Bangued Christian Hospital
Encyclopedia
Bangued Christian Hospital is a private general hospital situated in Lorben's Hillside Compound, Torrijos Street, Zone V, Bangued, Abra. Bangued Christian Hospital (abbreviated hereafter as BCH) was established in the year 1948, and grew under the selfless contributions of Mennonite Disaster Service of the Mennonite Central Committee. The hospital is deeply rooted in the Anabaptist cause and is was once under the spiritual guidance of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines
. BCH is one of the earliest and most respected hospital in Abra emphasizing Christian concern for its patients and employees. The hospital is widely known among Abrenian people as "Mission Hospital". It is now owned and operated by the Protestants Dr. Benjamin R. Bringas and Nurse Loreto V. Bringas.
Christian missionaries
arriving in the Philippines in 20th century often combined preaching and medical help for local population. They considered medical healing as part of their mission, as Jesus
had commanded them to "Heal the Sicks". Also, they seeks to demonstrate God's love by working among people suffering from poverty, conflict, oppression and natural disaster. The Bible calls Christians to serve people who are hungry, thirsty, sick, in prison and strangers (Matthew 25:35-36). This command was expressed by Menno Simons, a 16th century Anabaptist leader from whom Mennonites take their name, who stated that "True evangelical faith cannot lie sleeping, it clothes the naked, it comforts the sorrowful, it feeds the hungry, it shelters the destitute, it cares for the sick, it becomes all things to all men." The Mennonite Central Committee is motivated by these principles.
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is a relief, service, and peace agency of the North American Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches. MCC affirms its commitment to Jesus Christ as the fullest revelation of God to man, who invites all people to be made whole through his redemptive life, death and resurrection. MCC ministers in the name of Christ by following his example as one who served others.
The Mennonite Central Committee
(MCC) was established in the Philippines after the Second World War, and expanded its offices over the country for evangelism
together with the healing
and social mission. The Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) had placed 17 workers in relief assistance to war victims. Their program soon focused on the province of Abra in northern Luzon, whose capital Bangued had been destroyed by bombing. They purchased a land in Bowen Street, Bangued and built a military barrack-like building. They initially set up a clinic and was gradually developed into better equipped hospital. The building was officially inaugurated in the name of Christ as the Mission Hospital in 1948.
When MCC staff left in 1950, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines
assumed responsibility for the MCC established hospital and a high school in the isolated mountain village of Lamau in 1951.
In 1970, it was relocated to its present location. Debt grew quickly as a sign of the post-World War II depression. As a result of the ongoing financial difficulties, the Northwest Luzon Conference (NWLC) of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines sold the hospital to the Protestants medical couple, Dr. Benjamin and Mrs. Loreto Bringas. The hospital was renamed Bangued Christian Hospital. It became an affiliate hospital of the Northwest Luzon Conference (NWLC) of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.
Besides medical care it provides spiritual care with its patients and staff. The slogan of the Hospital is "Committed to Competent and Compassionate Care", which means difference in quality and excellence of service, equipment, spiritual atmosphere, and qualification of nurses and physicians.
Bangued Christian Hospital continues its ministry to body and soul. Physical problems may bring a person in for medical attention, but it is the touch of the Savior that results in spiritual health and eternal life.
The staff at BCH are trying to increase the quality of care. Currently, hospital standards of care are being developed in hopes of greatly increasing the quality of care provided. It is their hope that God will be glorified by their quality service to others.
The Hospital considered to be good and much cheaper, than other private hospital in Bangued.
The first Pastors' wives conference in Abra was held in Jesus, Others, and You Christian Fellowship (JOYCF) on January 31, 2009, by the Women's Commission (WC) of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC).
United Church of Christ in the Philippines
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines is a Christian denomination in the Philippines...
. BCH is one of the earliest and most respected hospital in Abra emphasizing Christian concern for its patients and employees. The hospital is widely known among Abrenian people as "Mission Hospital". It is now owned and operated by the Protestants Dr. Benjamin R. Bringas and Nurse Loreto V. Bringas.
History
First evangelicalEvangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
Christian missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
arriving in the Philippines in 20th century often combined preaching and medical help for local population. They considered medical healing as part of their mission, as Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
had commanded them to "Heal the Sicks". Also, they seeks to demonstrate God's love by working among people suffering from poverty, conflict, oppression and natural disaster. The Bible calls Christians to serve people who are hungry, thirsty, sick, in prison and strangers (Matthew 25:35-36). This command was expressed by Menno Simons, a 16th century Anabaptist leader from whom Mennonites take their name, who stated that "True evangelical faith cannot lie sleeping, it clothes the naked, it comforts the sorrowful, it feeds the hungry, it shelters the destitute, it cares for the sick, it becomes all things to all men." The Mennonite Central Committee is motivated by these principles.
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is a relief, service, and peace agency of the North American Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches. MCC affirms its commitment to Jesus Christ as the fullest revelation of God to man, who invites all people to be made whole through his redemptive life, death and resurrection. MCC ministers in the name of Christ by following his example as one who served others.
The Mennonite Central Committee
Mennonite Central Committee
The Mennonite Central Committee is a relief, service, and peace agency representing 15 Mennonite, Brethren in Christ and Amish bodies in North America. The U.S. headquarters are in Akron, Pennsylvania, the Canadian in Winnipeg, Manitoba.-History:...
(MCC) was established in the Philippines after the Second World War, and expanded its offices over the country for evangelism
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
together with the healing
Healing
Physiological healing is the restoration of damaged living tissue, organs and biological system to normal function. It is the process by which the cells in the body regenerate and repair to reduce the size of a damaged or necrotic area....
and social mission. The Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) had placed 17 workers in relief assistance to war victims. Their program soon focused on the province of Abra in northern Luzon, whose capital Bangued had been destroyed by bombing. They purchased a land in Bowen Street, Bangued and built a military barrack-like building. They initially set up a clinic and was gradually developed into better equipped hospital. The building was officially inaugurated in the name of Christ as the Mission Hospital in 1948.
When MCC staff left in 1950, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines
United Church of Christ in the Philippines
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines is a Christian denomination in the Philippines...
assumed responsibility for the MCC established hospital and a high school in the isolated mountain village of Lamau in 1951.
In 1970, it was relocated to its present location. Debt grew quickly as a sign of the post-World War II depression. As a result of the ongoing financial difficulties, the Northwest Luzon Conference (NWLC) of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines sold the hospital to the Protestants medical couple, Dr. Benjamin and Mrs. Loreto Bringas. The hospital was renamed Bangued Christian Hospital. It became an affiliate hospital of the Northwest Luzon Conference (NWLC) of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.
Activities
At present the Bangued Christian Hospital services include: surgery, obstetrics & gynecology, emergency, family practice, health checkup (wellness), laboratory, x-ray, pharmacy, skilled nursing care. The hospital maintains very high clinical, governance and educational standards, and is a member of Philippine Hospitals Association. It is surveyed and accredited bi-annually by the Philippine Healthcare Insurance Corporation, a major national healthcare accreditation group and licensed for secondary level of services by the Department of Health.Besides medical care it provides spiritual care with its patients and staff. The slogan of the Hospital is "Committed to Competent and Compassionate Care", which means difference in quality and excellence of service, equipment, spiritual atmosphere, and qualification of nurses and physicians.
Bangued Christian Hospital continues its ministry to body and soul. Physical problems may bring a person in for medical attention, but it is the touch of the Savior that results in spiritual health and eternal life.
The staff at BCH are trying to increase the quality of care. Currently, hospital standards of care are being developed in hopes of greatly increasing the quality of care provided. It is their hope that God will be glorified by their quality service to others.
The Hospital considered to be good and much cheaper, than other private hospital in Bangued.
Buildings
The hospital consists of a female general ward, male general ward, labor room, delivery room, nursery, recovery room, out-patient and emergency room, operating room, dispensary, laboratory, pharmacy and kitchen. In the compound there is also a chapel for patients and employees now known as the Jesus, Others, and You Christian Fellowship. Outside the gate is the Hospital Canteen.Jesus, Others, and You Christian Fellowship
Jesus, Others and You Christian Fellowship (JOYCF) is an Independent Bible-based, Christ-centered, Mission-focused evangelical congregation. It is a partner church of the Valley Cathedral Philippines through the initiation of Pastor Hector B. Reyes. Its partnership was officiated last July 6, 2008.The first Pastors' wives conference in Abra was held in Jesus, Others, and You Christian Fellowship (JOYCF) on January 31, 2009, by the Women's Commission (WC) of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC).