Times Past Interwoven with Current Events

Pastor Marcos “Bong” Manalang used a bolo (machete) to murder his grandfather and two young relatives as a teenager. He was tried and incarcerated in the adult maximum prison just south of Manila. There he came to know Jesus Christ as his Redeemer and Savior. He went on to complete high school, earn a BA in Business Administration, and complete seminary. He also met a Christian woman who became his wife and the mother of his children.

As Pastor Bong was nearing release, he learned that a prison church in a large prison on another island needed a pastor and applied to be transferred there. There he was given a simple house to live in and his children were able to live with their daddy for the first time within the prison gates. He had a small plot of land to farm. He had to report for roll call daily at 4 PM or he would loose the “freedom”.

Several years ago Patty and I went to the long slender island on the west side of the Philippines to hold Life Discipleship training for pastors there. Pastors came from both ends of this island, some traveling over many rivers with less-than-desirable bridges (or none at all) as this island still has many very remote tribal areas.

After the three days of teaching was completed, one of the pastors brought us to see various ministry and tourist sites in his military-style jeep. Our first stop was the large national prison where one of the attending pastors was working with the evangelical church. It was with sheer joy that we stopped at the little church. The prisoners themselves were paying for its construction with their tithes from the meager, meager earnings making handicraft items.

We met the prisoner-pastor and were blessed by his love for his fellow-prisoners. However, he was limping on a very discolored and swollen foot. Infection was inching its way up his leg. He had been working fish traps in the river and a “mud-fish” had bitten his foot. Pastor had gone to the prison doctor and been given antibiotics for five days. Now the infection was raging again. The prison would not give him any more medicine. Patty and I were able to purchase appropriate antibiotics for this dear man.

It is interesting how the Lord works. Pastor Bong was released from prison and returned to the prison compound where he spent so many years to pastor a church. He learned about Life Discipleship classes in our home. He was one of two former prisoners to be accepted into the classes that began last October.

When the Friday group convened its weekly session on April 3, 2009, Pastor Joel announced that Pastor Marcos Manalang became seriously ill Thursday evening and was in critical condition in the hospital. Saturday evening I received a text message from Pastor Joel that Pastor Bong had passed away.

Pastor Bong had completed all course requirements by Friday, March 27, his last day of attendance. He was among the most faithful in attending the sessions, was active in dynamic group discussions, and submitted his homework requirements. Upon visiting his family on Sunday afternoon, April the 12th, his wife told me that her husband showed her often, from the Scriptures, what dying to self really means. Who knows what we’ll discover about this dear brother in Christ and how his life impacted others when we all meet together in heaven.