Philippine Report November 27 – December 18, 2018
December 18, 2018th Year of Our Lord
HALBROOK REPORT: 72nd PHILIPPINE TRIP Nov. 27-Dec. 18, 2018
Dear brethren,
God opened a door for me to go with Jim McDonald to the Philippines in 1995 and Nov. 27-Dec. 18 my 72nd trip was completed. Singing classes were conducted by Steven Saunders, evangelist in Macon, MO and Jim Barnett, evangelist in Hope, NM. Psalm 148 calls upon all the creation to praise Jehovah: “Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven” (Ps. 148:13). We also taught classes on the theme “The Bible Is the Word of God.”
I taught 42 lessons and 18 precious souls submitted to Christ in baptism to wash away their sins.
Jim, Steven, and I arrived safely in Manila Wednesday, November 28, about 10:30 P.M. The next day Elias Cruz and other Filipino brethren helped us re-pack the boxes we brought to send them ahead to the places we were scheduled to teach. Steven and Jim distributed about 50 guide books on singing and song leading at each place, and I always distribute Bibles, study material, and CD’s after our lessons are completed. I also distributed several communion trays made of plywood by Laymon Byers which are in great demand.
Friday and Saturday singing classes were conducted at Kapitbahayan, Navotas, Metro Manila with Jerry Toreja, Elias Cruz, and other saints. I taught two lessons on Matthew 23-34-25:46 entitled “Judgment by Christ: Jerusalem, and All Men” concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and also the final judgment. My Saturday sermons were “Where Are the Dead?” and “With Wings as Eagles.”
On the Lord’s Day we scattered to various churches in Metro Manila: Steven at Kapitbahayan, Jim at Edsa-Pasay, and me at the Bilbid Prison in Muntinlupa City. In the afternoon all of us met at Paranaque City where a congregation meets in Jimmy Battung’s garage. Steven spoke on God’s will that men should obey Him and then both Jim and Steven led the audience in studies about worship in song.
A Monday flight took us to Puerto Princesa City on the island of Palawan to work with Dario Belviz. Over 50 men from the 65 churches on this island joined us. Jonathan Carino came from Cebu and Carlito Abella from Mindanao. Monday-Wednesday Jim and Steven conducted singing classes with good participation and good success. Between classes I taught topics such as “I Will Sing Unto the Lord,” “Is Instrumental Music Authorized in Worship Today?” and “Judgment by Christ: Jerusalem, and All Men.”
Thursday-Friday was devoted to the series on “The Bible Is the Word of God.” Jim gave an overview of the Bible showing its message is salvation in Jesus Christ. I then focused on “The Glory of God” in the universe and in Scripture from Psalm 19. Steven discussed the three periods of Bible history: the patriarchal age, the Mosaic age, and the gospel age. My next lesson was on “The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture” followed by “The Writing and Canon of Scripture.” These studies show the Scriptures were given by the divine inspiration of God, resulting in 66 books protected and preserved to our time without the loss or addition of even one book.
The last day Steven taught about God’s plan to pardon sin during the three dispensations of Bible history. Next, I presented a study of “The Apocrypha and Other False Scriptures.” Jim summarized the New Testament church. I concluded with two lessons on “The Bible: God’s Only True Word,” a study of evidences for the inspiration of Scripture. Three were baptized into Christ during the week.
A Saturday flight took us to us to Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, where we were met by Jack Jaco. Sunday we scattered to preach in area congregations. Monday-Wednesday singing classes were conducted, with Thursday-Friday devoted to “The Bible Is the Word of God.” Over sixty people participated. Two people were baptized the last day. It was a good week! The gospel is spreading on Negros.
December 15 we flew back to Manila and scattered again to preach Sunday: Jim at Kapitbahayan, Steven at Edsa-Pasay, and me at Sampoloc with Tony Hernado. This is a deaf mute church. We studied “Dangers of the Holiday Season” and “Two Attitudes Toward God’s Word: Conservative & Liberal.”
Monday Jim and Steven flew home while I went to the Philippine Bible Society to buy 582 Bibles
in Filipino dialects to be shipped throughout the islands.
Only God’s grace and the help of dozens of saints made this trip possible. God bless you all!
In Christian love, Ron Halbrook
To see good Bible study material, go to:
http://www.
http://www.biblework.com
http://www.truthmagazine.com
http://www.CEIbooks.com