Second Day in Caloocan City

Our schedule for today was again in Caloocan City at two places not visited yesterday. Yesterday’s trip was very delayed by traffic jams, so we tried another route. Rody and Tessie Gumpad joined Ely Ebuenga on the MRT (Metro Rail Transit), one of the three mass transit lines in the Manila area, at the station nearest the Gumpads. I got on the MRT at a station nearer my hotel. (More on this later.) We met up at the end of that line to begin our taxi portion of the journey. After a long and very winding 90+ minute ride, we arrived at our first appointment.

There was a good number present at a place where the saints meet in that community. It had a very rough dirt floor, half or less side walls and no roof. A plastic cover for part of the area was provided by the local congressman’s office. It was much needed as it began to rain during our meeting. This is the home congregation for Ely Ebuenga who has been so much help during this trip and who plans to start helping with the work in the New Bilibid prison as soon as travel funds can be located. After a few songs and a prayer, I preached on “The Exclusive Truth.” It was a lesson focusing on several statements from the NT about elements essential to our salvation and without which we would be lost. Rody then presented two of his sermons from tarpaulins – “The Bible” and “In Christ vs. Outside of Christ.” An invitation was extended, but there were no visible responses.

The second place for meeting was not far from the first. There had been some confusion about whether or not the appointment was confirmed, so some visitors previously expected were not present. Even so, I do not think we could have fit more than 3 or 4 more into the space. We met in a very small entry area to a house and more were in a room directly behind it. It was less than 6 feet in width and about 8 to 9 feet in length. Rody and I preached with an iron gate to the outside at our back. A very loud guard dog kept us apprised of each person who came past on the street. I preached a short lesson on “Identifying the Incorruptible Seed of God’s Word.” Rody preached on “So Great Salvation.” Ely extended an invitation and four responded to be baptized into Christ. These four will double the number of this very new congregation that began about 2 months ago. We are thankful to the Lord for the power of His gospel to save.

Our return journey took significantly less time than the morning trek. Both directions took us through some of the very poorest parts of the area with many shanty and squatter areas made of whatever pieces of wood, metal or plastic that could be found and put together to form some semblance of shelter. In most places, sanitation is non-existent. The sights and smells are unforgettable and heartrending. What we so often take for granted as expected necessities of life are entirely lacking for the vast bulk of this huge metropolitan area. Yet, the gospel has such a wonderfully rich harvest in this environment.

Where life is a continuous stream of hardships, it seems they place a higher value on the only true hope – salvation in Christ with the promise of a heavenly home. With every trip over here, my heart is caused to reflect more soberly upon my values and purpose. I wish everyone could have the opportunity to come here and reevaluate their priorities. I was told the first time that it would change me and it has.

On the lighter side, the trip this morning by MRT was a greater challenge in some ways than I had thought. The MRT station turned out to be a much longer walk from my hotel than I had anticipated. I had asked the night before as to its location and was told, “Oh, it is just on the other side of Landmark.” Since the Landmark is a store a short distance from the hotel, I thought it would be no problem. After finding that both escalators needed to get to Landmark were closed, requiring long climbs on stairs with a fully loaded briefcase, I began to see my underestimation of the task. Upon reaching the “other side of Landmark,” I asked further clarification as to the location of the MRT station. I was told with a big smile, “Oh yes, just straight.” After walking several hundred yards, asking again, and being told with a smile, “Oh yes, just straight,” I went on to repeat this routine two more times.

Finally reaching the station, I found another non-working escalator requiring another very long climb. Once in the station, I started to look for a ticket to the “Trinoma” station which my co-workers told me would be my destination. One problem – there was no “Trinoma” station listed. Upon asking several MRT employees, I discovered that their desire to help strangers was somewhat similar to customer service at our post offices. However, after finally securing a ticket, I was ready to board the train – after climbing and descending two more long flights of stairs. As you might have already guessed, I rode a taxi from the station to my hotel.

Monday in Caloocan City

Today was a re-introduction to the frustration of Manila traffic. A terrible delay in Pasay and Makati delayed Rody and Tessie Gumpad along with Ely Ebuenga from picking me up until very late. The road to our schedule was also very crowded bringing even further delay. It has been several years since I last preached several days in Manila and the delay reminded me of the difficulties of getting around in the greater Manila area (called the “National Capital Region” – NCR) composed of 19 to 20 million people. If you think traffic is bad where you are, just come to Manila and you will quickly see how fortunate you are!

The first appointment was with the Phase – 6, Camarin congregation in Caloocan City. I had worked with the congregation several years ago when Jun Layusa was preaching with them. Jun has since moved to the Bicol region to start a new work, so others are now doing the preaching there. Getting to their meeting house is a challenge in many ways ranging from the winding and rough roads to get there as well as the path to walk to reach it.

We had a good number gathered to hear the gospel. Since our time was limited due to the travel, I preached a very shortened form of “When Was Saul Saved?” Rody followed with another tarp sermon on “The True Church of Christ.” When the invitation was extended, 3 came to be baptized into Christ.

The second schedule was with the San Jose, Tala congregation in Caloocan City. The work is a relatively newly restarted one. The preacher is the restored son of the former preacher who passed away from the effects leprosy a few years ago. It seems the son now has concern for the work his father gave his life building and we hope his concern will remain and grow.

The preaching started with a lesson I gave on “Cornelius: Who Needs Salvation by the Gospel?” We noted that even good people have sinned, thus, they are in need of the gospel. Rody followed with a lesson on “The Bible – It Basic Divisions.” No invitation was extended at the end of the service because there was only one non-Christian present and she was not there for the full teaching.

 

We started our travel back to the hotel at 3:10pm to try and get a head start on rush hour traffic. We arrived back at my hotel at about 4:40pm. That was about 1/3 of the time of the morning commute. Since Rody’s car is not allowed on the roads in Manila tomorrow, we will take the MRT to the closest station for our schedule, then take a taxi from there. 

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.

Gospel Meeting with New Congregation in Pasay

Today’s schedule was a one-day gospel meeting with the new congregation in Pasay. Brother Rody Gumpad and numerous brethren in the Manila area have wanted a congregation to be started in this vital area because it is easily accessible to central Manila and the business district. Literally millions of people live and work in this area. Rody has found a very accessible and functional place with room to accommodate about 70 to 80 people for services and at a very good rate for that area. Today’s attendance was 43 people.

After several songs and a prayer, I preached on “God’s Use of the Prophets to Speak His Word,” a lesson on the verbal inspiration of the Scripture and its implications. Lordy Salunga joined us in the work, teaching on the “Restoration of the New Testament Church.” Both lessons were received well by the audience with good interest and attention demonstrated by all. After lunch, I gave a final sermon on “Salvation and Saul” which focused on the place of water baptism in the gospel plan of salvation. An invitation was extended at the close of the service, but there were no visible responses.

There was a question/answer period after the lessons where one man who had previously “been baptized” again demonstrated his growing doubts due to a failure to grow in God’s word and an over-dependence on his own ideas (mostly in conflict with clearly revealed truth). We continue to pray that he will humble himself and return to a reverence of God and respect for His revealed will. His argumentative questions did make it evident how clear God’s word is in answering the doubts coming from a lack of faith and a rejection of God’s simple truth in favor of human speculation and compromise. In an odd way, his growing lack of faith spurred a greater faith in God’s truth on the part of those opening their hearts to the simplicity of truth. We trust God’s word will have its intended effect and not return unto Him void.

55 Baptized into Christ at New Bilibid Prison

Rody Gumpad, Atoy Franco, Ely Ebuanga and Larry Ebuanga again picked me up and we proceeded to Muntinlupa for the last day of the gospel meeting at the New Bilibid prison. There were 142 present for today’s lectures.

Again today, we began with singing and a prayer before the lesson. I preached on “Why Baptism?” and Rody Gumpad did the interpreting. We had a thorough study of the New Testament’s teaching about the nature and purpose of baptism in the gospel of Christ. Common errors of the religious world about baptism were examined and contrasted with the word of God. The audience was attentive and receptive to the teaching, often answering questions that showed a correct understanding of the points being made.

Rody Gumpad then gave some words of exhortation in Tagalog ending with the extension of an invitation for people to obey the gospel. Though it was clear from comments over the three days of the meeting that several were considering obedience, we were still surprised at the number who responded to confess Christ and be baptized – 55 souls! As I understood it, that number included the 6 who confessed Christ on Wednesday, but were awaiting the permission of the prison to have access to a place where they could be baptized. So, those 6 plus 49 others were baptized at a trough in the laundry area immediately after the service. We rejoiced with the angels in heaven at this wonderful response!

This response was the result of the diligent work by Willie and Kenneth Pastor in preparing these hearts, doing so much teaching of the truth, and showing godly examples of the gospel being lived before these people daily. Both are doing a great work, but the increased number of Christians has presented a challenge that requires the help of others.

The newly approved permit for meeting and work being done in the prison has actually extended the number of facilities opened to faithful brethren beyond what was previously allowed. The meetings over the last three days have been at the RDC facility which is the intake part of the prison. From that facility, inmates are assigned to one of the three main parts of the prison: (1) Maximum Security, (2) Medium Security, or (3) Minimum Security. Willie Pastor can only help in the RDF facility where he is confined. This gives him access to teach the gospel to all as they are entering the prison system.

Kenneth Pastor is helping Willie in the RDC unit and meeting with the Christians each week in Medium Security where the vast majority of those baptized have been assigned after being converted during intake at the RDC facility. (About 90% of those baptized today are scheduled for transfer to the Medium Security prison.) Though the permit for meeting grants the right for work in all of the facilities, there has been no one able to help in either the Maximum or Minimum Security areas. So, there is an immediate need for some brethren in the Manila area to help in these areas as well.

When Kenneth presented this problem to those of us helping in this effort over the last three days, he noted that the permit secured allows an additional 5 men to work in these facilities. The additional men are needed for the permit to be automatically renewed by assuring that meetings will take place each week in all facilities. By the first of March, he would like to have this help secured.

Ely Ebuanga committed to help and to encourage his three sons and one son-in-law, all of whom preach, to help by meeting each week with the other areas of the prison. The problem is that these brethren will need funds for travel by bus, jeepney or other means to get to the prison. To provide for 4 of those 5 to come each week and help in the other facilities, our estimate of the cost is a total of $350 per month. If anyone is able to help with this urgent need, whether in part or the whole, please let me know and I will put you in touch with brother Ely so that we can get these meetings started as soon as possible.

As always, I am more thankful than words can express for the help provided by so many good brethren allowing me to participate in this very fruitful work! May God bless each of you for your work in His service.

Thursday at Bilibid Prison

The same brethren as yesterday (Rody Gumpad, Atoy Franco, Ely Ebuanga and Larry Ebuanga) accompanied me for the second day of the gospel meeting at the Bilibid prison. There were 167 present for today’s lectures.

After a song and opening prayer, I preached on “Repentance & the Changed Life” with Willie Pastor interpreting. We began by showing the meaning of “repentance” by letting the Bible define the term itself from several passages. After showing the meaning of repentance, we discussed the change in life that will accompany one who repents. Three areas were examined specifically: (1) ceasing all use of alcohol and other drugs, (2) abstaining from all sexual immorality and (3) stopping all involvement in gambling.

Rody Gumpad then gave a lesson on “The Destiny of Our Life” identifying the different conditions in which one may find himself during life and the eternal result of those conditions. Rody spoke in Tagalog and was very well received by the audience. Since all of the time was used for teaching, no invitation was offered as we planned to finish teaching tomorrow on “Why Baptism?”

We returned to the hotel as quickly as possible so I could meet Jack Jaco there to deliver help sent to him by some brethren in the U.S. who asked me to serve as the messenger. It was good to see him and Adel.

Wednesday at Bilibid Prison

The trip to the Philippines had several challenges this time. The flight from Oklahoma City to Detroit was progressing well for an early arrival up until we were about 20 feet from the ground. At that point, the pilot took us back up because the plane landing before us got stuck on the runway due to the heavy snow and ice.

By the time we landed and got to the gate, it was only 10 minutes until the boarding time for the flight to Tokyo – leaving from another terminal. Since the board listed that flight as “on time,” I ran to the other terminal and made it to the gate just before boarding began. However, due to delays in several connecting flights, we sat on the plane for almost 2 hours before we took off for Tokyo. That led to another fast run through security checks and to the gate for the Manila flight – already boarding when I arrived.

Maybe it was all of the excitement in close connections, but I got very little sleep on the flights. My hope for a good night’s sleep at the hotel was not realized due to my air conditioner going out soon after I arrived. Needless to say, I am hoping for better luck tonight.

[An added note from Thursday morning: This hotel stay has turned into a comedy of errors if not an exercise in total exasperation. The air conditioning problem was still not fixed at my return yesterday. Despite visits from 3 maintenance men, two engineers and a duty manager assuring me that everything was fine, the temperature remained over 80. After two additional room changes, both having the exact same problem, I got into a room late last night and quickly passed out! Needless to say, this place will not be in my future plans.]

Rody Gumpad, Atoy Franco, Ely Ebuanga and Larry Ebuanga met me a little before 11am to make the trip down to the New Bilibid prison in Muntinlupa. We had an excellent attendance of somewhere between 120 and 130 – more than had been anticipated. I preached on Salvation & the Seed of the Gospel from 1 Peter 1:22-25. Rody summarized that lesson in Tagalog, then preached one on “The Bible & the Church of Christ” (in Tagalog).

After Rody was finished, I spoke for a few minutes from 1 Corinthians 4:16-17 showing that all of the churches taught the same thing in New Testament times. We noted the fact that the same statement cannot be made of the various churches today. The churches of the denominational world are not merely local churches in different areas that all teach the same thing. They are different organizations teaching very different doctrines. For the existing religious division to be replaced with unity, men must leave the doctrines and practices of human origin and return to the simple doctrine of Christ. Willie Pastor summarized this plea as we asked the audience to consider the need for all to obey the gospel of Christ without any addition or subtraction.

 

The meeting for today ended with Kenneth Pastor extending an invitation and six responding to confess faith in Christ. As the prison must give permission for water to be put in the trough where people can be baptized, we have asked for approval as soon as possible. Several more came after the service and said they were giving serious consideration to obeying the gospel as well. We hope that more responses will come over the next two days.

One final piece of good news – final approval for the churches in the various prisons to meet with approval of the officials was given final approval! We are thankful for this good outcome and for the prayers of so many of you seeking God’s help in this matter!