“Amo na abilidad mo sa rural church ka lang naga-pastor?” was Miss Daisy’s statement I can’t forget when we met in May 2002 at La Carlota Evangelical Church.
We were attending the annual assembly (now biennial) of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches (CPBC).
The statement means “With all your abilities you are pastor of a rural church only?”
If you don’t know Miss Daisy Basiliano, you certainly will have a lot of negative things going in your heart and mind.
I’ve known her as a brazen woman. She says what she thinks is true about you.
She could be “rough” at times but she had the best intentions for you. The tenderness and kindness are always there.
I met her when I was a teenager going with my father who was pastor of Astorga Baptist Church, Dumarao, Capiz. That was in the 80s.
All I know that her family supports the church and the pastoral work as well.
I learned through the CPBC community that Miss Daisy became a pastor, chaplain and teacher. She trained for Clinical Pastoral Education in the US.
We never had any close encounter until that day in May 2002.
After telling me that statement, Miss Daisy didn’t stop.
A few months later, I got a message from her that she had recommended me to speak at New Testament Baptist Church, Iloilo City in September 2002. This preaching assignment developed further.
On 20 October 2002, I started my work as interim pastor of New Testament Baptist Church, a city church.
Miss Daisy had a way of making people think outside of the box. Her statement to me made me think, “Why not?”
Actually, after that meeting in May 2002, I opened myself to working with city churches.
In fact, I got a call as associate pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Manila starting December 2002. I was already committed to work in Manila that’s why my interim appointment.
When my father suffered stroke on 16 November 2002, I decided to stay and continue working with New Testament Baptist Church for three years.
Our family and Miss Daisy became closer because we found ourselves pursuing together what is right, just and pleasing before the Lord God.
While teaching at the College of Theology, she came to live with us at CPU Campus for almost two years.
Those were blissful moments of hearing God’s miracle and goodness to her like her victory over cancer, near-death experiences and other life-changing experiences.
Finally, on 6 June 2012, she laid to rest her earthly body and be with the Lord Jesus Christ, her master and friend.
You are right in saying, “If you don’t know Miss Daisy Basiliano, you certainly will have a lot of negative things going in your heart and mind,” in reference to her statement, “Amo na abilidad mo sa rural church ka lang naga-pastor?” And I am glad you made that qualifying statement because no matter how I look at what she said, I can only see a couple of negative implications, to wit: 1) that rural churches do not deserve pastors with “superior” abilities and 2) that pastors with abilities like yours should not be wasting their time pastoring rural churches. But as you said, “she is a brazen woman” and “could be “rough” at times but she had the best intentions for you. The tenderness and kindness are always there.” So, I will leave it at that, me having not known her the way you did. Regards and God bless you.
Dear Jonan, Thank you for the Blessed Teachings and it is strengthening me much to study and to share with other people in India, you are doing great for Lord. Evangelist Babu