WHEN I visited the newly inaugurated Greenhills office of the King of Kings Miracle Mountain Foundation early this week, I immediately saw that the entire room was a machine in action. There were a hundred and one details that needed attention for "Arise, Philippines!," the praise and worship concert of world-renowned gospel singer-songwriter Paul Wilbur on Sept. 10-11 at the Philsports Arena (formerly Ultra) and on Sept. 15-16 at the Waterfront Hotel and Cebu Coliseum.

Everybody was busy but in high spirits--not only the team in Manila but also the satellite group in Cebu headed by philanthropist Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung, who had to cancel her trip to London and Switzerland for this project. Over the hum of activity, one could feel the palpable presence of the Lord, whose divine hand directs and guides everything.

Indeed, as KKMMF president Ophelia Salimbangon-Cue told us, "From day one, we've met all kinds of obstacles but managed to work everything out. As the day of the concert approaches, a lot of nerves get frayed, petty intrigues come into the picture, last-minute problems crop up--but before things get out of control, we always feel the Lord showing us the way."

KKMMF chair Laarni Enriquez chimed in, "When we started, we had very little experience with this kind of work. We just jumped in, not knowing where and how to begin. But we are a prayerful group united by a project for God, so He very patiently taught us how to go about things and gave us the right people to help us. More importantly, He put in all of us a sense of mission needed for us not to be stumped but even enlightened and strengthened by all the problems that come our way."

The Paul Wilbur concert will be the first in a series of projects that the KKMMF has lined up to raise funds for an ambitious, non-denominational prayer mountain to rise on 26 hectares of rolling hills in Curva-Medellin, Cebu. The choice of Wilbur to kick off this huge undertaking is, in itself, God-inspired.

Ms Cue explained, "When we tell people about the Wilbur concert, they almost always ask us, why him when he's not well known here in the Philippines. But the answer came when we talked with Paul himself. He calls the series of concerts the Unity Tour. He's dedicating his music towards uniting all the different Christian groups in the country.

He said, when he comes to sing, he won't see different Christian denominations and factions in the audience but the united people of God who call on the name of Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Although Paul Wilbur is quite popular in other parts of the world, his name is not yet very familiar even among members of the many Christian groups in the Philippines. But, truth to tell, since his concert with Don Moen in 1995, he has been returning to the country every year. He's already been to Manila, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Davao, Baguio and other cities.

"From my first trip, I've loved the Philippines and its people," Paul revealed. "You are a warm and gracious people with a real gift for singing. I truly believe God desires to use you to reach Asia with the good news of Jesus in song. What a powerful testimony it would be to show God's mercy on the neighbors that have mistreated you over the centuries."

Paul is a Jew. His ancestors can be traced back to the Holocaust. He explains that his being a believer of Christ doesn't mean that he has turned his back on the faith of his forefathers. "In fact, I believe that faith in Jesus is the way to be a true Jew," he said.

"Jesus is the Jewish Messiah before He is anything else. He came to the Jews first, and also to the Greeks (Acts 1:16). I met a man 22 years ago who showed me this truth from the Bible and it changed my life. When I met Jesus, my whole life was changed and so, now I travel around the world and tell everyone I meet about His saving grace.

"When I was nine years old, my father gave me a guitar and taught me to read music. What a wonderful gift that was. I started to write music and sing right away, and decided to go into music education in college. It was music which, in a way, brought me to Jesus. A man sang his testimony with his guitar and I was hooked. The next thing I knew, I was a believer in Jesus."

Paul Wilbur has been bringing the gospel to different parts of the world not just through songs but through humanitarian works as well. In December, 1998, his group went to Nicaragua just after the terrible hurricane killed thousands of people there. They brought doctors and a dentist, along with lots of medicines to distribute to the sick and needy. And they'll also be traveling to Ghana, Africa later this year. Paul has likewise promised to return to the Philippines in the near future for a similar humanitarian mission.

For his concert, Paul is again bringing his own team of seasoned Integrity Music artists who have been to the country with both him and Don Moen in the past. Carl Albrecht will be on drums, George Furlow on sax and flute, Michael Hohman on keyboards, and several others will round out the band. Aside from songs from his own "Shalom, Jerusalem" and "Jerusalem, Arise!" records, he'll also be singing old favorites from Don Moen and Ron Kenoly.

About his music, Paul said, "It is different from others because it reflects back to our heritage as believers, and it also looks ahead to a time when Jesus will sit and reign on the throne of David in Jerusalem. It has an ancient yet modern sound with a lot of celebration and dancing, too."

Incidentally, the "Arise, Philippines!" concert is sponsored by San Miguel Corp. Best World, Micro-D International and Empire East. Tickets, ranging from P100 to P800, are available at all National Bookstore outlets, Lord of Glory Christian Ministries, Broadway Centrum, Aurora blvd., QC (721-2141, 722-0778), Mohesaka Beauty Center, Continental Plaza, 45 Annapolis St., Greenhills, San Juan (721-4235, 721-6756) and all local Christian churches.

There are seven more days to go before the concert. Upbeat about his Unity Tour, the world-acclaimed worship leader has this message for the Filipino people: "Arise and shine for the glory of God is risen upon you. I am really looking forward to my time again with you. Let's glorify the Lord while we still have breath!"