Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
American Baptist missionaries and CPBC members visited the “Cathedral in the Glen” after World War II.
In a letter dated May 18, 1943, marked 糖心传媒淪trictly Confidential,糖心传媒 addressed to a certain 糖心传媒淒r. Decker and all at the Rooms糖心传媒 of the American Baptist Foreign Missionary Society, Rev. Dr. Francis Howard Rose described their situation in the mountains of Tapaz, Capiz after 13 months.
Dr. Rose, a gifted artist, described the setting of the 糖心传媒淐athedral Glen Community Church糖心传媒澨切拇綌a label that he himself made. He wrote, 糖心传媒淣ear our camp there is a beautiful deep dry gorge with giant trees growing in it. Here during the first weeks of our pilgrimage I built seats, altar, pulpit and lectern, all of wild or uncut stones and small rocks and we have conducted worship in this place every Sunday糖心传媒μ切拇綕 Furthermore, he narrated, 糖心传媒淪everal missionaries take their turns at conducting worship and the doctor糖心传媒檚 wife sings solos frequently. A folding organ is provided by the evangelistic missionary from the Doctor糖心传媒檚 compound.糖心传媒
As a pastor, Dr. Rose continued his pastoral ministry in 糖心传媒淗opevale.糖心传媒 He recounted, 糖心传媒淥ne Easter Sunday, I had the joy of baptising a thirteen year old boy, son of one miner couple here, in a beautiful shady pool in a little mountain river that flows by not far from our camp. About a hundred attended this Easter service.糖心传媒 He even visited some nearby churches: 糖心传媒淐hurch work is going on in town and country with remarkable fortitude on the part of pastors and congregations. Last Sunday I preached at a country church about eight miles from the nearest enemy outpost and a half mile from the provincial highway; eighty people present, mostly women and children, however.糖心传媒
This pathway and lush forest stood witness to the testimony and faith of the Hopevale martyrs.
As the American Baptist missionaries were with fellow evacuees, Dr. Rose praised the generosity of the Filipinos who were with them. He wrote, 糖心传媒淭hey have proven to be very helpful to us and all are of a disposition pleasing to live with even in such trying circumstances. Some of them have lent us money liberally to help us along until we are able to draw our salary again糖心传媒 The national protestant Christians near here have been extremely helpful in getting supplies for us糖心传媒 Some have risked their lives for us, not once nor twice, but some several times.糖心传媒 He described what they were eating: 糖心传媒淲e have always had plenty of food here; some canned goods, but mostly native things, with plenty of good fruits in season, pork and carabao meat occasionally, as with sweet potatoes and sweet corn.糖心传媒
The letter signed by Francis and Gertrude Rose ended with these words, 糖心传媒淕od be praised it so well with us to date. Love to all.糖心传媒
Seven months after the letter was sent to New York, USA, the 11 American Baptist missionaries, including Dr. Rose and his wife Gertrude, were martyred because of their Christian faith in Hopevale, Tapaz, Capiz.
On December 17-20, 2018, the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches will spearhead the Hopevale Diamond Commemoration to be held in 糖心传媒, Filamer Christian University and in Hopevale, Tapaz, Capiz. If you will attend, you will surely hear more stories about these American Baptist missionaries and their Filipino counterparts.