Halbrook Philippine Report August 11-15, 2014
August 15, 2014th Year of Our Lord
Dear family, brethren, and friends,
Thanks to your prayers and God’s good
providence, the trip continues to go well here in the Philippines. I am writing
this report from Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur. On August 11 (Monday)
Jonathan Carino, Jack Jaco, and I flew from Cebu City to Pagadian
City. Rody Gumpad had arrived earlier in the day, and as a bonus Tessie
is with him. This week will be devoted to teaching classes on The Home and
Family Life at the Bogo church of Christ here in Pagadian City. Ramon Carino
has preached for these saints for many years but this is their new
location.
This church saved money for many years to
build a church building, which is well underway with some help from individual
saints in the U.S. If fully packed, 150 people could be seated. The large
windows are not yet covered, no ceiling has been installed, and much additional
finishing work is needed all round, but it is a joy to see the good progress
being made. Ramon will be 90 on August 24, God willing, and it has long been
his dream to see such a building completed before he leaves this world.
The Home and Family Life series began on
Tuesday with studies taken from L. A. Stauffer’s excellent workbook on Family
Life: A Biblical Perspective. Participants arrived throughout the day. I
taught the introductory lesson on “Biblical Perspective” and
additional topics on the “Design of Marriage,” “Head of the Wife,”
and “A Help Meet.” Jack and Rody taught another four related subjects
for a total of eight presentations today.
About 70 participants have enrolled. It is an
inspiration to teach these lessons with brother and sister Ramon Carino sitting
at the front table because they have been married 68 years and counting.
Another inspiring couple was seated on the opposite side at the front holding
their one-month old infant and soaking up every lesson. Most people attending
are preachers who will teach these lessons in their home congregations in the
future. Hopefully this will be a good leavening influence for many of God’s
people.
A torrential rainstorm created so much noise
on the metal roof that we lost 45 minutes in the late afternoon, which threw
the supper hour late, but we managed to complete all the classes. The rain
cools the atmosphere which is a great blessing in the Philippine summer heat.
The second day of classes is always better
because participants coming from a distance use public transportation such as
jeepneys and buses which do not run on reliable schedules, so they dribble in
all day. Once they arrive, they stay for the days scheduled. Therefore, today’s
first session started right on time at 8:00 A.M. This morning, Wednesday,
I taught Christ’s law on marriage, divorce, and remarriage followed by a sumary
of some false doctrines which pervert Christ’s law.
In the afternoon we began to study Mike
Willis’ Harmony in the Home by discussing what it means to put off
“the old man” and to put on “the new man” in Christ. Our
applications showed the very distinct effects of sin and righteousness in the
family circle. Jack and Rody also presented additional material warning against
the destructive effects of sin in the home and emphasizing the benefits and
blessings of righteousness.
Pagadian City is having overcast and rainy
weather, which continues to cool the atmosphere, a definite blessing this time
of year for which we give thanks! Mindanao typically has brownouts from time to
time. There was no electric power when I presented my lesson on love from 1
Corinthians 13, so I put aside the laptop and projector outlines our study on a
whiteboard.
After today’s material was covered, about
6:30 Jonathan, Jack, Rody, Jhun Carpentero, and I met with a longtime preacher
from Negros who has suffered from family problems for many years. As a result
his work as an evangelist has floundered. For two exhausting hours we listened
to him and offered the best advice we could, urging him to focus on saving his
marriage rather than on preaching. We pointed out the necessity for both his
wife and him to repent and correct any sins in their lives, and then to devote
themselves to rebuilding their relationship based on the instructions given in
God’s Word. We then joined our hearts in fervent prayer to God on his behalf.
Today, Thursday, we are still blessed
with overcast rainy weather, thank God. The morning sessions completed several
studies about putting on the new man and the effects this has to strengthen and
enrich family life. The afternoon topics focused on The Sermon on the Mount in
Matthew 5-7, showing how the gospel changes our hearts, attitudes, and actions
as citizens of God’s kingdom. Living in a right relationship with God teaches
us how to live in a right relationship with each other, which is a great boon
and blessing to our family relationship.
During my presentation after lunch, another
rainstorm hit and drowned out my voice even with a microphone, so we waited
about 15 minutes. I then discovered the audience could hear if I held the mike
nearly touching my lips, so we proceeded while we were being sprayed by wind
and rain blowing through the open window spaces.
The brethren are edified and encouraged by
singing songs between the sessions, especially “Where Love Is In the
Home” and “God Give Us Christian Homes.”
It is always bitter-sweet to come to the last
day of our studies as we did today, August 15. The day was divided into
two main segments. All morning Jack and Rody presented material on the theme of
“Man’s Leadership in the Home.” In the afternoon I taught all 8 chapters
of the Song of Solomon by dividing it into four presentations. This rich book
celebrates passionate love in the context of marriage. The unfolding story of
Solomon’s courtship and marriage to the Shulamite girl when he was young
reveals how love grows and matures between a man and a woman. Every married
person will find themselves in this book, yet many brethren have never studied
it.
Some of us commented at the end of the class
about how encouraging it was to see brother and sister Ramon Carino sitting at
the front for all 32 lessons in four days – listening intently as if it were
the first time they had heard such lessons! I asked brother Ramon to lead the
closing prayer and to pray for all of our families.
Afterward, the brethren expressed warm appreciation
for the week’s studies and the additional materials distributed at the end. No
lectures series like this is complete in the Philippines without a
“picture taking” session. For 30 minutes the brethren took all sorts
of group pictures including all participants in some shots and then various
special shots. It was a joyous occasion.
It is not possible to visit all the
congregations and teach these lessons on the home, but the preachers will
scatter back to their home congregations and teach what they have learned.
Thank you, brethren, for helping to make this week possible. The fruit abounds
to your account!
In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook
To
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