Pastor Edgardo Lacida says the Jesus Reigns Ministries (JRM) church’s third anniversary will be different this year in Portage la Prairie. Instead of gathering indoors, the celebration will take place outdoors so the public can join in as they walk through Island Park.
“This is our third anniversary, and we want to do something different instead of just holding an in-house celebration,” notes Lacida.
“We want to make it more open so anyone can join. People walking around the park will be able to listen. Our theme this year is about walking in God's Divine Purpose.”
Lacida says the anniversary is a reminder of how God has guided the JRM church since it began in 2022. He recalls the opening service, the vision found in Isaiah 60:22, and the challenges faced when resources were scarce.
“As we celebrate this anniversary, we remember that every step we have taken has been guided by God's hand. When we started in August 2022, we invited a guest speaker to our newly opened JRM church in Winnipeg. That was the beginning of something wonderful.”
He continues that the congregation was encouraged by Isaiah’s promise: “The smallest family will become a thousand people, and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation. At the right time, I the Lord will make it happen.”
“Everyone was overwhelmed because it spoke of God's promise and a wonderful future for his people in Portage la Prairie. But we have to step forward in faith. There were many challenges, and we have very limited resources. At that time, I wasn’t yet a pastor. I was only ordained in 2023. We simply started by faith, and God provided every step of the way. That is why we are celebrating.”
Building a congregation
The church holds Sunday services at Boss Academy Dance Studio at 10 a.m. each week. Lacida says attendance averages about 30, though numbers change with family and work schedules.
“Right now, our community averages about 30 people, but of course, schedules sometimes conflict. Like many churches, some of our members alternate weeks because of work or family commitments.”
Looking to connect with the wider community
The celebration is also meant to highlight the contributions of Filipinos in Portage la Prairie and beyond.
“We hope this celebration will reach out to every Filipino,” says Lacida. “We even invited MLA Jeff Bereza to take part. We are very grateful to him and to all Filipinos who contribute so much to Portage la Prairie.”
“We want to thank them for their service, their contributions, and their role in the community. We hope this event will have a big impact not only on Filipinos, but also on people from other nations. We believe we are not bound by nationality. Through faith, we want to share the love of God with everyone. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate.”
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