Wednesday, February 27, 2019th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

Bible lectureships are good to encourage and edify preachers and hopefully to better equip them to be more effective in their local work.  It is also good to visit some local churches when possible to see the work firsthand and to help in harvesting souls – usually there are visitors.  On Monday James Paet and Junior Gumpad picked me up at 7:45 A.M. to visit two congregations, and I returned to the hotel about 8:00 P.M.

The first stop was at the church in San Pablo, Laguna Province, one of the churches Ely Ebuenga helps.  He as been working with this congregation 13 years.  Today 21 attended and my sermon was “Precious: The Death of God’s Saints” (Ps. 116:15).

In the open forum several points were discussed further including the question whether people baptized into the Catholic Church need to be baptized again (this nation is 80% Catholic).  In Acts 19:1-5 twelve people learned their baptism was not the baptism commanded by Jesus Christ in the Great Commission.  Jesus said in Mark 16:16, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.”  The Catholic religion changes it to mean, “The baby who is baptized shall be saved, and believe later at confirmation.”  This is not the baptism commanded by Christ.  Our visitors were very attentive to this answer to their question and we hope it will bear fruit soon.

After lunch we proceeded to Calamba City, also in Laguna, where we met with 43 people.  The local preacher is Edwin de Pedro.  The sermon “Salvation: Amazing, Astonishing” is based on Isaiah 52:13-15 which prophesied God would send a special Servant who would die for our sins (described in detail in chapter 53).

The open forum sparked wide ranging questions about the Godhead (one God, three persons), God’s foreknowledge in relation to man’s free will (see Deut. 29:29), whether people can be saved in false religions (no – see 2 Thess. 1:7-9), and the meaning of Mark 9:38-40.  In Mark 9 the disciples encountered a few men whose teaching and practice was the same as their own, but they did not accept them because they had not known them previously.  Jesus corrected the Apostles, telling them they should accept such men.  If the teaching and practice of those men had been different, the answer of Jesus would have been different (see Matt. 7:15).

There was a pleasant surprise when I looked out at the audience and saw Marietta Ashton from the White Rock church of Christ in British Columbia, Canada.  I had not seen her for many years, but she was visiting the Philippines and getting to know brethren with whom she has corresponded.  She is a sister to Shirley Torres who died in December (wife of Dan).  After the service which lasted from 2:30-5:00 P.M., we had a most pleasant visit for an hour.  Then, James made the long trek back to the hotel – we arrived about 8:00 P.M.

Our Tuesday schedule began with a two hour trip to the church at Bicas, Caloocan City where Ely Ebuenga preaches.  There were 31 souls present to hear the study entitled “Salvation: Amazing, Astonishing.”  Jimmy Bobis translated and one lady stepped forward to confess Christ and to submit to him in water baptism for the remission of her sins (Acts 2:38).  A good lunch was prepared by the Ebuenga family and then we traveled again to reach the church in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.

A man who spent 26 years in the Worldwide Church of God and another seven years in the Methodist Church searched on the internet and learned the truth.  He was baptized 13 years ago and Alex Estoy is preaching here with the help of other preachers from Kapitbahayan, Navotas.  My first lesson for the 28 people who assembled was “Salvation: Amazing, Astonishing,” and then a group of young people arrived from school and I preached “Young People: Read the Bible!”  Everyone paid good attention and it was a joy to spend the afternoon with these saints.

The drive back to the hotel took another two hours, but it would have been longer were it not for James and Junior sing the GPS to zig and zag through the highways and byways of Metro Manila to avoid the worst clogged streets.

After working until 2:00 A.M., I did not get up until 7:45 Wednesday morning, but even with some heavy traffic James was able to bring Rody, Junior, and me to the Philippine Bible Society by 10:45.  The order I submitted will send 530 Bibles to various locations in several dialects around the Philippines.  This order cost over $4,700 and brethren already have donated funds designated for Bibles which will cover at least half of the bill.  One of the highest privileges of making these trips is purchasing Bibles – God’s Word will not return unto Him void but will accomplish His will and purpose (Isa. 55:8-12).

As I complete preparations to return home tomorrow, I am keeping an eye on Typhoon Wutip or Betty (local name) which is expected to enter the Philippines  the day of my flight.  It carries winds at 115-140 miles per hour but should not be close enough to Manila to delay my flight.

Please pray for Rody Gumpad, Sr.  After having all his teeth removed recently, yesterday the dentist installed six metal posts in his jaw bone to prepare for implants (the dentist will allow Rody to make whatever payments he can for as long as it takes). Rody’s face is swollen and he is fighting pain, which is normal at this stage.

It is hard to realize the 73rd trip is finally coming to a close.  A total of 56 presentations were made and 15 precious souls obeyed the gospel of Christ.  The visits to London and Paris as well as to the Philippines were well received and we can always rest assured God will give the increase according to His will when we proclaim His Word.  Please remember when readying these reports that the real heroes of the Philippine work are the Filipino brethren themselves – folks like me merely seek to strengthen their hands in the good work they are doing!  And, above all, to God be the glory!

My heart overflows with thanksgiving to God for the help, encouragement, and cooperation of brethren in these three countries, and for the moral and financial support of all the saints who make these trips 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