Right in front of our house of worship, there were many armed men, too, they are rebels.
On the day of our worship service, the rebels suddenly arrived.
Here in Barangay Takepan, Pikit, North Cotabato, a horrific encounter happened between the rebels and the government soldiers.
Many lost their lives
and were trapped in the war; and the Church Of Christ members who were inside the house of worship
Ecclesiastical District of Maguindanao.
The North Cotabato province is an agricultural land where farming is the main livelihood of people.
They tend to buffalos and others work in large plantations.
In terms of population in Pikit, North Cotabato, majority are our Muslim countrymen
The residents live harmoniously despite differences in religion and beliefs.
Our brethren in the Local Congregation of Takepan and our Muslim countrymen are friends.
Because our neighbors are muslims, we have a harmonious relationship here.
We are like brothers and sisters here
The Church Of Christ members here in our barangay are good role models.
They are very cooperative and their relationship with each other is wonderful.
Yet no matter how hard the effort to live in peace,
civilians are still victims of a long-standing conflict
between the government and people fighting for their ideologies.
There is conflict here. If it is not clans called Redo are fighting here, the military and the rebels are.
Do they really kill each other?
Yes. We are witnesses to that because even in the open field they shoot at each other.
We see their encounters, and many people die in both sides.
So when we heard about the history and experiences of members of the Church Of Christ
in the Local Congregation of Takepan,
we immediately went to their place.
As we started our journey, we already passed by some tanks.
Soldiers and street checkpoints are the usual scenery on the road.
This is one place of the rebels. Yes. This place.
Here at this bridge, the first crossfire took place,
at about two o'clock three o'clock in the morning.
Host: Here, in this bridge? Yes, in this bridge.
How many died here?
Seven died here.
And when we got to barangay Takepan, the couple Roberto and Evangeline Sardoma pointed
at the multi-purpose hall adjacent to the local congregation.
According to them many war victims died in this area.
The rebels occupied the back up to the front of the chapel.
(HOST: Right outside?)
Yes. There were a lot of rebels there.
(HOST: How many rebels are there?)
About than fifty except for those in that mountain range in front of the chapel
(HOST: How many rebels are in those mountain ranges?)
Probably about fifty and there are more than 200 rebels in the multi-purpose area.
In order to have an insight of the condition of the brethren in the local of Takepan,
we went to the actual battleground of the rebels and the military.
Corpses were everywhere in this area.
(HOST: Right here?)
Right here in these places.
(HOST: That is our house of worship?)
Yes. Our house of worship is so near.
(HOST: So there are rebels in our fences?)
There were rebels there and there were rebels deployed in the homes of the brethren,
all of the houses there had rebels in them.
The brethren were no longer there, they evacuated and went to the other side.
What is it your holding?
SPEAKER 9: This is an ammo of a 50-caliber.
(HOST: Soldiers gave you that?)
Yes. There were rebels next to the house of worship.
We were over there by the coconut tree.
They did not go inside the house of worship, they were just outside.
But what do they need from Barangay Takepan? Why is this place important to them?
Why were they willing to sacrifice their lives for this place?
The reason why this place is in chaos is that it is the path of the rebels towards Abubakr in Buldon,
Maguindanao which is one of the biggest rebel bases.
That is why they want to control this place.
The brethren experienced the biggest trial in their lives during their worship service to God.
In 1997, on the day of our worship service, the rebels were there early in the morning,
dropped on the ground ready (for war).
They told us to go home because there will be an exchange of fire.
Although the Church officers who will lead the worship service are afraid,
but their decision is firm. Eventhough they will be caught in the middle of the crossfire,
they will perform their duties they swore to God.
We were panicking; others cannot believe, but the others, what we did is to get ready for things we will bring in our worship service.
We cannot believe it but we prepared. That is the worship service.
I, am preparing too, for the things to be used in the worship service.
(HOST: Why? What is your duty?)
I am a deaconess.
Officers in the Takepan congregation were the first to stand firm even in front of the persecution
and opposition of the leaders of the government as well as the armed citizens.
The barangay captain of Takepan had come to us
to evacuate us and the soldiers also approached us to leave.
Similarly, the rebels, too, wanted us to leave.
(HOST: Why do they want you to leave?)
So that they could begin their fight.
But we continued on in our worship services although the rebels here have surrounded us.
(HOST: They were beside you?)
Yes, we worshiped.
A soldier even went to the barangay captain for us to stop in our worship services but we did not go out.
Church officers led the worship service
and they proved to our Lord God that nothing and no one would hinder them.
The rebels told me to tell my neighbors and the brethren to go away.
But we did not evacuate because that is the day of our worship service.
When we arrived at the chapel we told our resident minister, Brother Roberto Sardoma, about this.
The Executive Minister said that the worship service would be continued.
So we worshiped,
we had the courage to do it because we were inside the house of worship.
We asked our Father to save us, everyone's crying including the children
who were with us. Everyone was inside.
The brethren firmly believed that the Lord God had clothed them with protection from violence
and confusion and against hindrances to their covenant with God.
Right after we finished the worship service, planes bombed the area,
two double bodies and one a single (body).
Cross fires can be heard everywhere, bullets went through the windows.
I told them to go to the pulpit, as far away from the windows.
The glasses in the windows shattered because of the bullets.
Planes dropped bombs while we were inside the house of worship.
I told the brethren to pray because we will not be harmed because we have God by our side.
Our children were cryi ng.
On the brink of death, the Lord God saved them in the midst of battle.
A long day ended for the brethren in the Local Congregation of Takepan,
a day filled with tests for their resolve,
a day where their lives were put in uncertainty.
In the end, God's love for his elect was manifested through the Church Administration.
I immediately called the District Minister back then, Brother Arnel Canicosa, concerning this.
I told him that the brethren were inside the house of worship.
All the brethren's houses in the proximity of the chapel were occupied by armed men.
I asked him what we should do because we have a worship service.
The District Minister said that he would relay it to the Executive Minister.
When I consulted with the Executive Minister concerning the conflict,
he made the brethren in Takepan an example of conviction and
giving high regard for the worship service.
The Executive Minister also said that we should imitate the conviction of the brethren in Takepan
that although their lives are in danger, they were not hindered from worshiping our Lord God.
After that, Brother Radel Cortez and the District Minister were tasked
to bring aid to the brethren in the Local Congregation of Takepan.
The Executive Minister gave instructions right away to aid the brethren.
With God's help, the Church Administration's aspiration to aid the brethren was fulfilled despite
the dangers and hindrances we faced in that instance.
In the part of the ministers administering the spiritual needs of the brethren in the Local Congregation of Takepan,
they will never abandon their duty to safeguard the fold.
Whenever we visit their home, we pray for them that they should have complete faith in the power of God.
We encourage the brethren to hold
devotional prayers to God
and entrust unto Him our hope and trust that He will be the one safeguarding us in times of danger.
There are still ongoing conflicts happening in the area of Takepan and in other parts
of the District of Maguindanao.
Despite of that, the brethren's fervor is unwavering.
Their conviction in actively attending worship services back then is still their conviction now.
No Church Of Christ member in Barangay Takepan, Pikit, North Cotabato was hurt. No life was damaged.
We were not afraid. If God requires our lives, we would wholeheartedly give it.
We will never forsake the Church. Until I die, I will never surrender my duty.
I want to die in my uniform. Whether I live or die, I will uphold my duty
as a Head Deacon in this local congregation.
We have God that helps us wherever we go. If it is really the time that the Father will take our lives,
so be it.
We should be thankful that we are able to carry on our services and our duty to God in this place of chaos.
And if conflict, violence, and war broke out again, and it would mean their life,
for the ones elected by God, they believe that this is not their true life.
We completely trusted in God, in His Name.
We all prayed together with our resident minister and our families.
That is our only hope. We begged God to help us and save us from all kinds of evil.
Because of God's mercy, we were saved. We are still alive.
We won't leave our local congregation because our livelihood is here and the most important thing for us,
our house of worship where we always go whenever we have problems, is here. We pray here.
we go here to hold devotional prayers even though our paths are dangerous.
If they die during the worship service, they are blessed because they are certain of salvation.
I'm glad that I can rest because I am already old.
Thank the Lord, if he takes me especially when I cannot go to worship.
It is difficult, especially if I remember the joy of worshiping and listening
to the lessons that edifies the faith.
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