Halbrook Philippine Report Apr. 1-8, 2014
April 8, 2014th Year of Our Lord
Dear family, brethren, and friends,
My flights on April 1 from Louisville to Detroit to Nagoya, Japan to Manila went well. I was exhausted when I fell into the bed at the hotel about 2:00 AM on Thursday (Filipino time). Elias Cruz met me later that day to sort and pack teaching material I brought in four large boxes on the airplane. Then, he sent them via air cargo and the bus to the places I will distribute them on this trip. I spent the rest of the day studying, answering email, and preparing for the next days’ work.
Friday, April 4, a service was held at the home of Jimmy Battung, the retired police chief who was converted by Atoy Franco a few years ago. He adapted his garage as an open-air meeting place. It was a pleasant surprise to see Rick Halnas home on vacation from his job in New Zealand. He was here for his daughter’s high school graduation-she was valedictorian and plans to study medicine. About 20 souls met with us to hear lessons on “Simon Samaritan Sorcerer Saved” and “The Prison of Sin.”
The open forum included a question faced by a grandson of Jimmy. He has learned the truth and wants to be baptized, but his parents are fanatical Catholics and promised to put him out if he obeys the true gospel. We studied Matthew 10:34-37 about putting Christ above family members. That can be especially hard in Philippine culture which is still quite patriarchal. Pray for this young man to have the faith and courage to obey Christ.
Saturday’s appointment was at Vicas, North Caloocan City, Metro Manila where Ely Ebuenga preaches. After driving over an hour, we waited 1 ½ hours at a rendevous point because of some miscommunication with the men sent to meet us. The people were patiently waiting and singing when we arrived. It was past 11:00 AM when my lesson began on “Make Something Useful of Your Life: Serve God.” Though the people understand English, Ely wanted to be sure they got every point, so the lesson was translated by Jhun Layusa, finishing at 1:00 PM.
After lunch I preached on “Back to the Bible,” translated by Ely. During the invitation song, two young ladies who had been attentive came forward to be baptized into Christ.
Fearing the traffic would be heavy, we did not stay longer, and sure enough it took 2 ½ hours to get back to the hotel. Atoy Franco is my faithful driver and companion in going out to preach in Metro Manila. He was converted by Don Hastings several years ago and has proven himself to be a faithful servant of the Lord, always ready to help in any possible way.
I try to force myself to take some exercise every day no matter how tired I am, which boosts my stamina. When I get back to the hotel in the evenings, I eat, take care of details necessary to the work, and then take exercise. Fortunately, this hotel has an exercise room, and I have been going about 10:00 PM, which is much later than I prefer. In other towns I often look for a safe place to walk. By the time I shower and get to bed, I am exhausted and fall asleep almost instantly! (Those who may think these trips are vacations are welcome to join the “vacation” anytime they do not need a lot of rest 🙂 ).
On Sunday Atoy drove me to Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila where we worshiped with Willie Pastor and 60 men gathered with him. Rennie Frazier from the U.S. preached here yesterday, so they had studies for two days with American preachers. My lesson was entitled “Make Something Useful of Your Life: Serve God.” Including Willie’s translation, it took two hours to teach the lesson, so we studied the first part during the Bible study period and completed it during the worship hour. After dismissal we sat with several men for an hour answering questions on baptism and the undenominational nature of the New Testament church. As a result of these efforts, two men asked to be baptized shortly after we left.
We drove straight from the prison to Jimmy Battung’s home to join this small church in worship. I taught the same lesson, but there was no need to have it interpreted to this audience. One of Jimmy’s grandsons, Kyle Halnas, led the singing, and he has a natural voice for it. It is almost 1:00 AM as I write this report, so I will sleep well, just not enough.
All day Monday was spent with the saints at the Kapitbahayan church in Navotas, Metro Manila. The morning lessons were designed for a general audience as we studied “Make Something Useful of Your life: Serve God” and “Simon Samaritan Sorcerer Saved.” About 100 attended.
The afternoon was set aside for elders and preachers in an effort to settle a controversy which has brewed off and on for a year. Did Jesus raise himself from the grave, or was he helpless and dependent on the Father’s power to raise him like any other man? I began by presenting a verse by verse study of Mark 16 on “The Resurrection of Christ” to emphasize it is the foundation of our faith in him as the Savior. Next, I pointed out that in such miracles as the creation and the resurrection of Christ the Godhead collaborated and acted in perfect harmony. We cannot dissect the inner workings of the Godhead but are dependent on what is revealed, nothing more, nothing less.
We know there are passages referring to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit working in the resurrection of Christ. Further than what is revealed, we cannot explain this miracle or any miracle, but we cannot deny Jesus affirmed his power to lay down his life and to take it again (Jn. 10:17-18).
Next, we all grow in knowledge and understanding, and this growing process does not make us false teachers (2 Pet. 1:5-7). All the parties to this controversy affirm the resurrection of Christ, and yet all can grow in understanding this great doctrine-thus, not all differences constitute false doctrine.
The discussion continued for two hours without anyone getting angry or out of sorts. The brethren who differed seemed satisfied, and we pray now the saints will be more united in their efforts to serve God.
Today, Tuesday, Atoy Franco, Elijah Sikat, and I went to the Sampaloc church of Christ where Antonio “TonyBoy” Hornedo preaches here in Manila. They have been meeting for many years in a small room at the back of a building, reached by an outside passageway barely wide enough for two people to pass if they turn sideways. About 50 souls including saints and sinners were packed in this room like sardines. This is the deaf mute church in Manila.
There was no one present who could hear and interpret in sign language, but a brother signed as he read each PowerPoint chart I presented, and I wrote additional notes on the blackboard as we went along. My first lesson was “The Resurrection of Christ” followed by “The Prison of Sin.” The process moved slowly, but the audience was greatly attentive and constantly signing to each other and to the brother helping me to clarify the points. The heat and humidity were sweltering so that Elijah and a few others went outside for fresh air a couple of times to avoid heat exhaustion, but they returned to follow the lessons.
During the open forum there were questions by visitors about marriage, divorce, and remarriage. I showed Matthew 5:32 and 19:9 on PowerPoint charts and gave a simple exposition of each passage. After quite a bit of signing to each other, they all indicated they understood the rule of one man for one woman for life, and the one exception allowing an innocent mate to marry a new mate after divorcing a fornicator.
After a review of the plan of salvation and the one true church, six came forward asking to be baptized. We left exhausted by the heat but rejoicing for the souls who responded. There were many expressions of appreciation by smiles, hugs, handshakes, thumbs-up, and sign language. Spending the day in silence watching these people sing, pray, study, and communicate by signing made us reflect on the value of the gifts of hearing and speech! And we greatly admire people who seek and serve God in the absence of these gifts!
At all of these places I distributed books, booklets, and tracts for further study.
Without the love, prayers, and financial help of many saints, the work reported here would not have been done. Thank you, brethren! And, yes, I’ve managed to see the moon a couple of times, so be sure to keep it in your sights.
n Christian love, Ron Halbrook
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