The Beautiful Feet of
Robert & Kay Bickert
By Gil E. Valenzuela
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation.” Isaiah 52:7 NIV
A surprise reunion
What would it be like to live on the other side of the world where we knew no one? My wife and I and our young family wondered when we moved to Wilmore, Kentucky in the Fall of 1994 to attend school at Asbury Seminary.
Our apprehensions were quickly dispelled when the Wesleyan Seminary Foundation and fellow Wesleyan seminarians warmly welcomed us and made us feel we will have a home away from home.
But the biggest surprise was when one day, not too long after our arrival in Wilmore, I saw a man wearing a barong (Philippine shirt) crossing the street. I chased him! It was Robert Bickert, my missionary! We hugged, cried and rejoiced on that surprise reunion.
“My family and I live here in Wilmore and I’m doing my doctoral studies here at Asbury” Bob explained.
This was the continuation of our special bond which started in the Philippines when I was yet a young man in my teens.
My call to ministry was influenced by Bob Bickert. I remember praying at the altar during youth conventions responding to his challenge for us young people to be involved in the kingdom work. That was many years ago- in the mid-70s, when I said “Here I am Lord send me.”
After many detours towards that call, In 1994, I finally decided to follow God in full time ministry. I left my job as an engineer in the Middle East, came to America to prepare for ministry at Asbury Seminary.
God in His mysterious ways orchestrated that my path once again cross that of Bob Bickert’s. The one who challenged and encouraged me to become a laborer for God’s vineyard was there to guide and support me towards the fulfillment of that call.
Loved and Cared for by the Bickerts
Bob and Kay guided us through our transition to a new environment. They poured on us the love, care and encouragement we needed to survive and thrive in our pursuit of ministerial education. They taught us how to raise our young family. They introduced us to several church congregations of the Wesleyan church in the states of Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Virginia and the Carolinas. In the process, some church congregations took us under their care by sponsoring us through our seminary studies.
For many years while in Kentucky, Bob and Kay trusted us to do the missionary part of the Kids Summer Camp in the Kentucky District. They cared for our spiritual wellbeing as well. We had a regular Bible study and discipleship meeting with them.
The beautiful feet
In June of 1997, I received a call informing me that Bob Bickert had an emergency heart surgery at the Lexington hospital. My wife and I rushed to see him. We found him at the ICU fitted with breathing tubes and needles in both hands. I could not shake his hand, nor hug him as I used to. So, as I stood at the side of his hospital bed by his feet, I lifted the white linen and saw his feet and kissed them. I uttered a prayer of thanksgiving and healing for this man of God.
As I kissed Bob’s feet, I thought to myself: “These are the feet that are tirelessly bringing the Good News of salvation to my people- the Filipinos. And these are what the Bible refer to as “beautiful feet.”
On the mountains
Bob and Kay Bickert ministered in the Mountain Province of the Philippines. Baguio City and the adjoining areas lie 9,600 feet above sea level, the third highest peak in the Philippines. They trekked the mountain sides of La Trinidad and braved the dangerous roads with deep ravines of Sinipsip and Benguet. They were there to train pastors and Bible school students how to grow and multiply churches.
On the plains
The ministries of the Bickerts were not limited to the mountains. They actually started in the plains of Luzon in the urban centers of Metro Manila where they helped organize and establish one of the biggest church congregation in Philippine Wesleyan General Conference- the Cainta Wesleyan Church. This active and thriving congregation later gave birth to several churches in Metro Manila.
Bob and Kay Bickert’s ministry to the Filipinos through the Wesleyan World Mission is multi-faceted. They served as Bible school teachers, church planters, field trainers, counselors, disciplers, confidants and friends.
Leaving their footprints
There is no denying that the Bickert’s almost 5 decades of missionary work truly contributed to the growth of the Philippine Wesleyan Church! They left a tremendous mark in the lives of thousands of Filipinos both among the church workers and the laities. Their influences both in the church congregations and in individuals like me and my family are their beautiful and precious legacies. Indeed, their beautiful feet left indelible footprints! (The Bickerts started their Philippine mission work in 1970.)
Although they were already in their retirement age, they kept going back to the Philippines involving themselves in training pastors and leaders. I kept receiving their regular Missionary Bulletin Reports up until 2019!
Beyond the harvest field
Robert Bickert’s love for the Filipino people went far beyond his labor in the harvest field. He took it to the academic arena for an in-depth study of the Filipino culture, aimed at understanding and improving approaches to evangelism and church growth. His doctoral dissertation which consists of 637 pages is a testament to Dr. Robert Andrew Bickert’s deep love, compassion and genuine interest for the Filipino people.
He took great lengths in studying and understanding the Philippine social practices which include the subjects of compadreze (alliance and kinship). hiya (shame), pakikisama (smooth interpersonal relations), utang na loob (debt of gratitude), and amor-propio (sense or love for self). His doctoral dissertation is entitled “Perception and Response to Receptivity: The History and Growth of the Wesleyan Church in the Philippines 1932-1994.”
He covered a lot of grounds in this academic work making him an expert and an authority in the subjects of history and expansion of the Wesleyan Church in the Philippines.
Washing the beautiful feet
One of our visits to the Bickerts in Wilmore Kentucky was very special and memorable to me. My wife Edita and I wanted to show them our gratitude and appreciation. We had no materials things to offer. But our hearts were filled with love. I dug my garden and brought Bob my green and white variegated hostas. We had the fondest conversation on ministry and family matters while planting the hostas. While Edita helped Kay prepare dinner in the kitchen.
At night after dinner, Edita brought out the portable foot spas, filled them with warm water and poured some soothing essential oils. Edita washed and soothed Madam Kay’s feet while I did Brother Bob’s. “Your beautiful, tired feet needed some TLC, I joked.”
While washing their feet, we listened to their interesting tales of trekking the mountainside of the Cordilleras and walking the busy streets of Metro Manila to bring the good news, proclaim peace, bring good tidings and proclaim salvation to the Filipino people. And they have tons of stories accumulated within the 50 years of dedicated missionary service.
Robert Bickert- Our Hero
When we heard of Bro Bob’s fight with cancer, my wife and I visited him in Wilmore. We were warned by the family that we may not be able to interact with him well because of his worsening condition.
But he surprised everyone when on the day of our visit he was up on his feet to welcome us. He joined us at the dining table and had several servings of the Filipino food I cooked. He sang and prayed with us. He sat on his easy chair and shared his fond memories of their missionary journey in the Philippines mentioning names, dates and events with amazing details.
One of the highlights of our visit was when he presented to us his recently completed book on the indigenous people- the Igorots of the Mountain Province. The date on the manuscript was March 23, 2021. We visited him on April 1, He passed away on April 13, 2021.
Even in his sick bed, he had the Filipinos in his heart and mind. Robert Bickert is truly our hero!
Robert Bickert was wearing a Barong Tagalog- a Philippine Native shirt as he laid to rest in a simple pine coffin made by his son Timothy. He wished to be buried like Igorots. Even in his death he expressed his love for the Filipinos.
Robert Birckert has finally heard the Master saying “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
HONORING A WAR HERO
(Read by Edita Valenzuela during the funeral service.)
Today, April 17, two princes are being laid to rest.
Prince Philip of England- the husband and consort of Queen Elizabeth.
The other prince is Robert Bickert. He is also a prince because he is a child of the King of kings.
But Robert Bickert was not just a prince. He was a warrior of God.
For 50 years he and his beloved wife Kay marched into the frontline of the war zone- the mission field. They fearlessly fought the enemy, they rescued souls of men and women. They helped build fortresses (churches) around the world many of them in the Philippines.
Yes, Bob Bickert is a war veteran. He is indeed a hero!
And so, on behalf of the Filipino people (touched by his life) and the Wesleyan Church of the Philippines, we the Filipinos present in this memorial/funeral service are presenting the flag of the Philippines to Bob Bickert and his family.
Madam Kay Bickert, you are a living hero and we’re also honoring you today!Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Gi and Edita Valenzuela, Angelito & Marivic Malaca, Aldean & Jessie Pablo.
We love you Brother Bob and Madam Kay. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Maraming Salamat po!
Agyaman kami apo!
Paalam! (Goodbye)
myJOURNEY 