It was 3rd quarter of 1974 when an opportunity opened for my ministry in Negros Occidental. After I resigned from Cawayan Baptist Church, I went to Jaro Evangelical Church to see Rev. Levi Lahaylahay.
Several weeks ago, we met. I told him, I would like to work in a church. He said: "Do you want to work in Polo Baptist Church?" Polo was his home church. But when I arrived at JEC, I was informed that Rev. Lajaylahay was in Manila. And he will be back in about two weeks.
Since I do not have anything to do while waiting for Rev. Lajaylahay, I called a friend in Bacolod City, who was with me at Lyceum of the Philippines before, Manuel Jimenez. He finished Foreign Service but was challenged to radio broadcasting. He trained for several months with Manila Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), in Manila. Then he was assigned with MBC in Bacolod City.
When he started his radio broadcast, he changed his name, to Pete Rivera. It was his rado name. And he became known with his new name. Almost no one, except his family and close friend knew who Manuel Jimenez anymore. Pete Rivera became a well known name to most radio listeners of MBC in Negros Island.
Manny Jimenez was happy I called him. I got his phone on PLDT phone list. He said, I must take the 2nd Trip boat the following day to Banago, in Bacolod City. We have not met for more than 4 years. He said: "Bring some clothes. So we could have time to be together, for a week or a month."
When I took the 2nd trip boat, Princess of Negros to Bacolod City that day, the course of my life has made some change. That Bacolod trip opened me new opportunities and a wider ministry.
Pete Rivera was already married. His wife was lovely and intelligent high school teacher. She’s a Japanese mestisa. Pete told me he was ready to start a small business. A Record Bar at Bacolod Supermart in Yusay Building. Bacolod Supermart was owned by Mr. Felix Yusay, owner also of Sugarland Hotel in Bacolod City. Pete said: "I will start a small business. I will sell records. Long playing records and Singles. I will get stocks from Electro Sound and Vicor Corporation." Pete asked me to help him set up his small business.
We built his small Record Bar display inside Bacolod Supermart. He got some 200 pieces of Long Playing Records and about 1,500 pieces of Singles. He got a Salesgirl. And his business has started. Often, I and Pete met there at the Record Bar.
One day, we hang in his Record Bar. I saw Esfe Tandog at Bacolod Supermart. Esfe Tandog was buying something, when I spotted him. I and Esfe Tandog were working students back in 1964, at CPU. We did not met since I left CPU. We sat for a snack.
We have good conversations and flashbacks on memories. After finishing his theological studies, Esfe Tandog Pastored Maao Evangelical Church, in Bago City. After four years at MEC, he resigned and went to radio broadcasting works. He was taken by Atty. Alex Espino, President of West Negros College to work with DYWN radio station.
We sat for a while and talked about the past. I told him of my life since I left the College of Theology. My ventures in Manila, my work with Philippines Herald News paper and the news agency. Esfe Tandog shared that he left also the ministry. He went to radio broadcasting for several years. Then, few months ago, he went back to the ministry as Provincial Minister of Negros Kasapulanan of Baptist Churches. His residence and office with his wife, Nelly, was at Bacolod Christian Center.
I told Rev. Tandog that I also went back to the ministry and pastored two years at Cawayan Baptist Church in Carles, Iloilo. I resigned after two years. I am planning to go to Polo, New Washington, Aklan for Rev. Levy Lahaylahay will introduce me to Polo church.
Rev. Tandog, said immeditely. "Rud, Maao Central Evangelical Church, was looking for a pastor. Next Sunday, I will preached at Aliansa Baptist Church, about 4 kms., from Maao Central. If you want, you can join me. We will go together. to Maao Central Evangelical Church. I will introduce you to Mr. Childe Alvarez., church president."
Three months before, I met Mr. Childe Alvarez during a Lay Leadership Training led by the Baptist Convention at Camp Higher Ground in Barotac Viejo. We attended together with some 50 church pastors and lay leaders, a training on stewardship and church management. We were together in our group of 6 persons for 4 days. Our bed were near each other. And we became friends. We shared something of our lives. He told me he has 7 children, 5 girls and two boys. I told him, I am single and l looking for a wife. Mr. Alvarez just smiled. He did not tell me his 5 children were now young ladies, and lovely.
Rev. Tandog accompanied me to the home of Mr. Childe Alvarez. We have a short sharing and he left for Aliansa Baptist Church that afternoon.
That Saturday evening, I was guest at the home Mr. and Mrs. Childe and Leonor Alvarez. Together with us at supper, was Hesther, one of their lovely daughters. The two daughters, Gilda and Rachel were practicing in the church choir. The eldest Rosea was teaching in Good Shepherd’s Fold Academy in Guimaras. The two sons, where still out. I got a good conversations with Mr. and Mrs. Alvarez and Hesther. Her voice, she said was not well, and she did not join the choir practice. She remained at home. And we have little time more for conversation that night.
The following day, during worship, I preached. I prepared my message. That night, I knelt down and prayed. My Bible reflection was in Ilongo, our dialect, with few English words and phrases. I delivered my message.I felt my message touched some listeners in the congregations. I hoped it reached their hearts. In closing, I prayed for the members and the church.
After the service, the Church Board came together for a meeting. That morning, they decided to call me Pastor of Maao Central Evangelical Church. The call was written, signed by the Church Secretary. It was noted by the Church President. After reading the church call, I told Mr. Alvarez I accepted their call. I will be ready to assume the post in 2 weeks time.
Two weeks later, I came with my bag of clothes, two cartoons, and started my pastoral ministry in Maao Central Evangelical Church. The church was located in the vicinity of Maao Sugar Central Company, Inc.,, with thousand hectares of sugar cane plantations around, and hundreds of trucks lining every day on the highway, waiting for their turn to deliver the sugar canes from the farms to the mills in Maao Central Sugar Mills.
It was the first time I saw and entered a sugar milling plant in my life. I am in a new venue in my ministry, a rural –industrial venue, where more than a thousand employes and workers, during most of the whole year. I thought, my experiences with PANELFU, also a labor union, will be helpful in my ministry here.
That Sunday morning, I took the pulpit. I preached my first sermon as Pastor of Maao Central Evangelical Church. I decided not to write my message. I will preached from my mind and heart. It was a ministry that I have prayed for. I don’t know how our ministry will grow. But I felt, it will. I prayed that our ministry will affect the life of the church and the community.
I prayed that God will empower the message. That He will take charge of my mind. That He will touched my tongue. I need to preach a simple and clear message that will be easily understood, by adults, youth and the younger folks. I asked God to help me use the right words. The right phrases. The needed intonation. And the challenge.
We have a siezable audience. And as I preached, I felt a certain sensations in my heart. And I felt my message was not good. But I felt, it reached there hearts. I closed the message with a prayer. I entrusted my members to the Lord. I went with our Liturgist to the entrance of the Church. I stood and extend my hands to all who were going out. I clasped each extended hand.
That afternoon, I received one very positive response to my message that morning. It was delivered by one of the young people. Tongue Villasenor, a talented youth leaders. He later became a pastor. He called one of the young people who had not attended worship for sometimes.
Tongue Villasenor said: “Brod, you must go to church now. We have a new pastor. He preached a short message”.
No comments:
Post a Comment