Rev. Famillaran & Rev. Lopez Leadership Brought Strong Impact on CPBC Ministry, then........

M E M O R I E S:Life and Time of Pastor Rudy Bernal, his Glimpses on History &  the People’s Struggle for Freedom

Chapter 32 – Rev. Famillaran   & Rev.  Lopez  Leadership  Br0ught  Strong  Impact  on CPBC Ministry,  then...

The Election of Rev. Moley Familaran, President of CPBC  on May 1976 and Rev. Edwin Lopez in July  that same year,     have brought  momentum  to CPBC ministries the next 8 years.  Then it went down and never regained the lost momentum for  following years.  

 In  the next  4     years after their elections in May 1976,   CPBC reached  some  strength and  height in the Convention  ministry  that was unprecedented.

At the CPBC Office,   Rev. Esfe Tandog   provided   the needed leadership to  consolidate the efforts from the ground. He was appointed  Executive Assistant to  the General Secretary.   With the General Secretary, Rev. Esfe Tandog,   produced  an instrument for the  CPBC  ministry to reach out  all  over the Convention  area.  He worked and published an 8- pages newsletter known  as “Baii-Sulat”, in mimeograph  and circulated monthly, reaching out to most of  the churches,  informing them of what were done during the  months  and plans to be made on the next months.

Employed CPBC Staff were headed by Rev. Edwin Lopez, General Secretary.  Assisting him were  3 Field Secretaries,   Rev. Penuelito Sacapano, Evangelism, Rev.  Alfeo Tupaz, Stewardship  and Apolonio Francia,  Christian Education and Rev. Esfeamori Tandog, Executive Assistant and  Jun Fabellore, Janitor and general services.

The  CPBC  Ministries  have grown  fast.  Never  in the history of the Convention  from its founding in 1938,  Think of this. Recruited to work full time   for CPBC in 1976-1977, were  Rev.  Amado Leonares, Rev. Elias Laprades,  Rev. Gigare, Rev. Selencino, Rev. Larry Leysa, Pastor Grace Faldas, Pastor Manny Monteclaro, Rev. David Rama, Rev. Norberto Tabligan, Pastor Fred Jacildo, Rev. Jose Tarug,  Pastor  Lilia Lirazan,  Pastor Nora San Pedro,  Pastor Nora Gabilo and Ms.   Deli Baclagon.    Rev. Repolidon was Coordinating Minister for  Eastern Mindanao, and Rev.  Este,   Coordinating Minister for   Western Mindanao

The Office Secretaries were Miss  Deborah Dean and   Mrs. Rizalina Rafols, sssisted by two parttime secretaries.

In 1976 -1977, the  component of the Convention  in the administration and the programs – Evangelism, Christian Education and Stewardship were 33 full time staff. But  starting 1980, the full time staff decreased to 10 full time and even less. Today, in 2017, the full time staff of the Convention  is only, 8 persons?

Manning the Business Office in 1976  were  Fred Italia,  Treasurer,   He was assisted by Mr. Ephraem Baluya,  Bookeeper and  Edwin Gallenero, Assistant Bookeeper.

Under that leadership, the CPBC  Evangelism Program of  Rev. Penuelito Sacapano strengthened  and expanded to many  different places in the   country—in the towns of  Panay & Negros, Romblon, Mindoro,  Manila –Luzon. It made  stronger strides in both Western and Eastern  Mindanao.  The planting of new churches and it’s registration with the CPBC show a growth  of 200  per cent   the last  4  years from 1976 to 1980.

Some  ordained  ministers, were recalled by Rev. Lopez from hibernations to be evangelists again, planting churches in their assigned circuit areas.  Fresh graduates  were recruited,  like Pastor Tita Grace Faldas of CPU   College of Theology  and Pastor Nora San Pedro of  CBBC,  and   trained as Evangelists and chuch planters.  And every Sunday morning, the Evangelism Program staff, go to their churches with new challenge and  carries new expectations

 The Christian Education under Rev. Apolonio Francia produced 5  Sunday School materials girded to strengthen  the education of  adults with “           Eskuela Dominika”.  and  young people with  four  different grade materials – Junior, Primary, Kinders, produced with relevance and  has started a joint program  on writing education materials with the National Council of Churches in the Philippines. 

The Eskuela Dominal  become a  kind of text book, where several members in  local churches  buy copies for their studies during Sunday Schools for adults. They  studied  the Eskuela Dominakal before attending Sunday school on Sundays.

 Working with Rev. Apolonio Francia, Field Secretary for Christian Education  were Ms. Deli Baclagon and   Rev. Selencino. They were assisted  sometimes by Mrs. Pat Lopez, with her skills on writing and editing. A group of volunteer writers, wrote their assigned manuscripts and readied for printing on time,  every quarter and  circulated  as Sunday School guides.    The Kasapulanan offices were designated places where  Sunday School materials were available for churches.

The Stewardship Program under  Rev. Alfeo Tupaz undertook massive training of church members nationwide  on Stewardship.  It was   designed to educate  members from adults to Kinder school to give  their tithes and offerings  of  their income for the ministry.  An “Every Member Canvass”,  a  stewardship process  were  held for all staff, to maximize their skills on stewardship development and transfer this skills to church members all over the convention area.

Rev. Harold Blatt, an American missionary came to   CPBC on request by Rev. Edwin Lopez  to  help.  He was assisted by  Rev. Emilio Lapatha, an experts on stewardship technolgy  and mobilizing   financial resources.  They   helped   train  CPBC staff on the art of stewardship with  “Every Member Canvass”  strategy.

This training   was  implemented with a  two -days week-end seminar, Saturdays and Sundays   where all members of   churches, from adults, young people to children were provided Biblical studies on stewardship, both from the Old and New Testaments, with tithing   as a  strong  focus and challenge. Then on Sunday morning worship services, each member put their commitment for support in a Pledge Card and gave during worship service as  commitment for the whole year.

With the  Stewardship call,  program plans  were  made, with  financial support planned the whole  year, based on the pledges made during the stewardship commitment.

Some 30  CPBC staff were assigned to undertake the Every Member Canvas training all over the Convention several Sundays. I was assigned on one Sunday to Pulupandan Bapitst Church in Central Negros.  The response was  great.  Increased  of support was recorded.  Most  churches  gave 10% of their income   to   CPBC, the 50% of which was also shared with the  Kasapulanans.

The church members were  also challenged to give one  tablespoon of rice, for every cup  of rice they will  cook every meal. They kept   this daily in a Stewardship Basket, and bring to church every Sunday and gave as offerings, specifically for the Pastors and his family’s food. 

The  3 CPBC  programs – Evangelism, Christian Education  and  Stewardship  with their  30   full time staff, pushed  hard the ministry   covering  Negros, Panay  Romblon, Mindoro,  Luzon, Manila, Western Mindanao and Eastern Mindanao.

The dynamism of the program could be felt   in the churches with more members baptised,  more new churches organized and bigger resources coming-in for the ministry of the Convention.

During this time, Rev. Edwin Lopez, sent several lay leaders and pastors, both from the staff of CPBC and from churches   opportunities for overseas exposures and to  travel abroad and in the country to learn knowledge and skills with other sister bodies  in the field of leadership, management and special training ministries . It was during this period a number of scholarships in medicine were given to young people with interests in medicine. Some were encouraged to attend  seminars, workshops and related  training in the Philippines, Asia and other foreign countries.  

Pastor Tita Grace Faldas, Special  Minister  with . Apolonio Francia, Field Secretary for Christian Education  were sent for  2 years aAdvance Studies in West Germany.  Rev/ Esfe Tandog, CPBC Executive Assistant was sent for a masteral study in the United States.  Rev. Elias  Laprades, Special Minister was sent  Ecumenical Studies  to Bossey Institute in Switzerland. I think, three students were assisted to take Medicine thru a schaolarship from the Board of International Ministries,  hoping they will be able to help our people  on some medical  services. 

While the 3 major Programs of the Convention were implemented with force and dynamism,  Pastor Rudy Bernal, was assigned to start working  on CPBC  pilot Urban Industrial  and Rural Mission (URIM) at Insular Lumber Company, in Bacuyangan, Hinobaan, Negros Occidental. Pastor Rudy Bernal, He was  given a scholarship by a  German organization with  a 1 year study grant,  that provide him opportunity to learn more on Urban Industrial Rural Mission (UIRM) and    enrolled again at the College of Theology, Then, he was  transferred by Rev. Lopez  to the national office, as Deputy to the General Secretary  on URIM.  He worked in the CPBC office with Rev. Esfe Tandog, the Executive Assistant.

Starting in 1977,  6 years after President Marcos declared martial law, the Baptist Convention’s  and with General Assembly’s  mandate that year, Pastor Bernal with the General Secretary and the President, conceptualized, planned, resource funds and  mobilized needed resources to expand the Pilot Urban Industrial Mission (UIM),started in 1976,  the New Frontier Ministries (NFM), the development arms of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, reaching out to all areas in the country where CPBC  ministers.

Assisting him starting  1977, is Miss Feraz Baclagon, Secretary.  She worked hard, creatively and efficiently, leading services with the CPBC to  international  Chrstian involvements,  in the Asia Pacific Development Aid Ministry. And in 2017,  God called her  to led  the Baptist   Convention  as President. 

Rev. Edwin Lopez, Choiced for General Secreaarty. We Opposed it...

M E M O R I E S:  Life and Time of Pastor Rudy Bernal & His Glimpses on History &

                        The  People’s Struggle for Freedom

Chapter 35 –Rev. Edwin Lopez, Choice of   Rev. Famillaran as  General Secretary;   We Opposed.  The   GS Must Come  from the Ranks of the  3 Field Secretaries.

Rev. Moley Famillaran, immediately with  his election as CPBC President,  focused on the   searched  for the   General Secretary that he believed   could respond effectively to the  problems, challenges and need of   churches  under the current social and  political situations.  

For  some years, the CPBC  has  few   staff and the ministry was hardly felt. The three programs - Evangelism, Christian Education and Stewardship respectively  under Rev. Penuelito Sacapano, Rev. Apolonio Francia and Rev. Alfeo Tupaz, though committed and dedicated leaders,  but  the programs under them were  struggling under a very limited resources.  They cannot respond  effectively to the need of the churches and communities.  Strengthening and  revitalization   of the programs of the Convention was greatly needed.

Rev. Famillaran decided to get Rev. Edwin Iglory Lopez as General Secretary. They were together in the College of Theology, and  they knew each other well. Rev. Lopez  was a dynamic preacher. We heard he has capacity for mobilizing people  under  his leadership.

But we  have scant knowledge of his work in the churches.  We have  little  knowledge of his work in some regional programs of the Convention. In the 70’s, he worked as director of a Family Planning program in Romblon. There were feelings, that Rev.Lopez may lacked the skills and experiences as General Secretary of the Convention.   Rev. Famillaran was decided to take Rev. Lopez as General Secretary.

The young Baptist pastors and church leaders again met.  They  decided to oppose the plan of the President Famillaran to get Rev. Lopez as General Secretry, unless a dialogue  is made, and we will be have a chance go see Rev. Lopez at close range – learning his first moves  as General Secretary  if ever elected.  We wrote a letter to the President and the Board of Trustees.  In our letter, we opposed the plan to get Rev. Lopez as General Secretary.

We proposed to the President and the Board,  the next General Secretary  must come from the  ranks of the 3 Field Secretaries, who were the  top executives of the Convention. They knew the problems  and  have  knowledge of  what  to do.

We sent our letter to Rev. Moley Famillaran, President, copy furnished  all members of the Board. We sent the letters    by Registered and Special Delivery mails.

The letter was  signed by Rev. Eliseo Fantilaga, Pastor Antonio Elequin, Rev. Hilarion Leysa, Pastor Domingo Bernal,  Mr. Fred Bat-og, Mrs. Victoria Bat-og, Rev. Esfe Tandog and Pastor  Rudy Bernal.  

We  do not knew how the Board  will react reading our letter.  It was, I think,  the  first and last letter received by CPBC President and Board of Trustees  related to the  appointment of a General Secretary. It was a soft letter, that was both a request and a demand.   

What will the President and the Board think of our letter? How will the Board  react reading it?   Perhaps, they will just ignore  it.   And proceed with  the   election of the General Secretary that June 1976.

The Board listened to us. They postponed the election of the new General Secretary that June;  They  requested  Rev. Famillaran to call the young pastors and church leaders for a dialogue with the Board, the  President, Vice President  and  Rev. Edwin Lopez. That was a victory.   The President, Vice President and the 13 members of the Board, listened   to us.

The dialogue in Bacolod City  was open and fruitful.  President Famillaran facilitated the dialogue. We were introduced to the Board. We have sharing  of our works and plans. Then, we shared the reasons for our letter.  The Rev. Moley Famillaran, introduced  Rev. Edwin Lopez and asked  him to outline his plans, if he will be elected General Secretary.   Rev. Edwin Lopez  presented  his initial   plans  for the Convention, if   elected General Secretary. It was  plan for 3 months.

His plans for 3 months, include the following:  

1) To call for Program Planning workshop with representatives of churches  and  staff of the Convention  to see the needs and priorities;

2) To pursue, a 2^nd Phase of Program  Planning with sectoral groups,  Kasapulanan representatives  from provincies and regions together with  the CPBC institutions;

3) On the 3^rd  Phase, to involve  all members of the Board of Trustees, CPBC Staff, Presidents of Kasapulanans, some  representatives of big city  churches in Panay and Negros in the planning process.  Consolidation of  outputs of the program planning workshops.

4) Writing the draft of the consolidated reports. From this consolidated report, the program of the Convention will be drafted and written.

After Rev. Lopez  summarized the  proposed plans, the young pastors and church leaders asked further questions.  After some more discussion , we accepted the plans. We also  verbalized our support to the planned program of the Convention.

 On July 16, 1976, the Board   elected Rev. Edwin Iglory Lopez, General Secretary. That election helped much in putting the CPBC in  the spotlights as one of the churches that  soon made fast growth in evangelizations and church  planting;  in Stewardship  and in Christian Education.  

Under Rev. Lopez leadership, CPBC started a dynamic and creative efforts for evangelism and church planting,  a decisive Christian Education works with Sunday School guides for all ages. It developed a creative Stewardship ministry that organized massive education that seek to train   church members to give there tithes  to the church.

Rev, Famillaran said  the  Board  will meet  in July  1976  and  elect the General

Secretary. He said, he needed  people to join him in the work. He asked some of those present to assist him. He  will propose to the Board the following: Rev. Esfe Tandog  as Executive Assistant. Mr. Fred Bat-og and Mrs. Victoria Bat-og as Directors for the  Pilot UIM project   at  Insular Lumber Compnay (ILCO) in Hinobaan, Negros Occidental.

He asked Rev. Larry Leysa to serve as CPBC  Iloilo Minister in a partnership with Iloilo Kasapulanan, in joint ministry.  He asked Rev. Eliseo Fantilaga to continue his services with NCCP but assist CPBC in some tasks.  Pastor Tony Elequin will continue in his task in Antique. Pastor Bernal was asked to go on with his ministry in Central Maao  and pursue the radio ministry with possible  assistance from the Convention.

But Mr. Fred Bat-og decided not to accept the offer to head UIM Pilot Ministry, He had some other priorities, the Negros Kasapulanan  Baptist Youth Fellowship where  he served as Officer- in -charge  that  time.    Pastor Bernal was  asked  by  Rev. Lopez to head the UIM pilot in   ILCO.

That year, Pastor Bernal resigned from Maao Central Evangelical Church and  joined CPBC. He was assigned  to start the  Pilot Urban Industrial Mission (UIM) project   in Insular Lumber Company, in Bacuyangan, Hinobaan, Negros Occidental.

Rev. Moley  Famillaran and Rev. Edwin Lopez, that year started their ministry with the  Baptist Convention. It was a beautiful journey of Rev. Famillaran, as Secretary to the Mayor of Bacolod City, to the Convention Baptist, Then he was called by Cosmpolitan Church of Manila as their pastor. He was asked by the Board of International Ministry to be part of the world Baptist ministry.

Rev. Edwin Lopez also made the great journey of faith. As General Secretary of the Baptist Convention, he was called to be  staff of the Asian Baptist Fellowship. Then called to be General Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), for Asia.

Election of of Rev. Moley Famillaran CPBC President

M E M O R I E S: Life and Time of Pastor Rudy Bernal, his  Glimpses on History &

                           The People’s Struggle for Freedom

Chapter 34 –Election of  Rev. Moley Famillaran CPBC  President

This   was  May  1976.   Four years, after President Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law.  In  Negros, Panay and  different parts of the country there were continued and intensified   human rights violations, killings  and  military abuses  under   President Marcos and Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile’s rule in the country.

In the midst of growing social,   economic and  political concerns brought about by imprisonments of thousands and thousands of people under President Marcos’s martial rule,  the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches  General Assembly  met and will   elect the President, Vice President and 7 members of the Board of Trustees that will helped programs  responsive to the of the  Baptist churches and the problems of poverty, human rights violations and repressions in the country.

Bacolod Evangelical Church, the venue of the assembly, is the biggest Convention Baptist Church in Negros Occdental. It is   located at Rosario &  San Juan Streets, in Bacolod City. Here delegates, from Panay, Romblon, Mindoro, Manila &  Luzon and Mindanao   converged  for the assembly. .

Across  Bacolod Evangelical Church  was   Bacolod Elementary School,  a  wide and big school in the  City. The school  assisted  CPBC by opening their classrooms as housing for   delegates - where delegates  slept, take baths & showers,  have fellowship and sharing  before and after the  session in   the assembly.  

Rev. Pamplona was the  minister.  He was pastor of BEC for about 25   years. He was one of the respected pastors  holding big pastorates.  The 3- days General Assembly  was  filled with  delegates. 

At Central Maao Evangelical, we have 5 official delegates. They will have the right to vote officials of the Convention. We have also 8 delgates who were visitors.  They cannot vote. They came to listen, learn and  have fellowship  with  the assembly.

Our choir  will sing  in the assembly together with big churches  - Bacolod Evangelical Church, Bacolod Cosmipolitan Church, Bakyas Baptist  Church, La Carlota Evangelical Church and other churches that will provide music for  the assembly.

 The group that led CPBC before 1976 for some  years,  were commited church leaders

and pastors. At the top of this leadership includes,  Mr. Johnny de la Fuente,  Rev. Levi Lajaylahay, Rev. Malvar Castillon, Atty. Reinero Noledo and  Rev. Dr. Masa.,  They were spiritual  and committed  Baptist leaders.  But  most  remained voiceless under the growing repressions of the Marcos regimes/

A group of young pastors and church leaders were looking for change. They were  young, with visions and dreams for the future – Rev. Sammy Formelleza, from Romblon  and current Coordinator of Center for Education and Research (CER) Rev.Larry Leysa, Promotional Secretary of Iloilo Kasapulanan.  Rev. Eliseo  Fantilaga, of  Capiz and Coordinator of NCCP in Western Visayas, Pastor Tony Elequin of Antique, Domngo Bernal of  Aklan,

In Negros Occidental, the group were headed by  Fred and Victoria Bat-og, Baptist Youth leaders, Rev. Esfe Tandog, Provincial  Minister of Negros Kasapulanan  and Pastor Rudy Bernal of Central Maao Evangelical Church, with the church   radio program, “Hour of Discovery”over DYHB in Bacolod. These pastors and church leaders have transformational   minds  and leadership that can touched and  reached some pastors and  leaders of the churches  in the Convention.

We attended the  Assembly ready to work for change.  During the last 2  years, we were involved in  seminars by the   Center for Education and Research (CER),  trying to educate church people  in  leadership and  formation.   Some  young pastors  were involved in the training,  then headed by Rev. Conrad Brown.

I cannot remember the  people  who led the worships services, those who led workshops and those who preached the messages during the assembly. But for us the call the  was clear.  The need   for change in the   leadership  of the Convention. A leadership with new visions, clear directions and capacity to mobilize the churches  to respond  to the problem of grave poverty and  resist the growing repressions and  human rights violation in the country. 

The decision was  made.  To participate in the change of   leadership  this year.    They   made plans  to mobilized  delegates to the assembly.

They called  on  churches in   Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique and Negros  to help send  delegates to the Convention with  money for   transportation,  registration, food and snacks during the assembly.

To assist some delegates who have difficulties to buy their food at the assembly mess halls,we  organized a group who will cooked  food for some of the delegates. One room in the Elementary school was requested where food can be cooked for some delegates who have difficulties for  food.

It was a great event, the CPBC assembly of 1976. But we have not identified a possible candidate  for President yet.  .

After scouting the potentials in the assembly, it seems, no one has the capacity to defeat the candidate  who was running with the  backing of the CPBC administration.  Fred Bat-og suggested to make a team of  10  pastors and church leaders to visit Rev. Moley  Famillaran  and  asked  him to  provide  the  needed leadership.

We came to him at his office at Bacolod City Hall in the afternoon of the First Day. Rev. Famillaran thanked the group  for there  effort  and    help. But he did not accept the challenge to run for President..   He said: “I am busy with my work as Secretary to the Mayor. I have to be at the office every day. It’s difficult to take responsibility with the Convention. It’s not easy to be President of the organization.” He requested the group to find another person to run for CPBC President. We returned to the assembly, a bit sad. 

After discussing the situation  that night, the group felt, there was no one, but Rev. Famillaran to run for President with potentials to win.  The group decided to  visit  him again and request  him again,   to  make himself available for the presidency of the Convention. On the  2^nd day, another team of  about 15  leaders were delegated to  see  Rev. Famillaran  with  a final  request  to run for  CPBC President.

 Fred Bat-og said: “We come to request you to run for President. We believe you are needed by the hour. If you will not, we will not pushed you. But we will have no candidate for  President in  this assembly.”

Rev. Famillaran looked at all of us. He said: He was making a hard decision. He said:  “Ok, I will ran. I will file my candidacy. But I will not campaign. I will just visit the assembly, on the 3^rd day, for about an hour to show my face, met some friends and shook hands  with some who were in the assembly.”

We shooked  hands with Rev. Famillaran. We told him, we were  happy with his decision. We asked one to pray. Pastor Tony Elequin prayed for us all. He  prayed for Rev. Famillaran. When we left the  office of the Mayor that afternoon, we feel  the elections of the  CPBC President will be one of the challenges of the time.

Most of the delegates were busy in the assembly  hall  at Bacolod Evangelical Church. 

There were beautiful singing.  There were  sermons during the assembly, by well known speakers. Different choirs sang  on  different times of worships. Our choir at Central Maao Evangelical Church also sung a   piece. We were all  touched by the musical renditions of the  different choirs.

There were food available in the mess hall of the assembly.   In the Elementary School, some   delegates  eat their food prepared by the group’s  cooks. There were excitements  during the 3 day assembly.

The campaigns for elections of the CPBC leaders – President, Vice President and Board of Trustees was felt. It was a strong and hard  campaigns.  Mostly done in whispers and by raising of our hands, in a kind of salute.   It was the first time, I participated  in the election of the Convention.  I felt, it was a great spiritual  experience,  being an active part in the elections of  CPBC officers. I felt, deep inside me, God was working in each of   the delegates minds and hearts.  He works with-in me.

An hour before the casting  of votes, I met one of the CPBC  Board member, running for re-election. He said: “ Rudy your group were campaigning. It.s bad.”  I said, of course, we campaign. This is election days. We need to present an alternative person. And an alternative program."  He looked at me.  I smiled.  Then,   I laughed.  And   smiled  with me..

The election   held that afternoon  was a solemn process. It was the election of the President, the Vice President and  7 members of the Board of Trustees.They were men and women, who offered themselves in the service of the Lord, thru the leadership of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches. It was holy process.  For elections, right  elections are holy exercises.   It calls for high  and deep  commitments. For   the President, Vice President and Members of the Board,  were  not paid salaries for their services. They  were all volunteers. All of them  accepted the call of Jesus for  leadership through the CPBC.

At 7:30 PM,  the result of the election  canvas was announced.  Rev. Moley Famillaran was elected President of the Convention. Also elected were the Vice President and  members  of the Board of Trustees.

That evening, Rev. Meley Famillaran, was installed as President. Also installed were the  Vice President and the members of the Board of Trustees.

Rev. Famillaran was elected President,  in one of the crucial period of our country’s  history –when the country  was struggling and many people were suffering under President Ferdinand Marcos martial law regime,.

The election of Rev. Moley Famillaran CPBC President was a new milestone for the

Baptist Convention’s ministries. There were major changes and directions  made during his leadership.

In  the first 3 months of his term, with the new  General Secretary, they  led in the Program Planning Process that looked deep in the ministry of the CPBC and tried to  worked and mobilized the 3 Programs of the Convention-- Evangelism, Christian Education and Stewardship to be more relevant to the needs  of the churches.

He started a pilot program on Urban Industrial Mission (UIM), in Insular Lumber Company (ILCO)  in Hinobaan, Negros Occidental that soon  became the 4^th  program of the Convention,  the   New Frontier Ministries,  the   development arms of  CPBC.

Rev. Famillaran with the General Secretary,   worked to address the issues of  Human Dignity, Human Rights violations  and  worked to help alleviate deep  poverty suffered by the people.

After serving for one term as President,  Rev. Moley Familiaran accepted the God’s call to serve as Pastor of Cosmopolitan Church a member of the United Church of Christ in Philippines (UCCP),  Together with NCCP,  it stood  strongly  against human rights violations and other abuses of the Marcos Martial rule.

In the 1980’s, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), the Philippine Independent Church (PIC) together with  more than 20 organizations  were tagged by the  military as communists fronts. These were hard  and dangerous times to work  for peace,  justice and human rights.  But  many in the churches, in journalism,  labor,  peasantry, professionals, students, out-of-school-youths, lawyers, physicians and nurses, fishermen stood for  peace, justice,  freedom  and resisting  human right violations in all parts of the country, until the dictator fall. 

Our 3rd Year Year Ministry at MCEC -Conscientization &Social Awarenees, Mobilzied Prayer Group with NFSW @ Workers's Strike...

M E M O R I E S: Life and Time of Pastor Rudy Bernal, his  Glimpses on History &

                           The People’s Struggle for Freedom

Chapter 32 – Our   3^rd  Year Ministry at  MCEC –  Conscientization & Social Awareness,   Mobilized Prayer  Groups  with  NFSW  & Workers Strike in La Carlota,  Held Violin Concert in Bago City with Dr. Gilopez Kabayaw.

Our third year ministry at MCEC    tried to widen  our  ministry  starting the  3^rd Quarter of 1975 until the end of 1976. We tried to learn new technics  on management and leardership building  and mobilizations,. We invited Rev. Conrad Brown,   for a  2-day seminar  on  conscientization  and  socio-political awareness, involving most of our church leaders and members.

To upgrade me on church works, I often sat with Rev. Esfe Tandog whenever he comes home as Minister of Negros Kasapulanan. I always come when he comes, and share lunch with him and Mrs. Nelly Tandog  at their home. I tried, to get secretly some of his ideas and thoughts on the ministry. Often, I also visited Rev. and Mrs.  Floripe Herradura in Maao Evangelical Church, trying to get his experiences on his evangelization  ministry.  During their time, they  helped build 4 church congregations in Barrio Maao.

One time, we  invited  Rev. Conrad Brown, American missionary and in-charged of the Center for Education & Research (CER), a project of the CPBC. He has  skills  on organizing, conscientizations and peoples'  mobilizations. I have  joined him in some seminars and workshops  in  Iloilo and saw the need to involve the church in this ministry. Rev. accepted our invitations. It was for a 2-day workshop, that starts at 9:00 AM  on Saturday and ends at  10:00 AM.  On Sunday,

We request Con Brown to pay for their transportation.  He invited Rev. Larry Leysa, a parttime staff of CER and Promotional Secretary of Iloilo Kasapulanan of Baptist Churches to join  him. Mrs. Nelly Tandog and her younger sister, Gloria, attended the seminar.  A few weeks later, we  baptized Gloria,  Atty. Wally Hidalgo,and two other young people..

We have a  2- day affair, from Saturday morning  to 10:00 PM. Then on Sunday, we started  at 8:30 AM to 9:00 in the evening. On Sunday, from 8:30 -11.30, we have a  process education that includes   the  worship service.    A group prepares food for all. . .

It was  a very helpful education process.  The young people were there. The Baptist Women and Baptist Men. Members of the Board of Deacons and Board of Trustees. The choir were there. Some younger young people, the Junior high came. We  invited anyone  who has time to attend, from  9:00 AM to 10:00 PM the next two days.  It was a great learning process.

 That  Sunday, we continued with the process. We started at 8:00 AM. The worship service continued with Dr.Brown and Rev. Larry Leysa  leading the worship.  The worship situation was different from our worship services before. We have songs, the  kind we called “Struggle songs.”  The sermon was different. It was not preached  at the altar. Nor on the  the pulpit. The message was  preached  on the church floors, where all of us setting together. On the middle was Dr.  Brown. .

That morning, we were all preachers.  Rev. Brown made a reflection based on a gospel story. Then he called us all to share our understanding of Jesus messages.  He encouraged  all to speak, including the Junior highs.  Everyone spoke. We all shared our messages. A three minutes reflections, 2 minutes, 4 minutes, 7 minutes, 10 minutes. We were all encouraged to  speak. All of  us preached short messages  that day..

Then Rev. Brown, stood at the front of us all. He stood on the floor. He summarized all we have shared. That was his message for all of us.  Dr. Brown taught us, new methods of teaching and preaching.  Not on the pulpit above the people.  He preached  standing on the floor. No microphones. He stood, on  the same level with the people on the sanctuary.   

That afternoon, and evening we continued with the process. And at 7:30 PM, we came  for the last session. It was  sharing again of all we learned during the day. We were also called to share what we hoped to do and accomplished in the worked of the Lord  the next 3 years.   At closing,  Rev. Larry Leysa  prayed for all of us. He entrusted us all to the Lord.

That seminar helped provide  us with additional  ideas and skills  on leadership, and mobilizing of people for action. The need for continued  change process in the leadership of our church at Maao Central. It was an  experience,  most of us learned and use in our inistry.

As I reflect  on what we hoped  to happen the next 3 years, as Dr. Brown challenge us to think and consider, lots of potentials came to mind. For  May  1976, were very important days.  Its the  election of   officials – President, Vice President  and 7  members of the Board of Trustees. It will be followed in June with the election of the General Secretary.

That night, with  all participants  gone home and Rev. Brown  sleeping,  Rev. Leysa and me, talked about the future leadership of  the Convention. We need new leadership, the President, Vice President, the  7 members of the Board of Trustees and the next General Secretary.  Together we prayed for the future. And we tried to identify possible people to be on the leadership of the Convention.  We decided to visit some leaders in Negros and Panay. And planned with them on the future leadership of the  Convention.

With the Young   People   and the Choir, we looked for ways to make them  a strong partners  in our ministry.  We need to explore new means for the development of MCEC music ministry,  the choir and the “The Joyful Singers.”  Last year,  our choir was invited to sing at the Negros Kasapulanan of Baptist Churches assembly.  We were invited together with  choirs of Bacolod Evangelical Church, Bacolod Cosmpolitan Church, Bakyas Evangelical Church and La Carlota Evangelical Church. We also  begun working for  a  possible Musical Concerts on 1976’s   Valentines Day  and  Christmas Cantatas.

I tried to recall in my mind, our choir un  those days. We  have one of the best choirs in Negros Occidental. The   choir members were young and lovely, all  unmarried, headed by Elmer De Asis and Art Samson, directors -- Deding Moncay, Hesther, Hilda & Rachel Alvarez, Emelia Abilarde,  Lota and Linda Bulaclac. Daday & Rosario Doronila,  Alpha & Omega Hermosura, Jean and Mja Inocencio, Erle, Tata and Jiji Gonzaga.

Our male choir members were  Tongue Inocencio, Nap de Asis, Julios Samson,  Mondo Aligonsa, Doroy Ada, Merare Garovillo, Telo Bagaforo, Cecilio Villasenor, Elmo de Asis and Conan.  

Art Samson helped us organized the Joyful Singers, a group of young people, that can be called upon to provide special music during  some services’  It was composed of Hesther & Hilda Alvarez. Lota and Linda Bulaclac,  Erle Gonzaga and whoever that can join when their was Special occasions. This group also provide a tape recorded  songs for “Hour of Discovery” radio program.

Reflecting on this today, May  18, 2017, Nap De Asis said:  “Thanks for sharing the memories Pastor Bernal… I was a High Schooler then,  when you served our home church…Maao Central Evangelical Church  where we  grew as Christians and  proud that Papang  was one of the founding members…Precious memories.

“We remember our Cantatas,  with my brod Elmer and, Art as our directors…daigons, concerts,  campings…are all stored in my memories and will be cherished always…damu gid kami nga batch during our young people’s days. We made the church our second home… “simbahan lang permi”…as  I recalled  my Mamang say, everytime we are out of his sight for the chores at home…the best I can say …Thanks you   Maao Central Evangelical Church…you are part of our growing up to become good Christians…growing up…or  ‘laking simbahan’ makes a difference…”

We moved  out  a bit farther, trying  to push  Maao Central Evangelical Church’s music ministry reached a  wider overage.   We strengthened relationship among young people, with  activities that try to build them up, -meetings, studies. swimmings, camping, cantatas, musical concerts.  We camp anytime we have chances-, in the church, in  beaches with church members. We have camping…swimming  in small rivers surrounded with sugarcane plantations. The young  people always sung, wherever there  were chance to sing.

We also  dreamed  of  holding musical concerts  not only in Maao Central but visiting other churches in Negros and holding musical  concerts.  Not all our plans were realized.  But we made one big efforts, that reached   most of Bago City  residents  and  reached  the churches and communities  in Bago City.  

It was our partnership with  Dr. Gilopez Kabayao   & Mrs. Corazon Kabayao, pianist, to hold the  Gilopez Kabayao Violin Concert in Bago Auditorium,  Bago City with  Maao Central Evangelical Church choir  singing   gospel songs, during  the two intermissions on the Gilopez Kabayao Violin Concert. 

While the  Kabayao Violin Concert gaves beautiful music –classical, kundimans, Filipino songs on violin – with  audience  that  include  the Mayor, Vice Mayor  and  some City Councilors - entertaining several thousands of  residents of the city and villages,  Maao Central Evangelical Church choir sung gospel and spiritual songs that touched the hearts and souls of the people of Bago City in big City auditorium.  The Kabayao Violin Concert and MCEC  gospel music was  one of the great affairs  in the city   that year.

The Concert  was known all over Negros thru  “Hour of Discovery” our Radio program announcements and news report  made by the DYHB morning, noon and evenng News report, informing listeners the coming Violin Concert  sponsored by Maao Central Evangelical Church.

I  also  tried to learn the works  of  Maao Sugar Central Labor Union among the workers of sugar company. The labor union of Maao Central was considered  a yellow union, the President of the union, being the brother of the Manager of the Sugar Central. But the leaders of  the  union, many of them members of our   church, tried hard to get   the best workers conditions in the  CBA they  signed  with the sugar central company.

As Pastor to  MCEC,   I  Rev. Floripe Herradura of Maao Evangelical Church  organized new churches in Maao area, In our time, MEC was able to build 3  congregations around  Maao, Bago City.

It was also in the villages of Maao, with Rev. Herradura, that we met NPA cadres, both men and women, still very young, some of them  from Manila, working to build the revolutionary movement in Central Negros, to fight  for freedom, justice and the  liberation of the people from slavery in  the sugarcane  industry. 

 There were times, when we go the same way, traversing the hills. They were going their distinations in the far flung village. I am going  to a village church, where I have preached before. I was  invited by a woman lay pastor,  to baptized some  members  that afternoon.

I shared with the young revolutionaries our dreams together.  They shared with me something of their lives and dreams. We know we were travelling the same road. The  road, a pathway, that Jesus Christ also travelled the rocky paths of  Galilee sharing his  faith and dreams with  young men and women of his time, under Herod’s  martial law regime.

I shaked the hands of the young revolutionaries. Silently,  I breath words of prayer for them. We parted. We don’t know if we will ever met again.  But we knew we were doing God’s and the people’s well together.  They moved on, with  their task of educating  people for equality and justice. I  go  that  afternoon and   baptized 14 young men and women, who followed Jesus way, for equality and justice.   We will help build a community   with equality and justice. We will help in the  liberation struggle,  exposing the  evils and oppressions in the sugarcane industry.

It was during the last months of  my  ministry in Maao Central Evangelical Church that big workers strike at La Carlota Sugar Central, assisted by the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) in Bacolod City.   I joined with other  church pastors and  leaders –Aglipayans,  Catholics,  Baptists and other groups  giving assistance and prayer supports to the workers in the Picket Lines of  La Carlota Sugar Central and  in the sugarcane field areas.

We  joined in their struggles. We prayed for God’s protection of the workers on the Picket Lines.  We joined the  sugarcane workers congregating  in different areas, some distance from the sugar central, ready to assist the picketers  when it will be needed. We stood with them and prayed with them. We prayed for the leaders  NFSW  as they  led the strikers.  

 We   helped  strengthen  there  struggles.  We   prayed  for God’s guidance and protection.  It was a hard struggle,  fighting to give families  opportunities  to live a better lives  and  better futures with the success of the workers’ strike in La Carlota Sugar Central.

This was our  journey of faith. A journey for a wholistic ministry.

My 2nd Year Ministry at MCEC -Evangelizations & Revivals, Church Renovations, Transfer of Worship Service from 9:00 AM to Earlier Time. at 6:00 A

M E M O R I E S: Life and Time of Pastor Rudy Bernal, his  Glimpses on History &

                           The People’s Struggle for Freedom

Chapter 30 – My   2^rd  Year Ministry at  MCEC – Evangelizations & Revivals,  Church Renovation,   Transfer of Worship Service from 9:00 AM to  Earlier Time, at 6:00 AM

This was in  1975  on my  2^nd    year  ministry at Maao Central Evangelical Church.

We  ventured   into  some  activities that  we hoped  will strengthen our ministries.

We held an evangelistic & revival meetings with Evangelist Greg Tingson. At the same time, reaching out   to the students of Maao Central Elementary &  High School at 7:30 in the morning. We have  experienced a   strange encounter with a “demon possessed” young lady. We also strengthened our church choir, trying to learn from the best  Baptist choir in Negros Kasapulanan.

We changed our worship service from 9:00 AM to a very early time at 6:00 AM,  so more sugar central workers can attend  our worship service.  We renovated and improved our church building, installed glass windows  with  tainted  & heart shaped  color at the top.

To  strengthen our ministry, we tried  to revive the church and reach- out to the youth.  We  invited Rev. Greg Tingson and his soloist, Teine Lahaylahay to  hold a  3-days evangelistic and revival  meeting at CMEC.  They preached  in the evening,  calling people to accept Jesus Christ as  Saviour.  The response was good.  It  helped  much reviving the spirits of our church.   And  in the early mornings, at 7:30 AM the team held  meetings  with students at the schools' small auditorium with messages and  gospel  songs.

During  those times, many  young people, who did not attend church,  were reached  by the gospel’s challenges.  Slowly,  more young people came and  became part  of the young people’s group. They came, a number  of them, making  the church,  their second home.

Our   worship service on  Sundays  started   at 9:00 AM.   At the sugar central,  there were three shifts daily of workers.  Less than  40% of our male members attends Sunday worship services.  Those who were scheduled to work, starting at 7:00 AM,  would not be able to attend  worship service. They will be working already at 9:00 AM.  And those who finished their works at 7:00 AM  would not be able to attend  worship at 9:00 AM.  They have already gone home. They have breakfast  and rested or slept, preparing again to work the following day.

We decided to change our worship service to 6:00 AM. Those who were scheduled to start work at   7:00 AM  will have   time for worship at 6:00 AM.  And those whose works ended  at 6:00 AM  shifts,   could attend worship,  before going home,   have   breakfast and slept.

But it was hard for many of us to wake up 5:00 AM,  and  be ready for worship at 6:00 AM.  But the challenge was there. Our members saw  the need to  change our  worship  service schedule and tried to follow.  I saw, how our members, both old and young,  moved   fast  and worked hard to  come before 6:00 AM.  I saw how, the choir members struggled  and be  ready before 6:00 AM.  That change was planned by  most members, and worked to  implement it.  It revolutionized the lifestyle  and work styles  of our working  church members in the sugar central.

To reached out  the church and the community, we  procured   a  Sound System. We bought  a   powerful amplifier with 3 trumpets.  The 6 housing  subdivisions  of workers and their families were  now   reached easily with  recorded tapes, that brought   soft gospel musics  and  beautiful songs  on the  air lanes.   The soft music  gospel music   helped   prepare the members  to be  ready for the early worship service.  At  5:00 A.M. our sound systems,  spews  soft beautiful gospel songs. Then at 5:45, we made full volume to reach  the  community’s   3  kms radius.  The community learned to love the  early   meditations  thru  the gospel music.

One time, after the church service, we encountered   a “demon possessed” young lady. That  Saturday evening, I was visiting some members in the community. In one of the houses, there were many people  around  the house.  Inside,  I   heard a woman’s voice. She was talking in a  high pitched  voice.  I tried to listen.

A friend  told me that there was a  “demon possessed”  woman inside the house.  She has skills   healing people.  But, sometimes, she often lost  consciousness and fall down with her body stretched  hard. I learned,  she was came here 4 days ago.  When  the woman recovered from her trance, she can tell the sickness of those around.   Many  people  gave donations for her  healing advises.

I went home that night. And here, near our church, about 100 meters away, a “demon possessed” woman was  doing some kinds of miracles. And many people came to her. I kept thinking. How could we challenge such things in  our community, with some Baptists living with "demon possessed young woman"? She would  influence the lives of the  community people?

That Sunday, while  I was preaching a group of 3 person, two men and a  young woman, came.   It was the first time I saw the woman.   They  settled  on the last  bench at the back.  I saw the woman.  She was young and lovely.  She was dressed in  dirty white.  I don’t know if  she’s  married. And  I  don’t  knew  who she was.  I knew his two companions.

I  went on with my message.   After the benediction,  I went  down to shake  hands with all members. I proceeded to the bench of  the woman and his  two  companions.  She stood.  I came near her. I was about to shake her hand, when I  saw  her  begun to wreathe  in pain. Then,   she  stretched  her body and began to fall down. I came fast and caught her, before she fall to the cement floors.

I asked some to help  make her lie in the bench. Then she,  began to speak. One of the men accompanying her said: “Ara na. Nag-abut na. Mahambal na sia. (It’s  now time.  It came. She will now speak).  She began to speak. I cannot understand her words. I called  on our members to go around her.  We will pray.  I have not seen any one, possessed by an evil spirit before.  I have a mixed feelings of anxiety  and excitements. We surrounded her and prayed.

Mrs. Gonzaga, one of our church deacons came near. She’s a nurse.  She  touched and speak to the woman, who was talking.  Mrs. Gonzaga said:  “Hipos. Indi  ka  mag gahud”. (Kept silent. Don’t talk.)  Mrs.Gonzaga took the pulse of the woman. She tried to  brushed her hair.  She   opened  her eyes.  She  looked  deep into the  girl’s eye balls. Then, Mrs. Gonzaga said.  “Indi ni demon possessed. Indi ni sia naga trance.  Nagabugtaw  ni  sia.  Wala  sia nagakatulog.  Ari,  ang  iya  kalimutaw nagahulag.” (This is not a demon possessed woman.  She’s  awake. She’s not on trance.  She’s  not sleeping. Look, her eye balls were  moving).

Then, Mrs. Gonzaga told the men:  “Dal-a ninyo sia pauli. Papahuwaya ninyo sia.  Indi ni sia demon possessed.  Luyag lang niya mag negosyo paagi  sining  ipakita niya  nga miraculo.” (Please bring her home. Let her rest. She is not demon possessed.   She will just make some business by  showing  some miracles.”

The girl went home with her friends.   I heard she went home to their town, that day, in South Negros.   During the last four days when  she was here, she has developed a group  of people, who believed she has  power. That she can make miracles. That she can heal the sick. And some gave her donations.

In   mid-1976, we   began  thinking of  renovating the church building.   The church was built strong,  with heavy cement posts and hollow blocked walls.  It has a two   storey  staple. The  walls  have no finishing. The altar was old.  And the   windows, made of wood was dilapidated. The church has no fences.

During  meeting  called that day,  Ms.  Ramonita (Toto), Apostol, Church Treasurer, spoke  that the church building  was not touched and improved for several years. It was now time to make the needed renovations. We asked how we will do it.  And suggestions came.  Time now  to beautify the church. Improve the altar with colored glasses. The church hollow block walls  be given finishing touches. The wood windows, now dilapidated will be replaced with glasses with the upper part, with colored glasses, shaped like hearts

 Toto Apostol  said  we have P5,000.  But we can start work and request for  donations.  The young people said, they will have  Musical Concerts in the church, and request Love Offerings  for MCEC renovations. The Baptist Men and Womens’ Missionary  Society  said they will save help with some donations. I suggested, perhaps we  can  apply for  a building loan from the  Baptist Convention.   The suggestions were approved.

The church wrote a letter to the Convention requesting for church loan of P20,000, payable in 5 years. We sent it to Rev. Ediwn Lopez, General Secretary. We sent our application loan with  all  needed documents.  It was signed by the Secretary and noted by the President. 

That Monday, I   went to Iloilo City. I met  Rev. Edwin Lopez, General Secretary.  I gave him our letter.  He met with the Treasurer. They approved  our  P20,000 loan,  payable in 5 years. When, I returned that afternoon, I  have the  P20.000 check. I gave it to the President. He called the  Treasurer. They made plans to start the church renovations.

The President gave the task to the Building Committee, chaired by Mr. Doronila &  Mr. Hermosura, Chairman and Vice Chair of the committee. They made the programs of works. The Young People and the Womens’s Society  made  plans for fund  raising.  Mr. Alvarez wrote a letter to Mr.  Araneta, Manager of Maao Sugar Central Company, Inc., requesting for 34 pieces of steel track rails, 8 - foot high, as post for church fence.  Mr. Araneta gave us all  the  steel rails we need.  

We finished the renovation and improvement of the church. We have fenced it with Cyclone Wires with steel posts. We paid fully our  P20,000 loan   in 5 years time. Now, with new confidence the church move to meet new challenges.We learned problems and challenges make  the church grow and strong.