Record numbers for Cubao Conference
When missionary Brian Ellis and the church at Cubao considered what they could best do to encourage clear gospel preaching in the Philippines, they decided to start a conference for pastors. The conference quickly grew, helped by the generous support of Christian publishers in supplying books.
This year’s conference saw record numbers registering and more than 270 men travelling to Cubao from all over the Philippines to enjoy three full days of preaching and teaching.
Many of these men needed help with their travelling expenses and simply slept on the floor of church buildings, which are being refurbished, in the adjoining lot. Registration fees were held to a minimum and food supplied by the Cubao church. Volunteers from the congregation did a magnificent job in providing this.
The conference speakers were Don Lindblad, a Reformed Baptist pastor from Seattle, who gave three papers on ‘The importance of preaching’; Noel Espinosa of Grace Ministerial Academy, who spoke powerfully on ‘The Sabbath’; Ian Densham from the UK, who gave two stimulating papers on ‘Preaching from the Old Testament’; and John McDonald of Grace Baptist Mission, who spoke twice on ‘Ezekiel and the call to the ministry’ and once on ‘John Bunyan and prayer’.
Many expressed their sense of encouragement and challenge from the ministry they had received; and a great deal of good was accomplished in the fellowship and conversation times. Many good books were distributed, thanks to the kindness of Banner of Truth Trust, Evangelical Press and others. The organisers felt this was the best conference yet.
The prayer of the church at Cubao is that, as a result of these conferences, the pure gospel of the grace of God will be proclaimed powerfully in pulpits across the Philippines.
John T. McDonald
