Our final day of work in Bacolod City was on Tuesday morning. Though the venue was full the previous day, we had about 10 in attendance at time the time to begin. Later, a few more came, but I do not think the number got to more than 15-20 at most. It seems someone tried to sabotage the lectures by getting many of the visitors not to return. This has happened to me before in Bacolod, usually by one or more of the Baptist groups. Almost all of those in attendance were faithful preachers in the area.
Since the attendees were mostly brethren, we took the opportunity to give lessons of exhortation that we thought might benefit them. The first lesson was “If Anyone Desires to Come after Me” from Luke 9:23-26. Jack gave a very short lesson on why the thief on the cross could not have been baptized in the name of Christ because he was dead before that baptism was ever taught. That was a question the previous day and he wanted to make sure the points made then were reinforced in their dialect. The last lesson was “Today, If You Will Hear His Voice” taken from Hebrews 3:7-15 and Psalm 95:6-11, the passage quoted by the Hebrew writer. I took the lesson in a different direction than when I preached it in the morning service of the congregation in Victorias City given the difference in the audience.
A question and answer session followed where the main focus was on whether or not there is a “baptismal formula” of words to be said when baptizing. Many of the preachers had come out of denominations that taught the one baptizing must say, “In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit” for the baptism to be valid, while other denominational groups insist the baptism is not valid unless the one baptizing says, “in the name of Jesus” only. We answered by showing from Acts 4:5-12 that the phrase “in the name of” refers to the “authority,” “power” or “means,” not a formula to be stated.
After the lectures ended on Tuesday, Jack and Adel Jaco took me to the airport where I caught a flight to Manila and got to the hotel a little after 8pm. My flight back home was rescheduled to Friday because of change made by the airlines, so I will be staying here an extra day. Though I would like to be home earlier, I am absolutely exhausted and my voice is almost gone. I am hopeful the extra day of rest will help me recover a bit.
Thank you again for your interest in this work. Without the financial help and physical assistance of many I could not possibly be involved in this work that I love so much! Thank you again to all of you who have help make these efforts possible over the past 22 years. Words simply cannot express the gratitude I feel in my heart for your participation. God bless!
