I happened to visit the Philippines and witnessed the incidental meeting of small groups of Apostolic Pentecostals in Calapan City. This city becomes progressive since 2002 with new concrete roads, new house structures, malls, hotels and more commercial buildings. There are more people in the vicinity, which means more opportunity to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. I joined the company of my friend and we boarded the Supercat Ferry from Batangas City to Calapan City Ports. That was an one-hour exciting ride after almost 10 years of pause.
Beyond the walls of church ethics, we broke our fear into pieces and didn't forsake the assembling of ourselves. Thus, we faced the joy of fellowship to strengthen one another with confidence that it didn't break any church rules. My friend and I met a family from United Pentecostal Church in Calapan City (UPC Phil.). They drove us around the city to be eyewitnesses of this progressive city. Incidentally, we also met a number of workers from Apostolic Jesus Name Church (AJNC), another oneness apostolic church. We were together in laughter, success stories and songs for King of kings and Lord of Lords. We were not able to meet the living Way Church in Mahal na Pangalan because of time constraint.
OAF is expecting to publish the UPC-Calapan stories and photos of their Mangyan Tribal Missions soon!
Not everyone has the same opportunity like this visit. When we happen to find one, do it with all our heart, soul and strength, and forgetting not that our Lord Jesus Christ should be the central focus of all our feelings, motives and actions, thus, making us humble in all our dealings. Now, Christians who claim to be friends must show themselves friendly, most especially "TO THOSE WHO ARE HURT," "hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick and in prison" (Matthew 25:34-40). "And now, God, do it again--bring rains to our drought-stricken lives. So those who planted their crops in despair will shout hurrahs at the harvest. So those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing" (Psalm 126:5).