Chapter 6
2rd Year Ministry at MCEC – Evangelistics & Revivals, Encounter w/
“Demon Possessed”, &Church Building Renovations
It was in 1975, on my 2nd 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 in the evenings for 3 days. At the same time, reaching out to the students of Maao Central Elementary and 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 choirs in Negros Kasapulanan. During the afternoons, we have meetings with some groups.
To strengthen our ministry, we mobilized and train the church for special music. We have a big choir on that revival meetings with Evangelist Greg Tingson, well-known Evangelist in the country.
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 to the church, a number of them, making the church their second home.
Our worship service on Sundays were at 6:30 AM. It revolutionized our worship. Imagine, going to church that early morning. But now our worship attended by more adults. The church public address system, provide soft gospel music at 5:30 AM. These were recorded tapes, that sings beautiful gospel songs. The soft music helped prepare the members get ready for the church service.
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. Then, a friend, told me that there was a “demon possessed” woman. She has skills healing people. But, sometimes, she lost consciousness and fall down. When she recoveres, she can tell the sickness of those who came. Many people gave donations for her healing advise.
I went home that night. And here, near our church, about 200 meters away, a “demon possessed” woman was doing some kinds of “miracle”. Many people came to her. I kept thinking. How could we challenge such things in the our community? Here many Baptists lives.
The following day, Sunday, while I was preaching, a group, 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 pretty. She was dressed in white. I don’t know if she’s married. I don’t knew who she was. I knew his 2 companions.
I went on with my message. After the benediction, I went down to shaked 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 moved fast and caught her, before she fall to the cement floors.
I asked some to help make her lie on 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 evil spirit. We surrounded her and prayed.
Mrs. Angelita 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”. ( Be 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’s not demon possessed. She will just make some business by showing some miracles.)
That morning 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 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 of money.
In 1975, 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 cemented storey staple.
The walls have no finishings. The altar was old. And the windows, made of wood were dilapidated. The church has no fences. There was a need to renovate it.
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. We need to improved the altar. The dilapidated windows will be change with glass windows with colored glasses.
The church hollow block walls must be given finishing touches. The wooden windows, now dilapidated will be replaced with glasses with the upper part, colored glasses, shaped like hearts
Toto Apostol said we have P5,000. We can start work and request for donations. The young people said, they will have Musical Concerts and requests donations.
They said, they will visit and hold Music concerts in other churches with Love Offerings for MCEC renovations. I suggested, perhaps we can apply a building loan from the Baptist Convention. The suggestions were considered and approved.
The church wrote a letter to the Convention requesting for church loan of P20,000, payable in 5 years. I will bring the request to Convention General Secretary and the Treasurer. We prepared our loan request with all needed documents.
The following day, I went to Iloilo City. I with Mr. Fred Italia, Treasurer. He took with other officers of the Convention. They approved our P20,000 loan. When, I returned that afternoon, I carried a P20.000 check. I gave it to the President. He called the Treasurer. They made plans to start the church renovations.
The Building Committee, chaired by Mr. Doronila and Mr. Hermosura, Chairman and Vice Chair of the committee took charge of the program of works. The Young People and the Womens made plans for Fund raising. Mr. Doronila also wrote a letter to Mr. Araneta, Manager of Maao Sugar Central Company, requesting for 34 pieces of steel track rails, 9 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. The altar was developed with colored glass windows. We rebuilt the church windows with colored and stained glasses shaped like heart. We beautified the church walls, with new finishing and pained. We have fenced it with Cyclone Wires with steel posts. We paid fully our P20,000 church building loan in 5 years.
With new confidence, Maao Central Evangelical Church moved to meet new challenges and strengthened the Christian ministry.
Edited….
Chapter 6
2rd Year Ministry at MCEC – Evangelistic, Encounter w/ “Demon Possessed”, &
Church Building Renovations
It was in 1975, on my 2nd 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 in the evenings for 3 days. At the same time, reaching out to the students of Maao Central Elementary and 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 choirs in Negros Kasapulanan. During the afternoons, we have meetings with some groups.
To strengthen our ministry, we mobilized and train the church for special music. We have a big choir on that revival meetings with Evangelist Greg Tingson.
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 to the church, a number of them, making the church their second home.
Our worship service on Sundays were at 6:30 AM. It revolutionized our worship. Imagine, going to church that early morning. But now our worship attended by more adults. The church public address system, provide soft gospel music at 5:30 AM. These were recorded tapes, that sings beautiful gospel songs. The soft music helped prepare the members get ready for the church service.
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. Then, a friend, told me that there was a “demon possessed” woman. She has skills healing people. But, sometimes, she lost consciousness and fall down. When she recoveres, she can tell the sickness of those who came. Many people gave donations for her healing advise.
I went home that night. And here, near our church, about 200 meters away, a “demon possessed” woman was doing some kinds of “miracle”. Many people came to her. I kept thinking. How could we challenge such things in the our community? Here many Baptists lives.
The following day, Sunday, while I was preaching, a group, 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 pretty. She was dressed in white. I don’t know if she’s married. I don’t knew who she was. I knew his 2 companions.
I went on with my message. After the benediction, I went down to shaked 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 moved fast and caught her, before she fall to the cement floors.
I asked some to help make her lie on 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 evil spirit. We surrounded her and prayed.
Mrs. Angelita 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”. ( Be 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’s not demon possessed. She will just make some business by showing some miracles.)
That morning 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 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 of money.
In 1975, 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 cemented storey staple.
The walls have no finishings. The altar was old. And the windows, made of wood were dilapidated. The church has no fences. There was a need to renovate it.
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. We need to improved the altar. The dilapidated windows will be change with glass windows with colored glasses.
The church hollow block walls must be given finishing touches. The wooden windows, now dilapidated will be replaced with glasses with the upper part, colored glasses, shaped like hearts
Toto Apostol said we have P5,000. We can start work and request for donations. The young people said, they will have Musical Concerts and requests donations. They said, they will visit and hold Music concerts in other churches with Love Offerings for MCEC renovations. I suggested, perhaps we can apply 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. I will bring the request to Convention General Secretary and the Treasurer. We prepared our loan request with all needed documents.
The following day, I went to Iloilo City. I with Mr. Fred Italia, Treasurer. He took with other officers of the Convention. They approved our P20,000 loan. When, I returned that afternoon, I carried a P20.000 check. I gave it to the President. He called the Treasurer. They made plans to start the church renovations.
The Building Committee, chaired by Mr. Doronila and Mr. Hermosura, Chairman and Vice Chair of the committee took charge of the program of works. The Young People and the Womens made plans for Fund raising. Mr. Doronila also wrote a letter to Mr. Araneta, Manager of Maao Sugar Central Company, requesting for 34 pieces of steel track rails, 9 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 church building loan in 5 years. With new confidence, Maao Central Evangelical Churhc move to meet new challenges and strengthened the Christian ministry..
Part of the series The Ministry Years (chapter 6 of 48)
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