Lord's Day in Pasay & Bilibid Prison - 6 Responses

We began the day with Lord’s Day services together with the new congregation at Pasay. We had a very good number of visitors and many were first time visitors. (Rody and the other brethren will follow-up with each one.) I preached in the Bible class hour on “Confusing the Issue” from Luke 10. We noted that the lawyer asked the question regarding what one must do to inherit eternal life, and Jesus responded by asking him what the law said. The lawyer correctly answered about the demands of the law showing he could clearly understand it. However, to justify himself, he tried to bring confusion as to who was considered his “neighbor.” We noted that many use a similar tactic to confuse the plain demands of the gospel regarding moral living, the one true church and a variety of doctrinal teachings, including the plan of salvation. We had some good discussion afterwards.

Rody presented a brief lesson from a printed tarp on “Know the Truth.” It covered some very basic points and was delivered in the Tagalog dialect which is the native language for the visitors. They seemed to receive it well and several expressed a desire for further study.

In the last hour, I taught an abbreviated form of a lesson entitled “Create in Me a Clean Heart” from Psalm 51. It dealt with the need for true repentance as well as what it involves. We also briefly touch on the way that “new heart” is created after we banish the old heart – by study of God’s word and letting it take the guidance in our lives.

In the afternoon, we again traveled to Muntilupa for more work in the New Bilibid Prison. We first went for a short visit in the Maximum Security unit where we met with those in charge of religious services and guaranteed a place and time for the Christians in that unit to meet every week. Security was extremely tight to enter this facility with a pat down that even surpassed the TSA searches in our country. We then proceeded to the Medium Security prison where I preached first on “Who Is Your Master – Who Do You Serve?”

Rody preached (again in Tagalog) on “Entering the Church” for the final lesson. An invitation was extended and 6 came to confess their faith and be baptized into Christ. We again rejoiced at their decisions. It was an added joy to see Willie Pastor there after he received special permission to join us at a facility other than his own.

 

I awoke during last night feeling somewhat ill. Having fought it all day, I plan to get to bed as soon as I send off this report. This kind of illness usually hits me for at least one day of each trip, so I hope to be at full strength to start tomorrow’s schedule. Thank you for your prayers on our behalf.