For the past two weeks, a verse in the Bible kept ringing in my head. When I was asked to dedicate the MPH at Libertad, Antique, I felt it was such an appropriate verse for such an occasion. The following verse was to call upon our response.
Psalms 118:23-24 says ‘This is from the Lord and is His doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord has brought about; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
God’s ways are so different from our ways. No one expected the hand of the LORD to be so swift in His deliverance. As I arrived at Libertad, Antique and viewed the MPH, I was forced to recollect what transpired one year ago. I mean just six month ago, on April 2015, Pastor Dong and Jason visited Libertad and met Pastor Roger and Rosemarie – a church planter couple who had lost everything – their employment, their land, their sanctuary, almost everything.
Psalms 118:23 was pointing to the rejection of Christ, which became the chief cornerstone. Definitely Pastor Roger and Pastor Rosemarie cannot be compared to Jesus Christ; they are far from Him. But they do experience what Jesus experienced -to be rejected. I could still remember that fateful day in April 2015. Pastor Dong, Jason and I couldn’t do anything except to pray for this couple. Tears flowed freely to the point of sobbing. There was inner pains in the hearts of this couple and I felt it immeditely because I was in their situation 3 years ago.
Pastor Roger and Pastor Rosemarie were unsure of their future. The pain was manifested in their faces. I wondered what they were going to do. Should they return to Iloilo City where they came from 20 years ago? But they purposed in their heart that they would not give up their calling nor Libertad – the place of their calling. For the past year they had rented a small place for their lodging and their church had been meeting literally in a tent, in a space loaned to them by their church member. But this tragic situation was 6 months ago. No one expected this sudden change of event. I must say that it is the pre-determined plan of God.
I like to requote Psalms 118:23 ‘This is from the Lord and is His doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.’
Today God has restored everything through Pastor Dong and Jason. They came back to Libertad 6 months later. They saw a couple and commented that they looked so different from 6 months ago. There was joy and smile. Their faces were brighter and Jason even commented they looked younger now than 6 months ago. This can only be attributed to the work of Divine providence. It is “the Lord’s doing” – literally, “from the Lord”.
I acknowledge Psalm 118:23. “This is from the LORD and is His doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
So how should we approach this day? Psalm 118:24 says ‘we will rejoice and be glad in it. God is in control of history (both corporate and individual)! That which seems to be a spiritual disaster is often turned into a tremendous spiritual victory! Almighty God has moved people to build the MPH that exudes praise. And we sincerely thank God for Pastor Dong and Jason Chok to be the channel to fund this building. It will be set apart for educating children and at the same time for the ministry of his holy Word. With gratitude, we officially dedicate and consecrate this building in God’s name, Amen
Immediately after the dedication, the team from LSBC organise a fun fair for the 20 children from Barubus Day Care Centre as well as another 15 that will be enrolled next year. Other children in the community watched the fun fair with envy because the fair was full of prizes. Well a member of the team, Bridget commented that we should also allow them to join as our goal is to bring them to the knowledge of God and we did.
We came away from the Dedication of the MPH, with satisfaction and full of praise to our Almighty God.
