As requested, following is an unedited, rambling journal of my recent trip to the Philippines, unfinished sentences and all. Folks seem to like it this way.
Nov 8 Found out on the way to church this AM that I’m going to the Philippines tomorrow. Leave DFW at 5:50 AM. Met a guy at the airport who asked me what I was going for. After a 30 second conversation, he hands me $100. That doubles the cash I have on me to go to other side of the planet!
From Minneapolis to Tokyo, sat next to veteran missionaries on their way to China to train underground Christians to do cross cultural missions. Back to Jerusalem movement among Chinese. They believe China is the ends of the earth of the Great Commission, so they are taking the Gospel across the Muslim world back to its origin.
High level discussions among Chinese government officials, whether to crack down even harder (unbelievable!) on underground Church or grant some measure of religious freedom. Christians’ only concern about getting some semblance of freedom is carnality, that is, they are afraid they will become like us.
Wealthy sheik from Saudi Arabia pulled up in front of a Christian book store in neighboring country. Walked right to Bibles. Owner, very timidly asked, “Sir, are you looking for a Bible?” “400 Bibles!” “Oh, you have a fellowship of 400 in your country?” “Actually, 800, but this will do for now.” They loaded trunk, back seat. “Sir, how are you going to get these across the border?” “We know how to do this!!”
Chinese Christians have a course on how to share your testimony on the way to your execution.
Nov. 11 Roland, our Filipino contact (NEST evangelist, see www.davidstockwell.org) used to be No 4 most wanted drug dealer in nation. The cops killed the first three. Jesus got No.4!
Impressions from Filipino schools
Sodomy is blatant. Boys wearing baby blue, flowery head bands, enhanced eyelashes, playing with each other’s hair while I’m preaching. I preach repentance with no restrictions, no exceptions.
I’m not ‘studying’ for my sermons, just praying constantly, keeping up my regular Bible reading plan, then getting up and preaching, trusting the Lord. He never fails. I don’t consider myself a good preacher, not any more. The power is in the Word and the Spirit.
Gene (NEST evangelist) said that after Sept/Oct typhoons, just his team doing relief work and evangelism saw 8000 professions of faith.
Sign on back of jeepney (bus) God is Watching You. Keep Safe Distance.
We do not merely present Christ, we OFFER Him—the free offer of salvation to every soul. Election is not our responsibility, nor is it our business.
The dynamics of each school assembly is unique. Some start off rowdy, full of energy; some are reverent. But in each case, all are eventually spellbound by the Holy Spirit. I don’t know how else to put it. I wish Terri could travel with me and see what I am privileged to witness.
A ‘church’ in Manila named “Jesus, I rebuke you in the name of Satan” church. Yes, I got that right.
I notice a Muslim girl with the head covering. The guidance counselor is making introductions, joking, everyone’s laughing. She doesn’t smile. I preach the Gospel, urge them to repent and trust Christ alone. The counselor is wrapping up. The girl is now smiling. Only God knows.
School lunch room. Something looks like soy sauce. Good flavor. Called Patis. Remind me to quit asking how stuff is made. Put dead fish in jar, leave for month and a half til it liquefies and ferments. Actually not bad for putrified fish squeezin’s.
This is unbelievably hard work, draining, exhausting, exasperating emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually. Satan fights for every inch of ground, for every soul whose eternal destiny hangs in the balance. We could talk about anything else, except the freeing Gospel and Grace of Christ and not experience the turmoil, interruptions, resistance and frontal attacks. And we win! I love this!
Road sign Slow Down. Accident Prone Area
A boy came up to Scott, my fellow evangelist and partner on this trip, and said “Jingle, jingle.” Scott laughed and said, “Jingle all the way.” Gene explained the boy needed to go to the bathroom.
Scott told me today he had what tasted like chocolate meat. Gene told me later it was cooked in pigs’ blood. I made of point of sharing that with Scott. Thought it was going to end our friendship.
Pastor Nelson said during the typhoons, the water was knee deep at his church, on the second floor!
There are headhunter tribes in mountains where our NEST evangelists go. Many missionaries have been killed. When the Dap-Dap tree is red, they have the urge to kill. One tribe never changes clothes (or bathes.) Our guys will occasionally come with clothing; they just strip off the rotten rags and put on the new. Those who have become Christians always want to give the evangelists warm embraces. Gene said you just hold your breath and turn your head. They serve them python and frogs, cooked whole.
At one assembly, I spoke to 1800. Hannah, about four feet tall (high school) gave me a sea shell key ring to thank me and for me to remember.
At one school, guidance counselor told me, “This is the most difficult, needy group. I am so glad to see so many of them receiving Jesus.”
At Fortune High School today, I notice a girl sitting on front row (they were all seated on the floor,) so intensely joyful as she prayed to receive Christ. I tried to meet her afterwards, but so many crowded around to talk to me, I missed her. I noticed her getting up on crutches though. She had one leg.
Some little punk walked past a classroom where I was speaking and called me a dirty name, the worst you can imagine. The timing couldn’t have been better, however. It made for a perfect contrast. Every one of the students in the room said ‘Yes’ to the Lordship of Christ.
Just found out one school had to postpone because Hillary was in town and the roads were closed.
Had a flare up of gout because of walking up and down four flights of stairs repeatedly at a school yesterday. Nearly had to stay in today. But God’s grace is sufficient. Today, I spoke twice in a gym, on the seventh floor. No elevator. After I preached, the assistant principal whispered to me, “This is the first of this type of assembly we’ve had. I noticed several Muslim students praying to Jesus!”
A group of Christian students gathered around me afterwards. “Are you an evangelist?” “Yes.” “We all want to be evangelists!” I encouraged them. They encouraged me.
I spoke in three churches. My recurring theme: REVIVAL. It was close.
Many young people professed faith in Christ.
Dan Grindstaff
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