Capitol City Baptist Church (West Avenue, Quezon City)
Encyclopedia
Capitol City Baptist Church (CCBC) is a baptist
church
located at 111 West Avenue, Quezon City
, Philippines
. It is one of two baptist churches found along West Avenue, the other being Faith Baptist Church. In 2009, the church made history as it reached 50 years of existence.
, and that Jesus
died for the sins of man so that all who place their faith
in him are saved from damnation
. CCBC places very strong emphasis on evangelism
as is evident in its mission and purpose statements; its mission statement is "In the heart of the nation, with the nations at heart," while its purpose statement is "Strategically Engaged in Nations’ Discipleship through Christ-centered Community Transformation Birthing and Building up Churches (SEND CCBC)."
, Dr. Reynaldo R. Avante, under the guidance of a church board
headed by Jewellord P. Peralta. Consisting of not more than 15 members, the church board is composed of the senior pastor, two other pastors, and congregation members who are mostly recognized as elders as described in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. The board has several duties such as providing spiritual leadership, drafting annual plans and budgets, and overseeing all church-related affairs.
:
|-
| align = "center" colspan = 4 | CCBC Sunday Worship Services
|-
| align = "center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3" | Service
| align = "center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3" | Start Time (PHT
)
| align = "center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3" | End Time (PHT)
| align = "center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3" | Average Number of Attendees
|-
| align = "left" | First Service
| align = "right" | 07:30
| align = "right" | 09:00
| align = "right" | 200
|-
| align = "left" | Second Service
| align = "right" | 10:30
| align = "right" | 12:00
| align = "right" | 500
|-
| align = "left" | Third Service
| align = "right" | 18:00
| align = "right" | 19:30
| align = "right" | 100
The church performs the Holy Communion
during the services of the first Sunday of every month
.
The second service provides for a sign language
interpretation for deaf attendees, who average around 100 in number per service.
In addition to the Sunday services, the church also holds a Wednesday service called the Midweek Encounter with God (MEG), which starts at 19:00 and ends at 20:30. Attendance for this service, however, is rather low, averaging about 20 attendees per week.
has a floor area of about 400 square-meters. Two balconies (left and front, when facing the audience from the stage
) exist, each with a seating capacity
of close to 150 people. The main (ground) floor can be occupied by around 400 people, yielding a total seating capacity of approximately 700 people for the whole auditorium.
Surrounding the auditorium are several rooms used for various meetings.
The church also houses an indoor parking lot
covering an area of about 200 square-meters.
is set to finance the organization's ministries, capital expenditures, staff wages, and various administrative costs. In a statement released in July of 2011, CCBC disclosed that from January to May of 2011, it averaged a monthly income of about ₱1,200,000200,000. Expenses averaged approximately the same amount of ₱1,200,000100,000 for the period reported.
seminars to equip its members on the task of spreading the gospel
. Among the trainings provided are evangelism explosion and Kairos courses.
CCBC Caloocan was founded in 1997.
to especially minister to the needs of Filipino
women working as domestic helpers
there. The overseas endeavor is spearheaded by Pastor Jorge De Ramos, and as of 2011, administers to the needs of over 100 overseas filipino workers
through a ministry that has been called the Jubilee International Filipino Fellowship. The fellowship conducts its worship services at an auditorium located at the Pui Ching Academy, which is capable of seating a total of 400 attendees.
prospective missionaries
prior to actual engagement.
s where members engage in several activities which may include enjoying fellowship, conducting Bible studies, and praying together. Often composed of fewer than 10 members, a CoC group focuses on the personalized needs of its members through regular (usually weekly) meetings where members share, counsel and pray for their individual life concerns.
As of 2009, there are about 60 registered CoC groups. A group is often formed based on certain commonalities among its members. Such similarities may be rooted based on age, gender, residential proximity, occupation or artistic inclination.
At the start of 2011, the children ministry opened a Sunday school class that runs in parallel with the evening service. The class was set up in order to minister to children whose guardians can only attend the evening service, as well as to minimize distractions caused by children who misbehave during the evening service.
Ministry of CCBC, more popularly known as Youth@111 in reference to the address of the church, is a group that caters to the distinctive needs of teenagers
. Directed by Pastor Randolph Velasquez and registered under the National Youth Commission
, the ministry helps primarily high school
and college
student
s face the transitional phase of adolescence.
In 2010, Youth@111 celebrated its first 10 years of existence.
classes with the students of the school, often gathering students in the same class sections to common groups to foster openness and sharing in discussions.
portion of the worship service. The ministry uses mostly contemporary Christian music
in performing its function, though occasionally traditional hymns are utilized. Songs are often in the English language although songs in Tagalog
or other Filipino dialects are also employed.
Also referred to as the praise and worship ministry, the music group is regarded as one of the more physically demanding departments of the church, as members commit to extended hours of practices and performances without any monetary benefit.
is also used albeit to a lesser degree. The first service, however, tends to utilize the Tagalog language more extensively. In addition, sign language
interpretation is made available during the second service to minister to the needs of deaf attendees.
but is verbally referred to as the 'bulletin.' It contains a message from the senior pastor, and a financial report on the tithes and offerings received from the previous week's services. Moreover, the programme includes a listing of the church activities from the various ministries for the current Sunday as well as for the days ahead. Such activities are collectively referred to as 'Kingdom Opportunities,' and their publication in the bulletin is meant to attract participants or volunteers for the corresponding events.
The second type of literature is a weekly prayer guide and is entitled "Golden Bowls" in allusion to the prayer of the saints from the context of Revelations 5:8. The guide functions as a suggested prayer list which includes the praises and requests of church workers, members and attendees, and families. Furthermore, the literature also reports on the current statuses and aspirations of the different projects and ministries of the church.
," which is later modified to "Happy Birthday, Jesus." Donations received through this tradition are then used to fund the various activities of the church.
differences admittedly do exist within the church, members are strongly exhorted to transcend such barriers and unify as a group in fulfilling God's purposes. In 2011, members of the Golden Ladies Fellowship were commended for their ability to harmoniously relate with each other despite the substantial heterogeneity in social classes
.
s were awarded to pastors, missionaries and workers in recognition of their contributions to the church.
from the book of Matthew
in its sermons from August to October. Throughout the month of November, the church celebrated the 10th year anniversary of Youth@111 through a series of festive and thanksgiving events.
In December, the church conducted an election for new board members who will serve for the years 2011 and 2012. CCBC also celebrated the Christmas season through five consecutive evening worship services similar to the Catholic’s practice of “simbang gabi
.”
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
church
Local church
A local church is a Christian congregation of members and clergy.Local church may also refer to:* Local churches , a Christian group based on the teachings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, and associated with the Living Stream Ministry publishing house.* Parish church, a local church united with...
located at 111 West Avenue, Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. It is one of two baptist churches found along West Avenue, the other being Faith Baptist Church. In 2009, the church made history as it reached 50 years of existence.
Faith and Purpose
CCBC believes in the Bible as the ultimate source for all its teachings and practices. Specifically, the church believes in the trinityTrinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
, and that Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
died for the sins of man so that all who place their faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
in him are saved from damnation
Damnation
Damnation is the concept of everlasting divine punishment and/or disgrace, especially the punishment for sin as threatened by God . A damned being "in damnation" is said to be either in Hell, or living in a state wherein they are divorced from Heaven and/or in a state of disgrace from God's favor...
. CCBC places very strong emphasis on evangelism
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
as is evident in its mission and purpose statements; its mission statement is "In the heart of the nation, with the nations at heart," while its purpose statement is "Strategically Engaged in Nations’ Discipleship through Christ-centered Community Transformation Birthing and Building up Churches (SEND CCBC)."
Leadership
CCBC is led by the senior pastorPastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
, Dr. Reynaldo R. Avante, under the guidance of a church board
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
headed by Jewellord P. Peralta. Consisting of not more than 15 members, the church board is composed of the senior pastor, two other pastors, and congregation members who are mostly recognized as elders as described in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. The board has several duties such as providing spiritual leadership, drafting annual plans and budgets, and overseeing all church-related affairs.
Services and Attendance
CCBC accommodates three Sunday worship servicesChurch service
In Christianity, a church service is a term used to describe a formalized period of communal worship, often but not exclusively occurring on Sunday, or Saturday in the case of those churches practicing seventh-day Sabbatarianism. The church service is the gathering together of Christians to be...
:
|-
| align = "center" colspan = 4 | CCBC Sunday Worship Services
|-
| align = "center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3" | Service
| align = "center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3" | Start Time (PHT
Philippine Standard Time
Philippine Standard Time , also known as Philippine Time , is the official name for the time in the Philippines. The country only has one time zone, the UTC+08:00 time zone. The country used the daylight saving time for a short time...
)
| align = "center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3" | End Time (PHT)
| align = "center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3" | Average Number of Attendees
|-
| align = "left" | First Service
| align = "right" | 07:30
| align = "right" | 09:00
| align = "right" | 200
|-
| align = "left" | Second Service
| align = "right" | 10:30
| align = "right" | 12:00
| align = "right" | 500
|-
| align = "left" | Third Service
| align = "right" | 18:00
| align = "right" | 19:30
| align = "right" | 100
The church performs the Holy Communion
Lord's Supper
The Lord's Supper may refer to:*Eucharist, Mass or Communion, a rite in Christianity*The Last Supper, the last meal Jesus of Nazareth shared with his disciples in the collection of Christian Scriptures called The Holy Bible....
during the services of the first Sunday of every month
Month
A month is a unit of time, used with calendars, which was first used and invented in Mesopotamia, as a natural period related to the motion of the Moon; month and Moon are cognates. The traditional concept arose with the cycle of moon phases; such months are synodic months and last approximately...
.
The second service provides for a sign language
Sign language
A sign language is a language which, instead of acoustically conveyed sound patterns, uses visually transmitted sign patterns to convey meaning—simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's...
interpretation for deaf attendees, who average around 100 in number per service.
In addition to the Sunday services, the church also holds a Wednesday service called the Midweek Encounter with God (MEG), which starts at 19:00 and ends at 20:30. Attendance for this service, however, is rather low, averaging about 20 attendees per week.
Physical Structure
The auditoriumAuditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
has a floor area of about 400 square-meters. Two balconies (left and front, when facing the audience from the stage
Stage (theatre)
In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...
) exist, each with a seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of close to 150 people. The main (ground) floor can be occupied by around 400 people, yielding a total seating capacity of approximately 700 people for the whole auditorium.
Surrounding the auditorium are several rooms used for various meetings.
The church also houses an indoor parking lot
Parking lot
A parking lot , also known as car lot, is a cleared area that is intended for parking vehicles. Usually, the term refers to a dedicated area that has been provided with a durable or semi-durable surface....
covering an area of about 200 square-meters.
Expansion
During the 50th anniversary celebration of the church, plans to construct a new building on the indoor parking lot were unveiled. In 2011, after two years of silence, discussions on the building expansion resumed. Preliminary calculations estimate the total expansion cost to amount to ₱70 million.Finance
Church operations are funded by the tithes and offerings collected during the worship services. A monthly target of 1.77 million PesosPhilippine peso
The peso is the currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 centavos . Before 1967, the language used on the banknotes and coins was English and so "peso" was the name used...
is set to finance the organization's ministries, capital expenditures, staff wages, and various administrative costs. In a statement released in July of 2011, CCBC disclosed that from January to May of 2011, it averaged a monthly income of about ₱1,200,000200,000. Expenses averaged approximately the same amount of ₱1,200,000100,000 for the period reported.
Trainings
CCBC regularly conducts evangelismEvangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
seminars to equip its members on the task of spreading the gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
. Among the trainings provided are evangelism explosion and Kairos courses.
Philippines
As of 2009, CCBC has planted a total of at least 8 local daughter churches:- CCBC Caloocan (Caloocan City)
- CCBC Cubao (Cubao, Quezon City)
- CCBC Catarman (Catarman, Northern SamarCatarman, Northern SamarCatarman is a first class Municipality in the Philippines. It is the capital and largest town in terms of both land area and population in the province of Northern Samar. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 81,067 making it the most populous municipality in Eastern Visayas...
) - CCBC Arayat (Arayat, Pampanga)
- CCBC Dela Costa (BulacanBulacanBulacan , officially called the Province of Bulacan or simply Bulacan Province, is a first class province of the Republic of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region in the island of Luzon, north of Manila , and part of the Metro...
) - Filinvest Community Christian Fellowship (Batasan Hills, Quezon CityBatasan Hills, Quezon CityBatasan Hills is a barangay located in the 2nd District of Quezon City, Philippines. It borders the barangays of Commonwealth and Bagong Silangan to the north, Barangay Holy Spirit to the west, Barangay Matandang Balara to the south, and the town of San Mateo, Rizal to the east...
) - Christ-Centered Bible Church Mindanao Avenue (Mindanao Ave., Quezon City)
- CCBC Balogo (MarinduqueMarinduqueIn 1945, combined American and Philippine Commonwealth troops attacked from the Japanese Troops liberated to the Battle of Marinduque in the Second World War.-Archaeology:...
)
CCBC Caloocan was founded in 1997.
Hong Kong
CCBC's evangelistic efforts reach out to Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
to especially minister to the needs of Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
women working as domestic helpers
Domestic worker
A domestic worker is a man, woman or child who works within the employer's household. Domestic workers perform a variety of household services for an individual or a family, from providing care for children and elderly dependents to cleaning and household maintenance, known as housekeeping...
there. The overseas endeavor is spearheaded by Pastor Jorge De Ramos, and as of 2011, administers to the needs of over 100 overseas filipino workers
Overseas Filipino
An Overseas Filipino is a person of Philippine origin who lives outside of the Philippines. This term applies both to people of Filipino ancestry who are citizens or residents of a different country and to those Filipino citizens abroad on a more temporary status.Most overseas Filipinos migrate to...
through a ministry that has been called the Jubilee International Filipino Fellowship. The fellowship conducts its worship services at an auditorium located at the Pui Ching Academy, which is capable of seating a total of 400 attendees.
Cambodia
CCBC partners with Ethnos Asia Ministries to conduct trainings in Cambodia. Trainings are designed to equip Cambodian church workers with methods on worship, Bible study, evangelism, teaching and medical assistance. In addition, CCBC members may be sent to this country for exposure trips with the purpose of acclimatizingAcclimatization
Acclimatisation or acclimation is the process of an individual organism adjusting to a gradual change in its environment, allowing it to maintain performance across a range of environmental conditions...
prospective missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
prior to actual engagement.
CoC's
Circle of Care (CoC) groups are cell groupCell group
The cell group is a form of church organization that is used in some Christian churches. Cell groups are generally intended to teach the Bible and personalize Christian fellowship. They are always used in cell churches, but also occur in parachurch organizations and other interdenominational...
s where members engage in several activities which may include enjoying fellowship, conducting Bible studies, and praying together. Often composed of fewer than 10 members, a CoC group focuses on the personalized needs of its members through regular (usually weekly) meetings where members share, counsel and pray for their individual life concerns.
As of 2009, there are about 60 registered CoC groups. A group is often formed based on certain commonalities among its members. Such similarities may be rooted based on age, gender, residential proximity, occupation or artistic inclination.
All-Men Fellowship
The all-men fellowship is composed of about 6 CoC’s whose members are all of the male gender and of adult age. Members in this fellowship meet about once a month to establish and maintain friendships, worship as a group, and receive spiritual guidance for the direction of the corresponding CoC groups.Golden Ladies Fellowship
The Golden Ladies Fellowship is an alliance of church women who are at least 50 years of age. The group was founded in 1994.Children Ministry
The children ministry, more popularly called “Kids@111” in reference to the address of CCBC, is a service that nurtures the children of the church ranging from 2 years to 12 years of age. Specifically, the ministry aims to impart the word of God to children so that they become knowledgeable in and obedient to the faith by the time they reach adolescence. The ministry further believes in the value of every child, recognizes the need to develop their talents, and envisions them as future leaders. To fulfill its mission and vision, the ministry engages in several activities aimed to develop children. Among these are Sunday school classes, vacation bible classes, arts and crafts, environmental awareness programs, and parent-child interactions.At the start of 2011, the children ministry opened a Sunday school class that runs in parallel with the evening service. The class was set up in order to minister to children whose guardians can only attend the evening service, as well as to minimize distractions caused by children who misbehave during the evening service.
Youth Ministry
The YouthYouth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
Ministry of CCBC, more popularly known as Youth@111 in reference to the address of the church, is a group that caters to the distinctive needs of teenagers
Adolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
. Directed by Pastor Randolph Velasquez and registered under the National Youth Commission
National Youth Commission (Philippines)
The National Youth Commission , also known as the NYC, is a government agency in the Philippines that specifically addresses issues surrounding the Filipino youth...
, the ministry helps primarily high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
and college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
student
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
s face the transitional phase of adolescence.
In 2010, Youth@111 celebrated its first 10 years of existence.
San Francisco High School
Youth@111 extends its ministry to the San Francisco High School due to the school's proximal distance from the church and Mr. Randolph Velasquez's affiliation as a Community Volunteer worker in the school. CCBC workers and volunteers regularly conduct values educationValues education
Values education is a term used to name several things, and there is much academic controversy surrounding it. Some regard it as all aspects of the process by which teachers transmit values to pupils...
classes with the students of the school, often gathering students in the same class sections to common groups to foster openness and sharing in discussions.
Music Ministry
The music ministry caters to the musical needs of the church and is most prominent in its role of leading the congregational praise and worshipContemporary worship
Contemporary worship is a form of Christian worship that emerged within Western evangelical Protestantism in the twentieth century. It was originally confined to the charismatic movement, but is now found to varying extents in a wide range of churches, including many that do not subscribe to a...
portion of the worship service. The ministry uses mostly contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
in performing its function, though occasionally traditional hymns are utilized. Songs are often in the English language although songs in Tagalog
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
or other Filipino dialects are also employed.
Also referred to as the praise and worship ministry, the music group is regarded as one of the more physically demanding departments of the church, as members commit to extended hours of practices and performances without any monetary benefit.
Social Concern Ministry
The social concern ministry works on projects that mostly benefit individuals and groups that are beyond the confines and direct responsibility of the church. Some of the projects in 2010 involved blood donations, donations for children afflicted with cancer, and training on reaching out to individuals sick with HIV/AIDS.Languages
Services are often conducted in the English language though TagalogTagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
is also used albeit to a lesser degree. The first service, however, tends to utilize the Tagalog language more extensively. In addition, sign language
Sign language
A sign language is a language which, instead of acoustically conveyed sound patterns, uses visually transmitted sign patterns to convey meaning—simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's...
interpretation is made available during the second service to minister to the needs of deaf attendees.
Literature
The church publishes two weekly literature types that are distributed to attendees as they enter the auditorium during the Sunday services. The first type serves as a programmeProgramme (booklet)
A programme or program is a booklet available for patrons attending a live event such as theatre performances, fêtes, sports events, etc. It is a printed leaflet outlining the parts of the event scheduled to take place, principal performers and background information. In the case of theatrical...
but is verbally referred to as the 'bulletin.' It contains a message from the senior pastor, and a financial report on the tithes and offerings received from the previous week's services. Moreover, the programme includes a listing of the church activities from the various ministries for the current Sunday as well as for the days ahead. Such activities are collectively referred to as 'Kingdom Opportunities,' and their publication in the bulletin is meant to attract participants or volunteers for the corresponding events.
The second type of literature is a weekly prayer guide and is entitled "Golden Bowls" in allusion to the prayer of the saints from the context of Revelations 5:8. The guide functions as a suggested prayer list which includes the praises and requests of church workers, members and attendees, and families. Furthermore, the literature also reports on the current statuses and aspirations of the different projects and ministries of the church.
December
Similar to Philippine culture, CCBC usually conducts several parties one after the other during the month of December to celebrate the Christmas season. Parties are often separated according to the different fellowships and ministries of the church. Also during this month, the church practices an event called “Everybody’s Birthday,” whereby a big box is placed on stage to which congregation members place monetary offerings into. Members walk to the stage to drop their offerings as the month of their birthdates are called out, while the band repeatedly plays the song, “Happy Birthday to YouHappy Birthday to You
"Happy Birthday to You", also known more simply as "Happy Birthday", is a song that is traditionally sung to celebrate the anniversary of a person's birth...
," which is later modified to "Happy Birthday, Jesus." Donations received through this tradition are then used to fund the various activities of the church.
Families
CCBC is not spared from national issues and trends that affect family health and relationships. For instance, though no formal studies have been conducted yet, it is generally acknowledged within the church that the rising number of parents who work as overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) places significant stress in the maintenance of relationships among members within families. Moreover, the growing number of parents who labor as call center agents also adds to the difficulty in raising families, as call center agents often have to work in night schedules thereby decreasing the amount of time of being with their respective families.Marriages
The church highly discourages its members from marrying unbelievers in strict adherence to the biblical teaching found in 2 Corinthians 6:14. In contrast, members are actually encouraged to marry each other, though the church has nothing against its members marrying fellow believers from other churches of the same creed.Socioeconomic Differences
As significant socioeconomicSocioeconomic status
Socioeconomic status is an economic and sociological combined total measure of a person's work experience and of an individual's or family’s economic and social position in relation to others, based on income, education, and occupation...
differences admittedly do exist within the church, members are strongly exhorted to transcend such barriers and unify as a group in fulfilling God's purposes. In 2011, members of the Golden Ladies Fellowship were commended for their ability to harmoniously relate with each other despite the substantial heterogeneity in social classes
Social class
Social classes are economic or cultural arrangements of groups in society. Class is an essential object of analysis for sociologists, political scientists, economists, anthropologists and social historians. In the social sciences, social class is often discussed in terms of 'social stratification'...
.
1986
On July 1986, Pastor Cesar C. Castro of the Deaf Evangelistic Alliance Foundation (DEAF), Rina Dimaculangan, and CCBC Pastor Rev. Reynaldo I. Atienza established the Deaf Ministry.2009
On July 26, 2009, CCBC celebrated its 50th anniversary at the Henry Lee Iwrin Theater of the Ateneo de Manila University. During the event, commemorative plaqueCommemorative plaque
A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other vertical surface, and bearing text in memory of an important figure or event...
s were awarded to pastors, missionaries and workers in recognition of their contributions to the church.
2010
In the year 2010, the church covered each of the BeatitudesBeatitudes
In Christianity, the Beatitudes are a set of teachings by Jesus that appear in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The term Beatitude comes from the Latin adjective beatus which means happy, fortunate, or blissful....
from the book of Matthew
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
in its sermons from August to October. Throughout the month of November, the church celebrated the 10th year anniversary of Youth@111 through a series of festive and thanksgiving events.
In December, the church conducted an election for new board members who will serve for the years 2011 and 2012. CCBC also celebrated the Christmas season through five consecutive evening worship services similar to the Catholic’s practice of “simbang gabi
Simbang Gabi
A Simbang Gabi is a nine-day Roman Catholic ritual novena performed in the Philippines which starts from December 16 and ends on December 24. Simbang Gabi, which translates to Evening Mass is usually performed as early as 4 or 5 in the morning...
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2011
- At the start of 2011, the children ministry opened a Sunday school class that runs in parallel with the evening service.
- In May, Youth@111, in collaboration with Nur Factory, engaged in a peace camp held in Camp Capinpin in RizalRizalRizal is a province located in the CALABARZON , just 16 kilometers east of Manila. The province was named after the country's national hero, José Rizal. Rizal Governor Casimiro A. Ynares III on June 17, 2008 announced the transfer of the Capitol from Pasig. Its P 270-million capitol building,...
, with the aim of fostering better understanding and peace between Muslim and Christian children. - During this year, after several months of evaluations and deliberations, Marcelo Abelado was commissioned to serve as associate pastor for the church.