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Thursday was a day of travel which brought an unexpected and blessed opportunity. Travel in the Philippines is often built around air travel because the Republic of the Philippines is a nation of islands. While I have traveled by “Fast Boat” from place to place, especially in areas where the islands are grouped rather closely together, when you go considerable distances such as from Luzon, the large island to the north, down to Mindanao, which is another large island to the south, flight is really your only option.
We flew by Philippine Airlines, via an Airbus 330 normally used for intercontinental travel, that was fully loaded with passengers. The flight from Manila to Davao City took approximately an hour and a half. However, the entire flight, because of the loading and disembarking times, takes more like three hours. We made it to the airport at 9:00 a.m. and arrived in Davao at 1:30 p.m. Several Filipino brethren met us at the airport, preacher companions with whom we have worked in years past. The journey to Kidapawan took approximately three hours. The roads we traveled upon were concrete highways, concrete and asphalt, but compared to America, it felt like we were riding a washboard (i.e., of the antique variety that was used in yesteryear to scrub dirt and debris from clothing).
After arriving at our destination, we experienced an unexpected opportunity made possible by the local evangelist, Danny, who is hosting our studies over the next two days. Ron and I taught a series of lessons on “How to Study the Bible” to a large group of denominational preachers. Danny was converted several years ago when Jim McDonald made his last trip to the Philippines. He has close contacts with many of his former associates and had invited them to come and study the Word of God with us.
Danny also made contact with a man who owns and operates the local hospital. This individual, a 70-year-old surgeon from a Seventh-day Adventist background, has reached out to religious groups in the area to extend health care to the poor members of the Lord’s Church and other groups as well. He is trying to help the community in which he has labored for so many years.
He invited Ron, me, and our traveling companions into his home for a Bible study and supper. We had about a two-hour Bible study in which Ron presented a simple lesson on the uniqueness of God’s plan of salvation, focusing on Jesus Christ as our Savior and the Lord’s church as the realm in which we come into fellowship with the Lord and fellow Christians. This lesson emphasized the distinctiveness of the gospel message. The man read the passages presented. I was given the opportunity, after the initial discussion, to follow up with a brief discussion of the covenants of God, which is an area that needed to be addressed in view of his denominational affiliation.
Seventh-day Adventists believe that the old covenant, in particular observing the Sabbath, is still in force. I was able to discuss the biblical concept of covenants: God has established the covenant of marriage, which is between God, a man, and a woman as the relationship in which we find companionship and happiness. There are also covenants that God made with individuals such as with Abraham and David. Then there are covenants that God made with His people, first with the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai, and finally, with all who would obey the gospel through the person of Jesus Christ.
We compared the old covenant with the new and better covenant that replaced it, focusing in particular on Jeremiah 31. Jesus is not just the one who instituted a better covenant; He is a better high priest, more powerful, better than the angels, etc. It was a wonderful opportunity. The man was very receptive, and in the interaction we shared with him, it appears that he is not far from the kingdom of God and was very open to the truths that were taught.
Before we left, one of the Filipino brothers traveling with us, Jack Jacko, offered some parting admonitions in their local dialect to conclude with a final appeal. I hope that this individual will be drawn to the gospel and that the seed planted this night through an unexpected opportunity will bear fruit. Brother Danny encouraged this man to not only obey the gospel himself but also share it with his fellow surgeons, doctors, and the medical staff serving in the local hospital. This is the evangelistic spirit that prevails here in the Philippines.
Our time in Kidapawan was a good opportunity to study with a number of denominational preachers. Ron shared the specific numbers of those who attended in his report. In addition to the large group of gospel preachers, there were between 30-40 denominational preachers in attendance each day.
Ron and I presented material from a workbook by Cecil Willis on How to Study the Bible, that sets forth the hermeneutical principles drawn from Sacred Scripture. It examines a variety of common religious doctrines and contrasts them with the truth contained in God’s Word, easily distinguishable by employing sound reasoning—(1) such as studying everything the Bible says on a subject before drawing a conclusion, (2) not interpreting one verse so that it contradicts clear teaching found elsewhere, (3) recognizing the distinction between the old and the new covenants, etc.
These sessions were very profitable. Students listened attentively and often signaled agreement with the principles being set forth. Questions posed in the open forum section showed that several individuals were seeking to apply these concepts to some of the erroneous positions with which they had previously been associated.
I hope that continued growth will occur and that others will be led to the truth in subsequent days and weeks. One family came forward acknowledging that they had been in error in their teaching practice. Because English was a second language, they sought further clarification on some points of discussion but recognized that they needed to be baptized for the remission of sins and renounce their previous erroneous practices. We hope that this will bear fruit and that good will result.
I appreciate the efforts of our Filipino brethren who supported our efforts. Many gospel preachers came, listened, and helped in the one-on-one discussions with some of the visitors from a denominational background, reinforcing the teaching that Ron and I presented.
On Sunday, we met in the morning with the saints here at Kidapawan with 110 in attendance. During the first hour, I presented a Survey of the Bible, pointing out that God had a plan before the foundation of the world to save mankind which unfolded through the ages and ultimately was fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. Ron presented another excellent sermon during the worship hour. We enjoyed our association with Christians here in this city.
In the afternoon, we had a special opportunity of being able to visit two nearby Pentecostal churches and preach the gospel freely and without hindrance. We studied relevant topics that would be helpful to each, and our lessons were well received. Twenty-five attended the first session with a “Church of God” group, while 34 were in attendance at the second session with a “Light of the World” congregation. Seven denominational preachers were in attendance.
After a very long day, we finally returned to the motel around 8 p.m., only to find that the restaurant had already closed. Ron and I walked into town and found a restaurant that remained open, enjoying a delicious meal before retiring for the night.
My focus during this final week has been to work with Chris Reeves in a preacher training program at Cebu, hosted by Brother Jonathan Carino at the Luim congregation. The program started on Monday and ran through Wednesday. Since I traveled on Monday from Kitapawan on Mindanao to Cebu in the Visayans, I was unable to participate in the studies on the first day. However, I was able to join the sessions on the second and third days.
Tuesday was very rewarding. Chris has an ongoing series on preacher training, teaching from 1st and 2nd Timothy and offering practical counsel on the work of a preacher, including how to use technology such as freely available software and online services like Bible Hub. He spent an hour in one of the sessions showing the features available, explaining where those tools are useful, and cautioning about some sections that might have suspect lessons and articles written from a denominational perspective.
On Tuesday, I presented a compressed version of the lessons that Ron and I had taught earlier on “How to Study the Bible.” This study group was composed of faithful gospel preachers who possess a more mature understanding of Scripture than the denominational preachers with whom we studied at Kitapauan. As a result, we were able to delve more deeply into the material. The application shifted from the milk of the word (i.e., first principles) to meatier matters (i.e., more challenging issues) that will help them in pondering and proclaiming God’s word.
On Wednesday, I presented four lessons that provided an introduction and summary of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. We have been studying these lessons back home over the course of our third trimester, which is a four-month-long series of lessons in the auditorium class at Adoue Street dedicated to these books. I taught many of the lessons but shared the responsibility with other teachers, such as my fellow elder, Darin Henry, and other men in the congregation. Here, over the course of four one-hour sessions, I provided a summary of Ezra and Nehemiah, focusing on how these men exemplified the need for courage in facing the various challenges that came with their efforts to restore the remnant to its proper status before God. This proved to be both interesting and informative for our Filipino preaching brethren and applicable to their circumstances and struggles.
On Thursday, (i.e., today) Chris and I will hold a one day gospel meeting with the saints who attend the Luim congregation.
On Friday, we will fly from Cebu to Manilla and visit the Philippine Bible Society with Ron Halbrook where we will purchase Bibles in various Filipino dialects.
On Saturday, we will begin our journey back to the United States. Thank you to all who made it possible for us to travel half-way around the world and perform this important and rewarding work!
Yours,
Mark Mayberry
