Roger & Irma are back!

It has been about seven years since Roger & Irma Santiago left Newark for Manila. During their long absence, much happened in the community they helped start. Now they are back, and at a momentous time in our community's short history at that! (Our 15th anniversary as a community.) We met with Roger last week, and during our brief get together, I could not help but recall the early years of BLD Newark.

We do not want to sound nostalgic, but those were good and exciting years. Our community then was much smaller. There were not many members to spread around the few ministries that had been formed at that time. Every member was involved in just about everything going on in community, yet it seemed that our energies were inexhaustible. We could not wait for Fridays to come so we can gather for worship and fellowship. We devoured every page of the bible in search of Christ and His Wisdom. We were not content with our weekly Word Sharing, and scheduled a second session with brethren living in our general vicinity.

We eagerly looked forward to the visits of our elders and teachers from Manila. We gladly gave up our weekends and weeknights to attend the teachings. We were so Word-hungry that we could not have enough of our elders and teachers. We quite literally sat at their feet to learn from their wisdom and experience for the benefit of the community. We even rejoiced when our consultations resulted in our rebuke or correction by our elders. That is how we found out that openness to correction has greater value than our insistent certainty of the correctness of our actions.

We had little money: our community treasury had just enough money in the bank to pay for the following week's venue rental. In fact, we owed Manila a hefty amount of money for past airfares of sharers, elders and teachers who made pastoral visits to our community. It was during this time when we could not financially afford it that the Lord called us to open up new communities in both coasts of the American continent. Our little started the many: there are now over 12 districts which Newark "fathered" in the US. My then overly secular mind did entertain the thought that our outreach building actions without financial viability were irresponsible and foolish. Of course I was wrong. God makes great things out of nothing. All we needed to do was to walk by faith.

I recall our almost weekly Board of Coordinators meetings with the Tricord and our once a month disciples assemblies. There seemed to be a two-way communication between leaders and members. Not that there were no contentious issues. In fact, one elder from Manila observed that our members seemed to be too vocal and critical. But this was the community culture the Lord wanted us to develop in Newark. I recall many meetings where leaders faced hard questioning by a packed audience. I believed then and still believe now that this was a sign of a healthy community. Having an engaged, empowered, participative membership is better than disinterested membership that do not attend assemblies. I recall those vibrant community days when members showed up to our meetings in large numbers, because they were and wanted to be involved in community discernment and action.

For sure, the community during those days was not perfect - a reflection of our own imperfection. Recognizing that, we knew that we utterly needed God. We desperately need God now as before. The signs are good that we can look forward to even better times. Roger and Irma, a special, beloved couple, are back. Thank You Lord for never abandoning us.