Chapter 45- Went to Australia Dec. 30, 1999, Attends "Hearing the Cry Conference" & Baptist World Alliance Congress

                                    Chapter 45

         Went to Australia  Dec. 30, 1999, Attends “Hearing the Cry Conference “  &

                          Baptist World Alliance  Congress

          

In December 30, 1999,  with Mrs. Feraz Legita, we flew to Melbourne, Australia   to attend first the 3 days conference,  “Hearing the Cry; Acting  in Hope” conference   January 2-4.  Then,   the   Baptist World Alliance (BWA)  Congress on January  5-9, 2001.

We took  the plane at the Manila International Airport with some kind of apprehension. The  possible Y2K Computer glitch midnight of 1999. But we trust God.  He  will be with us.

Some reports came that   on December 31, 1999, there may be possible communications difficulties  called, the Y2K computer problems. It said. Y2K fears  that airplane computers systems will not handle the change from  midnight of 1999 to 2000. And it could endanger lives of  airline passengers worldwide.

Some leaders of  the Baptist World Alliance, tried to  seek  postponement of  the 18^th Baptist World Congress scheduled  January 5-9, 2001.  As  early  as January 2000 some Bapitst leaders called for the postponement, fearing for  lives of expected  6,000 to 7,000  BWA delegates that will come,   including visitors from different countries of the world  to   Melbourne.

But Geoff Holland, editor of the Victorian Baptist Witness, said the Y2K fear that airplane computer systems will not handle the change from 1999 to 2000 was  unfounded, specially when it comes to Qantas Airlines,  the official airline for  BWA congress.

Holland reported that  Qantas, "which has never killed a passenger in 79 years flying," began work on the Y2K problems in 1995 and by the end of 1998 had converted all of its critical systems to Y2K compliance. It was  now testing them to make sure the airline was  completely ready for the transition, Holland said, “noting other major airlines are similarly prepared.”

At the same time, Leon Norsworthy, head of the local arrangements committee for Australian Baptists and  former Senior Executive with the Civil Aviation Authority in Australia, agreed. He told Holland he has "checked with several major airlines and they have assured him they were  prepared for the change of the  century."

Holland also quoted Pete Holzmann, global coordinator for the AD2000 Interactive Task Force

 who has "three decades of experience on mainframe computers, PCs and embedded systems." Holzmann said while there will be minor inconveniences, "few of us will encounter a major problem."

"Aircraft will continue to fly," Holzmann said, and "while some slowdowns may be expected, especially in remote international areas, commercial flights will continue throughout the night of Dec. 31, 1999."

Holzmann said he was  sure "the power grids will not shut down, the financial markets will not crash and airplanes will continue to fly. God is still in command: the tides will rise and fall, the sun and moon will maintain  their course and God's gift to mankind of intelligence and creativity will once again allow us to cooperatively solve issues that surface in the early hours of  Jan. 1, 2000."

Denton Lotz, BWA General Secretary, said, "We enthusiastically invite Baptists worldwide to come to Australia to celebrate the theme, 'Jesus Christ Forever. Yes!'  It is in the strong belief in the eternal presence of Christ that we will enter a new millennium and call upon Baptists to be around.”

Earlier, in December 14, 1999, I received a letter from Dr. Rose Langmead, Professor of Whitley College in Melboune, inviting me to attend “Hearing the Cry: Acting in Hope Conference” January 2-5, 2001. It preceeds the BWA World Congress that starts the following day.  I wrote Dr. Langmead in Dec. 16:

“Thank you Sir for your invitations.  I am happy for the privilege to attend ‘Hearing the Cry, Acting in Hope Conference’. It will be very  helpful for us who were working in the areas for equality,  justice, human rights and liberation.

“I would like to thank the Conference Committee for providing me 50% scholarship travel grant, paying my registration fee, food and accommodation for 3 days and facilitating that a family  served as my host during the conference & assembly  in the person of Rev. Colin & Henny Hunter of Moreland Baptist Church,   10 days while I’m  in Melbourne.

“My Visa was approved by the Australian Embassy. My plane travel thru Quantas has been confirmed. Last November 29, I wrote Miss Ruth Barclay, Registrar and confirmed my coming

“I fly Quantas Air and will leave Manila Dec. 30 at 1950. We will arrived   Sydney at 0620 and will get Quantas Domistic for  Melbourne 0800 about 1920.  I had written Rev. Colin Hunter of my  time of arrival so he can picked me or sent somebody to pick me  at  Melbourne  Airport. I have sent him an e-mail of my date and time of arrival. “

“I believed “Hearing the Cry, Acting in Hope Conference” will achieve great things for our  ministries in the area  of human rights,  justice, peace and reconciliations.” Thanks. Sincerely, PASTOR RUDY BERNAL.”

I attended the  conference  with Ms. Feraz Legita and Mrs. Ruth Corvera, of CPBC.

We arrived at Melbourne Airport about 3:00 PM, December 30, 1999.  Mr. Robert & Julie Morsillo, met me at the   airport. He was requested by Rev. Colin Hunter to meet me.  Mr. & Mrs. Robert & Julie Morsillo will be my hosts for the 10 days in Melbourne.  Mrs. Feraz Legita was met by her  host. Mrs. Ruth Corvera took a different flight.

I was guest at the home of  Bob  and Julie Morsillo, with their two sons. I stayed with them  from December 30, 1999 to Janurary 10, 2001.

The following day, Dec. 31, I joined breakfast with Bob and Julie Morsillo. My hosts were  deeply committed to the work for equality, human rights and justice.  Their works in Australia, carries the challenge. They  visited  countries in some   parts of the world to learn and share God’s work for salvation,  justice and human rights.

That day,  I learned that Bob and Julie have visited the  Philippines, I think, sometimes  in  1998. They visited several provinces including Iloilo City. They  met Filipinos involved in the  struggle  for   freedom, justice and human rights.  They met groups of the Catholic church working in similar involvements.  They met with   Ms.   Hope Herbilla and her groups in Bayan-Panay together with some members of Gabriela Womens Party.

They visited  Western Visayas Ecumenical Council (WVEC) with Mrs.Ruena (Inday)  Asis and  her group. They  met  too, the   leaders  of the  movements for   Peace,  Justice and Human Rights in Iloilo City. They shared   with me what they learned in their exposures  to the Philippines.  That moment, I felt at  home, really at home,  with Bob  & Julie.  For the Lord had joined us in a common task- the work for  peace, justice and  human rights

That night,  on   December 31, 1999, I joined  the celebrations of New Year. I could not remember well. But I think, we were at  Moreland Baptist Church.  Some 4  pastors were there together with the congregations.   Rev. Hunter and 3  other pastors,  were there, that  midnight  we celebrated    New Year.   It was the first time, I ever experienced   midnights  of  December 31 outside of the Philippines. I saw how  New Year was  celebrated in Melbourne.

I saw the difference, how firecrackers, were used in  Melbourne and Iloilo City. The celebration of New Year in Melbourne, was great,   with simple whistles and the big fire crackers, up on high “grandstand”, where people could see it lighted up high and booming up high that midnight. No one was injured by a firecracker explosion in Melbourne that year. 

In the Philippines, some smalls,  big and deadly firecrackers  were  lighted to greet the New Year. And every year,  young boys and some adults were brought to the hospitals with wounds – broken fingers, burned faces and arms,  from fire crackers.  Some were killed   hit with a stray bullets fired, mostly  by  drunken cops December 31 midnight..

We celebrated New Year with lots of foods.   We were served beer, soft  liquors, soft drinks and lemon juice. I drunk a bottle of  beer. Just a bottle, never  more.   That was enough,  to greet the New Year in Australia.  The same with  the pastors and males.   Just a bottle or two of beer.

We bid goodnight to the hosts.  I joined  Bob and Julie    home. I  have a very restful night.  I woke up nearly 7:00 AM that   morning. It was  New Year.  January 1, 2000.  I sat  on my bed and prayed. “Lord, thanks for great experiences of the 2000, Please  join and guide me, as  I travel the road and the many roads of  2001.”

That morning, Sunday, we worship at Moreland Baptist Church. It’s  a lovely church.   It’s a community church. It has a  closely knit members and fellowship. But there was something new that I brought back home. There was no Sunday School for adults. Only the Children and   Youth.  After the Sunday School  We all  joined for snacks – coffee, chocolates and some bread and butter. Adults have time to   talk with each other.

Then we went for our worship service. We started to sing. And the hymns at Moreland Baptist Church were  mostly new songs.  The songs  in their hymnal were  composed mostly by Australian hymn writers. Only about 10 per cent of the songs in their hymnal, were from the American hymns.  Ninety percent of the songs, were   originally    written  in  Australian melodies.

 The songs seem  simple and easy to learn. It’s something new and different. I requested Bob Morsillo to give me a photo copy of the songs.  Then we have our worship service. A lovely service for our   hearts,  minds   and souls.

What  is  Moreland Baptist Church?  What it works to achieve. What is their Vision?

“ We are a Church committed to a shared life together.”

“A Life in God -  A life in Prayer  - A Life in community.”

“Our Vision is to see the message of Jesus take roots in our  community,

 A place filled with  Peace, Hope, Love and Justice

”The following day, January 2, 2001,  Bob  accompanied me to Whitley College, the venue of the “Hearing the Cry; Acting in Hope  Conference”, a 3 day studies on the social, economic  and political situations in countries that were members of the Baptist World Alliance. Resource Persons, most of them having seen   and   experienced   poverty, inequality, injustice,  human rights violations. Some of those who attended were veterans of revolutionary   struggle   in   their countries.

 They  shared with us  their hard  experiences.  They  shared  the  dreams and cries of their people. They shared the cries from other  countries of the world,     suffering under  military  and oppressive rules in their countries.

I shared also   the  oppressive  rule  in our country.   After  President  Marcos martial rule  was overthrown, the people’s cries remains.  We    overthrow  a  dictator and tyrants, but a new dictatorship   and tyranny  came   to rule     our country.

One of those who shared was a Pastor from Liberia. He was small in stature, like me. He shared the hardship of his people under a very oppressive government and military rule. He was arrested several times. He was beaten.   He went on with their people’s struggle for freedom and justice. I heard his cries.  And I heard the cry of his   people and the cries of  all  struggling people. On   the  last day of our conference, we joined in formulating the cries and hopes  of people in a joint statement. We formulated actions and  response to the people’s cry= “Hearing the Cry: Acting Hope.”

Then.   January 5-9,  we   attended the Baptist World Alliance Congress   in  Melbourne. We were in one of the biggest Auditoreum in Melbourne.

I cannot remember how many attended. Thousands came, both   delegates, visitors and friends who visited their relatives during the  Congress. It was a great event, the 18^th Baptist World Congress. Some 7,000 attended from different parts of the world.  A great event, held once every 5  years.  It was a wonderful.    It brought us together to celebrate our salvation. We sang gospel hymns. We joined in worship.  We  reflected  on the  messages shared to us. We could hear God speaking to us. These   were   great and wonderful events for Baptists around the world.

We celebrated the  BWA World Congress  under the theme  “Jesus Christ forever, Yes!  Yes, Jesus Christ forever!

There were more than 100  Convention Baptist delegates  that attended the Assembly. Together with Mrs. Feraz Legita, President Mike Enabe  and me,   were Pastor Fred Jacildo, Pastor Tita Grace Padohinog,  Mr  & Mrs. Leopoldo and  Evelyn Espinosa.

Mrs. Tita Padohinog, came with   about  15 Filipino delegates  to the Congress.  Rev. Dan Borlado has with him  20 delegates  attending also the World Congress.

There were delegate from Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, Mindanao and Manila. We came together with  delegates from other Baptist Convention from the Philippines.

 I met Rev. Sven Lindstrom & Mrs Lindstrom and 3 other delegates from Sweden. They too attended the Congress. Some  7,000 of us all, from  Africa, Europe, Latin America, United States, Canada, Africa, the Carribian countries, Middle East and Asia.

It was a great feeling,  when you see thousands and thousands of  people singing  praises to God.  It was great to listen to sermons from great preachers  coming from different parts of the World.   It was also a  blessing to hear the message of  Mrs. Ruth  Graham, the wife of the great Evangelist  Billy Graham spoke at the Congress.

It’s wonderful  also, to have our Closing Celebrations at 8:00 PM, when  the sun was  shining bright and strong, about 1 meter up on the western horizon,  in Melbourne.