JAHTTARY AND FEBRTJAEY, 1973, NEWS LETTER EROM CHARLES AND ROBERTA SELBY

* Philippine Mission Chiirches of Christ, P. 0. Box 49, Aparri, Oagayan, Philippines A-305
Forwarding Agent: Mrs, R, L. Tolliver, Fairfield, Nebraska 68938
f Dear Brethren in Chilst:
1972, in many ways, was the most sncoessfnl and perhaps the most eventful year of all
those which we have spent in the Philippines. In June we completed 25 years in the work
here. The Aparri Bible Seminary completed its 20th year in March, During these years we
have seen many youiig men and women go from the Seminary into various fields of service.
Besides the many who are laboring for Christ in every phase of our work here in the Cagay-
^ Valley, two are the only Church of Christ Chaplains in the Philippine Armed Forces, one
is the full-time minister of a Church in Hawaii and another is living in Hawaii and works
faithfiilly with her husband in another Church there.
APARRI BIBLE SEMINARY had its largest enrollment in its history with II6 enrolled at
the beginning of the first semester. As usual, several were forced to drop out for one
reason or another and we ended up with 89. On March 9"th our 19th commencement exercises
were held with four young men receiving degrees and diplomas and three young women receiv
ing two and three year Certificates in Christian Education. Bro, Dennis MoKinney was
commencement speaker. The school year was not without its problems and disappointments,
but it was a very good year,
THE EVANGELISTIC WORK is the real bright'spot of our work. It can truthfully be said
that every phase of our work is, in one sense, evangelistic, since all of it is aimed at
winning souls. In I97I there were 392 souls baptized into Christ. In 1972 there were 766
reported baptisms, almost double the 1971 total. In Jan, and Feb. this year there have
been 111 souls won to Christ compared with 66 during the same period last year. Right now
four teams are engaged in evangelistic meetings. Two of them are at the high schools this
week for the second semester "week of evangelism". We are praying for a great ingathering
of souls. The four evangelistic teams have heavy schedules until the end of May, Two of
the teams have basketball teams with them. They will be using basketball games to draw
crowds each afternoon and then they will preach, sing and distribute tracts d'uring half-
time, The basketball teams and singing groups are made up of students and faculty of
Ap^i Bible Seminary plus Bro, Dennis Hall, an intern from Ozark Bible College, Having
this many teams out all summer is going to increase our expenses considerably. At least
three jeeps and 25 men will be involved. Travel expenses will be high. Each of the teams
has been equipped with a P.A. system and a small generator for lights. It is nossible
that this effort will cost at least $100.00 a week over and above our regular expenses
which are already very high. Your special help and prayers during these three months of
special evangelistic effort will be most appreciated.
- -- THE--CHRISTIAN^HIGH SCHOOLS continue to offer tremendoios evangelistxo opportunities.
More than ninety young people have been won to Christ there so far this school year and we
are prasring that many more will be won this week. Parents are being reached also and I
believe that some new Churches will soon come into existence as a direct result of the
work at these tv/o schools. Since the imposition of martial law the peace and order sit
uation has improved greatly. It is possible that the families of students at San Guiller-
mo vfill soon be able to return to their homes from which they were evacuated a few months
ago by the Army. The political situation here is more stable than it has been for a long
time and we have great hopes for the future in this regard,
THE RADIO WOPJC is making a great contribution to our over-all evangelistic effort.
On January 1st a daily program (except Sunday) was begun over station DZNC, Cauayan, Isa-
bela. After martial lav began, the government cracked down on the amount of advertising
these stations can do which has resulted in prices being more than doubled for broadcast
time, 26 - 15-minute programs each month cost about $100,00, V/e hope to be able to get
on another station soon. Pray with us about this, I'^any people are listening to the pro
gram and from comments we have heard they appreciate it very much. Our radio preacher is
Virgilio Danao, a graduate of Aparri Bible Seminary, He has strong positive messages and
has a most pleasing radio voice and personality. Pray for him and this great work,
THE PRINTING PRESS continues to make its contribution to our evangelistic endeavor
here. Thousands of copies of tracts have been prepared for use by the evangelistic teams
this summer. Two bi-monthly papers in Ilocano are being published regularly as well as a
Sunday school quarterly in Ilocano which is being widely used.
Your gifts keep this work going and growing. We praise God for your faithfulness.
Costs are going up on everything here which means we have had to increase salaries and
help gor Filipino workers a great deal. Postage went up ^Cffo on March 1st, It takes a
considerable sum to keep a work of this size going. Your gifts and your prayers will
help vs to take advantage of every opportunity afforded us,
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The Christian Mission, Volume 17, Ho. 11, November, 1973, Philippines Page 7
V
PHILIPPINE MISSION CHURCHES OP CHRIST
c:\ --f. -t' v JL NORTHERN LUZON
CHARLES AND ROBERTA SELBY
"IN APPRECIATION TO CHARLES AND ROBERTA SELBY for their quarter of a centuzy faithful
se27vice to the Lord in the Philippines June 22, 19U7 - June 22, 1972. With deep
gratitude to our beloved missionaries for their untiring efforts to herald the good
news, for their love and courage, for the wonderful testimony of their lives, and for
their many achievements for Christ's Kingdom. Presented this day, the 25th of August,
1972 at Aparri, Gagayan, Philippines."
The above inscription was engraved on a plaque and presented to Charles and Roberta
Selby at a special 25th Anniversary program at the Seminary, August 25, 1972, by the
Aparri Bible Seminary alumni, faculty, and staff. More than 3OO people attended the
occasion.
The Philippines is a lovely land of brilliant sun and violent storm. These extremes
are seen in her people too, for the smiling friendliness of the Pilipino can change
in a moment to intense hatred. In their religious life the paradox is even more
bewildering; the veneer of i|50 years of Catholicism barely covers a desperate fear
and worship of evil spirits. Although the Pilipino, like his American brother, may
worship the gods of materialism, personal prestige, and political and financial power,
in his religion he is ta-ught to worship God and offer to evil spirits too, mutually
contradictoiy practices. Obviously Filipinos need the pure teaching of God's Word to
cleanse the superstition filled Catholicism which more than 8C^ profess.
Charles and Roberta Selby saw this clearly when they came as the first American
missionaries located in Aparri, Cagayan in June,(T94^ Located ri^t on the tip of
northernfSSon]3(largest island in the Philipines) Aparri sits at the mouth of the
Cagayan Mver^here it empties into the China Sea. Still showing the devastation of
war in 19ii7, Aparri must have seemed the end of the world to the Selbys and their
year-old son, Lloyd. But they plunged into the work, teaching in the local church.
Charles spent much of his first term walking from village to village with Brother
Peneyra (the Pilipino preacher who had written to the States for a missionary to
come to Aparri), holding evangelistic meetings in each village. But Charles and
Roberta could see that evangelization of the Caga yan River Valley could never be
accomplished by two men alone. They would have to teach others the Word of God,
training them to go out and preach. In I9U8 the Selbys along with Brother Peneyra
held Bible classes during the week in the Aparri church building. A son. Rick,
was bom to the Selbys in Manila that year. They took their first furlough in 1^50,
and Rob was bom in September.
NORVAL AND BONBENA CAMPBELL
When the Selbys returned in 1951, they again held Bible classes in the church, and
in 1952 established the Aparri Bible Seminary. A year later Norval and Dondena
Campbell joined the Selbys and together the two families worked; training teachers
and preachers of His Word. The Campbells remained until 1957 when they left to begin
a Bible college in Vigan, Ilocos Sur (northwestem Luzon).
Facilities have been expanded since the beginning of the Seminary to include property
on which are located the following buildings: a Seminary building have 3 classrooms,
chapel, dining hall, library, offices, and bookstore; a girls' dorm which also houses
the Lopez family; a boys' dorm attached to three apartments for Seminary couples and
a Kindergarten; six buildings housing married couples; a press room and shop.
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Page S The Christian Mission, Yolunie 17 No. 11, Novemher, 1973
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The first student body numbered 35; this June, 1973 the Seminary had an enrollment
of 131 students, another record enrollment for the third year in a row. Since
its beginning 63 students have graduated; 60 have received certificates. The
faculty has increased with the addition of Laureano and Rebecca Lopez, William and
Nita Bagain, Romeo Gorospe, Leonardo Domingo, and Sid and Marj Boudreaux.
SID AND MARJ BQUDREATJX
The Boudreaux and their four children joined the Selbys in 196i|. Prom 196k - 19^8
Marj taught in the Seminary, and Sid worked to develop land to be used for the
establishment of an agricultural school. The original plan for an agricultural
school was temporarily postponed while the two Christian high schools in Isabela
were being built.
The Boudreauxs' returned from furlough in 1970, and both taught in the Seminary
for two years. Now Sid is engaged in taking care of business for the Mission in
Manila: customs, registration, immigration, purchasing. Marj teaches two Greek
classes, English, and Choir in Aparri Bible Seminary.
Roberta and Scott are now attending Faith Academy, a school for missionary children
in Manila. Jamie and Sharon are studying at home under Marj's tutoring.
ANN TOLLIVER
In December, I969, Ann Tolliver, Charles niece, came to work as his secretary. She
has taken over much of the burden of office work; her efficient handling of office
business is a great help to the work here. She also assists with the Juniors in
the Apparri church, and works with the students of the Seminary in their activities.
j/APARRI BIBLE PRESS
In 1957 Charles was able to procure a 1250 Multilith (offset printer) and later, a
used letter press. Three men work full-time, and five part-time in the Aparri Bible
Seminary Press, publishing tracts, Ilocano monthly magazines and Ilocano Bible
school lessons. They did a wonderful job of keeping the four evangelistic teams
well supplied with tracts and other printed matter during the summer. The results
of this work are difficult to measure. We believe the printed word is an effective
means of reaching the lost, and building up the Christian and there is no doubt that
the work as a whole would be much less effective if it were not for the press.
^^HRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL
Charles Selby had long had the vision of a building a Christian high school in order
to reach high school students through daily Bible classes which would be a part of
the regular curriculum. This goal was realized in July, I967 when two Christian
high schools, Northern and Southern Isabela Academies, opened for enrollment. The
soundness of this goal is evident as we report:
1. nil were won to Christ from among the students and teachers this past
school year.
^2, 93 graduates last year, nearly all of whom were Christians.
y' 3. More than JOQ young people won to Christ since the schools began.
On June i|i1973 these two schools began thei^^tlj year with record enrollments, a
total of(^69^ many of whom will have never heard the Gospel before. Bible classes
are taught every day to every student - we expect great things agsdn this year.
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THie Christian Mission, Voltime 17, No, 11, November, 1973> HiilipE3Ji&8 Pa^e 9
(Continued 5tom Previous Page)
RADIO WORK
Our radio work was begun in 1970 with a weekly program over DZITC in Cauayan, Isabela,
The broadcasts are now goingjon daily (except Sunday) over the same station,
Virgilio Danao, a graduate of Aparri Bible Seminary is the radio preacher. His
messages are clear and concise and are reaching large and appreciative audiences.
Many people have been contacted in this way and it is proving to be a great success.
Pour new congregations have been established as a direct result of the radio program
and 5 other places have been opened where there is great possibility that new
churches will soon come into existence. We are trying to speed up our plans to get
on at least two other stations with daily programs such as we now have on one station.
To do this we need to get a recording studio built and equipped just as soon as
possible. This will enable us to use just one radio preacher for all of the programs,
DENNIS MD LORRITA McKXNNET
In March of 1970, Dennis and Lorrita McKinney and their four children came to work
with the evangelistic program at Southern Isabela Acaden^, Dennis taught daily
Bible classes and did evangelistic work in the villages around the high school. In
1971 the McKinneys moved from San Guillermo, leaving the work of the hi^ school in
the capable hands of Christian leaders, Dennis works with the preachers of the Cagay^
Valley in evangelistic work, holding meetings, institutes, throughout the area, Dennis
is able to spend part of each month in Manila with Lorrita and the children where their
two oldest, Chris and Wendy, attend Paith Academy. Lorrita works with college age youth
in the Cruzada church, along with taking care of Scott, 5 tnd Michael, 2,
BARBARA MANGSKAU
In J-une of 1971, Barbara Idangskau of Ellendale, Minnesota, interrupted her studies
at Ozark Bible College in Joplin, Missouri to come to Aparri as an intern for a
year. She lived with the Boudreaux family, and tau^t daily classes in the Seminary?
Christian Education II, music, writing, and piano. She also worked daily with two
quartets, teaching them gospel songs so that they were able to form evangelistic
teams in the summer of 1972 winning over 70 souls. Barb left the Philippines in
June, 1972, to return to Ozark Bible College to finish her training. She plans to
return and needs your prayers and support as she does,
GOALS
The establishment of additional Christian high schools.
Evangelism through the printed word - gospel literature to all in the Cagayan Valley,
Every church self-supporting, self-extending.
Our major goal is the preaching and teaching of God's Word in all phases of our
outreach: the Aparri Bible Seminary, the Printing Press, the Christian high schools -
all resulting in increased evangelistic efforts by the Pilipino preachers,
NEEDS
Regular gifts for all phases of the work.
Special funds for printing work as it expands into gospel literature.
Building funds for existing and proposed Christian high schools.
Hew or used baby clothing.
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Page 10 The Christian Mission, Volume 17, No, 11, November, 1973 '
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Used literature (Bible school and VoBoS. Religious books for our Seminary
library.
Punds to purchase motor bikes for 10 - 1^ Pilipino preachers to use to help them
serve the 70 congregations that are spread out throu^ the Cagayan Valley.
Punds to continue a radio program that has resulted in several individual baptisms
and the transfer of the complete membership of one Baptist congregation and two
UCCP congregations.
Punds for putting up a building to house a recording studio to be used for a
radio broadcasting station at a later date.
Daily, fervent prayers for the spiritual growth of all workers and leaders, and
the blessing of God on our work here.
Philippine Mission Churches of Christ
Box
Aparri, Cagayan A-305 Philippines