by Mark Mayberry
Synopsis: In August 2022, I travelled to the Philippines along with Ron Halbrook and Trey Torno. We labored with Filipino brethren in Mindanao and also in Metro Manila.
If memory serves, this is my eighth trip to the Philippines. Ron Halbrook has provided a detailed description of our activities that I plan to post to TruthMagazine.com. Instead of repeating information, I wish to share my assessment and observations from this month-long evangelistic endeavor.
I departed Houston on Monday, August 8. Today is Tuesday, August 30. Ron and I are currently at our motel in Manila, performing last-minute tasks, before we drive later this evening to Ninoy Aquino International Airport for our scheduled departure at 11:30 p.m. I should arrive in Houston on Wednesday afternoon, August 31. Since there is a 13-hour time difference between Manila and Houston, travel time will still approach or exceed 24 hours. Oh, well—it’s better than the proverbial “slow boat to China.”
I spent much of today reflecting upon the experiences of the last month, and share these thoughts in this editorial space.
First, I offer my thanks to my beloved wife, Sherelyn. She was a tremendous help in the preparation and packing for this trip. While I enjoy coming to the Philippines (and this trip was especially rewarding), I miss her greatly and long to feel her loving embrace.
Thanks to the brethren at Adoue Street for permitting me to do this work, and covering for me in my absence. I am very blessed to labor with such a wonderful group of Christians.
I express my gratitude to the brethren and congregations who graciously provided funds that made this trip possible. Thanks to Ron Halbrook and Trey Torno for being such agreeable companions.
Ron and I have shared this experience on multiple occasions, and it has always been a pleasure and a privilege. However, it was my first time to work with Trey. An engineer by training and occupation, blessed with a godly wife and small child, Trey made substantial sacrifices to visit the Philippines and labor with the brethren in Mindanao. It was a delight to labor with him—almost like seeing the Philippines with fresh eyes for the first time. Trey’s love for the Lord, and the brethren, is inspiring.
After the non-stop activities of the previous month (which included attending Truth Lectures in Athens, AL and taking part in our week-long VBS at Adoue Street in Alvin, TX), it was good to rest during much of the trip. However, the total travel time (including layovers in Atlanta, Georgia, and Inchon, South Korea) was over twenty-four hours. By the time I arrived in Manila, I was exhausted. Rest and recuperation is a gift of God. After a day of recovery (in which we also picked up some needed supplies), we flew southward to Mindanao—the second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and the seventh most populated island in the world.
During the first part of our trip, we spent a significant amount of time travelling to remote regions of Mindanao, visiting with brethren who lost their homes in a series of devastating earthquakes almost three years ago. American brethren contributed funds to help rebuild church buildings and homes that were destroyed. We visited many remote locations and frequently preached in these villages.
It was good to see that the recovery project was mostly complete. They have constructed these new homes and church buildings out of durable materials. Church buildings in the smaller villages are simply constructed—with floors of concrete, exterior walls of mortar/cinder-block (to a height of 4-5 feet) with the upper portion of the walls of bamboo lattice, which allows for air flow. The roofs are typically constructed of galvanized metal. Seating is a split bamboo bench with no back support. Some of the larger church buildings use more substantial material, but they appear both economical and well-constructed. Individual homes were similarly constructed, but with bamboo walls and dirt floors. They built these homes of the same materials as described above, and have similar construction to other homes in the area.
I can’t imagine the massive destruction cause by the earthquakes that struck Mindanao. Almost three years have passed, but the damage to infrastructure is still being repaired. Many bridges were rendered unsafe (several times we crossed bridges where only one vehicle at a time was permitted to cross the river). Roads were destroyed. Countless buildings and homes collapsed. This massive devastation covered a vast area of hundreds of square miles.
As Ron, Trey, and I visited these remote areas (sometimes together, sometimes separately), we preached gospel lessons and offered words of encouragement from the Bible. Here is the summation of some thoughts that I shared:
Although God created the world as a suitable habitation for humanity and pronounced it “very good” (Gen. 1:31), the idyllic conditions that Adam and Eve first knew in the garden of Eden were lost because of sin. We now live in a world under the curse of sin and death that was brought about because of Adam’s transgression (Gen. 3; Rom. 5:12).
Since death reigns, illness, disease and misfortune are the common lot of all mankind (Heb. 9:27-28). Time and chance bring blessing or a curse, often without regard for the character of those who are affected (Eccl. 9:11).
God does not promise that His people will enjoy a life free from pain, drudgery, or tragic loss. However, He does promise to love and comfort us, to guide and keep us, and in the end, to save us—if we obey the gospel and remain faithful unto Him (Heb. 5:8-9).
One way that God comforted Judean brethren who faced famine in the days of Claudius was through a generous gift from the saints in Antioch (Acts 11:27-30). One way that God comforts Filipino brethren who lost their homes and houses of worship in the recent earthquakes is through the generous benevolence from saints in America.
God’s faithful servants often face mistreatment and misfortune because of their commitment to follow Him. Yet, God offers needed warnings, and necessary counsel—He sustains us through trials and temptations, and promises to perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish us (1 Pet. 5:6-11).
Preaching in the Philippines is challenging and also rewarding. There are many local dialects, and several major ones. Filipinos from different regions may (or may not) be able to communicate with brethren elsewhere. Yet, among the young, English is becoming well-known because they teach it in the schools. Almost all signage for businesses along the highways is in English. So, in the cities, we could preach in English and be understood by most of the audience. However, in the remote regions, we needed an interpreter, or at least someone who could summarize the message after we finished.
On days when we visited various villages, spending hours driving from place to place, we experienced a colorful and exciting aspect of life in the Philippines. Filipino drivers operate on some collectively embraced “chaos theory” where western rules of the road have little meaning. Yet, we survived the Asian version of the Baja 1000 with some scares but no scrapes.
Roads vary in quality. Some are as good as in the US; others will loosen your fillings. In the mountains, its madness—with potholes large enough to swallow my lowly Toyota Corolla.
In the countryside, and often near the city, cattle graze beside the road, and sometimes wander into traffic. Chickens, dogs, and cats wander into traffic. Vehicles are of every description: Jeepneys, motorbikes, tricycles, taxis, lumbering trucks, large buses, etc.
Checkpoints are common. Drivers must stop, lower their windows, and sometimes open their trunks. Armed police officers look in the vehicle for miscreants and munitions. Since Americans are welcome, our presence usually resulted in quick approval, and we continued without incident.
American influence is everywhere evident. Outside of Digos City, we passed a community named “Tennessee Homes,” and another entitled, “Take Me Home, Country Road.”
A large sign over the entrance to a city park exhorted patrons, “Be honest, even if others are not. Be honest, even if others will not. Be honest, even if others cannot.” I understand the first two admonitions, but am a little fuzzy on the meaning of the third. Calvinistic predestination, perhaps?
One sign promoted “Sham Motorcycle Parts,” which is probably named after the owner, who is unaware of the word’s negative connotation in English.
“Moamar’s House of Decor,” advertising a home decorating business, adorned the side of a dilapidated shack—reflecting either hope for better days or busted dreams.
I have enjoyed hot tea, cold tea, sweet and unsweet tea, green tea and English tea, but I have never consumed “Holy Tea,” which was the name of a small street-side business we passed.
Ron and I held a three-day class on the Book of Revelation. The sessions were well-attended, with crowds number over 100 each day. Classes started at 9:30 a.m. and continued for at least an hour. Following a five-minute break, we started another session. We usually took an hour for lunch and a short nap. Classes resumed at 1 p.m. and continued until 5 p.m. Question and Answer (Q-n-A) sessions at the end of the day were an important part of the learning process.
Most days are filled with long journeys, multiple preaching appointments (frequently followed by baptisms), personal discussions, picture-taking (with the obligatory, “One More, One More!), punctuated by”Hello!” and “Goodbye.”
I typically wake up at 5:30 a.m. We left the motel between 7:30 and 8:30, and returned around 5:30-6:30. By the end of the day, we were completely exhausted. My mind is usually mush by the time I could glance at a few emails and deal with the most pressing issues. Mornings are better for me because the body and mind are (somewhat) refreshed but the window of opportunity is small. So. . . mind-mush and haste make for a mishmash.
Eventually, exhaustion took its toll, and I was “under the weather” for the last few days of our trip—gradually loosing my voice, until I could only speak in a gravelly whisper at my last preaching appointment. Raindrops started pounding the tin roof overhead, resulting in an abridged twenty-minute lesson, instead of the normal length of 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
We were privileged to spend time with many brethren who have dedicated their lives to the preaching of the gospel: Brother and Sister Jonathan Carino from Cebu, Jolly Julom in General Santos City, the Julie Notarte family from Digos City in Mindanao, along with brother Frank Isla, the Balbin family in Davao, Rody and Tessie Gumpad from Tuguegarao City in Luzon, etc.
These brethren, along with a host of others too many to mention, serve the cause of Christ by preaching and teaching, exhorting and encouraging, reproving and rebuking, etc. They labor in difficult and sometimes dangerous settings. They struggle with limited resources. Yet, often their families follow in their footsteps—I met many father and son preachers.
Like the life of a flower. . . so are the days of our lives. We bloom (sometimes brightly) and then gradually fade. I have been fortunate to spend my life in service to God, surrounded by faithful brethren who are committed to walking in the light. Yet, time moves on. . . Many Filipino men who have effectively preached the gospel and promoted the cause of Christ are aging. Time takes its toll. Leaders in the Lord’s church eventually pass away. Younger men must arise to stand in the gap, and continue the work.
The fact that so many Filipino preachers have sons who also preach gives me confidence in the future. My hope and prayer that they these sons (and son-in-laws) will accept the responsibilities that come with leadership. May they remain true to the gospel message. May their hearts be aflame with the love of truth and the souls of humanity.
This newly constructed church building experienced a 5.9 magnitude earthquake for 30 seconds while I was preaching and remained intact and undamaged.
New home for Christians whose previous home was destroyed in recent earthquakes. Hundreds were built with donations from American brethren.
Children sitting on “pews” in remote mountain-top church building
Trey Torno, Garcia Malayang, Mark Mayberry, Ron Halbrook, and Julie Notarte
Filipino songbook in regional dialect
Bible of Older Filipino Preacher
