Volume 47 Number 4 December 2004
Ten years ago, since 1994 when Jay Graham & Mike Kirby made their first visit to our country, I still recall the moment that we first met at the airport. We didn't know who these people are; we just talk and made arrangement of their visit through the phone. We have no idea who they were but God provided us a good welcome to one another. It was only then that we recognized each other because of the sign board that we prepared with eagerness in our heart to meet our Christian brothers we embraced each other and we bid them warm welcome!
For their first visit many oppositions arise but God never fails to let the truth prevail. I don't want to go into these events in details but the good thing is that God accomplished His will and remain in control. In many years several of your Evangelists had been visiting us and made a good contribution for the church in our country. I want to name their names because they have been part and still continue to be part of our growing; bro. Charles Fry, bro. Vern Smith, bro. Tom Woody, bro. Mike Kirby, bro. Rick Sparks, and bro. Dan Huff. I pray for the other Evangelists that they will find their time to visit us also. I would like to commend also brethren who participated and contributed so much during our VBS last 2002 and who shared good encouragement to us; bro. Dan Green, bro. Joshua Riggins, bro. Richard Garbi and sister Kristi Morton.
With this year's Jay & Louis visit, our schedule can't accommodate anymore churches who are willing to accept us. And after the visit of Jay and Louis my schedule was double because I need to visit the churches that we did not cover during their schedule. I can say that the churches here in our country are moving into maturity and many souls were added. The positive that I observe is the willingness of brethren to follow the pattern in the scripture. I appreciated the attitude of Jay and Louis in their teaching, they did not try to answer the accusation of those accusers rather they just point out what the Bible say. Yes, we are not in competition but our desire is to help one another to know the truth and to be faithful servants of the Lord. Various questions were raised but the Bible provides the answer.
During our visit we were encouraged by the faith of our brethren from the different churches, sometimes (most of the time) we were late on our schedule but the brethren are waiting patiently with us. I know Jay and Louis were edified by their Filipino brethren, likewise the Filipino brethren were encouraged by the love and faith from Jay and Louis. I think this is the true essence of "mutual edification". Well, our brethren are starting to be in good shape again after the calamity done by typhoons and floods during rainy season. There are two congregations that their meeting place was totally destroyed at present they met in an open space and just put shade for their comfort. If you want to encourage them please contact me and I will give you more details on it.
We observe also the need of Bibles and song books (in our language) many churches that we visited. When Jay and Louis requested the brethren to read the passage in our dialect, only few Bibles are available. The number of members of one congregation is about 50 - 60 and in my observation there are only about 10 Bibles available. Well, this is not the hindrance for us to serve the Lord, but my prayer is that 3 Bibles for every family are good enough. The members of every family here is maximum of 12/minimum of 7. By having Bibles in their homes I think they can learn more for themselves and not just relying on the preacher every Sunday. Hopefully they can exhort members of their family to be disciples of Jesus.
I know Jay & Louis are preparing also a report on their trips but before I close I want to thank God for this work and all the brethren who supported the coming of Jay and Louis in terms of finances and prayer. For the family of Jay and Louis who trusted me for this journey, I thank you. I know they will relate to you and other brethren their amazing / challenging (sometimes in danger) experiences but God is so good, He provide us a safe way on our journey. I keep on praying that our partnership in His kingdom will continue till the end of time. I love you all!