1. “Not Ashamed of the Gospel”
(Issue Number 5 as of May, 2012)
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God
unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the
Greek.” Rom. 1:16
Newsletter Published monthly by: Mountain Top Libas church of Christ
Maasim, Sarangani Province
Times of Meetings
Sunday Bible Study (in all ages) – 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM
Message – 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Wednesday - 7:30 p.m
Preacher: Allan Kimnon
Preacher and Editor: Men Mark Tumandan
Church of Christ
Are we Anti-church cooperation? (Men Mark Tumandan)
Those so-called churches of Christ who practice and support
human institutions such as “orphan homes”, building “Missionary
Church”, “Benevolence Society” or “Sponsoring church” and
“church’s treasury can be use to render aid to not Christian”
accuse us who strongly oppose these activities as Anti – church
cooperation. Are we truly anti? If so, then in what manner we
are anti?
The failure of understanding scripture is when we allow our
emotions rather than what the Bible teaches. Take for example, a
very emotional argument of denominations through the years about
baptism “If baptism is necessary for salvation, how about a man
who is about to be baptized, then suddenly died – is he saved?”
But, still the word of our Lord says “he that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). Death can’t alter the
plan of God, neither also our emotion can alter what the New
Testament teaches. Allowing our emotions as a source of our
authority overthrows the faith of our dear brethren and sisters
in Christ Jesus; divides the body of our Lord.
Our emotions feel comfortable using Musical Instruments in
worship, thinking it is right – then asking us who oppose it
“Who said it is wrong?”
Brethren who justify using the Lord’s money in church’s treasury
to render aid benevolence even not Christian use their emotions.
Accusing us of having no emotion to care for them – Are they
right?
We are now going to determine if the Lord’s church is to render
GENERAL BENEVOLENCE = means even not Christian are included to help.

2. Let us get our pattern in New Testament writing of the inspired
apostles not to the opinions and emotional arguments of some
folks.
In Acts 11:27-30, we could read when there was a great famine
throughout the entire world, those brethren (means saints) at
Judea were only relieved.
Judea was composed of several churches of our Lord, 1 Thess.
2:14 “the churches of God which are in Christ in Judea”.
How did the brethren at Antioch relieve the churches of our Lord
at Judea? Did they send their help through “Sponsoring Church”
and were there not Christian relieve?
Now let us consider this illustration below, hope this could
help us as the saying says “picture can illustrate thousand
words”.
NEW TESTAMENT PATTERN
A. One church helped several churches.
In Letter A Illustration, The help was sent to the “elders” of
these several churches. “Elders” are congregational overseers
(Acts 14:23). Those brethren (saints; Christians) who dwell in
Judea were the only one relieved.
---
A. One Church Helped Other Churches In Time Of Material Need By Contributing
To Relieve Those Needs - Acts 11:27-30.
1. How did the Antioch church cooperate with churches in Judea in benevolence?
a. First, a decision to help was made.
b. Collection of funds (Regulated as per 1 Cor. 16:1-2).
c. Paul & Barnabas were messengers for Antioch church.
2. v. 30 - Sent relief to "the elders." Which elders?!
CHURCH
at
Antioch
Church
at Judea
Church
at Judea
Church
at Judea

3. a. Elders are congregational overseers (Acts 14:23).
b. Brethren in Judea constituted several churches - Gal. 1:22 (Lydda, Joppa, etc.).
* c. Sent to elders of each congregation for distribution.
3. v. 30 - Some say "elders" means only the Jerusalem church elders (to defend
sponsoring church - 12:25). Does it? NO.
-If Jerusalem a sponsoring church, autonomy (independence & equality)
destroyed.
a. Acts 26:20 - When did Paul travel throughout all Judea?
b. Gal. 1:17-18 - Not 1st trip to Jerusalem (Acts 9:26-29; Gal. 1:22).
c. Acts 9:30 - Then, went to Cilicia (Gal. 1:21-22).
d. Acts 11:25 - Came to Antioch.
e. Acts 26:20 - This must be benevolence trip (only time possible).
f. Acts 12:25 - Jerusalem was their last stop; Jerusalem was not an overseeing,
distributing church. (Joe Price).
B. Several churches helped one church.
B. Several Churches Sent Material Relief To One Church (Jerusalem). -(Concurrent
Cooperation of Churches)
1. Separate requests to help - 2 Cor. 8:10; 8:4 (Rom. 15:25-26).
2. Separate collection of funds - l Cor. 16:1-2.
3. Separate identity of funds existed (no "pooling") - 1 Cor. 16:3.
4. Separate decisions (by each church) of amount sent - 2 Cor. 8:3, 10-11.
5. Independent selection (by each church) of their messengers - 1 Cor. 16:3-4.
a. Some churches used same messenger - 2 Cor. 8:18-19, 23.
b. Messengers were individuals, not churches.
Church
at
Antioch
Church
at
Philippi
Church
at
Corinth
Jerusale
m’s
church

4. 6. No pooling of funds, no convention of churches, no common oversight, funds
were not sent through another church -- NO SPONSORING CHURCH.
7. Independent action of churches, concurrently achieved. (Brother Joe Price)
Now we will compare this to the,
Institutional churches doing in this manner:
MODERN PATTERN PRACTICE
But, now a days since 50 years ago, take for example when the
churches at Judea have in need, the church that helped them send
their relief to “Sponsoring Church” and to “Benevolence
Society”. These “SC” and “BC” and “ORPHAN HOMES” are other
corporate bodies, they have the “Board of Directors” they are
the one to oversee the fund and they make RULES AND REGULATIONS.
Is that the NT Pattern? Certainly not!
Now, we will study about “Taking care of the Orphan”. Should we
build and maintain “ORPHAN HOMES”
PAGE 4
Church
at
Antioch
SPONSO
RING
CHURCH
CHURCH
at Judea
BENEVO
LENCE
SOCIETY
Church
at Judea
PREACHER

5. Institutional churches in this manner:
How can we take care of our orphan? Relieving them, “care and food”
are the “AIDS”, but to add another organization to do its work is
addition to the word of God. Why? The church is to care for its own,
local church is being specified to do it. Acts 2:4-6 where we could
read that through the supervision of the elders, through the
ministration of its own deacons, and out of the resources of its
members, their needy were took care.
We can’t add another organization aside from the local church to
do the work of benevolence. The local church is to do its work,
very sufficient to do it. Were there no “orphans and widows” in
the 1st century? Certainly there were. Did Apostle Paul group all
of them from all the local churches? Certainly not, but if you
could able say “yes” then where is the approved example?
A group of individual Christians may agree to put a business but
to get the CAPITAL or to maintain the business through the
collection in the church’s treasury is very wrong.
Folks, keep on saying we are “ANTI”, truly we are anti to the
unscriptural cooperation and unscriptural activities. Are we
Anti-Baptism when we are against to Infant Baptism? Certainly
not! We are just anti to unscriptural baptism.
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PAGE 5
Church
at Texas
ORPHAN
HOME
ORPHAN
ORPHAN
ORPHAN
Church
at
Florida
Church
at
Arizona

6. Request – An Appeal for Financial Support
I am Men Mark A. Tumandan, a gospel preacher our Lord Jesus Christ since I was 13 years old
up to this present that I am 19 years old. Dad is also has been preaching for more than 12 years.
He was converted last 1998 by Jim Puterbuagh. When Jim Puterbaugh started preaching about
“ONE ETERNAL COVENANT” then dad separate from him. (One Eternal Covenant teaches that
NT is the continuation of OT. There are many wrong applications with this false doctrine.)
My monthly support from faithful local church there in USA is $100, and when it always comes,
even for the payment for my debts and owe is not enough. There were individual brethren who
helped me in the time past, but hath in this moment this is only my monthly support aside from
individuals who send me help when they can (quarterly).
My individual support 50$ bi-monthly is now cut-off due of my preaching that I published
regarding churches supporting human institutions. It is my sincere believe that local churches of
Christ should not build and maintain human institutions such as “orphan homes”, “widow
homes” and “homes for the ages”. It is also my sincere believe that there should be no
“Missionary Society” or “Benevolence Society” among us here in church of Christ. It is also my
sincere believe that there is no GENERAL BENEVOLENCE or the church’s treasury is not to be
used to render benevolence to any man who is not Christian.
I would love to ask financial support from you and the saints with you even not the whole
amount I have written below. It is my intention to receive financial support from brethren who
are not institutional and liberal minded.
Below is my appropriate financial amount that I need:
Financial needs for my preaching.
200 USD for food within a month (rice and other kitchen needs)
100 USD for electric and water bill
200 USD for Sunday and Wednesday gasoline for preaching (and other Home Bible Studies).
300 USD for Gospel Meeting (traveling expenses and for others).
200 USD for my personal needs and maintenance of my motorcycle (monthly change tire and
interior)
--------------------
I am in need of at least 1000 USD/month, but I am asking even not the whole amount, perhaps
there would be other brethren who will commit then this whole amount be met.
Those non-institutional churches/individuals who are interested to help me, kindly contact me
in my e-mail add marktumandan@yahoo.com.ph .
Thank you so much and God bless you.
In ChristianLove,
Men Mark A.Tumandan
marktumandan@yahoo.com.ph