Wednesday was packed from morning until night with various ministry opportunities and experiences.

 

Loading up in our vehicle, we left our hotel at 8:30 a.m. Our driver took us to a local boat ramp, where we would travel to the island of Guimaras. This is the island where our missionary, Rick Martin, ministered at an orphanage for a short time when he arrived in the Philippines nearly thirty years ago, before following God’s leading to start the Iloilo Baptist Church. As we stood waiting for our boat, a torrential downpour started almost instantaneously. That was definitely a unique sight. We boarded what is known locally as a “pump boat” and made the twenty-minute journey to the island. Unloading the boat became more eventful as Bro. Thompson accidentally dropped his backpack containing his cameras in the water. Everyone had a good laugh with that.

 

Our guides rented a jeepney and we headed to the property where Rick Martin had served. This property is also the oldest school on this island, and is still in use today as a private school. While here, Bro. Apusen, Bro. Thompson, and Bro. Tim had the privilege to testify and share the gospel, and we saw several make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ.

 

Our jeepney driver took us to various other locations around the island, including what was once General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters on the island. Then, we loaded up on a boat and headed back to Iloilo. We grabbed a quick bite to eat at the hotel and headed to the opening afternoon session of Bro. Martin’s 27th Annual Pastors’ & Workers’ Conference.

 

We heard two Bible messages in the afternoon and were greeted warmly by many of the thousands of delegates in attendance. The evening service began with nearly thirty minutes of heavenly music provided by the church orchestra which numbers close to one-hundred instruments. The congregational singing was stirring and Bro. Martin’s people presented a moving parade of worldwide flags, encouraging every church in the Philippines to send missionaries to other lands. He mentioned that there were eleven Filipino nationals at the conference who are preparing to travel to other countries as missionaries. This is in addition to the many other missionaries that have already been sent from this ministry. He does not believe that they should stay in their country, expecting missionaries to be sent here. He believes that they, too, have a responsibility to carry out the Great Commission of going to preach the gospel to every nation.

 

Following the service, we were able to speak to many of the pastors, Filipino and American missionaries, and Bible college students there. Many of them have made great sacrifices to be at this conference, and many will literally sleep on the wooden pews in the open-air auditorium each night so that they can attend. Multiple people told us of the great lengths they go to to find a computer with internet so that they can watch the preaching of the North Valley Baptist Church online.

 

Our hearts were touched and stirred in so many ways, on this, the first full day of our trip.