Saturday, January 12, 2008

Saturday Evening, January 12, 2008






Today was the final day of our week long evangelistic activities. As has been the case everywhere we have gone this week, our work in barangay Bagacay was fruitful. Seven adults made professions of faith in Jesus Christ, bringing the total for adult salvation decisions to 187. Besides the adults many children have also heard the Gospel message and responded to it. Only God knows how many of these are genuine conversion experiences. We will know when we all get to Heaven. Obviously the Lord has gone before us all this week, preparing hearts to hear His Word. I am so thankful for your prayers on our behalf, and for our Filipino hosts, whom we are here to help. Their assistance in translation has been of utmost importance.

Everywhere we have been this week, the new believers have been scheduled for regular Bible Studies under the leadership of Pastor and Mrs. Valdez and Pastor and Mrs. Zerna. We remained in Bagacay over an hour today so they could begin a Bible Study with each of the new believers. Each new Christian has been given a Cebuano dialect Bible, and they consider them a prized possession.

Tonight, after the last evangelism rally at Bagacay, we treated our Filipino team members to a special dinner at Santa Monica Beach Resort (where we formerly stayed on previous mission trips here). This is not a place where they would normally be able to go for dinner, so they were truly happy to be at this place, and we ALL ate well!

Pictured above is a poster on a telephone pole at Bagacay announcing the date and time of our scheduled service; our Filipino team members (sorry for the blurred quality; Randall Robertson, singing at Bagacay; and Rowena Gantalao (the young lady who's father was stabbed to death a few months ago). Many of you have prayed for Rowena (or "Weng" as she is known). She is doing well but her family is still having a difficult time after this tragedy.
The Filipino team members in the photo are Pastor Doming and wife, Villa and daughter Noemi Joy Valdez; Pastor Joseph and Wife, Juvy, Zerna and children, John Carlo and Rhea Mae; Dario and Juliet Dales and daughter, Darlene Joie; Giovannie Valdez; and Rowena Gantalao. These folks have been with us during most of the activities of the past week.
The friends of Beacon Ministries have helped to make it possible for us to come to this place and share the Gospel message. Thanks to your prayerful and financial support, at least 182 new people have been added to the Kingdom of God and we will enjoy their company in Heaven for eternity! Thank you so much for your help.
Our activities tomorrow (our last full day here) will be centered around the New Life Church and it's surrounding community. I will hope to update tomorrow night if possible.

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