This was our last day in the Laoag City area. Our studies for the day were at the building of the Laoag City congregation, in the middle of the town’s central section. Brother Mat Sibayan, Sr. started this congregation and continues to labor with them. Their building is a very good facility for teaching. Like several congregations in the Philippines, they separate the men and women on different sides of the auditorium during their regular worship. In their classes, men and women gather on the second and first level respectively. There is a third level for the young people’s classes as well having a place for baptizing.
The morning session was entirely taken up with a study on “How Did God Use Prophets to Speak His Word?” It was a careful examination of the doctrine of inspiration and its implications. The point was to reinforce why we can have absolute confidence in God’s word and why we cannot make any changes to its teaching. Mat Sibayan, Jr. translated for this study and my later lesson. We broke for the lunch hour a little after noon.
The afternoon session began with Chip preaching on “Things We Can Do.” Rex Bayaca again interpreted for Chip throughout the day. I followed with a lesson on “Salvation & Saul” showing that Saul was not saved at the ways often claimed by denominational preachers, but at the point of baptism as he was cleansed by Christ’s blood. Chip gave the last lesson on “As a Child” which was a lesson of exhortation to Christians urging growth and service. An invitation was extended, but there were no visible responses as almost all of the people present were already Christians -- mostly preachers and their wives.
After eating supper, we were taken by Mat Sr. and Mat Jr. to the bus station where we caught a 7pm bus towards our next destination – the San Fernando / La Union area. Five, uncomfortable hours later, we have just arrived at our destination where I can send this report. Since we must get going in about 6 hours, I will close for now. God bless.
Brotherly, Harry O.
