10/01/2021
This is to give you all a bird's eye view on how this church was started. George Lowrey wanted to go back to the Philippines in 2008 and start a ministry. He and his wife Lisa Lowrey prayed to the Lord for guidance and direction because it's not that easy to start a ministry. He had no educational background from a Bible college, but he had a burning desire to serve the Lord. George was an ordained Baptist preacher in Texas. He and his wife had to give up everything they had in the states and come back in the Philippines in January 7, 2009. They held their first church service in January 11, 2009 at the carport of their family home in Poblacion, Laoac with only four familes. They had a total of 15 people who attended including adults, 2 kids, a toddler and a baby. George was the preacher and Jhun was the keyboard player and song leader. Sometimes they do their services at their living room. They named their church that time as Laoac Fundamental Baptist Church. Then they had film showing and invited their neighbors to come and watch the movie Burning Hell. George baptised 4 people at the beach after 3 months in their ministry. They did worship services at their family home for more than a year.
In April 2010, George and Lisa came to Anis and invited kids to enroll in VBS. They went from house to house and asked kids to enroll. They rented a house to hold their VBS. A bunch of kids came. After VBS, 11 kids accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and were baptized at the beach in May 2010. When they moved to Anis, they changed the name of their church to Living Water Baptist Church. After VBS, the couple invited the adults and parents to attend Sunday School and worship services. The kids have their Sunday School in the house with Lisa as their teachet while the adults had their Sunday School under the mango tree with Jhun as their teacher. Pastor George did the preaching in English. Lisa had to translate in their dialect but later on, no more translation. The members got used listening to his English messages. More kids and adults were added and were baptized at the beach. Every year since then, they have VBS for the kids. In 2013, the church was able to purchased a land. In 2014, they started to construct a church building from just the tithes and offerings of the members who were faithful tithes giver. In April 2015, they moved to their new church building though it was still roughly finished and windows and doors were not yet installed. Little by little and as the Lord provides, the church was plastered, windows, doors and deep well installed, building was painted the lot was fenced. Rose volunteered to be the kids Sunday School teacher and Lisa taught Sunday School for adults. Pastor George and Pastor Jhun preached alternately.
In April 2018, the construction of the church extention begun. During that summer, Pastor George got sick and was hospitalized. Construction had to stop. Pastor George and Lisa flew to the US. Pastor Jhun Aquino and his wife Rose took over during their absence. In November 2, 2018, Pastor George went home to heaven and is now sitting at Jesus' feet. We will see him again someday.
Now, it's the 12th year anniversary of Living Water Baptist Church. We thank God for all the blessings and provisions he had bestowed on this church. More improvements were made like putting tiles on the floor. Looking forward to more years to worship and serve the Lord and more souls to get saved. To God be the glory!
