SULADS STORIES

FIRST CAMPUS SULADS REVIVAL MEETING

December 19-28, 1996

by Nelita Janoyan

It was December 19, 1996, when a group of nineteen active Campus SULADS together with their sponsors were so excited to board the double-tired jeepney bound for Barangay Kalagangan, San Fernando, Bukidnon.  It was a dusty and tiring travel but after crossing streams 39 times during the five hour ride, we arrived in Kalagangan safely.

The wife of Mr. Babarge Catalan, the owner of the jeepney welcomed us warmly.  Although they were informed one week before our arrival and they tried to prepare  a place for us to stay, we decided to put up our tent near the church so that we would not disturb the business which they run in their home.  A hard rain welcomed us during the night forcing some of our team to seek shelter in the church for the remainder of the night.  The following day was Friday and we fixed our belongings and settled in for rainy weather.

On Friday, we divided up our group to work on different assignments.  Some visited the homes of former Seventh-day Adventists who no longer attended church.  Some enrolled children for Vacation Bible School.  All invited people to join in the nightly services.

Mr. Alex Catalan is a former student at MVC but has never been baptized as a Seventh-day Adventist.  He took a great deal of interest in our program, however, and supplied us with firewood and lent us his long table and two barrels for water.  He stated that many of them in Kalagangan are sleeping about the truth but want to be awakened.  He attended the vespers program that Friday night and all the Sabbath Services. 

We learned that only ten members regularly attend church and even these are not very active.  We noticed, however, that even during the first vespers program, there were many attending the services.  They seem to be hungering for the Word of God.  They listened attentively as they wanted to grasp every word that was said.  They long to have a group of people who will encourage them.

We serenaded the brethren each morning about 3:00 a.m. and in the last house we serenaded we would join the morning worship with them. 

On Sunday morning, we started our Vacation Bible School with many excited children.  We divided the group because there were many children who wanted to join.  Ruby Cadiz and Fely Kindom were in charge of the group which met at the Kalagangan Academy while Nancy Datagan and Judy Senador were in charge of the Manobo children near the church.  The children were so excited to participate in their activities.  Even the parents listened to the stories and participated in the singing. 

The men were assigned to home visitation and invited the people to join in the nightly program.  Some men also worked in the Vacation Bible School. 

The nightly program was divided into four parts—the children’s hour, lectures on health and agriculture, lecture on family relationships, and finally the message on the “Sermon on the Mount”.  The main speaker was Alex Panes.  The nightly meetings were filled with people.  Many wanted to learn farming techniques.  Others were particularly interested in how to relate with their family members.  The children loved to participate in their children’s hour.

After one week, on Friday there were 130 children who happily received their certificates and wore their crowns on their heads during the Vacation Bible School graduation exercises.  On Sabbath, the church was filled to overflowing with the brethren who came in from three neighboring churches.  The elders promised to help during the crusade of Elders Zachary and McKey.  In the afternoon, we had an open forum about the lectures they had heard during the week.  We ended our Adventist Youth meeting with a drama entitled, “A light from the Shadow”.  Mr. Famisaran and Neil Panes were the main actors.  Most of the audience shed tears when the father and son hugged and cried as they portrayed the life of James Taylor.

We expressed out thanks for the support and success of the revival.  The brethren also expressed their gratitude to the group.  They wished that the meeting could be extended for another week.  We told them, however, that a bigger and longer series will be conducted in Kalagangan in March.  At night, a grand social was held in the barangay plaza where people observed and participated in the games. 

Sunday was our departure.  Mr. Babarge Catalan, the owner of the jeepney treated the group to an overnight at the beach.  Everyone was pleased to have the opportunity to swim in the warm tropical waters in the evening.

December 30 at 4:00 p.m., we arrived back at the MVC campus tired but we have that inner joy in our hearts.  We thank God for the privilege that we have to share the light with our hungering brethren in Kalagangan.