Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Jhun Bautista and Lordy Salunga picked me up at the hotel in Manila Friday morning.  We first made a short visit at the clinic of Dr. Teresa Toreja to pick up some medicine she believes will bolster my resistence to getting sick.  Finally, after five hours of travel we reached Cabanatuan City in the province of Nueva Ecija in the late afternoon.

About 7:15 P.M. we arrived at the home of Danny Banting where a dozen people were gathered.  After a delicious Filipino meal, I taught a lesson entitled “When Peter Confessed Christ,” a verse by verse study of Matthew 16:13-19 showing that Christ established only one true church – and it is not Catholicism or denominational churches.  Our audience gave close attention, participated in reading the passages, and responded to brief questions presented to reinforce the lesson.

When the floor was opened for questions, everyone agreed the study was clear and no one had any question.  I closed by saying, “When the truth is clear in our mind, each one of us must make a decision to obey it and receive salvation.”  Several of these people have already been baptized and others continue to study.

This opportunity was made possible through Raymond Banting, a son who worships with the saints in Whatkatane, New Zealand.  He hopes to see his whole family obey the gospel in time.  Jhun Bautista has been conducting weekly Bible studies in this home.

The moon is bright and beautiful, smiling again tonight!

Jhun Bautista requested the series on The Authority of Christ be presented on Saturday at the church in Cabanatuan City.  His number of expected attendees rose to 80, but as the time drew near the number rose to 100, and when everyone arrived 125 were present.  Additional chairs were brought in until the church building was full.  I was able to complete five of the six lessons today, and Lordy Salunga also preached one lesson.  Sunday morning I will present the last lesson in the series, God willing.

This series surveys the original gospel and church of Christ, followed by the development of Roman Catholicism, then the Protestant Reformation, next the great effort to restore New Testament Christianity, and a final warning about the danger of drifting into apostasy again.  Our visitors included Catholics who were very attentive.  No one responded to the gospel invitation, but we trust the seed of God’s kingdom was sown in their hearts and it will produce the fruit of obedient faith and salvation.

After the service Jhun took me to see the memorial to the Raid at Cabanatuan (also called The Great Raid) when over 500 Allied prisoners were rescued from their brutal Japanese captors on January 30, 1945 by combined American forces and Filipino guerilla forces.  These prisoners were remnants of the Bataan Death March when American forces surrendered to the Japanese in the fall of the Philippines.

Although General Douglas MacArthur had already landed in the Philippines and was progressing in the liberation of Luzon, it was feared the Japanese would massacred the prisoners at Cabanatuan before its liberation.  Therefore, the desperate rescue attempt was considered imperative – and it succeeded when the Japanese were taken completely by surprise.  A movie was made about this raid and rescue a few years ago.

I enjoy visiting such memorials, though it is rare I can find time to do so.  They are reminders of American sacrifices and of God’s providence in paving the way for the spread of the gospel.  Our special relationship with the Philippines after the Spanish-American War of 1898 has opened many doors to preach the gospel in this land by God’s good providence.  What a privilege and joy it is to come here and find so many receptive hearts!  Thank you for your prayers and financial support which make this work possible!

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