Greetings from Bacolod City on a very rainy Lord’s Day! Chip and I went separate ways today as we preached in different areas. Chip went to the north with Jack Jaco and Lordy Salunga as they preached in Victorias City, Escalante and another place. Jack lives in Victorias City, so Chip will get to meet Jack’s family. They are all very dear to me!
This morning, I went with Jonathan and Shem to the YMCA nearby where two congregations were meeting together. One was the congregation where Jun Abbas preached before his death a few years ago. The other congregation is coming out of institutionalism and has asked Shem and Jack each to preach there one Sunday a month. Several of members of that congregation knew Cora Vlk who was a dear sister in Florida that was a member of the congregation before she married and immigrated to the US. Cora passed away from pancreatic cancer several years ago, but I always remember her fondly when I come to Bacolod. During the worship service, I preached on “Factors of a United Work.” Since the lesson makes some applications to the sinful and fruitless practices of the social gospel and general benevolence, it was especially appreciated by these brethren.
In the afternoon, we went on the far south side of Bacolod. There we met with Shem and the brethren with whom he works in a building attached to his place. The building is very new and was paid for by a Korean couple. They put no strings attached to the building, but only wanted to provide a place of worship that would be regularly used for that purpose. It is very nice and well lighted, but still needs some chairs to be fully completed. I was asked to preach a lesson that addressed the need for all to be involved in reaching out to the lost in evangelism. I preached on “The Love of Christ Constrains Us” from 2 Corinthians 5. None responded to the invitation, but several non-Christians attended and are getting close to that decision.
After returning home, I went to a nearby mall where I could get some items that we need. Now, it is time to get to work on the lectures for tomorrow and the next day. Please pray that they will go well.
Brotherly, Harry O.
