Reformed Baptist Church of Abuyog - REBCA

21/05/2026

Last Friday, May 15, 2026, during the Biblical Counseling Class under Module 2: Dynamics of Biblical Change, the discussion centered on the connection between God’s covenant and true biblical change in the life of believers. The lesson emphasized that biblical counseling is not merely behavior modification or emotional improvement, but a spiritual transformation rooted in God’s eternal covenant purposes. It was highlighted that if a person is truly united to Christ by faith, genuine biblical change is expected because God faithfully works in the lives of His people according to His covenant promises (Romans 8:28–30; Philippians 1:6).

The class discussed the Covenant of Works, where Adam represented humanity and failed through sin, bringing condemnation and corruption to mankind. In contrast, the Covenant of Redemption revealed God’s eternal plan before the foundation of the world, where the Father appointed the Son to redeem His elect people through His perfect obedience and sacrificial death. The Covenant of Grace was then explained as God’s gracious relationship with sinners through Jesus Christ, where forgiveness, sanctification, and continual transformation are given freely by grace through faith.

Through these covenantal truths, the class learned that biblical change is possible because believers are no longer slaves to sin but are united to Christ under the Covenant of Grace. Therefore, whether a believer is suffering or struggling with sin, there is real hope for change because every detail of human history and every circumstance in the believer’s life is under the sovereign covenant rule of God. Biblical counseling, therefore, points people not merely to self-effort but to Christ, His gospel, and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit working through the Word of God.

13/05/2026

05/05/2026

The "Equipped by the Word" newsletter is a 2026 ministry update from the Reformed Baptist Church of Abuyog, underscoring the urgent need for Biblical counseling as a practical theology rooted in Scripture's sufficiency for soul care. In a region where secular psychology often competes for influence, the outreach equips pastors, church leaders, and believers across the Eastern Visayas with a clear, Reformed framework — affirming that God's Word, applied through the local church and the Holy Spirit's work, is the only truly sufficient and authoritative guide for addressing the deepest struggles of the human soul.

05/05/2026

See you, everyone, this Friday!
May 8, 2026

We are thrilled to announce that we have officially completed our Introduction to Biblical Counseling! It has been a powerful journey laying the groundwork, but the best is yet to come.
Starting next week, we shift our focus from the "what" to the "how" as we begin our next core subject:

The Dynamics of Biblical Change
In this course, we will explore the practical process by which the Gospel transforms a human heart. If you’ve ever wondered why we get stuck in certain patterns or how to foster lasting growth in yourself and others, this is the study for you.

Class Details

When: Every Friday (Starting next week!)

Topic: The Dynamics of Biblical Change

Focus: Practical application, heart-level transformation, and the power of the Word in daily life.

Speaker: Ptr. Jovert L. Vasquez

Venue: Reformed Baptist Center, Tacloban City

📢 Open for New Students!
If you missed the introduction, don’t worry! You can still join us for this new module. This is a perfect entry point for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of how God changes us from the inside out.
Invite a friend, bring your Bible, and come ready to grow!

30/04/2026

We are thrilled to announce that we have officially completed our Introduction to Biblical Counseling! It has been a powerful journey laying the groundwork, but the best is yet to come.
Starting next week, we shift our focus from the "what" to the "how" as we begin our next core subject:

The Dynamics of Biblical Change
In this course, we will explore the practical process by which the Gospel transforms a human heart. If you’ve ever wondered why we get stuck in certain patterns or how to foster lasting growth in yourself and others, this is the study for you.

Class Details

When: Every Friday (Starting next week!)

Topic: The Dynamics of Biblical Change

Focus: Practical application, heart-level transformation, and the power of the Word in daily life.

Speaker: Ptr. Jovert L. Vasquez

Venue: Reformed Baptist Center, Tacloban City

📢 Open for New Students!
If you missed the introduction, don’t worry! You can still join us for this new module. This is a perfect entry point for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of how God changes us from the inside out.
Invite a friend, bring your Bible, and come ready to grow!

20/04/2026

Sunday Sermon (Originally recorded on July 28, 2024)
Ptr. Jovert L. Vasquez
Text: Acts 11:1-18
"Ang Pagkalapad ug an Pagkamahinatagon sa Grasya sa Diyos Mao ang Nagabadlong sa Taas nga Panan-aw sa Kaugalingon"

20/04/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT: SCHEDULE UPDATE
The Biblical Counseling Class will have a temporary schedule adjustment for this week only. Please take note of the following details:

SPECIAL SCHEDULE
For this week only, our class will be held on:
Friday, April 24, 2026

Note: Regular Thursday sessions will resume the following week.

CONTACT DETAILS
Name: Ptr. Jovert L. Vasquez and Bro. Dennis Ojales

Contact No.: 0955 110 1029 | 0985 171 3830

Email: [email protected]

VENUE
Reformed Baptist Center, Cluster 4
L140 Bliss, Tacloban City

See you, everyone!

16/04/2026

Biblical Counseling Class | April 16, 2026 (Thursday)
10:00 AM – 12:00 NN; 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Lecturer: Ptr. Jovert L. Vasquez, Local Coordinator of BCMW

Morning Session: Foundational Questions

The class began by addressing five key questions that establish the biblical foundation of counseling:

Q1. When and why did counseling begin?
Counseling began in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:28), where God gave direction, purpose, and meaning to human life. Humanity was created to receive, interpret, and respond to God’s revelation in worship. However, in Genesis 3:1, counseling was distorted when Satan questioned God’s goodness and promoted self-reliance. This introduced a false, human-centered approach that twists truth and encourages independence from God.

Q2. What is Biblical Counseling?
Biblical counseling is the ministry of graciously applying the truths of Scripture to the challenges of life.

Q3. Who is responsible for this ministry?
Every believer is called to this work (Galatians 6:1–2), making it a shared responsibility within the body of Christ.

Q4. Why is this ministry important?
According to Colossians 1:28, personal ministry is essential for spiritual growth and maturity, as believers are admonished and taught toward Christlikeness.

Q5. What does this mean for individuals and the church?
✔ Believers are called to:
✔ Pursue ongoing spiritual growth (Ephesians 4:22–24)
✔ Prepare for personal ministry (2 Timothy 2:15)
✔ Avoid being intrusive or a busybody (2 Thessalonians 3:11)
✔ Practice and respect confidentiality (2 Corinthians 12:20)
✔ Support leaders and others engaged in this ministry (Hebrews 13:7, 17)

Afternoon Session: Definition and Nature of Biblical Counseling

The class then explored the definition of biblical counseling in progressively concise forms:

Four words: Practical theology, personally applied
Three words: Redemptive personal ministry
Two words: Soul care
One word: Discipleship

A full definition was also presented:
Biblical counseling is that action or process in which a concerned believer (or group of believers) lovingly confronts and scripturally instructs a sinning or suffering fellow believer for the purpose of affecting God-glorifying change.

Key Characteristics of Biblical Counseling
Biblical counseling was further explained through its essential features:
✔ It may be a one-time or ongoing process (Matthew 18:15–17)
✔ It maintains a balance of truth and love (Ephesians 4:15)
✔ It occurs in various settings (one-on-one, small group, or church-wide)
✔ It involves intentional conversations aimed at change (Colossians 1:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:14)
✔ It affirms the sufficiency of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16–17)
✔ It includes teaching and sanctification (John 17:17)
✔ It serves both preventive and restorative purposes (Galatians 6:1–2)
✔ It is a ministry of the whole church body (Romans 15:14)
✔ It seeks to uphold God’s glory and reputation (1 Corinthians 10:31)
✔ It aims at true transformation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:17–24)

The Biblical Counseling Class emphasized that counseling is not merely a specialized task but a Christ-centered ministry entrusted to every believer. Rooted in Scripture and empowered by love, it seeks the transformation of lives for the glory of God. Ultimately, biblical counseling is discipleship in action—helping one another grow into the likeness of Christ through the faithful application of His Word.

12/04/2026

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Reformed Baptist Center of Tacloban invites all interested believers—most especially pastors and church leaders who want to serve and counsel others according to God's Word—to attend a free Biblical Counseling Class. This is a vital equipping initiative for all who desire to minister the grace of Christ to hurting and struggling souls.

🔊You are invited to a BIBLICAL COUNSELING CLASS!

🎤Resource Speaker: Pastor Jovert L. Vasquez, Local Coordinator of Biblical Counseling Ministries Worldwide

📍Purpose of the Biblical Counseling Class
This Biblical Counseling Class has been prayerfully designed with a singular and urgent purpose: to equip pastors, church leaders, and all interested believers to become effective, faithful, and God-honoring biblical counselors who bring the transforming power of God's Word to bear upon the deepest struggles, sorrows, and sins of the people entrusted to their care.

At the heart of this training stands a foundational conviction — that Scripture is completely sufficient for all matters of the soul. The Word of God is not merely a supplement to secular psychological methods; it is the authoritative, comprehensive, and living instrument through which the Holy Spirit works genuine and lasting transformation in the hearts of counselees.

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
— 2 Timothy 3:16–17 NKJV

We believe that God's Word is sufficient — not in part, but in whole — to diagnose the root causes of human struggle, to prescribe the path of repentance and renewal, and to sustain those walking through grief, fear, relational conflict, addiction, and all manner of suffering. The biblical counselor, therefore, does not need to look elsewhere for a more effective framework. The Scriptures, rightly handled, provide everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).

⚓What Participants Will Be Equipped To Do

📌Understand the biblical framework for counseling — its theological foundations and its distinction from secular psychological approaches.
📌Apply the sufficiency of Scripture as the primary and all-sufficient resource in addressing spiritual, emotional, relational, and behavioral problems.
📌Develop skill in listening, asking, and speaking the truth in love with those who are struggling in their walk with God.
📌Conduct one-on-one and small group counseling sessions grounded in sound doctrine and pastoral care.
📌Help counselees identify heart-level sins and idols, leading them to genuine repentance and faith in Christ.
📌Bring hope, comfort, and correction to God's people through the faithful and compassionate ministry of the Word.

As the Apostle Paul declares in Colossians 3:16 — "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another" — this class is a direct response to that call. We invite you to invest in your ministry by learning to counsel God's people the way God himself has ordained: through His Word, by His Spirit, for His glory.

CLASS DETAILS
⛪Venue: Reformed Baptist Center Tacloban City, Cluster 4 L140 Bliss
🗓️Schedule: Every Thursday | 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
🎤Lecturer: Ptr. Jovert L. Vasquez:
✍️Registration Fee: FREE

CONTACT DETAILS:
Ptr. Jovert L. Vasquez | 0955 110 1029 [email protected]
Bro. Dennis Ojales | 0985 171 3830

Come and be Equipped!

You may register through scanning the provided QR coded or log-in in this link https://forms.gle/53x3satdmfXjgb2q9 for reservation of slots. This is a FREE of CHARGE Biblical Counseling Class.