Money and Financial Support Offered To Landmark Baptist Ministers If They Would Submit to be Rebaptized and Join the Primitive Baptists, by the Liberals in the Philippines
Message Taken from a Landmark Baptist Forum:
The original message read as follows:
Dear Pastor (Name withheld)-------,
Yesterday Espancho and his wife attended our worship and he confessed to our midst that he was baptized last January 2, 2003, cause Decena and Dahilan offered him free transportation going to Davao City, and he asked forgiveness from our church. He said he decided to remain in the Landmark Baptist Church. He was offered P6,000.00 monthly by Gush Hearter. Hearter visited Dayasan and offered to give money for church building and his monthly support. Then, he found out that because on their teaching he did not accept it. I just don't know about it. Its up for him. Decena and Dahilan are really problem to us. They eagerly wants to destroy the Doctrines of the Landmarker. We are now observe Espancho and his family.
Later, the message was confirmed as follows:
"With regard to reports about the PRIMITIVE BAPTISTS. Bro. Diola repeated to me his story which he previously told to you: THAT Bro. Decena is now in the Primitive Baptist Camp with Gus Harter; that they promised Bro. Diola a regular support of P6,000.00 if he would be rebaptized and shift to the PB camp."
Yours by Grace alone,
Bro. (Name Withheld)
(Note: The author of this letter says P6,000.00 translates to $600).
Gus Harter's denial, written to one of his supporters, reads as follows:
"I am sorry of the rumor about our work. I never offer anything for joining our people except a clear conscience from God. However I will not spend my time trying to defend my actions. Our Lord is our defense. Thank you for your email.
Your Servant in Christ,
Gus Harter"
The testimony of a Filipino is that Gus Harter or some of his associates did offer him money. Gus Harter may deny that he, himself, made such a blatant "offer," but we realize it may have just been a statement of what they were doing for others, a gift, or a transfer of funds in any other manner, but the bottom line is the same - MONEY is the name of the game, and has been from the beginning. Gus Harter has called many of us in America, and ordered us to send money and have others send money, for his friends, so it is not difficult for us to believe that he is still engaged in raising money in America, and it is going somewhere in the Philippines, either to himself or to his associates. There is no doubt he is asking the churches in America for money, for the work he is carrying on, all of which is unscriptural and in gross disorder.
Taken from a Landmark Baptist Forum (continued):
Lawsuit Over Landmark Baptist Building in Davao City Being Appealed
"I also know that this same group was in a law-suit over some property in Davao City. They lost the case, but I understand there is an appeal under way. Just how much the actual American missionaries are personally involved I do not know. I do know that those they take under their banner are trying to persuade LSGBC pastors to bring their works under what they call the Primitive Baptist banner. From what I gather, this is not the practice of the US churches. I can appreciate that since not all Baptists are Baptists. I hope I make myself clear . . ."
Bro. (Name Withheld)
Note: In the transcript of the testimony of this lawsuit over ownership of this expensive building in Davao City, Ricardo Tabanyag Sr. testified under oath that the Primitive Baptists have a right to the ownership of the Landmark Baptist building because the Primitive Baptists are really just a branch of the Landmark Missionary Baptists. He was not able to prove this falsehood, and lost the case in court, and was ordered to vacate the property, pay rent, etc. Yet he and his associates continue to be recognized and fellowshiped by Gus Harter, and his associates from America who claim to be old-line Primitive Baptists, but are not. They are a total disgrace to the good name of the Primitive Baptists, and have dishonored us before the whole world. We consider this work in its entirety to be of man, and not of God, and therefore we will not fellowship it in any way.
The Church of Jesus Christ is not based upon money, nor do we offer incentives to men to preach, nor do we have foundations, societies, or even bank accounts, set apart for foreign mission work. Only those who are seeking to lead our people away from the truth are engaged in such things, to the great injury of the cause of God.
Copyright c. 2003. All rights reserved. The Primitive Baptist Library.
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