Lack of time for fellowship or the quality of fellowship. The differences is upbringing, age, personality, make for difficult challenges in learning to love. When we don’t watch ourselves, the things we talk about often revolve around personal needs & worries, gossip, complaints, political opinions, popular media, worthless things. So, discerning elders need to keep reminding us of what we need to focus on and be busy about. Just talking among ourselves about anything we want is not what fellowship is.

So now, when we are together on the Sabbath, we fellowship with one another talking about the week’s life experience and relate that to what God says in His word. This way we can truly fellowship with God and His Son.

Elders are also able to visit with the brethren at the very time they are together after services, when they do not necessarily going to the homes of people. Socializing of course takes place when we have get-togethers or outings or gatherings just to eat and have fun, like during the Feast, or at the end of the school year, or whenever there is thanksgiving. Substantial visiting is done better on days other than the Sabbath.

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” -Romans 12.9
“Open rebuke is better then love carefully concealed.” -Proverbs 27.5

There are times when misunderstandings pile up and false reports circulate. This usually happens when the principle of Matthew 18 is shied away from, and a quarrel ensues, involving more people. In such a case, the whole fellowship gathers round and airs everything out. This is sometimes called a ‘Heart -to-Heart Talk.’ Anger and tears are sometimes inevitable at the beginning of a forum, but after prayer for direction and peace, and everyone being given a chance to speak, faults are admitted, and apologies are made. Hopefully, forgiveness and healing follow. This comes easy for some, but others take a little while longer. Thank God His mercy and compassion are ever enduring. There are also times when the fellowship seems ready to fall apart at the seams. Schisms, envy, suspicion of motives, all these things that beset a church, happen to us, more noticeably around Passover or the Feasts. All of it can be fretful. But always, God Almighty brings to remembrance John 3:16. Who could be that person who would not want his brother to make it to God’s kingdom... he would not make it himself right?

We always go back to the real reason for being together. Always striving to be transparent. We cannot do anything against the truth...the truth shall make us free.

Occasionally, members of the fellowship who have transport, arrange to visit members in provinces outside the city. They also get to meet the member’s extended family, giving them some news or some church literature.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down the beard,
The beard of Aaron,
Running down the edge of his garments.
It is like the dew of Hermon
Descending upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the LORD commanded a blessing—
Life forevermore.
—Psalm 133