A total of 1,673 official delegates from all over the Philippines attended the 51st General Assembly of CAMACOP last May 3- 8, 2011. The assembly was held in Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet, in Metro Baguio with no less than the Mayor of the municipality of La Trinidad, the Honorable Gregorio T. Abalos, Jr., welcoming the delegates on the opening night. The assembly was also a celebration of the 110th year of fruitful ministry of the Christian and Missionary Alliance in the Philippines.
The assembly was very successful and more organized than in some of the past general assemblies of CAMACOP. Most delegates were satisfied with the way the event was coordinated, noting especially the hospitality and camaraderie of the CAMACOP churches, ministers and leaders in the Highland Evangelical Churches Alliance District (HECA District) under the leadership of Rev. Delfin Bangilan.
The devotionals were given by Rev. Arie Verduijn, President of the Alliance World Fellowship, and centered on his personal experiences as a CMA missionary in Africa and in other parts of the world. Bishop Reniel Joel A. Nebab, Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo C. Cajes, Dr. Averell Aragon, Rev. Joseph Reyes, and Rev. James Quisquirin also spoke during the evening services and the Missions festival on the final afternoon. The last four ministers are CAMACOP national executive ministers for the Division of Church Ministries, the Division of General and Theological Education, the Division of Finance and Stewardship, and the Division of Missions.
Other luminaries during the assembly were Bishop Benjamin P. De Jesus, Bishop Rodrigo D. Tano, and Bishop Jose D. Dalino, all former executive bishops of CAMACOP.
Three institutions in the life of CAMACOP were also conferred the honorary Doctorate degree Honoris Ecclesia, namely Rev. David Stockwell and Mrs. Donelda Stockwell who invested their whole productive lives in the training of students at Ebenezer Bible College and Seminary, and Mrs. Pagarigan who invested much of her earthly riches in the furtherance of God’s kingdom through CAMACOP.
Alumni from different CAMACOP Bibles schools and institutions had a grand time fellowshipping with their respective classmates. And their competitive spirits were manifested during the basketball games that have become a part of every general assembly.
The President, Bishop Nebab, in his state of the CAMACOP address, gave recognition to the past leaders of the denomination. He said that “We are what we are today because of God’s servants who
laid the foundation and persevered amidst difficulties, sufferings, and even persecution so that the Church of our Lord will be established” in the country. He also reminded everyone that the CAMACOP needs to always revisit the mission and vision of CAMACOP so as not to get lost in its journey. Aux. Bishop Cajes, on the other hand, noted the continued increase in the number of churches of CAMACOP in the land, and also launched the “1,500 churches by 2015” church planting program of CAMACOP, with Dr. Kenneth Gerada leading the thrust. Dr. Aragon reported on the strides taken towards the formation of the Alliance university system in all of the denomination’s Bible schools, while Rev. Reyes rejoiced on the increase in the financial resources of CAMACOP and Rev. Quisquirin challenged everyone to more eagerly participate in the Missions program.
The delegates were generally in good spirit, even as many of them took time to leave the university venue and tour the nearby Baguio City whenever their schedules would permit. But the real challenge came when on the final day, the majority of the delegates seemed to have disappeared form the Benguet State University’s gym as the Manny Pacquiao – Shane Mosley boxing match of May 8 captured every Filipino’s heart and mind not only in La Trinidad, but in all parts of the country. And nobody blamed anyone on this.
Other highlights of the general assembly were the discussion groups on hot issues in CAMACOP, the Pastoral Care medical and dental free services to all delegates, and the installation and anointing and communion on the final evening.
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