Lord's Day in Tuguegarao

 After a good, full night of rest on Saturday, brother Rody Gumpad picked me up this morning at 8:30am and we proceeded to their meeting place. It is always a true joy to be with the brethren who comprise the Metro Tuguegarao congregation. I first met with them in 2002 and joined Rody for the first Preacher Training Program there in 2003. Many of the brethren were missing from the assembly today as they have been gone over the past week on vacation during this holiday week in the Philippines. Still, there were about 100 adults in attendance plus many children which made the auditorium seem fairly full.

 

The elders asked me to take the class period in continuing their study in the Gospel of Luke. We started with the beginning of chapter 6 and covered through verse 16 and ran out of time at that point.

 

In the assembly, we had a very reverent and edifying period of singing, prayer, partaking the Lord’s Supper and contribution. I was asked to preach and brought a lesson on “God’s Plan for Congregational Unity” from 1 Corinthians 1:10-13. (That sermon was also telecast live as well.) When Rody extended the invitation of the Lord at the end of the service, three ladies responded to be baptized into Christ.

 

At the end of my sermon, I lost my voice and finished in little more than a whisper. So, I returned to the hotel after lunch where I have worked much of the day on the materials for the classes starting tomorrow, the Lord willing. Please keep this effort in your prayers.

Meeting in Trece Martes City

 Again this morning, brother James Paet picked me up from the hotel about 8:30am. He drove us to the meeting place of the Trece Martires church in Cabuco, Trece Martires City. Those familiar with Spanish may recognize similar words in the Spanish language for the origin of the name. It harks back to a time under the Spanish rule of the Philippines when 13 “priests” were “martyred” in that place. The period of Spanish rule over the Philippines was a time of great violence and oppression brought upon the Filipinos.

We started the morning study with a lesson on “Recognizing Good and Evil” from Matthew 7:15-21. We noted that the Scriptures teach us that distinguishing between good and evil is not done by mere appearance, lineage, claim or the personal thoughts of man. Rather, good and evil are recognized by the fruits borne (Matthew 7:16, 20).

Next, we examined the subject of “Baptism” as it is presented in the New Testament. We looked first at the baptism of John which teaches us about principles that were preparing the way for Christ’s teaching. We then noted the teaching about baptism in the name of Christ as first commanded in the “Great Commission” (Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-16) and its practice in the cases of conversion we find in the book of Acts. Lastly, we looked at the teaching about baptism in the Epistles which confirms its purpose, action and effect. After that lesson, we had a break of a little less than an hour for lunch.

In the afternoon session, we concluded the teaching with a lesson of encouragement from Philippians 3:12-14 dealing with “A Life to Lay Hold of Hope.” After that lesson, we had a question and answer period. We had only one non-Christian visitor, the aunt of a young man who is a member of that congregation. It was this lady’s first time to hear the truth of the gospel. She wanted to follow-up with some questions about baptism regarding what one must know before being baptized, the responsibility of growth after baptism, and the difference between the “baptism” practiced in the denominational world versus that taught in the gospel. From what I saw of her demeanor and her questions, I do not think she is very far from the kingdom. My hope is that she will soon be obedient the gospel call.

The Lord willing, I will fly to Tuguegarao in northern Luzon tomorrow. I will plan to make my next report on Sunday after our day’s work. God bless!

Gospel Meeting in Cavite City

 Brother James Paet picked me up at the hotel and took me to Cavite City for a one-day Gospel Meeting with the BACOOR church. There were several visitors from other congregations in the area, but no non-Christians were present. We had about 50 in attendance. The BACOOR congregation meets in a very nice place that was built by an American brother who returned to the U.S. at the time of the pandemic in 2020 and has not returned. Since there was no preacher for the congregation, the members over time became discouraged and drifted away. James contacted the former members and a few Christians in the area to see if the congregation could be revived. As I understand it, they began the work again only a couple of months ago and this was their first Gospel Meeting.

In the morning session, we started with a lesson of encouragement – “Summarizing a Life of Faithfulness” from 2 Timothy 1:8-12. After that, we took a short break and then considered a lesson on “The Inspiration of Scripture” from 2 Peter 1:16-21. The purpose of both lessons was to strengthen their faith and encourage them to live faithfully to God and His will. After the second lesson we took a lunch break until 1pm.

 In afternoon session, we studied a lesson entitled “Salvation & Saul” giving careful examination to the accounts of the conversion of Saul (later called the apostle Paul). We noted that he was not saved by faith only on the Damascus road as commonly taught in the denominational world. In fact, three days after he had believed on the road, Ananias came to him in Damascus and said, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord' (Acts 22:16). So, after believe on the road, Saul was still in his sins which separated him from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Paul noted very clearly in Romans 6:3-11 that he and the brethren to whom he writes were saved when that were baptized in Christ’s dead, there contacting the blood of Christ, being forgiven of all sin.

 We ended our study time with a question and answer period. We had several good questions dealing with the action of baptism, what it means to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and the equivalent term of baptizing in the name of Christ, as well as one question regarding baptism of the Holy Spirit. It was a good start to my time of work here in the Philippines and I look forward to another Gospel Meeting tomorrow in Trece Martires City.

It is the very hottest time of the year here in the Philippines. Late March and April are called “the middle of Summer” here and the heat testifies to that fact. I went through 6 bottles of water and 3 Gatorades in our time today! When I was finished, I was drenched from head to toe with sweat! The weather is miserable, but a good miserable as we have the chance to spread the precious gospel to those so willing to hear. Thank you so much to all who have made this opportunity possible.