Philippine Preaching August 15-18, 2022
Dear family, brethren, and friends,
Monday, August 15, we left our hotel in General Santos City and drove three hours to reach an area in the mountains which had been hit hard by the earthquakes. About 200 people welcomed us at the church at Maibo, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur. Their building had been destroyed and rebuilt at a better location. Their typical Sunday attendance is 180. I preached from Psalm 23 and Mark discussed faithfulness to the Lord in short lessons because saints were waiting for us in other places.
While Trey preached I surveyed about 60 of the houses which were rebuilt or repaired with benevolence funds sent by our brethren including many who are reading this report. I did not have time to see every house but saw many in every stage of repair or construction. I saw similar houses at the other places we visited today. Many saints expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the help they received and I made it clear that many donors sacrificed to make it possible, and I merely served as their messenger.
As we have traveled the last couple of days, I have seen buildings with cracks in them, the remains of totally destroyed buildings, and even cemetery monuments which were demolished.
We traveled another hour to reach the saints meeting at Poblacion, Magsaysay where the building was filled with about 50 souls. This building also had to be rebuilt after being hit by an earthquake. Mark gave a short encouraging lesson from Philippians 4 and we again heard many expressions of appreciation.
We traveled again to reach the church at San Miguel Relocation, Magsaysay. About 60 souls met us in their new building which is constructed with a concrete foundation and floor and steel beams covered with heavy galvanized iron sheets. These people live in a relocation community created by the government after their land was rendered unstable and unsafe by earthquakes. I spoke from Acts 20:32 encouraging everyone to be devoted to God and His Word in all circumstances.
The structural integrity of the building was tested near the end of our meeting by a 5.6 magnitude earthquake which violently shook the land and the building for about 30 seconds. We heard the steel structure popping under the stress, but everything held fast. Truly, God hears the prayers of His saints.
During our long trek back to the hotel, I thought of the many brethren praying for us as I observed motorcycles and other vehicles without lights or reflectors, which is common here because of the poverty.
Salvador Parbo picked us up in a van on Tuesday to travel four hours to reach the church of tribal people at Mt. Apo meeting at RG. Pad, Sudsuhayan, Ilomavis, Kidapawan City (boundaries of cities here reach far out into rural areas). This is another place where the church building was rebuilt after the earthquakes. At least 60 people were present to hear my lesson on Acts 20:32, Mark on Joshua 24:15, and Trey on Revelation 21:3. I then surveyed the good progress being made in building houses for saints whose houses were destroyed. Mark and Trey then stayed and preached at Palusok, Kidapawan City, North Cotabato during the afternoon. After leaving them, we passed by the church building at Ginatilan, Kidapawan City which Connie W. Adams help to finance with donations some years ago. Hope Itdang preaches to about 60 people here each Lord’s Day.
As we proceeded further up on Mt. Apo, we got stuck in a mud hole for at least 30 minutes and finally Julie Notarte tied a rope to his four-wheel drive vehicle and pulled us out. Meanwhile, we walked the rest of the distance to the church at Embassy, Perez, Kidapawan City which meets in another new building after the earthquake. It often happens that when we send money to rebuild the houses, the brethren actually prefer donations which can be used to build their places of worship first!
This building was full and I spoke from Psalm 23. Having the viewed the houses which have been built and are being built, I traveled far up Mt. Apo with Salvador, passing through hundreds of acres of banana trees on rocky, muddy roads through the Dole Plantation to reach the tribal people meeting in a new building at Buhay Makilala, North Cotabato. At least 100 people were gathered and I tried to encourage them and strengthen their faith with admonitions from Acts 20:32. The community of new houses is called Christian Village through it is surrounded by Muslims.
The many saints in these very remote places are a testimony to the love, zeal, and sacrifices of our Filipino brethren who are constantly preaching the gospel. Tribal preachers I met today include Ruben Panday, Victor Ambag, Jimmy Caag, and Remegio Uayan – but I did not get the names of all of these good workers known to God for their faithful labors. It is also a good reminder when we are discouraged at the numbers of people who reject the Lord that He always has His 7,000 saints who have not bowed their knees to Baal!
Beginning Wednesday, August 17, Trey is working with Julie Notarte. Julie took Mark and Trey to three congregations today where a total of 35 were baptized for the remission of sins and added to the one body of Christ. Frank Isla brought me to visit nine congregations and sites where brethren are rebuilding houses and church buildings hit by earthquakes. I was exposed today to hundreds of these buildings – yes, hundreds – in all stages of repair and reconstruction.
At San Isidro, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, we met brethren who were waiting for us and we walked around to see where construction was underway. Brethren repeatedly expressed their gratitude for the help sent here and everywhere we went today. Next, we stopped at the Magbok church in Tulonan, North Cotabato where we were greeted by thankful saints again. Some of our brethren are still living in tents and lean-tos while waiting for the resources necessary to get their families into more substantial living places. Repair of damaged houses costs about $600 and building small new houses costs about $1,200 (the size of the family and other variables are taken into account).
Kindhearted saints continue to donate funds, but this process takes much time and persistent efforts because the devastation was so widespread and severe. A large bridge in one town we passed through has structural damage, so a policeman allows one vehicle at a time to cross. Such signs of the devastation are still very evident although two years have passed since the most severe earthquakes struck.
At Dapok, Daig, Tulunan, North Cotabato Jonathan Carino translated as I preached “Do Not Be Afraid: God Is Our Shepherd” (Ps. 23) to a large audience including two sleeping dogs. Fourteen souls confessed Christ and were immersed in water to wash away their sins in the blood of the Lamb (Acts 22:16).
The saints at Upper Balnate, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur provided snacks and we enjoyed visiting with them, but there was no time to preach because of our tight schedule. We had a brief visit with another congregation of displaced saints meeting in a lean-to at the side of a house, waiting for resources to put up a church building.
Our last stop was at Upper Asbangilok, Acasia, Relocation Site, San Miguel, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur. I preached to another full house on Psalm 23 as Jonathan translated and two more precious souls were baptized into Christ by the grace of God.
I was reminded today that we all leave footprints in the sand of time. A lady approached me to ask about Deborah, our daughter (now Deborah Williams). The lady remembered her teaching a ladies class at the Bansalan church in 2006 where Frank Isla preaches.
On Thursday Frank Isla took Mark to visit three churches while Trey and I went with Julie Notarte. Our first visit was with the saints at Saub, Matanao, Davao del Sur where the new little church building was filled to overflowing. I spoke from Act 20:32 and Trey from Revelation 21:3-5 and three people stepped forward to confess Christ and to submit to him in baptism. After viewing rebuilt houses, we proceeded to Dongan Pekong, Matanao where another new church building has been constructed. Addressing another full house, Trey spoke from Jude 3 and I repeated the admonitions in Acts 20:32. Two more souls confessed their faith and asked to be baptized. The baptisms were done at a spillway.
The brethren showed us a chain saw they have been using to cut their own lumber to build houses. It was very worn looking – we are helping brethren who do their best to help themselves.
Our next stop was at Manga, Matanao where we visited with the saints while eating our lunch. Again we saw the rebuilt houses.
The church at Purok 8 Relocation, Bacungan, Magsaysay is composed of saints who have fled Muslim rebels as well as earthquakes. At least 50 people met under a large mango tree on property purchased by Julie on borrowed funds ($2,000) while they prepare to erect a simple church building, partly by using wood they have cut. The more chain saws our brethren can get, the faster this kind of work will go forward. Trey and I repeated our lessons from Jude 3 and Acts 20:32.
The government gave them small houses in a relocation community, but bathrooms were not included. The community uses a common CR or “comfort room,” as they call it here, which breeds the spread of disease resulting in the deaths of several brethren. As soon as funds can be raised, it is imperative to provide bathrooms for each little house.
Today I met people who were converted in 1971 when the gospel first came here. Trey created a sensation and became a celebrity by passing out candy to the many small children in the audience.
Our last visit was at Purok 6, Malawanit, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur which also included aged saints from 1971. Everyone was very thankful for our coming and the help they have received. They asked us to relay their expressions of appreciation to everyone who has donated funds for food and houses. After Trey and I preached again from Jude 3 and Acts 20:32, another four souls obeyed the gospel of Christ. Rocks and branches were piled in a creek so as to created a small pool for the baptisms. We were in sight of Mt. Apo today, crowned with a huge volcano which was kind enough to withhold eruption.
I was able to see the beautiful moon for a couple of nights, which made me think of all of you who are watching it too. Let it be a reminder that the same God who watches over it also watches over each one of us as we love and serve Him!
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