Philippines Journal 2007 #12

Today was a laid-back day. Most slept in and got up on time to go to the beach at 9:00am. The cooks sent breakfast to the beach for us. Half of the group simply laid back and relaxed -- reading and watching people, and of course talking theology; the other half played soccer with our Filipino guards and some local kids on the beach. Hardly anybody went into the water. There was a very high tide last night. As it went out it left much debris on the beach. Not very attractive, at all!

Great meeting tonight; great attendance – possibly the largest! Approximately 1000 persons were there. And lots of children! The children time is really great. My WWC VBS team does a skit each night on a Bible story that somehow ties into my sermon topic. Carol narrates the story and the rest of the team mimes it. They are really awesome. And of course they end with the kids singing “Jesus Love is a Bubbling Over” (as I do in all my evangelistic seminars). They also give out gifts, prizes, and candy at times to the kids. They are constantly mobbed by children during, before and after the meeting for autograph, and photos, and just to talk. They are really a great team.

I spoke on 666 (The Mark of the Beast) tonight. Last night I told the audience that I was going to make a specific appeal tonight on this subject. So I wanted them to take the next 24 hours to think and pray about it and come tonight to take a public stance. Although I go through all the traditional SDA interpretation of the subject, I ultimately come down to the point that if you come up short of perfection (777) and purposely don’t do all of God’s will in response to his Grace, you will have the Mark of the Beast. A great number came forward and signed the decision card indicating that they will not come up short – they’ll do ALL his will, by and through his grace.

The other meetings are going well. The reports I’m getting from the Pastors are super. The Mission president told me tonight that he visited Emmanuel’s meeting last night, and he was so impressed. Emmanuel sounded like a seasoned evangelist, and his illustrations were superb. Vie also just told me that the Pastor of Keith’s church told her yesterday that Keith is excellent in his presentations, and communicates very well. Keep praying for them.