Trip To Philippines – June, 2006

 

Acts 14:21-28

21 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch,

22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.

23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

24 After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia,

25 and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.

27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

 

 

On the afternoon of June 11th the following men departed for the Philippines: Glenn Ballard, Ed Daniels, Bob Loudermilk, and Nick Cunningham.

 

The Philippines is located between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.  The population of the Philippines is over 76,500,000. 

 

Our work for this trip was in Mindanao, which is at the southern part of the main island groups and the second largest of the 7,107 islands that comprise the Philippines.

 

We arrived in General Santos City on Tuesday morning.  About a dozen smiling faces (preachers) were waiting for us. We immediately began our work.

 

The way we designed our travels and our work on this trip was a little different than previous trips.  The decision was made to travel out to the people in different areas and hold full day studies with the teachers and preachers. 

 

Our mission was to also give them tools that would help them in their work.  And, we had a desire to find the nucleus of a few preachers who are faithful and who have the capability to lead and carry on the work in other areas of the Philippines.  We felt that our mission was a success.

 

DAY ONE - TUESDAY

Our first day of studies was at the home of one of the preachers.  We covered the following topics in each place that we went:

-         Leadership for the Lord

-         The Role of Teachers

-         The Role of Women in the Church

 

Before the study, went by the police station to meet the chief of police and by to meet the mayor of the city. The brethren have very good rapport with leaders in their community.

 

DAY TWO – WEDNESDAY

To the area of Surallah for another preacher’s study. 

 

After a full day of training and teaching, we took a 1 ˝ hour drive, then off the main road into the country, dirt roads.  Then a walk down a path, past a cow, to where one of the churches meets.  About 6 people there when we arrived.  Twenty or more had gathered by the time we finished speaking.

 

DAY THREE – THURSDAY

To the Glan area, where preacher Renee Talangan lives.  We were impressed with this brother.  He poured out his heart and shed tears as he expressed the difficulty they have in trying to carry on the work with limited resources.  He then exhorted the other preachers with teachers:  “we will continue… we have found the true church and we will not quit.”

 

DAY FOUR – FRIDAY

To Molongon area where there are approximately twenty churches – many up in the mountains.

 

Quote from one of the preachers at this study: “With or without rice, we will preach Christ!”

 

Stopped by an old church building that a very young preacher was restoring. People starting gathering around us when we showed up.   We had prayer for a brother who had just buried his wife and two elderly women who were very sick. 

 

DAY FIVE – SATURDAY

We went to the town of Polomolok again where we were invited to speak to approximately twenty-five police officers at a weekly study that some of the brethren conduct at the police station.   

 

We then traveled into the mountains to a brand new church at Sitio Domocoum.  We attended the baptism at a nearby river where sixteen people obeyed the gospel.    

 

DAY SIX – SUNDAY

Bob spoke at three different churches:

          Mag Say Say  

          Malugong

          Akbilag – three souls were baptized into Christ. 

 

We were impressed with the door that God has opened in the Philippines.  The work is growing very rapidly.  During the first week, we witnessed 19 baptisms - and that was just one week in one little area of this work.  Hundreds are being baptized and new congregations are being established continually. 

 

It reminds us of:

Acts 11:21 - The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.