Philippines
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Demographics
Population: 91,077,287
Ethnic Groups: Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3%
Religions: Roman Catholic 80.9%, Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, Aglipayan 2%, Other Christian 4.5%, Other 2.5%
Languages: Tagalog, English, eight other major dialects
Industry: electronics assembly, garments, footwear, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, petroleum refining, fishing
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Why Philippines?
Though the Philippines has a higher percentage of Christians than any other nation in Asia, the country still faces tremendous problems, both naturally and spiritually. Roman Catholicism is the nation’s dominant form of Christianity, and many who say they believe in Christ do not possess a saving relationship with Him. Though rich in resources, the country faces great economic problems largely due to years of systematic corruption throughout the government. Every year, millions of young Filipinos head overseas to find employment.
Yet despite these challenges, the Holy Spirit is moving in the Philippines in a great way. A strong movement is arriving among Spirit-filled churches, and people are getting saved daily. Cornerstone has two main bases in the Philippines (Novaliches and Santiago), both of which are part of this work of the Spirit and are experiencing rapid growth.
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Cornerstone Church: Cornerstone Novaliches
Novaliches is located outside Quezon City in the suburbs of Manila, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. Thus, it is an excellent location to have a work. The main branch of Cornerstone Novaliches currently meets inside Robinsons mall and has five Sunday services, one Saturday youth service, and one midweek service. Shortly after visiting Cornerstone Community Church for the first time in the spring of 2004, Pastor Alfred started the church with a congregation of about 50 people. In just over four years the church has amazingly grown to over 1,800 people. The church is known for its quality media and cutting-edge outreach.
In addition to the ongoing work at Robinsons Mall, Cornerstone Novaliches is in the midst of finishing a major building project in San Jose City. When finished, the main auditorium will have seating for 1500. They have finished construction of an annex auditorium that seats almost 500 people. Services began there in April 2009, where almost 300 people meet there on a weekly basis. As there will be a great number of people passing by the immediate vicinity of the new church plant every day, due to the location of a new shopping mall that is being built just across street, evangelism will be a top priority of Cornerstone San Jose City when the building project is completed.
The church also has a number of community ministries, including the Ambassadors Group, which is a ministry to the elderly. They also have a feeding ministry to the slums, and are planning to have a community talent contest that will provide musical training over a six month period.
Leadership: Pastor Alfred Abad has been in ministry for a number of years and is experienced in the area of church growth. Pastor Alfred is a gifted leader who inspires people to pursue excellence in their service of God. He is currently the President (Founder/Overseer) of Cornerstone Christian Church, Inc. and will be the Senior Pastor of Cornerstone San Jose City.
Pastor Raymond O. Masuecos is the new Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Robinsons Novaliches, replacing Pastor Alfred, in order for Pastor Alfred to focus on the new church plant. Pastor Raymond has been with Cornerstone Novaliches from her beginning; an excellent teacher of God’s Word, and possesses a real pastoral heart.
Prayer Needs:
- Strength as the Lord continues to bring enlargement and that God will continually refresh them in the midst of their work.
- The Lord of the harvest will thrust forth laborers to run alongside the leadership team.
- God to provide the finances to help them continue with the building project.
- God would give the leadership divine strategies for the city and beyond.
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Cornerstone Church: Cornerstone Santiago
Cornerstone Santiago was started in August of 2004. The church is active in reaching out to the disadvantaged of society and to villagers. The church also have thriving youth and children’s ministries.
Cornerstone Santiago has already started nine extension churches in the surrounding villages of Nagassiccan, Pangal, Nagillian, Sinilli, San Isidro, Ramon, Salvador, Saint James and Cauayan, and more churches are underway. These branches reach out to people who do not have opportunities to attend church services/activities. ‘Reaching out to the unreached’ has been an integral part of the church’s vision and purpose. All in all, around 800 people attend the various churches under Cornerstone Santiago.
Compassion and community work has been a major part of the church’s vision, which has allowed the church to be recognized for their deeds within the area. Currently, pastors and ministry teams visit two prisons and two hospitals on a regular basis. There is also an ongoing feeding program that feeds about 2000 needy children weekly. During the feeding program, many children are saved as they teach the children Christian songs, conduct games, and share the Gospel.
New ministries are birthed in the church from time to time, such as the Street Pastors. Not limited by the four walls of the Church, these men would be on the streets every Monday afternoon, bringing Christ to wherever the Holy Spirit leads them – to markets, shops, police stations, even bars and brothels! They also have an elementary school which is currently only teaching two levels, as well as a radio station.
The Ritchies also lead Sefton Village, a thriving ministry that contains an orphanage, preschool, Bible school and church. These ministries partner with Cornerstone Santiago and the Scottish Assemblies of God. They are having a great impact in the lives of thousands of Filipinos.
Leadership: Pastor Mark Ritchie is an Assembly of God missionary from Scotland who works in the Philippines along with his wife Mary and two children. They have been on the mission field for ten years and began partnering with Cornerstone in 2004. Pastor Mark flows in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and is known for his compassion and vision for the lost.
Pastor Mark leads a team of 15 full-time pastors and leaders. He is developing a Filipino leadership Team within the current Cornerstone Leadership Team in order to strengthen the leadership and ensure continuity of the ministry.
Prayer Needs: 
- God to provide the finances to help them continue with the building of the school as well as financing all their outreach programs.
- Protection on Pastor Mark and his family as they are on the mission field.
- Like-minded laborers to come alongside Pastor Mark and the leadership. There is much work to be done and the leaders are being spread thinly.
