The work among the faithful who assemble at Angeles City, near Clark Air Base, Philippines is progressing well, we are pleased to report. The diligent efforts of the members have resulted in thirteen souls being added to Christ, from the first of January until the end of April of this year. Attendance is also increasing, and fifty-two were present for the morning worship Sunday, 30 April 1972. We are striving to become a self-supporting congregation and have recently undertaken partial support of Castorio F. Gamit, the regular preacher. Vicente P. Lintag recently resigned his secular employment to enable him to fully devote his time and energies to the cause of Christ. This is a courageous step, indeed, because the employment situation in the Philippines is critical, and it could be difficult to regain such a position at a later date. We believe the combined abilities of brethren Gamit and Lintap will be a valuable asset to the work here. Our program also includes plans for Juan S. Cunanan to begin a new effort in nearby Mabalacat with the help of other members here, in the near future.

How You Can Help

We need the help of our brethren. We will be grateful to you for remembering us in your prayers. The Filipino people are very religious in nature, and many are receptive to the Truth. With the Lords help we can reach more souls. There is another way you can help. Many American brethren receive periodicals published by Christians, and after reading them, discard them in the trash can. Most of these readers probably pay a commercial trash hauler to remove their refuse for them. Do you realize that for about the price of having a bundle of such journals removed to be burned, buried or otherwise disposed of - just a few cents - brethren in the Philippines could be reading and distributing your used materials? Most Filipinos cannot afford a subscription of their own. As an example, a $5 subscription, which costs more here due to international mail rates, costs the average Filipino almost a weeks pay. I recommend placing a box in a convenient location such as the church house vestibule, or having a member collect your bulletins and journals to send to Filipino brethren. If you send your bundles to me, I will be glad to see they are distributed throughout the Philippines.

My address is considered domestic mail, as the APO at Clark Air Base is an adjunct of the San Francisco Post Office.

Philippines - Bound Servicemen

If you are in the U.S. Armed Forces and are being reassigned to the Philippines, or if you know a Christian who is, I may be of help. If the destination is Clark Air Base, I will be happy to help you locate our meeting place, and arrange transportation for you, and help you become adjusted to your assignment here. There is a faithful congregation here, but there is also a larger, better known, digressive group near the base. If you are being assigned to another installation in the Philippines I will assist you in making contact with the faithful in that place.

There are faithful churches near most U.S. installations in the Philippines, but in many cases there are apostate congregations slightly more conveniently located, and usually having more Americans attending them. For these reasons many faithful brethren assigned in the Philippines identify and assemble with these latter groups. It is important to remember that while a Christian is in fellowship with error he is not a faithful child of God. Even if your unfaithfulness is just for the short time you may be stationed here, your growth as a Christian will be stunted, and you cannot expect to leave here as strong in faith as you would have been if you had been faithful. Faithful service to God is not so difficult that you must consider endangering your soul by serving Satan. Faithful brethren are willing to help you while you are here. Since we have no way of knowing you are coming, and when to expect you, please write us in advance.

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XVI: 39, pp. 8-9
August 10, 1972