RECOLLECTIONS ...OF A CONTINENTAL
By Pastor
Dave Beckwith
 |
| Dave and Joanne Beckwith |
ANGELS ON TOUR C
(The Philippines, August, 1968)
A chilling
shock gripped me—someone had thrown a knife at me while I was concluding my
testimony at the University of the East in Manila. There was a scuffle as police moved in the
crowd to capture the Communist infiltrators wielding guns.
It was the
summer of 1968, and Tour C, directed by The Continental Singers President and
Founder, Cam Floria, was on a tour that included the Western U.S., Hawaii,
Japan, Okinawa, Taiwan, Guam, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.
The Viet Nam
War was raging in 1968, and earlier plans for The Continentals to visit Saigon
were scrapped by the U.S. Military due to the danger. Several weeks of the summer were spent with
various branches of the U.S. Military visiting casualty wards of the hospitals
and doing concerts for the troops. Walking into a ward and praying with a
soldier who had lost an arm or a leg or suffered other devastating wounds is an
experience that stirs me to this day.
On Tuesday
evening, August 6, we were flown by the U.S. Army to Kurat, Thailand, and
treated to a steak BBQ…all we could eat. After weeks of eating raw fish
eyeballs, eel liver, seaweed and rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we were
ready for good ol’ American food.
Following the steak feast, we did a concert for the enthusiastic
soldiers in a packed auditorium. The
next morning, we were scheduled to be flown to Camp Friendship in Satihep for a
concert that evening. Instead, General
Black decided to keep us at the base for a repeat performance on Wednesday
evening. On Thursday morning, we awoke
to see in The Stars and Stripes, the military newspaper, the headline that the
barracks at Camp Friendship, the dorms we would have been staying in, were hit
by mortar fire. Clearly God had watched
over us and arranged for this change of schedule. As David wrote in Psalm 34, “The angel of the
LORD, encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.”
On August 10th,
we arrived in Manila in the Philippines. An earthquake measuring 7.3 had rocked
Manila on August 2nd just 8 days before we arrived. 286 lives were lost and 261` more
injured. All but eight died in the
collapse of the 6-story Ruby Tower. God
had prearranged for us to minister in a church a short distance for the Ruby
Tower tragedy. Many responded to the
gospel message, and again, we saw the protection of God.
Everywhere
we sang, the crowds were enormous, enthusiastic and receptive. On the evening of Sunday, August 18, we did a
concert at the University of the East considered to the one of the largest
universities in the world with 92,000 students.
I recall the bus ride that afternoon as we crept through the crowded
streets of Manila to the University. Our
expectations were high knowing we would have a huge crowd and a great
opportunity to share the message of Jesus Christ. I reviewed some of the verses pertaining to
salvation and silently asked the Lord for the opportunity to lead some to
Christ.
The concert
was staged in an outdoor plaza about the size of a football field and
surrounded by four-story building on all sides. Balconies on each level were
filled with onlookers, and the field was packed with students on this hot,
sultry evening. At the end of the
concert, Cam Floria motioned for me to step to the microphone to share my
testimony. As I spoke, I sensed
something stirring in the audience behind me.
As I turned, I saw the knife thrown at me that barely missed and was now
stuck in the wood platform directly behind me.
On the upper level, there was a scuffle as police moved in to capture
the would-be assassins armed with guns.
What a moment of God’s protection!
“If you make the Most High your refuge, He will command his angels to
guard you wherever you go.” (Ps 91)
As soon as
the concert ended, rain poured down drenching the crowd and the field. I had given an invitation for those who
wanted to know more about Jesus Christ to stay after and meet us at the front
by the platform. I assumed with the
downpour, no one would stay, but 25-30 students gathered to ask us questions. I explained God’s wonderful gift of
forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus Christ. Joining hands in a circle in pouring down
rain, along with some supportive Continentals who came off the risers and
joined them, I led them in a prayer of repentance and salvation. As Jesus said, “There is rejoicing in the
presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Thrilled at those who came to Christ and
knowing my life had been spared, I was dancing in the rain celebrating with the
angels.
Dr. Dave
Beckwith, in addition to singing bass on the first L.A. based Continental tour
in 1967, has pastored six churches in Southern California, including Yorba
Linda Friends, and was professor of Biblical Studies at Grace Bible
Institute. He has written scores of
articles for ministry publications and even the Los Angeles Times, and has
written two books, THE EDGE: GOD’S POWER PERFECTED IN WEAKNESS and STRENGTH
LIKE SOARING: SET FREE FROM WHAT SETS YOU BACK
(This 1968
tour ended my career as a tour director.
From this point on to our current 50th year, I have directed
the directors, Cam.)
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