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 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.”
Part of the series The Ministry Years (chapter 35 of 48)
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