1st AG initiates dental mission for drug surrenderees

CITY of BALANGA, Bataan – Thirty drug surrenderees benefitted in the dental mission spearheaded by the 1st Assemblies of God (1^st AG) Church held at the Bahay Pag-asa in Camp Tolentino, this City, last Aug. 25.

“Ang layunin namin kung bakit namin ginawa ito ay unang-una talaga para magkaroon sila ng transformation o yung tunay na pagbabago na makakamit natin sa Panginoon lamang. Yung ginagawa naming transformation ay yung total, hindi lang pang-espiritwal, kahit papaano sa pamamagitan ng dental mission ay makatulong kami dun sa area na yun,” said Ptr. Orlando “Dolan” Acda, 1st AG Senior Pastor.

“Apart from the dental mission, nag-mi- ministry kami sa kanila. Since last year, ang focus naming ay yung kanilang spiritual needs o yung pagkakaroon nila ng kaalaman tungkol sa personal nilang kakulangan at ito yung sa espiritwal na bahagi ng buhay nila. So, kung bakit sila nagkakaroon ng problema sa mga ipinagbabawal na gamot eh merong something na iyun ang dapat matugunan o i-address,” he added.

The PNP personnel based in Camp Tolentino were the ones who informed them that many of the surrenderees were voicing out that their teeth were aching that is why since the 1st AG Church has a member who is a dentist, Ptr. Dolan immediately arranged things to push through the dental mission.

“Nung nasabi nga sa akin na maraming nangangailangan na mabunutan ng ngipin, nag- schedule na kami, pinakuha namin yung kanilang blood pressure tsaka yung kanilang kalagayang pangkalusugan baka naman kasi merong may sakit o namamaga pa yung ngipin, hindi pwedeng bunutan,” Ptr. Dolan stressed.

After setting up the schedule, it was Dra. Gina Golding who volunteered to facilitate the mission. The  st AG Team bought instruments for tooth extraction. They also provided anaesthesia and antibiotics.

“Nagkaroon kami ng counselling habang may binubunutan kasi hindi naman pwedeng sabay- sabay. Nagbuo kami ng team na mag-ka- counsel. Marami ang nag-iiyakan kasi biktima sila ng ipinagbabawal na gamot, hiwalay sa asawa, problema sa pera, problema sa relasyon at magulo ang buhay,” Ptr. Dolan shared.

During the program, 1st AG Team taught the drug surrenderees of godly songs. Then after that, they had an exhortation or the sharing God’s Word. “We are expecting na after the event, maging malapit sila sa Diyos, madama nila yung pag-ibig na galing sa Panginoon and the most important thing is yung salvation nila, na ma-receive nila yung offer na gift ng Lord,” Ptr. Dolan pointed out.

The 1st AG Church is mandated to go and win souls and make disciples while its mission is to love God and love people.

Other programs conducted by the 1st AG include reaching out the community particularly the rehabilitation center situated in Liyang, Pilar wherein they had bible distribution for free, counselling and sharing of the material entitled Book of Hope.

Photos courtesy of Ptr. Dolan Acda