Dear family, brethren, and friends,

It is a bitter-sweet experience to complete preaching appointments because we  treasure our relationship and new memories with brethren where the work has been completed while we look forward to the same things at the next appointment.  I have learned to love the saints at Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malyasia and we never have enough time to accomplish everything we would like to do, but we trust God’s providence to use our efforts to advance His cause and His kingdom in some way.  

After saying final good-byes Thursday to Nick and Justina Rowe, I spent 4-5 hours in two airports and over 6 hours on two planes in order to reach Manila  about 9:30 P.M. via Kuala Lumpur.  After talking with Donna and Connie W. Adams via cell phone, exercising, and catching up on some pressing emails, I got to bed about 1:00 A.M.  All is well that ends well by the good grace of God.

Friday I flew from Manila to Iloilo City on Panay Island to meet Jack Jaco and begin several days of work with him.  The plane landed in rain and Jack said one typhoon is approaching but will likely turn N.W. and hit Luzon head-on, as is typical this time of year, and a second one is headed this way, but we will not know its path until it gets closer.  

Before and after flying, I was able to get some work done on several emails and on studying and printing sermon outlines which will be distributed.  Thank you to all of my moon watchers for keeping track of the moon because I have not been able to see it since arriving because of cloud cover.

Following up on fruitful studies in past years with denominational preachers, Saturday was spent with 68 attendees in a function room at the Madison Hotel in OIloiloCity.  Several new people joined us, but also we were blessed to have past attendees return who have been learning and seem to be on a trajectory toward conversion.  The two morning studies were “Salvation: Amazing, Astonishing” and “Salvation by Grace through Faith.”  These lessons emphasized the difference between New Testament teaching on the plan of salvation and denominational systems of error.  The afternoon was spent in a study of two sermons on “Instrumental Music in Worship?”  

We were surprised that the open forum generated few questions on baptism – the audience seemed satisfied with the clarifications made on that subject showing that obedience to the gospel including baptism does not nullify grace.  It is typical to get strong objections on that subject.  The majority of the questions centered on attempts to justify instrumental music, but the discussion was well received. It is hard for denominational people to face the reality that Christ never authorized the practice in New Testament worship.    Jack plans to follow up with several who reached out to us as a result of today’s studies.

On the Lord’s Day we gathered with 32 souls in the morning at the Gleaners Christian Church [Baptist] with Hernane Epiquado.  He has shown more and more interest in the truth over the past couple of years and was very anxious for our return.  The lessons were “True Worship VS False Worship” and “Do I Need to be Baptized Again,” the latter based on Acts 19:1-7 where 12 souls were re-baptized after learning their baptism was not valid.  Henane said to the audience that preaching is like shooting arrows because you never know where they will land – it was obvious he meant the arrows of truth were landing in his heart.  He continued with us for the rest of the day and showed me that he already had over 180 people access today’s lessons posted on his Facebook page.

After lunch we visited the Convention Baptist Church with Samuel Talha, also in Oton, where about 50 attended.  Samuel attended the lessons yesterday at the hotel and he let it be known that he is very interested in learning more about the true gospel of Christ.  I preached “Back to the Bible” and “Simon Samaritan Sorcerer Saved” to a very attentive audience in spite of the extreme heat.  

At 6:00 P.M. we worshiped with a new small congregation meeting at Guimbal in a compound owned by an oil company where several brethren work.  Marvin Escudero hales from General Santos City on Mindanao and works here and he has been sharing the gospel with his friends and converting them.  Fourteen of us filled a small meeting room to study “Ethiopian Official Submits to Christ” as we worshiped together.

After stopping for supper with Hernane, Samuel, and Marvin where we enjoyed a good visit, Jack and I traveled to the Dumangas Port where we waited several hours to catch a ferry to Bacolod City on Negros Occidental at about 2:00 A.M.  There was a plus: We were treated to a most beautiful full moon, reminding me of so dear souls I love who see the same moon!  

By the time I got to my hotel in Bacolod City and went to bed, it was 5:30 A.M.  We had hoped to catch a ferry around midnight, but, oh, well, instead we experienced another Philippine adventure.

It was a busy but productive day!  Thank you for your prayers which help to keep us safe by God’s good providence.  

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook