A Time of Fellowship and Worship in Neepawa with the President from the Philippines

Neepawa, Manitoba — Rev. Antonio Reyes, the President of the Lutheran Church in the Philippines (LCP), is currently visiting Manitoba to strengthen international church relations and explore vital new mission opportunities.

Rev. Reyes has served as the LCP President for four terms—spanning nearly 12 years—overseeing a vibrant church body of approximately 28,000 communicant members across 190 fully established congregations and 49 mission stations.

His journey to Canada began in Winnipeg, where he attended the 13th National Convention of the Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC). Invited by LCC President the Rev. Timothy Teuscher, Rev. Reyes officially signed a historic Joint Altar and Pulpit Fellowship Agreement, cementing a deep theological bond between the LCC and the LCP.

Following the convention, Rev. Reyes and his wife, Arlene, traveled to Neepawa at the invitation of International Mission Director Rev. Mark Smith. The town of Neepawa is home to a rapidly growing Filipino community of about 2,800 residents.

Over the next few weeks to July 15^th, Rev. Reyes will be surveying and exploring localized mission strategies to serve this population, engaging directly with Filipino families to understand their unique spiritual needs, and laying the groundwork to potentially send Filipino missionaries to sustain this vital ministry in the near future.

The mission is already bearing fruit. On June 18, 2026—just one day after arriving in Neepawa—Rev. Reyes crossed paths with a local Filipino bakery owner who, remarkably, was once a Lutheran church member back in the Philippines. Rev. Reyes immediately invited him to attend upcoming services at Christ Lutheran Church, where the LCP President is scheduled to preach on Sunday’s Divine Worship.

Join Us for Worship

The community is warmly invited to hear Rev. Antonio Reyes preach and to learn more about this exciting collaborative ministry.

Location: Christ Lutheran Church, 375 Broadway Avenue, Neepawa, Manitoba

Service Times: 10:30 AM. Contact the church for Sunday morning schedule details.

Local Contact: Rev. James Vosper

Phone: 204-386-2621

On Christian Mission and Fellowship

I believe that the mission is defined by the Lord’s command – the great commission – to “make disciples of all nations.”

How? By Baptizing with water connected with the Word of God. This is the washing of regeneration, where the Holy Spirit, through Baptism, works and creates saving faith and thus unite the sinner to Jesus. The sinner is buried with Jesus through His death and rise with Jesus through His resurrection from the dead.

Then, the Baptized is being taught everything that Jesus has commanded.

Christian Fellowship

On Christian Fellowship. Fellowship in the church is more than friendship. It means being united in faith and in the truth of God’s Word. Because Holy Communion and preaching are sacred gifts from God, We, Confessional Lutherans, practice them with those who share the same biblical teachings and the same subscription (quia) to the Lutheran Confession. This helps preserve the truth of the Gospel and avoids confusion about what we believe, teach and confess.

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