O how time flies! It seems that January 2004 has just arrived and yet another year comes for us. But for the Visayan churches, this year is truly a remarkable year.

The year 2004 started with a highlight when two of our ministers from the U.S. visited Tacloban, Leyte. Friday, January 30, Mr. Joel Meeker (a council member) and Mr. David Baker (the senior pastor for the Philippine churches), arrived in Tacloban, Leyte. The following day, we had combined Sabbath services in Leyte Park Hotel. Brethren from Sabang, Baybay, and Isabel came for the services. While we expected a maximum of 60 people to be present, our attendance swelled to 80 people during that Sabbath.

While in Leyte, Mr. Meeker and Mr. Baker toured the city and visited the site where General Douglas MacArthur and his party landed to fulfill his promise to return and liberate the Philippines. Mr. Meeker did some videotaping of the landmarks and he interviewed the local leaders for the 2004 Festival video. Mr. Peter Eddington and Mr. Baker followed up this visit a few months before the Feast. Both went to Bacolod to videotape some areas of the city and to interview some of the members and youths in the congregation for the Festival video also.

This year’s Feast was the best one in many years so far. We appreciated the presence of the Roemers and the encouraging messages that Mr. Roemer gave during the Feast. Our highest attendance was 130, with several guests coming from different places of the world. And there was no doubt that it was a very uplifting moment for all of us who came for the Feast. A member from Sabah described how she was able to attend the Feast in Iloilo. She said she came to the Philippines with a few Malaysian dollars in her wallet, just enough to pay for her transportation from Sabah to Iloilo, but she was very determined to come and she had strong faith that God would help her obey His command to keep the Feast.

Comments from our visitors and guests were all positive and encouraging. They found out that despite the financial difficulties of the brethren, they witnessed their determination and willingness to go forward to realize their goal, which is the kingdom of God. One of our guests stated on e-mail sent after the Feast, “I have long desired to understand what true faith really is. I found it from the example of our brethren in Iloilo.” The Feast was truly a very enriching part of the year.

For the whole year of 2004, we had eight people baptized and added to the household of God. We also had a continuous increase in attendance, particularly in Leyte. And we are looking forward to the year 2005 for more positive growth for the Work of God’s Church in the Philippines, as well as in other international areas, with the help of the Church leadership in Cincinnati. We thank God for all these blessings to all of us.