A letter from Mary Nebelsick in the U.S., on Interpretation Assignment from the Philippines
Early Fall 2014 - One in Faith and Mission
Where two or three are gathered in my name, I will be there.
Dear Friends,
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First Presbyterian Church, Ponca City
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After visiting Rich Hill, Missouri, we continued our westward journey to Ponca City, Oklahoma. The terrain of Oklahoma inspired my imagination with visions of horseback-riding ranchers and dedicated oilmen. We travelled on the famous Route 66 that inspired both the Song “Route 66” sung by Nat King Cole and the Phillips 66 Oil Company name and logo. When we arrived in Ponca City we experienced the Oklahoma wind firsthand. It rushed down the streets and recalled the rushing wind of Pentecost that heralded the coming of the Holy Spirit to the faithful disciples.
This faithfulness to God’s mission was evident in First Presbyterian Church, Ponca City. The Mission Committee was dedicated to the mission of the Presbyterian Church both in their hometown and abroad. During our meeting with the Mission Committee we spoke about the miracles that we had seen as a result of faith in Jesus Christ. One of these miracles directly reflects the miracle of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost that allows people of all languages to worship together in spite of language barriers. The language of God’s love transcends every barrier.
Several years ago one of our students, Pastor Berlin Guerrero, was abducted, tortured and jailed. He had worked with a lawyers group that advocated for the rights of the poor. This social action work put him in conflict with some politicians who resented his work. Now he was the one in desperate need of support. Instead of succumbing to despair and hopelessness, he began a prison ministry and invited us to become a part of it. Every Sunday Paul and I went to the prison. First we cooked a steaming pot of rice for everyone to share and added chicken, noodles, coffee and rolls. We brought small packets of shampoo, soap and tissues so that everyone would receive a small gift.
The most important part of our visit, however, was the worship service when we worshipped with the prisoners under the tin roof of the visitors’ shed. It did not matter that we came from different countries, spoke different languages, and perhaps did not understand every single word that was spoken or sung. What mattered was that we were all gathered together in God’s name, that we proclaimed the risen Christ together and that we relied on the Holy Spirit together to mold us into the body of Christ. During the worship service we lifted up members of the congregation who needed God’s special care. We prayed for each other fervently. Many prisoners had no one to visit them. They had been forgotten by their families and were utterly alone. Other prisoners were being abused within the prison walls and had no one to stand up for them. They were at the mercy of the prison guards and the brutal prison hierarchy. Still others suffered from skin and eye diseases and had no way to get any kinds of medicine. We did what we could to help, but most of all we prayed. This in itself was the miracle of Pentecost: the miracle of a community that comes together in prayer. Other miracles of health and healing grew out of this initial miracle and they continue to occur today. After a year and a half in jail Pastor Berlin was released with the admission that he had been detained illegally. His future seemed secure, but those in jail had lost a pastor, mentor and friend.
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Palm Sunday—Mary and jail choir
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Pastor Berlin in jail with a child who was staying in jail with his father
This same prayerful care for the people of God by the people of God was evident at First Presbyterian Church, Ponca City. During the worship service the names of the members in the congregation who needed special care were lifted up with praise and thanksgiving for their lives serving God’s people. Paul’s sermon, highlighting the way mission is the lifeblood of the church and our mission in the Philippines, was echoed in the prayers and hymns offered up by the congregation to God.
During the fellowship dinner following the worship service Paul received a special gift. After delicious salads had been served, the Worship Committee brought out a beautiful birthday cake. The sweet cake was a delightful reminder that we all celebrate our birthdays within the walls of the worldwide church. Our birthdays as a Church began on that Pentecost day so long ago. Through the Holy Spirit we are united with each other, past, present and future, with Jesus Christ our Lord.
Please continue to pray for us and for our brothers and sisters in the Philippines, especially those who are in jail. Please pray for Pastor Berlin, who is in sanctuary in Australia, and for his family, who continue to live in the Philippines with the scars of his incarceration. Please pray that those in jail will be surrounded and supported by their loved ones and have speedy trials. If they are incarcerated without cause, please pray that they are released speedily and can find the courage to live life outside the walls of the jail. We invite you to join us in our ministry through financial commitment, prayers and correspondence. Thank you again for your prayers and support as we walk together, hand in hand, in support of all those who have been forgotten by the world.
In Christ,
Mary and Paul
The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 238
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