Though I had expected work to begin last night, the meeting that was offered to help resolve a problem was rejected. The problem is the result of a preacher on Leyte who was involved in a faction splitting away from a relatively new work in Maac, Sogod. He sought to prevent people hearing the gospel preached by sound brethren and encourage brethren to split and form another congregation meeting literally feet away from the sound brethren despite no doctrinal error or sinful practice that would necessitate such. Despite the fact that I have offered to pay all of the brother's expenses from my personal funds, he has not responded to the offer to sit down and discuss the problems openly. I have also offered him to meet next week on any evening from Wednesday through Friday. Several brethren have asked me to report on this meeting and I will do so whether it occurs or whether the meeting is rejected. Please keep it in your prayers. The senseless division of the church in this small village has done great harm to the spread of the gospel which was progressing so well until this factiousness caused the Lord's body to be mocked in the community.
We
started the preaching today with an all-day Gospel Meeting at the assembling
place of the brethren in central Cebu City. This is the congregation with whom
Jonathan Carino labors. The members asked their friends and neighbors to come.
Several had people that accepted their invitation to come and hear the word.
Jonathan put out an invitation to denominational preachers in the area to
attend. I know of none that attended today. Others were present from area
congregations. Roy Matta work with the brethren in Mandaue and he brought a man
with him from an institutional background.
There
was good attention and participation throughout the day. I the morning, I
preached the first lesson on “Provisions from God’s Word” followed by “Three
Responses to the Gospel” from Acts 26. I ended the morning session with a study
of “Repentance.” In the afternoon, we began by considering “The True Church”
with respect to its doctrine, mission, worship, organization and name. We
closed with a study on “The Blood of Christ & the Salvation of the Sinner.”
All of those who came to hear at the 9:30am beginning of the session were there
at the close about 4:20pm. A few more came during the day, but not a single
person left early! It was one of the most attentive audiences I have seen over
here in some time. No invitation was extended since those non-Christians who
came were new to the hearing and more teaching will be needed before they could
obey the gospel with the understanding needed. In all, it was a very good start
to our work!
Tomorrow
being the Lord’s Day, I will be worshipping with the brethren in Mandaue, the
Lord willing, as Roy and the brethren have asked me to teach the Bible classes
as well as preaching in the assembly. In the afternoon, we plan to have a
service at the building where were today especially for brethren traveling from
Mindanao and other places who are traveling to get here for the classes on
Hebrews due to start on Monday morning.
