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In
addition to the meetings in General Santos City, two laymen and a
pastor from North America, each supported by his wife, did the preaching
for a crusade. Ben Kochenower, CPA, is a senior partner in a public
accounting firm in Gaffney, South Carolina. Though startled when invited
to preach a crusade he and his wife, Susan accepted the challenge
(photo 1 left). |
| The
Kochenowers held their meetings in Alabel, about 30 miles from General
Santos City and the district pastor, Lorenzo Rodulfo translated his
sermons for him. |
| Many
mornings the Kochenowers attended Bible studies conducted by the local
laymen – which began at 5:30 and 6:30 each morning! They were
surprised at the soul-winning role of the laity and to find church
choirs attending these early morning Bible studies! He discovered
choirs are also very involved in soul-keeping! When a member misses
church, the next Sabbath a choir goes to their home and serenades
them between 2 and 4 a.m. and invites them to church! No wonder their
apostasy rate is low. |
| When
asked what he would say to other North-American laymen who might consider
doing what he did, Ben wrote, "This has been one of the biggest
‘wins’ of my spiritual life, for witnessing and sharing
the truth about Jesus Christ. I would have never believed I could
or would preach a complete crusade by myself. The sermon material
is packaged in such a way that all that remains to be added is my
time for careful review. I’ll never be the same. There is no
longer any need for a Seventh-day Adventist layman to feel guilty
about not sharing his/her faith. You can do this too, and I promise
you, it will forever change your life." |
| Entering
the Unentered |
| Dr
& Mrs Bruce Powers (photo 2 above) operate an executive and professional
placement business in Mesa, Arizona. They too were astonished when
invited to preach one of the crusades. But, with the easy-to-use sermon
notes and the coordinated graphics, they accepted the invitation to
preach in "Tupi." Pastor Alitao took the Powers to visit
some of his other churches. The 18 congregations in his district increased
to 21 at the crusade's close! They visited two new congregations,
each in a previously unentered area. |
| One
group they visited was in the village of Saboy where Brother Tuli
began to work only a few months ago. The villagers gave up their land
to the Dole (Pineapple) Company and now work for minimal wages. They
live in the houses along embankments where the land is too steep to
grow pineapple. As a result of the work of this layman seventy villagers
were baptized on November 11. |
| Sadly,
Saboy is so far from any school the children are condemned to illiteracy.
Needless to say, they need some help. They have land for a church
and a school and needed only some galvanized steel roofing. The cost
to provide roofing for BOTH a church and school was only $3,000, and
the members can provide the rest. Though the roofing has been provided
yet there are thousands of similar situations that need urgent attention. |
 |
| Lawrence
Walton, church pastor in Albemarle, North Carolina, with his wife
Ann, a secretary in the Carolina Conference office (photo 3 upper
left), also accepted our invitation to preach a crusade. The Lord
richly blessed their crusade with 389 souls baptized on November 11. |
| Elder
Walton describes his experience: "Our crusade at Polomolok, Mindanao,
in the Philippines, was a thrilling moment for Ann and me. To witness
so many people in action for Jesus Christ, to talk and work with those
whose lives have been changed, to be a participant in mass baptisms,
all of this is such a blessing that it is difficult to find words
to convey one’s feelings. Nevertheless, it is one I wish every
pastor and layman in North America could experience." |
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It
was fascinating to see how the crowds arrived at each of the meetings.
The tricycles (motorcycles with side-cars) were filled to overflowing--even
riding on the roof. Jeepneys, for which the Philippines are famous,
carried loads that were difficult to believe! |
| Attendance
at the crusade in General Santos City gymnasium was extraordinary
regularly exceeding 10,000, due in large part to the personal witnessing
activities of the members. |
| Each
Sabbath baptisms were held in different parts of the country. In the
first on October 28, in Matalam 198 were baptized and on November
4 in Tacurong, another 396 were baptized. |
| Filled
to Overflowing |
| Though
concerned it was too big, the Mission rented a sports complex for
the crusade climax on November 11. They need not have worried. Sabbath
morning every type of vehicle imaginable brought members and baptismal
candidates from all over Mindanao. Soon the stadium was filled to
overflowing with over 20,000 people, the largest crowd ever assembled
by Adventists in Mindanao. |
| Sabbath
morning 1,795 were baptized bringing the crusade total to 5,480. According
to Mission President, Elder W Serrano, by the end of 2000 the total
exceeded 7,000 precious souls. |
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One of the outstanding choirs that had sung for all our meetings
met us at the airport. Their magnificent harmony mingled with our
tears as we bid each other fond farewells before beginning the long
flight home across the Pacific. All of us cherish the memories of
our time in Southern Mindanao. But even more, we wish it were possible
to transport our experience of rubbing shoulders with the inspired
and inspiring pastors and laymen who truly make hastening the return
of our Lord their highest and best priority. Oh, if only theirs
was a contagious disease!
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