Please allow me to inject details about special good that has already come from the accident.
I had never heard my sister and brother-in- law who live in Ca. express a desire to pray until I talked with them the past few days. My prayer for them is that this will be the time they will draw close to God. Also one of the young police man changed from religion to relationship with Jesus.
Below is only one of many expressions of support coming from the Rock Church in Co.
Pastor Al,
hey this is Joshua. I was praying for Papa Dan and was thinking about his circumstance and out of the blue I was given an image of Paul in prison and heard "Like Paul" and was reminded of Acts 16:25-34 where Paul was in prison and him and his prison mate where singing hymns and worshiping God and an earthquake happened and they were released from their bonds and one of the guards witnessed what happened and was saved. And that most of Paul's ministry was while he was in bondage, writing to the churches in Rome and Jerusalem. So I know that God will provide the necessary funds for him to provide for that families loss and his bail but that through his circumstance not only will his faith and singing of hymns free him from his bonds but his faith will brings others who hear him to know Christ. I am also reminded of a vision I had awhile back of this bronze statue of Christ, several stories tall in the middle of the city, sitting on a pedestal with lights shining on it and there was a plaque mounted on the base that was also in bronze and said "Lead the Rebels to Glory." I pray that this may lift Papa Dan's spirits, if you can somehow get this to him, if it is something God would like. I am just trying to be faithful with what I hear or see.
Jokingly I told many people in the police station; Paul did not have wi-fi and a clean office to sleep in, neither did he have the guards desire to fetch food and drinks for him. The first outpouring of love came through the 10 or twelve police I lived with for four days. My prayer is that the many seed I planted will get watered.
TO HIM BE THE GLORY PART 3
I will not include all the emails, texts and phone calls that were poured out to us, they are too numerous.
My first desire was to contact my Pastors, Glen and Helen Richards, they are such a part of our lives and always have given us love, even when they were bringing correction to Barbra and I. I needed to hear their voice and knew the power of their prayers so Father provided a small miracle. My pastor does not like computers except to use for ministering. It was Friday here and Thursday in the USA, the church meets on Thursday so when I got on Skype, low and behold, his computer was on line. Not only did they express their love in words they also made a commitment to help get me out of jail.
Pastor George who was traveling with us began to text all our leaders for their prayer support. The word of our situation spread quickly, and another one of our leaders who was ministering with us in Bohol and was on his way home in Mindanao, called and wanted to come where I was. Later in another phone conversation he told me, if he would have still been with us, he would take my place in jail.
I am an executive board member of another church in Arizona and saw that Pastor Jim Richards was also on line and I contacted him. I was still crying as I told him what had happened, I could feel the love and concern in his words to me. They brought comfort to my heart and peace to my Spirit. Oh it was not the volume of words that he spoke it was the compassion I felt and heard from his heart.
Another Pastor who respects me as a Spiritual Father was also on line. Because of the poor connection our video would not work so we chatted back and forth. In one of our communications he expressed that he just wanted to hug me, wow I needed a few of them. He and a team will be here in April to minister with us, he said I will give you a hug then.
My former Pastor George Rohrig was also on line, a video picture of him and his new bride appeared. At that point my mind was not on the fact he had just married for the fourth time. His former wives had all passed away. We lost connection quickly, but he heard enough to know I needed his prayer support. We emailed later and he responded with love and support.
Another Pastora Jane Mello who I ministered with just before returning to the Philippines was also on line. Like me and all the others she was shocked to hear the news. Her and Steve have become dear friends with Barbra and I. She also lifted me up as she spoke, it was again the love and concern that came through the computer to me, just as the many before her.
The flood gates opened and poured out expressions of love and concern from thousands of people here in the Philippines and the United States. Somewhere in your mind you are aware that people love you, never was I made more aware of the magnitude of those people until now.
One of our sons in the faith called me. We were just entering Dumaguete after being set free. He said dad I want you to know we took up an offering from our churches in Bohol and Mindanao and we are sending to you. Sorry, I began crying again as I was overcome by their sacrifice of love. Also he said their two children had cried and prayed for us the whole night before. WOW!!!
On Sunday morning I received a text from a Pastor in Cantillan Mindanao, he had not been made aware of our situation. His text read "dad are you alright, how are you". I thought , he does not know yet. I did not want him to know so I text back, I am fine. He said where are you? I replied in Cebu. I had some things that brought a smile to my face while there in custody, one was I thought when I get out of jail I will send a text which will read. I'm Free, I'm Free Thank God almighty I'm free. Well I did and when I sent it out I included Pastor Benny. He text back; yes of course we are free where are you what you mean? I had to call him to explain. he said oh dad why didn't you tell me I would have come there. His place is several hundred miles away from where I was. Now you know why I didn't tell him, I knew his heart and that he would do that.
Praise God for so many others I did not mention who have shown their love and support and have sent or are sending money. Father has met our need and we will travel back to Argao Cebu for a eleven o-clock court hearing.
We will take with us the final payment and believe Father will cause the judge to give us favor. Even the family of the young man will stand with us before the judge asking for lenience to issue a waver of all responsibility and dismiss the case. The offering of love will allow us to give back the money that Brother Gary let us use.
Calls began to come back from the US telling us they were raising money to help us. My Pastor contacted many of the churches we minister to when in the US. He called me to tell me that he spoke with a couple from Hawaii who minister here quite often were joining with them to send money.
Barbra and I want to thank all of you so very much. Our prayer is that Father will pour back to you more than you gave.
I personally want to express my love and thankfulness first to our God. Next I want to thank Father for my faithful bride of fifty years for her sacrifice of the past almost 16 years to serve by my side here in the Philippines. She held me and gave me words of comfort as the shock wore off, and what had happened sunk in. Faithfully she sat with me all day each day and prayed for and with me. I am truly blessed by her!!
