From the monthly archives:

May 2001

Shepherding the Flock

by Original Author on May 19, 2001

Originally posted by Elder Gus Harter

May Minister Conference at Iligan City

We rented a small resort named Maze Park and invited all our ministry and their wives to attend a three day session of preaching, praying and singing.

Elder Zack Guess from Memphis, Tennessee and Elder Thomas Mann from Roanoke, Virginia were our guest speakers, and we receive a extra bonus with the visitation of Brother Donnie Halbgewachs, Jr., a young minister from Cozad, Nebraska. I also requested our Elders to bring their wives Judy Guess and Hannah Mann to be an encouragement to the wives of the Filipino ministers. The meeting was a wonderful success. We had seventy-three ministers present from all over the Philippines. A schedule of the services is included at the close of this article.

We had two unwelcome interruptions to our meeting. One of the members of Eureka Church son’s was bitten by a rabid dog and needed immediate medical attention. They would not treat the child with out full payment in advance. We made up the funds to save the little boy’s life. I have not heard a final result but I pray all things are well. Another interruption was very personal. I was taken sick with kidney stones and missed the Friday morning session. The doctors think that the problem is passed, no pun intended, for which I am thankful.

Elder Guess and Mann were both blest with outstanding liberty. The subjects were areas of need for all of us and they were delivered with both insight and power. We also spent some quality time together. I requested Brother Donnie Halbgewachs, Jr. to share his experience in being train by his father in the ministry and his natural father Elder Donnie Halbgewachs, Sr.. It was of great profit to our young ministry.

I had invited several ministers yet united with our people that very close to the kingdom. A few of the minister requested baptism with several members of their family. On Friday night following our preaching service we used the swimming pool at the resort to baptize twelve new converts. It was well lighted and the weather was warm. It proved to be a spiritual service Elder Mann, Guess and I shared in baptizing. It was an excellent way to conclude a good day.

Another added ingredient to our meeting was the instruction given by the Filipino ministry. I am very encouraged by the caliber of men we have and their depth understanding of God’s Word. The meeting concluded all too soon but it proved to be a time of encouragement to all

Elder Gus Harter




SHEPHERDING THE FLOCK
National Ministers Conference
May 3, 4 and 5, 2001 Iligan City, Philippines


Schedule of Services


THURSDAY, MAY 3
Welcome Service: 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Introduction and Materials distribution 4:00 - 4:15 pm
Prayer and Song Service (Brother Donnie Halbgewachs, Jr.) 4:15 - 4:30 pm
Vision for the Philippines (Elder Gus Harter) 4:30 - 5:00 pm
Leadership in Pastoring (Elder Constancio Tejada) 5:00 - 5:30 pm

Supper Break- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - – - - - - – - – - -

Evening Service: 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Prayer and Songs (Edmund Linatan) 7:30 - 8:00 pm
Elements of Patoring (Elder Thomas Mann) 8:00 - 8:45 pm
Closet Life of a Pastor (Elder Zack Guess) 8:45 - 9:30 pm

FRIDAY, MAY 4
Morning Service: 8:00 am – 12:00 noon

Song and Prayer (Elder Warlito Yator) 8:00 - 8:15 am
Elder Rollie de Guzman 8:15 - 8:45 am
Elder Manolo Dalman 8:45 - 9:15 am

Break (15 minutes) – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - - – - – - – - – - – - -

Family and Worship (Elder Zack Guess) 9:30 - 10:15 am
Role of a Pastor’s Wife (Elder Thomas Mann) 10:15 - 11:30 am
Question Period

Lunch Break (1 Hour) – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - – - – - – - -

Afternoon Service: 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Working with a Father in the Ministry
(Brother Donnie Halbgewachs, Jr.) 1:00 - 1:15 pm
Prayer and Song Service (Elder Leo Ramirez) 1:15 - 1:45 pm
Church Authority (Elder Zack Guess) 1:45 - 2:30 pm

Break (15 minutes) – - – - – - – - – - – – - – - – - – - – - – - - – - – - - – - – - - -

Ladies will meet at Reception Area to fellowship with our visitors.
Men will meet for open discussion and Baptism if desired.
Supper Break – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - - 5:00 - 6:00 pm

continued next page…

Evening Service: 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Prayer and Song (Elder Resty Dalman) 6:00 - 6:15 pm
Planting a Church, A Pioneering Work
(Elder Junio Tabanyag) 6:15 - 6:45 pm
Brother Ronnie Cabaobao 6:45 - 7:15 pm

Break (15 minutes)

Being An Example to the Flock (Elder Thomas Mann) 7:30 - 8:45 pm
The Benefit of not using
Musical Instruments (Elder Zack Guess) 8:45 - 9:30 pm
Questions 9:30 - 10:00 pm

SATURDAY, MAY 5
Morning Service: 8:00 am – 12:00 noon

Prayer and Song (Elder Donnie Halbgewachs) 8:00 - 8:30 am
Elder Jovencio Bael 8:30 - 9:00 am
How to Develop Sermon Subjects (Elder Zack Guess) 9:00 - 9:45 am

Break (15 minutes)

Expository Preaching (Elder Thomas Mann) 10:00 - 10:45 am
Conclusion (Elder Gus Harter) 10:45 - 11:30 am
Ministers Conference in Iligan City

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Constitution of Providence Primitive Baptist Church, Davao City

by Original Author on May 19, 2001

Originally posted by Elder Gus Harter
For sometime now I have consider and prayed about starting a church in Davao City. Because of Traveling so extensively through out the islands my first inclination was to just help all the churches and not pastor any church. But because of the following reasons I finally received the consent of mind that it is in the best interest of the cause at large was to build a church with the evangelical work in other parts of the Philippines. my reasons are as follows:

1.) My large family needed to be part of a local church with both the privileges and responsibility. If I were to be blessed of God to begin hundreds of churches all over the Philippines and lose my family, my labor here would not be a success. This is my number one reason to have a church in my home.

2.) The second reason for starting a church was to give authority to the evangelical work the Lord is abundantly blessing. In the future, if not working under the direct authority of another church, each person I baptize will become a member of Providence Church until such time as they constitute a church in their area. I will be their pastor and will have the authority and privileged of watching over their souls. This is a needed addition to our evangelism.

3.) Another reason for starting a church was that for the past 40 years my lot in life was the care of a flock. I miss the weekly joy of preaching to a people that are my responsibility and the watching over their souls. I miss the burden for my own personal growth in spiritual things.

4.) Lastly, I want to do what I am encouraging all our churches to do. The Lord willing I want to build a congregation and a building to house them without the financial aid of churches in America.

We met in our house Tuesday night May 8, 2001 for the purpose of constituting Providence Primitive Baptist Church. We met in our living room with wall-to-wall people. The ministers present formed themselves into a presbytery including; Elder Zack Guess, Thomas Mann, Manolo Dalman, Raul Cabuyao, John Cedonio, Antonio Maglinte, Rollie de Guzman and Gus Harter. Elder Harter was elected moderator and Eldr John Cedonio was appointed as clerk. Elder Guss and Mann were selected to deliver the charge to the church. The constitution proceeded with reading the Articles of Faith, Rules of Order and the Church Covenant. Elder Rollie de Guzman was questioned as the spokesman for the church and Presbytery found all things in proper order. Elder Guess and Mann delivered a challenging charge to the church. The service concluded with all the charter members signing the church covenant. This was the most moving part of the service.

After the Presbytery finished their work Providence Church called Elder Gus Harter as Pastor and John Bardenas as church clerk. They chose Providence as their name. They concluded by giving Letters Of Authority to both Elder Harter and Elder de Guzman to baptize and constitute churches. Please pray for the future of this new church.


Elder Gus Harter

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On Traveling to the Philippines by Hannah Mann

May 18, 2001

Originally posted by Hannah MannImagine my great delight and surprise the night of January 29th when Bro. Gus first invited us to the Philippines. Thomas and I were in the middle of entertaining company over dinner. When I answered the phone, I did not recognize Bro. Gus’ voice and politely asked if I could take [...]

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The Blessings of God

May 16, 2001

Originally posted by Betty Jo HarterMy heart is overflowing this day with the magnitude of Gods mercy and grace in our lives, all our lives. It seems more noticeable since arriving here in the Philippines last September. It seems like such a long time ago that we arrived here and experienced the physical changes in [...]

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Reflections on Our Visit to the Philippines by: Judy Guess

May 15, 2001

Originally posted by Judy GuessHow thankful I am to have had the blessing of visiting the Harter’s in the Philippines and many of our Primitive Baptist Filipino brothers and sisters this May! I struggled with whether I should accompany my husband on this long journey and leave my family for nearly two weeks, but after [...]

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Our Trip to the Philippines, by Elder Zack Guess

May 14, 2001

Originally posted by Elder Zack Guess In the last part of January Elder Gus Harter called me and asked if I could come to the Philippines and help him. He said that the gospel was spreading throughout the islands and that many ministers were being converted to the truth as preached by Primitive Baptists and [...]

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Letter for WUH by Elder Thomas Mann after his visit to the Philippines

May 9, 2001

Originally posted by Elder Thomas Mann Some time in the fall of last year, my wife and I began to feel burdened to pray about the possibility of becoming more involved in an overseas outreach work. The burden rested on us both—independently—and we told no one. When Elder Gus Harter called on January 29th of [...]

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