Peña, Masbate house of worship rededicated to God

First dedicated in 1986, the house of worship used to seat only 60 worshipers. And, before this semi-concrete chapel the congregation’s first chapel, as the head deacon Henry Bulotano recalled, was made of indigenous materials.

“I could still recall how the Church’s work started here. Our family was blessed, as part of our property became a place for worship of the brethren here. Before a semi-concrete house of worship was built for the congregation here in Peña, brethren held their gatherings in a structure made of bamboo, anahaw (palm) leaves for the walls, and pawid (woven nipa leaves) for the roof,” he said.

Through the years, the congregation’s membership grew, needing a larger place for them to hold their worship services. To resolve this, “We held devotional prayers to God, and He did not let us down. Despite our being in a far-flung place, here rises this magnificent house of worship where we are all the more inspired to continue worshiping God,” said Brother Erdy Girado, the congregation’s resident minister.

“With God’s mercy and help, and through His instrumentality of Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, the Executive Minister, our congregation has been gifted with a bigger and more beautiful house of worship,” Henry Bulotano added.

The renovation of the house of worship, which lies 68 kilometers from the district office in Masbate City, Masbate, began in October of 2021. It has now been transformed into a 120-seater edifice equipped with the Johannus organ, LED TV videoconferencing system, a state-of-the-art sound system, CCTV camera setup, fire alarm system, and a generator set. — With reports from INC News Section