The province of Kalinga can be found in Region 14 of the Cordillera Administrative Region.
In the one hundred fifty barangays under its jurisdiction,
barangay Sumadel in the town of Tinglayan is the destination of our journey.
In this hilly barangay stands not only the new house of worship of the Church Of Christ,
but the faith of the brethren here also stands firm.
They are the brethren in the Church from the tribe of Sumadel.
From the Central Office of the Church Of Christ in Quezon City,
We traveled for almost 500 kilometers
Before reaching the district office of the province of Kalinga.
Which is equivalent to more or less 13 hours of travel time.
Along with some ministers and brethren
We started hiking up the mountains.
Right now, we're here at Barangay Bangad or the Tribe of Bangad,
and we need to leave our vehicles behind because the terrain is too difficult.
We would walk from here to Sumadel, it would take almost five hours
and the distance we will travel uphill is approximately eight to nine kilometers.
At present the place and the natives here are known
not only for the products from their harvests,
like brown rice and coffee;
the place is also popular for its arts and for their hospitality.
My tribe Sumadel is one of the most noted barangay and the most hospitable people,
the most respectful people, the most industrious people...
Sumadel has the lowest crime rate in the Tinglayan Municipality even in the barangay
because the people there have good relationship, they are very hospitable
you can stay there for free, and even the food and coffee are also free.
For the natives living in Sumadel, a few hours of walking is not a new thing.
It's not easy hiking up the mountain.
"If you fall, you're dead."
The path is slippery and narrow.
"That's what we still have to climb."
And if the hike downhill is hard, the hike uphill is even harder.
This path beside the mountain is the same path used by the ministers who first preached
about the Church Of Christ in this place.
The efforts of the early ministers in the District of Kalinga to spread the Gospel in Sumadel
went through severe hardships and difficulties,
because danger couldn't be avoided in their travels;
the path they treaded was very dangerous because the slightest mistake could cause them to fall off the cliff.
There was a minister who really fell off the cliff. He is brother Ernesto Dela Cruz.
Through the mercy and help of our Lord God
he is still with us and until now he still goes here even though the journey going up here is very dangerous.
The performance of ministers' duties here, their endurance and patience of the ministers, are clearly seen
especially the older ministers before.
Despite their local assignments and worship service assignments are very far, mountainous,
and the roads are difficult, they don't mind; they endure these conditions.
Because of the difficulty and danger of traveling to Sumadel
add to that the incidents of tribal wars,
which was why it was only in 1984 when the preaching of the Church began in this place,
and that was also the year when the local congregation was officially established,
the local congregation of Sumadel.
From here up to that house that you can see, we would walk and we would continue past that house
the tribe of Sumadel is still afar off from that house.
There's still an uphill climb
Before we reach the local congregation, we had to stop for a couple of times and rest.
Especially under these big trees near the river.
As we continued our journey,
we heard more stories from the ministers
and ministerial workers who were previously assigned in Sumadel
When one of the older ministers we were with in the district had a worship service assignment
I fetched him at Bangad local congregation because his vehicle could no longer make the climb.
Because the rain was too heavy, we reached this part. Before this part was wide enough
but due to the heavy rain, there was a landslide in this area and nothing was left
This path where we're standing was only repaired by the Sumadel tribe to walk on
From 4:00 a.m. we assembled at the district and until now we're still hiking
it has been hours of continued hiking.
The efforts of the men entrusted by the Church Administration
to be assigned here and preach the Gospel to the tribe of Sumadel cannot be discounted
They understand that their efforts would lead to further victories.
Meanwhile in Barangay Sumadel, Kalinga, the construction of the new house of worship of the Church Of Christ has begun
From Tabuk City, we would travel for more than 70 kilometers before reaching the place
where the materials would be dropped off
afterwards it would be manually lifted uphill to Barangay Sumadel.
A beautiful and orderly barangay chapel of the Church Of Christ
now stands in this mountain.
But who was God's primary instrument for establishing the Church Of Christ in these mountains?
Who was he who accompanied the ministers who first preached the words of God in this place?
He who first went up to the mountains to invite the people from the tribe of Sumadel?
It was in the 80s then
from Baguio City where he graduated from his studies,
he decided to return to the mountains
and be with the tribe of Sumadel.
He is Brother Samuel Abag-oy.
1977, I went to Baguio;
1979, I finished my studies;
and in 1981, I was baptized.
When I remembered my relatives in Sumadel, I also invited them to know the Church
So in 1988, they were baptized.
Before, there was no Church Of Christ or a member of the Church from the Sumadel tribe.
No one would have thought that through Brother Samuel,
the teachings of the Church would spread up to the top of this mountain.
The Church Of Christ began here when Brother Samuel Abag-oy came here
and began doing missionary works in this place.
Because of Brother Samuel Abag-oy,
many of his tribe members in Sumadel are now members of the Church Of Christ.
And on June 19, 2016,
the brethren conducted the first worship service in their new house of worship or barangay chapel.
When I found out that someone from INC Construction came over to the tribe of Sumadel,
I was overjoyed.
When it began,
the brethren had a hard time bringing the materials up here
for the brethren to have a place where they could worship.
As we were walking through the long path and as we were looking at Brother Samuel,
in his condition, we couldn't help but think about how, on many occasions,
he went up and down this mountain, alone,
to introduce to the tribe of Sumadel the Church Of Christ and the teachings upheld by its members.
We have proven that his intentions are truly genuine.
We are very fortunate that we have an inspiration like Brother Samuel
who bravely and patiently strove to propagate the words of our Lord God.
He did not look at his physical condition.
Instead, he was filled with compassion for his relatives here in the Sumadel tribe
so that they too could understand the doctrines of the Church Of Christ.
Seeing his condition and disability, you wouldn't believe that he was able to do that on his own,
that he strove to propagate the teaching with such diligence.
Though Brother Samuel had a hard time, due to the fact that he used his hands for walking,
he was really determined to invite people.
We are happy that he was able to invite us.
Even though they were still on the road until late in the evening,
this did not hinder them from bringing here the understanding of the importance of the Church Of Christ.
He needed to travel for four hours.
And though he had a hard time going up the mountain,
he pushed himself to do it, for he wants the people here to be saved.
If Brother Samuel was not a faithful believer and if he didn't have a high regard for duty,
he wouldn't have sacrificed to reach this place.
For Brother Samuel, he was able to do all these not because he was good or strong.
He succeed in the work of propagation because of the help and mercy of the Lord God.
That's why he is very thankful.
I'm thankful to God and I always pray that He would help me
so that I could invite more people because I want more people to be saved.
During the times when Brother Samuel had difficulties going up the mountain by himself,
especially when he wasn't feeling well,
using the little money he earned, he would hire people to carry him up,
so that he could reach the people whom he wanted to lead into the Church.
Back in 1984, we were the ones who carry Samuel Abag-oy.
Sometimes I would carry him but I wouldn't ask him to pay me.
My companions would be the ones given the payment of two pesos.
This was the tradition of Kalinga back then.
This was how diligent and dedicated Brother Samuel was
in obeying the commandment of the Lord God to propagate His words.
27 years had passed
since he last walked here using his hands.
It's only now that he once again saw the beauty of the mountains.
It's also only now that he would once again see his tribes people from Sumadel
who have been baptized inside the Church Of Christ for a long time now.
Only now, after 27 years.
I returned here to see the condition of our tribes people.
They are glad especially those whom I have invited.
The elders whom I invited before already passed away.
Their families, when I asked, are all active members of the Church,
even their children up to their grandchildren.
At last, we reached the site of the new house of worship.
We feel and see the joy of Brother Samuel.
From no one, there are now many members of the Church Of Christ.
From none, there is now an orderly and beautiful house of worship.
They are now able to perform the true worship and service to the Lord God.
In totality, Brother Samuel has already brought many people inside the Church.
They are the people whom he invited or encouraged
to examine and listen to the teachings upheld by the Church Of Christ.
He has been to many places where he also shared the teachings and do missionary works
and through the mercy and help of God, it's God's miracle,
many people were encouraged and became the pioneers of the local congregations there.
When I left Sumadel, I was able to have 48 people baptized in the Church.
When we transferred to the Local Congregation of Bangad, we were able to invite 26 people.
When we moved to Buagan, there were 18 that were baptized.
When we transferred to Bolo, we had 52.
Then we moved to Bayabat, 36 people were baptized.
When we transferred to Agbanaoag, we had 18 people baptized.
Since I was baptized back in 1981 until 2016, I was able to have 223 people baptized in the Church.
The following day before going down the mountains,
the ministers along with Brother Samuel bid the brethren in Sumadel goodbye.
They understand that it might be a long time before they see each other again and be in the company
of the man first used by the Lord God as an instrument for them to have the true hope in receiving salvation.
I am thankful to Brother Eduardo V. Manalo
because a house of worship was built for the brethren here.
I am greatly thankful to him so I hope that the Father in heaven always keeps him safe
for him to continue in administering the Church.
I am thankful to the Lord God because although this is my condition and at my age,
I strive to attend the worship services to be strengthened in my faith.
Whatever the difficulties may be as I walk using my hands,
especially at my age, my body always aches but the important thing is I am able to attend the worship services.
Anywhere that Brother Samuel's hands bring him,
those who are dear to him are sure that he brings with him his membership in the Church Of Christ.
They know that he will continue to propagate the faith that he received.
A solid proof of this is that Brother Samuel Abag-oy is proud to be a member of the Church Of Christ.
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