From the Heart of Eric Fung

The Pulpit God used!        

On the 7th November 2013 Pastor Rolly and Joy Bascos heard over the radio and on the streets that a Typhoon was approaching the area and evacuation centres had been set up.  The sky looked dark and ominous but Rolly and Joy having been through many storms in the last few years living there decided to remain at home. But this time things were different. Heavy rain and strong winds started at 11pm and as the storm was raging outside it began to gain momentum and they could feel the ferocity of the wind. By then the typhoon had hit land and by 2am their house was torn apart and the concrete walls collapsed. Rolly, his wife Joy, their two children, his niece and older brother who were in the house rushed out and decided to take cover in the church only to find that here too the walls of the church had also collapsed and the roof and windows were blown off. All that was left standing was the pulpit, a wooden box three and half feet wide, four feet in height and two and half feet in depth. Fearing for their lives the six of them squeezed in this confined space and stayed there for seven long hours while the storm raged around them. They started to sing the song ‘You are my Hiding Place” and kept on singing and praying till the fear left them and they felt the presence of the Holy Spirit with them. They felt a deep trust in the Lord and knew they were safe and secure in God’s loving embrace. When the storm had abated they crawled out of the pulpit and saw the devastation around them. Looking at that pulpit now and seeing that is was just not possible for 6 people to hide there, they know that it was the Lord who made it possible, for nothing is impossible with Him.

At the beginning of this year, while I was praying, God impressed on my heart to reach out and help his children affected by the typhoon, so on the 12th March I landed in Tacloban city Airport or what was left of it (the area worst hit by Haiyan). The airport building had not been spared and as I walked into this rubble to collect my bags I already began to see the havoc Haiyan had caused. I was met by a local pastor and as we drove through the town I saw so many buildings destroyed or completely flattened. Thousands of trees knocked over and cars and metal piled up. Two huge ships were washed onto the road.  Journalist described the devastation as “off the scale and massive”. The official reports say approximately 5,000 over people died but according to the local people I was told 50,000 had perished and this includes the thousands that are still missing. Little children and adults just washed away without a trace. Up till today many families are still searching for their loved ones.

The Lord has showed me so much during the trip and has impressed upon me to evaluate how the Pastors’ in spite of their personal loss of lives of loved ones, home and belongings they have remained focus, pouring their lives into ministering, restoring and rebuilding the lives of those affected. I saw many churches with roofs blown off and some completely destroyed. Some were able to receive assistance and have started rebuilding but quite a few are just praying and remain hopeful. May God use us to answer their prayers.

The Word of the Lord that came to me on this trip was “They (Pastors) rebuild the lives of the victims and we are to rebuild their church.”

I was taken to 10 places covering m

any hours of travelling which was physically exhausting and so emotionally draining as I listened to the pastors and their members telling me about the loss of their loves ones, homes, paddy fields and coconut plantations. I have identified several churches that are truly worthy of assistance but Ps Roly and Joy’s church in particular, I have by faith committed to help. The entire church and parsonage was totally destroyed and they and their two children now live in the ruins of the church with a plastic sheet covering the roof and pieces of wood to act as temporary walls, giving them some measure of privacy. Here on Sunday, the congregation gather for worship. But their faith is strong and they firmly believe that the God who had His arms around during the storm and kept them safe will help them to rebuild their church and their lives.

I am confident being ‘your eyes and ears’ on this trip for what God has shown me, you will partner with me to allow God to use us to answer these pastors’ prayers. Please join us to rebuild these churches.

Prov 19:17 "He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done"