From: Michael Porter
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2008 7:16 AM
Subject: The Quiet Hour rePorter Philippines #7

Team,

It has been almost a week since I sent the last rePorter, although I sent some pictures last week. We’ve finished our second weekend tonight with the presentation at the Sunday evening meeting on “What happens when we die?” In earlier meetings, we’ve presented the Sabbath, the change of the Sabbath, and baptism. We are seeing the attendance holding steady or increasing in all eight of the Bacolod sites. It is exciting to see the momentum increasing as the churches and visiting speakers team up to share the wonderful news that “God has a plan”! Our presentations emphasize the sufficiency of the Jesus’ death on the cross to save to the uttermost – His offer and promise that we are no longer condemned!

Several nights ago, a young man wandering along the street in front of the church saw the large banner advertising that Michael Porter would be the visiting evangelist. The head elder whom I work closely with each evening, invited him to come in and enjoy the program. I took a few minutes to meet him and personally welcomed him to the meeting. He has not missed a meeting since, even coming to the Sabbath morning services.

Today is Easter, so in this largely Catholic country, we’ve seen many processions and extra services commemorating the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

Life is not easy here for so many. All of us as speakers receive requests for help with special needs, school support, and more. Others just ask for prayer for the heartaches they face in their families or marriages. And of course there are homes where one spouse or the other prays for a partner who does not know Jesus as Savior and Lord.

The church, the conference and The Quiet Hour combined funds to offer assistance to the 23 neighbor families who lost their homes in the fire last week. The folk were so appreciative and it was good to see the church move into action so quickly in responding the needs.

Today we visited the campus of Central Philippine Adventist College and of course had to pay a visit to The Quiet Hour clinic while there. We were welcomed to a lovely breakfast in the cafeteria as well as a brief tour of the campus. With a range of majors, the school boasts 1,500 students. Our team enjoyed young coconut water followed by scraping out the fresh coconut meat inside the shell. Some of our group also enjoyed a swim in the college pool. The campus church is by far the nicest building on campus, but other buildings are also nice. This coming Sabbath, plans call for all the Bacolod churches to gather at the college swimming pool for a baptism. I’m looking forward to seeing many precious folk enter the waters of baptism, starting their new life with Jesus.

I’ll include some pictures with this e-mail and also send others separately.

We do appreciate your prayers and know God will continue to bless.

Mike

Bacolod email reports: March 10-12 | March 16-17 | March 19-23 | March 30

Manila email reports: February 29 - March 3 | March 4-5 | March 6-7 | March 9-10 | March 11-13 | March 17