Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world.

The final two days in Puerto Princesa City on Palawan were devoted to the theme “The Bible Is the Word of God.”  Jim began the series on Thursday with an overview of the Bible message which is focused on Jesus Christ.  My first presentation was a verse by verse examination of Psalm 19 entitled “The Glory of God.”  Both the creation and Scripture proclaim God’s great glory!  When we extended the Lord’s invitation, two young ladies came to be baptized as a result of the work of Jonathan and Emmanuel Sapitula.  They were baptized into Christ without delay!

After lunch Steven discussed the three periods of Bible history: the patriarchal age, the Mosaic age, and the gospel age or Christian age.  He emphasized that God has always expected man to obey Him.  I then directed our attention to “The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture” followed by “The Writing and Canon of Scripture.”  These lessons show the Scriptures were given by the miraculous inspiration of God, resulting in 66 books which He has protected and preserved to our time without the loss or addition of even one book.

It was uplifting to see how well everyone paid attention throughout the day to these detailed presentations.  It is winter in the Philippines because we are north of the equator, but winter time temperatures are running in the 80’s precisely because we are so near the equator.  I was wet with sweat when we finished today, though our function room in the hotel is air conditioned (somewhat).  A replica of Santa stands by the desk at the hotel entrance, but it is a wonder he has not wilted and melted in this heat and humidity!  I thought about telling him to peel off that heavy Santa coat – it makes me hot just looking at him!

Our last day was Friday and Steven taught about God’s plan to pardon sin during the three dispensations of Bible history.  God’s plan was focused on the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Next, I presented a study of “The Apocrypha and Other False Scriptures,” proving that no books have been added or lost from the original 66 books of the Bible.  All claims that there are additional inspired books which should have been included are false.

At the end of the study, I again extended the Lord’s invitation and a young lady stepped forward to obey the gospel.  Dario took her confession that Jesus is the Son of God, and immediately took her to the ocean and baptized her into Christ and his church.

In the afternoon I presented a lesson in two parts on “The Bible: God’s Only True Word,” an overview of evidences that the Bible and the Bible alone is the inspired Word of God.  After the last lesson, the participants for this week received a simple certificate of completion and then each one selected books, workbooks, tracts, and CD’s to take home for further study.  These were contained in the box we sent ahead from Manila.  Finally, we sang “God Be With You Till We Meet Again” and parted ways.

Dario and several other brethren took us to the airport to catch a 9:00 A.M. flight to Manila on Saturday.  Saying our final good bye’s always evokes mixed emotions because we have grown closer to these dear saints, and yet we are anxious also to work with the next group.  There was a layover in the Manila airport which gave time to eat lunch, then our next flight brought us to Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, where we were met by Jack Jaco at 6:00 P.M.  It is always a joyous reunion to be with this dear brother.

Jack has been preparing to host the classes planned for next week.  We arrived at the hotel exhausted and ready for a good night’s rest.  Our hotel is a few blocks from the provincial capital building which has a large park and walking area at the front, so I walked for an hour, then returned to review some lessons for Sunday, and finally crashed in the bed!

On the Lord’s Day Jack picked up Steven and Jim to travel to Escalante City where James Berden labors as an evangelist.  Steven spoke there and six people responded to the gospel invitation and were baptized into Christ.  Then they proceeded to Toboso, Sagay City where Jun Anunos labors and Jim preached to these saints about the fall of Jericho.

Shem Tagapan brought me this morning to the congregation meeting in Capisan, Mansilinga which is part of Bacolod City about 30 minutes from the hotel.  Over 30 precious souls were gathered in this poor community and they listened intently to a study entitled “Many Experts Reject Baptism,” based on Luke 7:29-30, examining dodges made by denominational pastors to the simple straightforward teaching of Christ in the Great Commission: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.”   These so-called religious experts twist and turn every direction in an effort to avoid baptism as an essential condition for sinners to receive the forgiveness of sins.

A Catholic visitor offered me some fish to eat in appreciation for the study.  I graciously thanked him but do not feel like eating when the atmosphere is so hot and humid.  It is unusually hot for this season in the Philippines and my clothes were wet from sweat.

This afternoon Shem took me to the second congregation he serves.  At Kawayanan, Taloc, Bago City he asked me to repeat the same sermon.  The attendance was 35-40 and our audience could not have been more attentive in spite of the afternoon heat – a brownout prevented the use of fans.  I returned to the hotel in my wet clothes rejoicing for the good work of Shem and the faith of these saints.  Shem was converted from the Baptist Church in 2002 under the preaching of Jonathan Carino.  Jonathan and his wife will join us for this upcoming week of study.

Despite the heat, I was determined to take my walk tonight because it sustains my stamina.  I have been disappointed since arriving in the Philippines because the moon has been hiding from me.  But, lo and behold, the last couple of days when I turned my laptop computer on, it shows a strikingly beautiful picture of the moon!

It is uplifting to know so many of you pray for this work, and be assured I am praying for you as well.

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