Chapter 34
Tried to Bring Back the Memories of Dr. Eric Lund & Pastor Braulio Manikan
In January 2001, I wrote a letter
to Rev Olof Lindstrom. He has been instrumental in bring me to the ministry of
Dr. Eric Lund and Pastor Braulio Manikan. I tried to recall the past efforts we
have made to bring to life their memories.
“ Dear Rev. Lindstrom,
“These past few years, we have
the rare opportunity to look back to our
past, study the situations of our churches,
looked deep on the problems and
challenges by our people, and
mapped the focus, courses
and responses we will make for
the future. The different studies that
will be presented this May will helped
provide the directions we will be making
for the future.
“I would like to thank you that when you and Mr. Leo Liljengren came to
the Philippines in November 1984, you brought a chapter of the book of Dr. Eric
Lund. You and Leo gave that to me. The chapter, tells of Dr. Lund's early ministry in Iloilo. He said, while doing mission works in Leon, he heard
gunfires sound in the othe village.
The gun fires stopped after the Filipino troops has gone far into the
mountains. During that time, the war between the Filipinos and American invasion forces
were still going on strongly in mountain
villages of Panay.
“When I visited Sweden in September 1989, I tried to look on some of Dr. Eric Lunds books at the Library of Betelseminarit, where I found some stories of his life and
the ministry he did in Sweden and Spain. I was able to visit for a short time, the library of Uppsala
University, where some of his books were kept. I am sad that I found only two
books in English by Dr. Eric Lund. I tried fast the chapters of
his life in the Philippines. The little
knowledge, I learned of his life and
ministry served as an my inspirations and guide.
“As I studied the life and ministry of Eric Lund, I am really moved with
his deep insights, his courage, determination, his visions and how he responded
to the needs and challenges around him, despite the meager resources within and
outside of himself. His visions pierced some
years ahead of his time. And the work he has envisioned, started
and enlarged –like the small congregation in Jaro that grew to what is now
Jaro Evangelical Church.
“And the small Industrial School, they built together with the American
missionaries grew to what is now Central Philippine University, with it’s
alumni reaching, working and living different countries around the world.
And the others schools,. They
started l like Dancalan Private Academy,
in Dancalan, Ilog, Negros Occidental.. These were part of the
insights and visions of the first
two Baptist missionaries and the succeeding great missionaries came and built, the Baptist Convention with its
different institutions that we have today.
“After some 70 years, many have almost forgotten the role that Dr. Eric Lund and Pastor Braulio Manika played in the life and ministry of Philippine Baptist churches and
institutions. I myself, have not heard of Eric
Lund and Braulio Manikan during my 3 ½ years studies at CPU, in 1961-1964, where I took my first 3 semesters studying at CPU College of Theology.
“We were glad that in 1984, the Baptist Union of Sweden with Rev. Olof
Lindstrom and Brother Leo Liljengren came with instructions from the Baptist Union of Sweden, to
established relations with our Convention.
“Starting there, a new
partnership between BUS and CPBC were
established that helped
strengthened the different Baptist
Convention ministries - Mission and Evangelization, Christians Educations,
Stewardship and the New Frontier Ministries, now called the Development
Ministries, with social and political
reflections and studies from the
underside of history. It carried relief
& rehabilitation works,
developments, environment protections, legal and labor education, human
rights advocacy and political and electoral reforms.
“We have used different methods and channels in the ministry -seminars
and workshops, live-in trainings, radio ministry and small books and pamphlets
printed and published. We have opened
ourselves to different avenues of
engagements, that could
reached more people, among our
Baptist members, together with the ecumenical churches and those outside our evangelical communities.
We reached out to the country’s political militants,
including the communists and socialists,
like in Sweden, knowing they were part in building the
future of a progressive Philippines.
“I am happy that I was part in
some ways in the development of this partnership between the CPBC, the Baptist Union of Sweden and Diakonia. Now
we looked forward to a more fruitful
joint efforts between our conventions.
“Several years ago, BUS and DIAKONIA,
sent to the Philippines Rev. Ingmar Olsson, a well-known Swedish Gospel
singer and Evangelist whose music
touched different cords in our hearts
and minds. Here, he had done music
seminars and workshops among our choir directors, music leaders and singers
during his brief stay with us in Iloilo and Negros Occidental.
“He made Musical concerts in Bacolod Evangelical Church in Bacolod
City, at the University Church, Central Philippine University here in Iloilo City, in Capiz Evangelical Church in Roxas City
and at Faith Baptist Church in
Manila.
“His music, mostly composed by himself, which were new and relevant, stirs some of our
theological beliefs, challenges us not only to go to heaven when we die, but to commit ourselves to the
work for peace and justice here on
earth. He called us to blaze new trail
with God thru music, blended together
with our struggles for equality, freedom and
human rights.
“Rev. Ingmar Olson, sung to several of
our church congregations. In
Bacolod City town plaza he sang to more
than 2,000 sugar workers rallying for justice and better wages. He
visited Bacolod City jail and Iloilo City City jail and sung to the
prisoners, singing to them beautiful songs of love and freedom, touching
their lives with faith and hope.
“Last January 1998, after some years of thinking and planning, Diakonia and the Baptist Union of Sweden brought
the “Eric Lund Memorial Lectures” held in 3 cities in Western Visayas
region. Rev. Karen Lindvall, a
progressive Baptist theologian was the guest lecturer from BUS. He was
accompanied by Rev. Olof Lindstrom. Her lecture “Faith, Freedom and Fellowship”
was delivered in Filamer Christian College, Roxas City, attended by Ministers,
lay leaders, students Capiz and Aklan
.
“The “Eric Lund Memorial Lectures” in Iloilo was held at the University
Church, CPU, Iloilo City with seminary students, lay leaders and pastors from
Antique province and Iloilo.
Bacolod Evangelical Church was the host of “Eric Lund Memorial Lectures”
by Dr. Karen Lindvall attended by
ministers and church leaders in Bacolod City and some students from Convention Baptist Bible
College.
“Her culminating lecture was at the Annual Conference of the Convention
Baptist Ministers Association (CBMA), where some 600 pastors from all over the
country attended. This continuing studies was needed to sharpen the minds and
deepen the commitments of ministers and lay leaders in evangelization and
struggle for justice, freedom, human
rights and liberation.
“Three years ago, in 1997,
DIAKONIA and CPBC thru the initiatives of Ms. Feraz Legita, Director of CPBC
Development Ministries, worked to bring Rev. Per Axel Sverker from Orebro
Mission in southern Sweden to
participate in studies and delivered
lectures on very important and relevant topic of our time, “Women In the Bible” . Rev, Per Axel
Sverker, shared with us the very, very
important roles played and participated- by women
in the course of Bible history.
“He made a lecture at CPU College of Theology, with students and Baptist leaders in
Iloilo,both in the city and province.
In Negros Occidental, he lectured at the Convention Baptist Bible
College to students, the group of
minsters in Central and Northern Negros and among ministers and cooperative
leaders in southern Negros. He showed us the important roles women played in the history of salvation and
people’s liberation.
“Rev. Sverker shared how Jesus
during his time worked to free women from the bondage of inequality and men’s
injustices, where tradition and religion
have placed and enslaved them. He
challenged men to gave women a new and
better chance.
These event was followed a year
later, by the ”Dr. Eric Lund
& Pastor Braulio Manikan Memorial Lectures”, with Rev. Olof
Lindstrom lecturer. The lecture was held Central Philippine University, in
Iloilo City; at Filamer Christian
College, in Roxas City; Bacolod Evangelical Church in Bacolod City and at Faith Baptist Church in Quezon City.
Copies of the lectures were provided all
participants by “ Hour of Discovery”
and Alternative Resource Development Center, Inc.
“Last February 27-March 5, 1999, the CPBC and BUS undertook a challenging
Music Activity, the ‘Braulio Manikan & Eric Lund Memorial Concerts. The Guest Artist was Mr. Staffan Lindstrom from the Baptist Union of Sweden and
Diakonia. These Music Concert
was preceded by a Music Workshop for Choir and Music leaders. The Music
Workshop was followed by the training of back-up singers for the concert in the
evenings.
“The music workshop and Musical Concert were held in 4 cities - at Capiz
Evangelical Church in Roxas City; Jaro Evangelical Church in Iloilo City;
Bakyas Evangelical Church in Bacolod City, at Carles Muncipal Auditorium,
Carles, Iloilo with nearly 3,000
thousand attended, residents, students in high school and elementary schools
and women. These was followed few days
later at Faith Baptist Church in
Quezon City, Metro Manila.
“The “Braulio Manikan & Eric Lund Memorial Concert” was a success. Before the Concert, a short story of the life of Pastor Braulio Manikan and Dr. Eric Lund were given, how they came to the
Philippines from Spain and started the mission works. They were later joined by
more American missionaries and Filipino converts. There works
in leading lives to Christ, has grown to what is now the Convention of
Philippine Baptist Churches.
“CPBC and hopefully BUS would undertake a continuing
partnership in areas of needs, to enrich the life of the churches and the people.”
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