My dear readers,

1. “Forty Years On”

In 1970 Calvary BP Church was only a dream, a vision in the “mind’s eye.”  The members of our “Calvary Committee” came together, persuaded of the worthy cause, to build a church committed to the “Great Commission, and Biblical Separation.”  The latter seemed easy at first sight, but it was not so in practice.  Only “time will tell” –  the day will reveal it.  As the Chinese proverb goes: Long distance proves horse’s strength.  Long association reveals a person’s heart (路遥知马力，事久见人心). 
Forty years later, time took its toll, as the proverb foretold.  “Biblical Separation” proved too hard a pill for some to swallow.  Calvary Committee was not exactly their “cup of tea.”  Some were “fair weather” separatists, some false brethren with another agenda.  As time passed their true colours were exposed. 
Today, some of our original members who had left the Committee long years ago are just drifting along with no apparent goal in life.  
Then I recall the old “Harrow Football Song” which we used to sing in school (ACS): 
“Forty years on when afar and asunder,
Parted are those who are singing today;
When we look back and forgetfully wonder,
What we were like at our work and play.” 
Yes, time is a separator of friends and family:  it is no respecter of persons.  Time brings change:  we are here today, gone tomorrow.  Only Jesus our Lord changes not, nor does He leave us.  As the verse in Hebrews says: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).  Be loyal and steadfast in following Him, never wavering. 

2. Missions to the Philippines

On March 25, our party of four will leave for the Philippines on a 5-day “Gospel mission.”  Travelling with me are: 1) Preacher Lek Aik Wee, 2) Dr and Mrs Colin Tey. We shall be visiting the “Center for Biblical Studies, Hilltop, Antipolo Rizal” (near Manila) March 26, and Bicol (near Legaspi City, some 520 km to the south of Manila) March 27 and 28.  All of us will be speaking, each having been assigned one or more topics.  I shall be speaking on the following topics: 
a. Will our Sons Defend the Faith?
b. Many Bibles today.  Which?
c. Faith Missions in Perilous Times
d. Onward Christian Soldiers (to an Army group)
e. The Lord is Coming.  Be ye also Ready. 
Preacher Lek will speak on “Moses Forsook Egypt.”  Dr Colin Tey:  “Faith Sustained Me” and Mrs Tey will testify of her faith to the ladies. 

3. CBS at Hilltop is Pandan’s biggest “Missions Outreach”

Dear reader, did you know that the Philippines is Pandan’s Number One Missions Field?  We have been “sowing liberally” for about forty years on Filipino soil, and our most extensive Gospel investment is at Hilltop, Antipolo with the “Center for Biblical Studies” founded by the Eberts (Rev Dan Ebert III and sons Dan IV and Bill).  CBS was officially inaugurated in 1993, some 17 years ago.  But our support of the work goes back many years before then, a most thrilling and challenging missions story!  What struck me and moved my heart was this:  the Ebert family had left America and home for the most primitive and undeveloped island of Palawan (with no modern amenities, e.g: electricity, piped water, sanitation, motor roads, doctors or hospitals). Rev Dan Ebert III was led of the Spirit to evangelise the Palawano natives, learn their language, create a Romanised script, and translate the New Testament into the newly invented written Palawano language, and preach the Gospel to “Stone Age” natives!  (Natives who wore only a loin cloth and nothing else, who laughed in wonderment when they saw the shoes worn by the Ebert family!) 
The Eberts have been in this missions field since 1955 (55 long years)!  Today Rev Dan Ebert III, the father, is retired in America, due to ill health with elder son Dan IV who teaches in a Christian college.  Rev Bill Ebert continues as overall Director of the Hilltop Center for Biblical Studies, a 5-acre campus on a hilltop some 15 km from Manila City. 
Their student body numbers (from memory) 60 – 70 students with an alumni body of over 200. 
Some four years ago, the Principal of CBS, Pastor Lubaton, was stricken with a mysterious near-fatal infection of the pancreas.  Pandan’s timely and vigorous “first aid” snatched Pastor Lubaton “out of the jaws of death.”  Today he is the one in charge of day-to-day affairs at Hilltop.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow! 

4. Emmanuel Christian Church, Bicol

Pastor Dignadice’s association with Pandan goes back almost forty years:  we supported the building of “Emmanuel Christian Church” in Bicol.  Today it has a congregation of 150.  The building lies in the path of typhoons and the volcano Mayon.  From time to time, we have rescued the church members from the destructive effects of typhoons, volcanic eruptions, and floods. 
Pastor Dignadice ministers to his congregation, and conducts extensive evangelism among the Police Force, Army and Air Force, conducting five or six Bible classes each week.  His grown up children, two daughters and a son, co-labour with their father in the ministry (all graduates of CBS, Hilltop). 
Pastor Dignadice is 75 years old.  His 1981 Ford vehicle is broken and beyond repair.  A 2006/7 second-hand replacement vehicle will cost over US$12,000.  Calvary Pandan’s Board of Elders are sending by my hand a “34th Anniversary gift” – to encourage the Church, founded in 1976. 
I appeal to readers: let us help Emmanuel Christian Church buy a replacement vehicle (costing US$12,000).  Your gifts will be changed to US dollars for our team to carry when we leave on 25 March.  After that we will help them build their staff quarters. 
God bless all cheerful givers.  Please pray and give.  (Please mark each gift clearly:  “For Pastor Dignadice CAR FUND”). 

Faithfully in the Lord,
Dr SH Tow