Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Australia was next on the schedule.  My flight from Manila to Sydney, Australia left Wednesday late afternoon and flew all night into Thursday morning.  From Sydney another plane went to Brisbane, followed by a final leg on to Rockhampton in the state of Queensland.  Rockhampton has a population of well over 80,000 and the church numbers about 30.  When special efforts are made to proclaim the gospel are planned, the brethren are diligent in spreading the announcements far and wide.  It will be known in this city that there are saints interested in the salvation of their family, friends, and fellow citizens until the Lord returns – regardless of how many or how few respond.

Daryl Johnson greeted me with a big smile at the airport.  We went straight to the church building to unload several packages of books, workbooks, tracts, and CD’s.  These materials will be spread on a large table for everyone to select and take according to their interests.  Such resources are not readily available here.  One of the joys of coming is to share such materials whenever possible.

After checking in at the hotel, Daryl and I had a good visit discussing spiritual things over a late lunch.  I was ready for a nap by then, and afterward went to work and also took a long walk trying to overcome the jet lag and all-night travel.  The moon phase is a waning crescent, but I could not find it during my evening walk.  I will just send my love to everyone and let it catch up with the moon when it can.

Friday was a good day and a busy day.  Daryl took me to a copy center where we made copies of all the outlines for all six lessons on the theme “The Bible Is the Word of God” and had them stapled together as a unit.  A set of 30 was prepared for use here at Rockhampton and another set of 35 for use at the Sampaloc church in Metro Manila next week.  Then we went to the church building to open all the packages of books I brought and to spread the materials on two large tables for people to view and take.

I worked on email for a short time (the task is unending but necessary).  After I grabbed a quick supper, Neville Johnson took me to the church building to start the meeting at 6:30 P.M.  The first sermon discussed “The Glory of God” proclaimed in both creation and Scripture, based on Psalm 19.  The second sermon was a study of “The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture” (2 Tim. 3:14-17).  There were 22 precious souls gathered tonight including Carol Zussino from Gladstone with a friend named Michelle she brought.  Not really knowing how many to expect, the brethren said this was a good start.

Saturday was largely devoted to study in preparation for two lessons tonight and two lessons for Sunday with a little time for email on the side.  Tonight the first sermon focused on “The Writing and Canon of Scripture” to show that no books of the Bible have been lost or added – the Bible is complete exactly as God gave it.  This was followed by “Apocryphal Books and Other False Scriptures,” showing why all such books are not included in the true Word of God.  During the Q & A period there were only a few side questions but nothing on the theme – several brethren said their questions were answered by the sermon.

While greeting everyone after the service, I spoke to Michelle and learned she wanted to be baptized tomorrow.  I asked her to consider what would happen if she died in an accident or if the Lord returned before tomorrow’s service.  She immediately said she was ready to be baptized.  We gathered about 10 people who were still at the building to share the joyous occasion.  It took 15-20 minutes to fill the baptistry.

I gave a short lesson on the meaning of the confession, “I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”  He is our perfect sacrifice and Savior – he is deity – he has the power to forgive our sins – he alone can lead us to heaven – therefore, we must commit ourselves to believe and obey everything he teaches!  Michelle then made the good confession and I baptized her into Christ for the remission of her sins.  As she came up from the water, the saints began singing “Oh Happy Day.”   She is from New Guinea and has lived in Australia for 13 years.  She will be worshiping with Carol in Gladstone, thus doubling the size of the congregation there.  I hope brethren from here can occasionally go to Gladstone to encourage them.

The temperatures have climbed a little each day and on this beautiful Lord’s Day it reached over  100°F (40°C) with high humidity as well.  It is summer time south of the equator!

Since the church meets in the afternoon, Daryl took me to visit some memorial sites to the U.S. military’s involvement in this area during W.W. II 1942-1945.  Some 70,000 U.S. troops were stationed in the area because Japanese submarines were often tracked off the east coast of Australia and an invasion was fully expected.  New Guinea and Papua were territories of Australia less than 100 miles north of the mainland which were taken by Japan very early.  The war in those areas was the only thing that prevented Japan from invading Australia.

After the ware ended in 1945, many American troops ended up marrying Australians.  The father of Rosalie (Daryl’s wife) married an Australia, moved here, and raised his family here.

I forgot to get the attendance but over 30 assembled for the services at 4:00 P.M.  Having shown the Bible has been passed down intact in previous lessons, today we studied two lessons on “The Bible: God’s Only True Word” (2 Tim. 3:16).  We reviewed evidences proving that the Bible is God’s inspired Word and God has not given any other inspired message to mankind today – not the Hindu Vedas, not the Muslim Koran, not the Book of Mormon, and not the pronouncements of the Catholic Pope, a Protestant creed, or a Pentecostal pastor.

Our audience was very attentive including a good number of young people.  I pointed out in the invitation that God did not give us the Bible as an academic discipline but as the message of His love for our salvation which He fully expects us to hear, believe, and obey.  No one obeyed the gospel this evening, but doubtless these young people will meditate on the truth and we hope they will obey the gospel soon.

It has been a joy to work with the saints at Rockhampton again.  I am thankful for God’s providence through Jamie and Deborah Williams which opened the door for me to know these brethren.  We must keep them in our prayers as they press on serving the Lord and proclaiming His Holy Word in Queensland where materialism and secularism reign.  May God bless them as they fight the good fight of faith to the end!

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:
http://www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com
http://www.biblework.com
http://www.truthmagazine.com
http://www.CEIbooks.com