Day 4 - Alumni Meeting and Kingsway Baptist Church
Friday, October 3, 2008
We arrived at Iloilo Baptist Church at 8:30am. Since the alumni sessions started at 9am, our group had some time to walk around the campus. The ladies gave out many homemade bracelets to the children in the campus. Barbara Kiel, along with other members of North Valley Baptist Church, had these bracelets put together for the trip. It’s amazing to see the children receive these trinkets with joy and excitement. One of the comments made during this trip is the fact that we really have nothing to complain about in America – at least in terms of material possessions. What we take for granted, the people in the Philippines consider luxury. Our ladies were also able to help fold some Gospel tracts to be used when we visit churches and also when we go out to the extension ministries of Iloilo Baptist Church.
You may wonder where the men are at this time. They are in Bro. Martin’s house, of course. It was very hot outside, so they sought shelter in the air-conditioned house of our host. Why sweat in the intense heat when the ladies are doing a good job of it already?
Dr. Russell Anderson taught the first session of the Alumni meeting. He spoke on being a good leader. Once again we heard many good Bible truths that can be helpful in the ministries of these pastors.
Bro. Apusen spoke after Bro. Anderson. He gave a message from Psalm 48 on the subject of being real. The Bible tells us that what we hear about God is exactly what we’ll see in His actions. We too ought to strive to be more like God so that people will be able to see the qualities in our lives that they are told Christians are supposed to possess.
After the sessions, our group was able to meet many of the 81 pastors that North Valley Baptist Church has had the privilege to support. Bro. Moyer then had all of them pose for a picture with Bro. Martin in front of the church building. It certainly was an encouraging sight to see these men of God together at one time. What a meeting that will be in Heaven when we get to meet all the converts these pastors have won.
Our group is enjoying themselves and getting to know more of the people here at Iloilo Baptist Church. Some of the men in our group headed over to the gym for a very quick game of basketball. The gym here is not very well-ventilated, and it was no surprise to see them drenched when they finished their 10-minute game.
We headed to the hotel around noon to get freshened up for the trip to one of the churches that North Valley supports. We drove for about an hour to Alimodian. This is a mountain village were Pastor Cabayo had been pastoring for about a year. As we got nearer to the church, storm clouds appeared. We parked at the bottom of a hill and walked a short distance uphill to where the church was located. There were about 20 adults and children waiting there for us when we arrived. We learned later that they have been there for 4 hours waiting just for the service to start.
The rains started pouring down right when we arrived at the church, and the noise of the rain drops hitting the galvanized roof was deafening; but no one left the service. There was no electricity, so the service was conducted almost in total darkness. About the only light we had was an occasional lighnting. After a few lively congregational songs and a special, Bro. Moyer was introduced to speak. He did a great job, and God blessed with many getting saved.
Pastor Cabayo has been in this village for just about a year and is doing a tremendous job. About 35 people attend his services regularly. It is thrilling to know that North Valley Baptist Church was able to build this church building where the Gospel is proclaimed to many who are lost.
After the service we headed back down the rain-soaked hillside and managed to make it to the vehicles without sliding down the hill.
Our group will divide into two groups tomorrow. One group will go to Negros Island for an overnight stay in one of the villages, and the other group will stay in Iloilo and go to the soul-winning ministries of Iloilo Baptist Church.
We’ll tell you what happens tomorrow…
You may wonder where the men are at this time. They are in Bro. Martin’s house, of course. It was very hot outside, so they sought shelter in the air-conditioned house of our host. Why sweat in the intense heat when the ladies are doing a good job of it already?
Dr. Russell Anderson taught the first session of the Alumni meeting. He spoke on being a good leader. Once again we heard many good Bible truths that can be helpful in the ministries of these pastors.
Bro. Apusen spoke after Bro. Anderson. He gave a message from Psalm 48 on the subject of being real. The Bible tells us that what we hear about God is exactly what we’ll see in His actions. We too ought to strive to be more like God so that people will be able to see the qualities in our lives that they are told Christians are supposed to possess.
After the sessions, our group was able to meet many of the 81 pastors that North Valley Baptist Church has had the privilege to support. Bro. Moyer then had all of them pose for a picture with Bro. Martin in front of the church building. It certainly was an encouraging sight to see these men of God together at one time. What a meeting that will be in Heaven when we get to meet all the converts these pastors have won.
Our group is enjoying themselves and getting to know more of the people here at Iloilo Baptist Church. Some of the men in our group headed over to the gym for a very quick game of basketball. The gym here is not very well-ventilated, and it was no surprise to see them drenched when they finished their 10-minute game.
We headed to the hotel around noon to get freshened up for the trip to one of the churches that North Valley supports. We drove for about an hour to Alimodian. This is a mountain village were Pastor Cabayo had been pastoring for about a year. As we got nearer to the church, storm clouds appeared. We parked at the bottom of a hill and walked a short distance uphill to where the church was located. There were about 20 adults and children waiting there for us when we arrived. We learned later that they have been there for 4 hours waiting just for the service to start.
The rains started pouring down right when we arrived at the church, and the noise of the rain drops hitting the galvanized roof was deafening; but no one left the service. There was no electricity, so the service was conducted almost in total darkness. About the only light we had was an occasional lighnting. After a few lively congregational songs and a special, Bro. Moyer was introduced to speak. He did a great job, and God blessed with many getting saved.
Pastor Cabayo has been in this village for just about a year and is doing a tremendous job. About 35 people attend his services regularly. It is thrilling to know that North Valley Baptist Church was able to build this church building where the Gospel is proclaimed to many who are lost.
After the service we headed back down the rain-soaked hillside and managed to make it to the vehicles without sliding down the hill.
Our group will divide into two groups tomorrow. One group will go to Negros Island for an overnight stay in one of the villages, and the other group will stay in Iloilo and go to the soul-winning ministries of Iloilo Baptist Church.
We’ll tell you what happens tomorrow…
