As Silliman Church celebrates its centennial anniversary this year, some groups that have helped shape the life of the Church need a closer look. One of these is the Bible study cluster of Bantayan which is 55 years old.
Yes, the Bantayan Bible study cluster has withstood the test of time, transitions in the lives of the Church, its members, the community, and the world at large. This is an example of God’s manifestation of His love, mercy, faithfulness, and goodness to the pioneers, their families and the church in general.
Other Bible study clusters were formed, but unfortunately, did not prosper. Currently, there are almost a dozen family Bible study clusters at Silliman Church, and an All-Family Bible study cluster which is organized by the Church two to three times a year — the most recent one was held March 26 at the Church lawn.
Studying the Bible is a tradition which is kept alive by the Pastoral team of Silliman Church and members of the family, organizational clusters.
Studying the word of God had its beginnings during the biblical times when our Lord Jesus Christ regarded each opportunity as “teaching-learning as well as healing moments” as He spoke to his disciples and the multitudes who gathered to see Him.
Each occasion was replete with parables, teachings, and valuable words of wisdom, regardless of the physical setting. He never run out of ideas and stories to tell to his followers and the people.
The Bantayan Bible study group casually started around 1961 as a social gathering of some families living at Silliman Park who merely wanted to watch the moon rise from Silliman Beach.
These families were the Bokingos, the Songcos, the Dolumbals, the Imperials, the Magdamos, the Cortons, the Alcalas, the Ratertas, the Magbanuas, the Wicklers, the Larots, the Bergados, the Elviñas, the Magasos, the Lagritos — who would then bring over simple comfort food potluck-style, like hot champorado.
The social gathering tradition later progressed to the Silliman Park Bible Study Cluster, with the head of the family leading it, and one of their children reading the Scripture lesson. They sang hymns, shared stories of happy moments and life’s transitions like graduations, new additions to the family, personal triumphs, promotions at work, etc. They comforted each other during times of grief, like when the Escardas lost one of their children due to a freak accident.
Later on, the families decided to move their village gathering to the early morning — which happens until now by 6:30 in the morning on Saturdays.
Through the years, the participants in the now-called Bantayan Bible Study C
luster increased in number, including the Gaudiels and the Silliman Church pastors.
What is most important among this Bantayan cluster that faithfully meets on each Saturday morning is that the families would pray for each other, and offer prayers of supplication — even for family members who are not physically with them in Dumaguete. Everyone remembers, for instance, when the Cluster prayed for a nephew of the Bokingos in Mindanao who had lost his power of speech. A few weeks later, they received word that the nephew was able to speak again! Praise the Lord.
Many of the original members of the Bantayan cluster have gone ahead of us to be with the Lord; others have moved residence elsewhere abroad, while a few of us are carrying on the tradition, and trying to continue to please the Lord, show our love for our brethren through this family Bible cluster — the Bantayan Faithfuls.
May God’s grace, wisdom, mercy, and love continue to sustain us. We give back the honor and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ. (With recollections from Benjamin Bokingo, 92 years old.)
