Dumaguete - Beginning

This would be the first post of a very long backlog that I hope to fill after nine months of not blogging. Since my last post in August, a lot has happened, the majority of which has been related to daily Family Worship. Being overwhelmed and exhausted was what took up the greater part of the missing time. As things begin to wind down, I will try again to resume documenting from where I left off.

Pastor Nate Sonner of Reformed Presbyterian Church Dumaguete sent me a casual invitation sometime last December, (if my memory serves me well) to a conference concerning planting biblical and reformed churches on May 19. Dr. Al Baker from Vanguard Presbytery will be speaking. I didn't think much of it but I went ahead and invited some of the brethren in our gathering. We started saving weekly in our make-shift piggy bank. By March we were already booked and every detail sorted out for us.

It is sobering to learn how much of what we heard on Day 1 of the lecture corresponded to our views and existing practice. This affirmation gives us great comfort that Father did not abandon us to fend for ourselves, but rather led us to true teaching by the power of one Spirit, even in the absence of a schooled leader.

 

Immediately following the conference we began work. Taking the opportunity to spread the good news of Christ's reconciliatory ministry to the local community. Only three of the tracts that we distributed were rejected. The rest was warmly appreciated. We had no trouble giving these away because folks easily accepted them. We brought more or less 500 tracts for 500 souls. May the LORD be pleased to work through these.

 

We also met and spoke with a long-time witness for Christ. He has been coming here every day for years, interacting one-on-one with the people on the boulevard. We encouraged each other before we parted and continued on with our work.

I found a great spot in front of people who were sitting on the benches, with a group preparing for a program that afternoon. I did not bring any amplification since I wasn't sure if it would pass customs check and thought I'd simply rely on the Lord to preach in the open air. Speaking for an hour into a bullhorn was difficult enough, but having to rely solely on voice is entirely different - not to mention brutal on the throat. But as I passed the 30-minute mark, I was amazed that my throat was not dry and my voice was still full. I can see people across the field, some seated and some standing, facing me. As I attempted to highlight Christ's redemptive work on the cross, I can only hope Father uses this time to work the gospel into the hearts he has gathered here.

Photo by M

As I meditated on what we did here, I thought about President Trump's re-election since it was mentioned during the lecture. And based off people's comments on social media it is concluded to be a return to regular sanity. Back to the way things were - yes, a time when people were as depraved as ever. I thought to myself, God is graciously giving the American Christians additional time to work towards the advancement of the gospel work, more than it was a time to breathe a sigh of relief from the damage the previous administration had done. In the same way, the 'peace' we have here in the Philippines is also an indictment to professing believers who simply cover their eyes and ears to the reality of people dying everyday without hearing the gospel, who glory in their theology, just to silently attend church one hour, one day a week. If you really think about it, it's so easy to die for Christ. The difficulty, and impossibility, is in living for Him everyday. 

There's work to be done. And, while it is true that the fields are white for harvest, it is equally true that there are only a few laborers in them. Most refuse to leave the comfort of their 'air-conditioned walls' to go to where the fish are, to talk to people for the gospel's sake, to seek out places where Christ's name is yet to be heard and people who have yet to understand what He did on the cross, to take the kingdom of heaven with violence, to prevail and wrestle in prayer, so as to glorify God's name when He gathers the wheat into His barn and vindicate His name when He righteously judges the world and sin.

Photo by K

We ministered for the two days we were here, handing out the gospel to everyone everywhere. Knocking even on the windows of patrol cars, tricycle drivers, and parking outposts. They all took our tracts with a smile. The people of Dumaguete are such friendly people. Sadly, I cannot say the same for the people back home. I can almost say the people in Dumaguete remain to be 'untainted' with Manila's apathetic outlook. This place is ripe for gospel work. It truly is. I can only imagine how many more places like these exist that would readily accommodate the gospel. To imagine the number of the unreached is staggering to say the least.

If only believers would begin to believe they have the one true message that could save sinners, you would see more Christians aggressively evangelizing their circle of influence. The Mormons believe in their false god more. Their efforts to evangelize people show. The LGBT believe in their ideology more. Their passion for sin shows. They're loud about what they believe in. When we were in the park there were a number of J's Witnesses talking with the people about their heretical 'gospel'. We only saw one Christian doing that. And he was alone. The world sees no hope in the church because the modern church offers none. It offers programs. The way TV shows offer programs. 

How can one who has the remedy for death keep silent about it? How can one begin to tell the people about God when he has yet to tell God about the people? Daniel prayed thus, 'We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments..' Daniel 9:5

Everyone prays. Buddhists pray. Satanists pray. Religionists pray. Hindus pray. Christians pray. But has the modern church's prayer done anything to turn the world  upside down, compared to the 120 who were in upper room in the book of Acts? All we have done is fill the buildings with apathetic people who affirm that unless a kernel of wheat fall to the ground and die it remains alone, but are still afraid to lose their lives in evangelizing the lost, and fight with all their might to live with respect in the world.

Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence! When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence. For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
Isa 64:1-4  

 We need to come to a place of desperation. Like Hannah, we need to be desperate in our prayers. 

 

Photo by M

Months ago, I was fearing the day I would leave for Dumaguete. I almost did not want to go. I but knew I had to for the Lord's sake. It would also be an experience for the brethren to see what its like to be missionaries for the gospel's sake. My motivation in going was to give this experience to the brethren I would be traveling with. Up till the last night we were packing I still did not want to go. But obedience is sweeter when the flesh says no but the Spirit says do. 

I was anxious about leaving, and next thing I know I am back at my desk in my home writing this. One thing is sure: time is passing. One day I would pass too. And I feel pathetic in my half-heartedness - my so-called 'service'. I have to see past today and into eternity when I stand before God. Have I truly lived for Christ? 

May the LORD have mercy upon my wretchedness.