Immanuel 29

MY FRIEND MALCOLM

Sometime during the second half of the decade in the sixties, the United Presbyterian Church launched a program called Partners in Obedience. The Program paired a minister of the United Presbyterian Church with a dynamic, progress-minded ministers of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. The Program emphasized sharing of experiences in church growth and development. The General Secretary of the UCCP strictly warned and advised the Filipino partners to avoid exploiting the UPC partner financially for personal advantage.

My U.S. partner was the pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Campaign, in Champaign, Illinois. His wife, Susie and daughters Mindy and Nancy made up his lovely family. I introduced my wife, Apolinaria and my six children, Eunice Lois, Mary Lois, Samuel Jonathan, Virginia Lois,Omar Jonatan,and Leila Lois. We exchanged family pictures and shared our hopes and dreams for each of them. I was already the Conference Moderator (Conference Minister) at the time. The Cotabato Annual Conference was the poorest Conference at that time. The Conference jurisdiction was the largest in the UCCP. The area was divided into North and South Cotabato by the Liguasan Marsh. Transportation to South Cotabato passed through the Liguasan Marsh. Most of the time during the rainy season it was very difficult and impossible to travel by land. One has to travel either by plane from Cotabato to Buayan, General Santos or by ships and coastal launches from Cotabato to Dadiangas, General Santos, a voyage of from three to five days along the sea coast.

Church congregations were far apart along the highways. It was farther apart in the interior. Houses and homes in each church were located on their farmstead. The farmers exist on “hand to mouth” living conditions, Farm to Market roads and trails discouraged farmers from planting for a big harvest. I described the conditions to Rev Malcolm Nygren I explained in our correspondences our program which included seed selection, poultry and swine raising, health and sanitation, literacy education and faith in God. Our pastors had to be the “Jack of all trades and be knowledgeable in some.” We had to assist farmers buy a carabao and farm implements.
We have to help cooperating farmers select hybrid seeds of corn or palay, buy pure breeds of poultry and swine. We had to buy Sunday School Lessons Quarterly. etc.

With subsidies from the Department of Stewardship and Evangelism of the UCCP and small amounts contribution from the Champaign Presbyterian Church we were able to assist deserving farmers earn additional income for their families and churches.

Rev Nygren sent a life size walking doll for our daughters. They named the doll Mindy after his eldest daughter. Through him we receive boxes of children’s dresses and books which we shared with children in need. The Cotabato Annual Conference was able to subsidize cost of farm animals to deserving farmers, improved poultry and swine raising, and increased production of farm products by using hybrid seeds,

I was given an opportunity to have a study scholarship at the Institute for Ecumenical Studies in Geneva, Switzerland in 1967. Dr Nygren remembered to extend financial aid to my family in Midsayap, Cotabato. By end of my study in Geneva, Dr Nygren invited me to visit the USA.in 1968. I was introduced to pastors and churches in Michigan, in Detroit, and Chicago and San Francisco and given a chance to interact with some of them.

When my term as Conference Moderator was over, I was assigned as a home Missionary among the highland tribes of Cotabato, Bukidnon and Davao and in cooperation with Brokenshire Memorial Hospital in Davao City trained some members to be “barefoot doctors.” Dr Nygren continued our partnership in obedience to the ministry of our Church.

On September 16, 1970 our youngest son was born. I wrote Dr Malcolm Nygren that we are going to name him Malcolm. He demurred at first but sent a silver cup to his namesake. Mal, I owe you much through your constancy in your obedience in partnership in the ministry of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be all the glory, p[raise, honor, and thanksgiving.

Before my term as Conference Moderator expired in 1974, I received a plaque of appreciation from the National Treasurer of the UCCP congratulating me for the progress of the Cotabato Annual Conference. It has grown and prospered from the poorest of the 30 Annual Conferences to number 3 in national giving to the General Assembly. I share this honor with my partner and friend, Dr Malcolm Nygren, pastor of the Champaign Presbyterian Church, Champaign, Illinois,U. S. A.