Philippines Journal 2007 #17

Today was the big day for the Field School: Graduation! There were 50 who received certificates signed by President McVay that they completed a course in ”Evangelism and Church Growth” and thus graduated from Walla Walla University Field School. They put on quite a production – with all the pomp and circumstance, including processional and recessional and the conferring of the certificate! Many of them were so proud of graduating with their teacher Dr. Dave Parks (yes, he took all the exams and graduated summa cum laude!), and with Walla Walla students. Dave Thomas, the Dean of the School of Theology gave the address. I asked him to lecture on “Assimilating New Members.” It was like the first graduation address for Walla Walla College, where there commencement speaker gave a lecture on the Holy Roman Empire. But Dave address did not go for over 2 hours as that first one did; and I’m sure this one was much more engaging and stimulating than that first one. He did a great job! We also had the guest singers from my meeting last night sing for us today at the graduation.

After the graduation that lasted for over 2 hours, – but 2 exciting hours! – we drove to Malandag where Emmauel Serrano held his meetings. They put on quite a program for us with dance and singing and just a fun time. And then we were treated to a wonderful Filipino meal. They then took us up into a village where they have a little church and are attempting to build a new church. So we got a pitch for assistance. We prayed for their success in raising the $45,000.00 to build the edifice on the main road.

The meeting tonight was a small prelude of tomorrow. We had a very large crowd. It was exceptionally large because of the baby dedication that I usually have at my meetings. There were 70 babies, their parents and sponsors that signed up and came forward for this special moment. Usually for these, it may be the only time that the babies’ relatives and sponsors step into a SDA meeting.

Couple negatives happened; one expected and one unfortunate: I spoke on the topic, “Obeah, Barang, Witchcraft, and the Mysteries of the Unknown” (State of the Dead). There was one person in the audience that became possessed. But the meeting was not overly disturbed. The second was my first Eutycus experience. A little boy fell off the highest level of the stadium. He was rushed to the hospital, and we are praying that he is ok.

One other thing: I’m so very happy with the security. With the huge day coming up tomorrow, and the extra media attention we have been receiving, the security has been beefed up. The last 2 nights we have had police escorts home. One of the high men in the city security forces is part of our security detail. He just told me that because thousands of persons will be coming from all over tomorrow, the security forces are ask to let off our people. The password will be “SDA.” So it will be good to be an Adventist tomorrow. And one last thing: All 8 of us at my site received gifts of barong shirts and Filipino dresses at the meeting tonight.