Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Saturday morning, April 16, Robin Pulveras from the Pamplona region of Cagayan picked Craig and I up at the hotel in Tuguegarao and drove us westward in the Cagayan Province to reach the church at Cabuluan East, Ballesteros.  I had worked until 1:30 A.M. and was exhausted but manage to catnap as we traveled.

We arrived about 10:30 and 80-100 saints were singing while waiting for us.  Fidelfin Miranda has been doing effective work in the community and congregation.  Craig preached about five basic facts of life and I preached “Work While It Is Day.”  The 24 year old sister of two students at Tuguegarao obeyed the gospel and was baptized in the baptistry behind the church building.

When they have sufficient funds more Filipino brethren are including a baptistry with the church building so that they are not forced to go to creeks, rivers, rice wells, the sea, and other places to baptize people.  As the gospel continues to spread in the Philippines, there is a growing need for help to construct church buildings and some of you have donated funds for this purpose at times – the Cabuluan East congregation has benefitted from those donations.

Fidelfin’s wife provided a delicious lunch at their house including rice, vegetables, large shrimp, coconut water, fruit, and other good food.

Our first Lord’s Day service was at the Dubeng church where Robinson Pulveras has labored for many years.  The building was full to overflowing with about 100 in attendance including many precious children.  Craig preached his excellent lesson on five basic facts of life and I followed with “How Beautiful Heaven Must Be!”  An elderly blind man came forward with the help of his sister in the flesh to confess Christ and submit to him in baptism for the forgiveness of his sins through the blood of the Lamb (Matt. 26:28; Acts 2:38).

After Robin’s wife served another good lunch, we proceeded to the church in Apayao where Sammy Vargas has preached for many years.  About 40 people gathered to hear Craig’s lesson five facts of life and my sermon entitled “Precious: The Death of God’s Saints” (Ps. 116:15).  Two souls responded to the gospel invitation and they were baptized in the river nearby.  Sammy has serious health problems and was told by a doctor three years ago that he had three months to live, but he is holding his own by God’s grace and preaches sitting down.  His daughter who was sick and could not stand for three months has had a wonderful recovery by the mercies of God.

On our way back to the hotel we made a side trip to visit Modesto Domingo and his daughter who is caring for him in his last days.  He is now 87 years old, bedfast, and suffering from dementia.  I stayed in his home for a night or two on one of my early trips and I still remember his devotion to the Lord and his determination to erect a church building.  Though he cannot remember me, we had a good visit and I led a prayer on his behalf, and he was most appreciative for our coming to see him.

The church there is the Guiddam church of Christ and Johnson Ramil preaches for them.  I also got to see their church building which is still under construction – I did not remember that I had helped to find some of the first funds donated years ago when they started.  Perhaps someone reading this report made that donation.

Our Monday schedule was reserved to work with the Negritos, very poor tribal people who come down from the mountains and end up creating squatter communities anywhere they can find vacant land.  Sometimes the owners tolerate them and sometimes they drive them off.  They are shorter and darker than most Filipinos.  Negritos are often humble, tenderhearted, and very open to the gospel.

Danilo Bautista works with the church at Magacan.  Their homes and the meeting place are made from light materials covered with thick layers of dried palm branches to give protection from the rain and sun.  Craig presented a clear and effective study of the question, “What must I do to be saved?”  My sermon was entitled “Young People, Read the Bible.”  The attendance was 161 and three souls went to the river to be baptized into Christ.

In the afternoon our appointment was with the Santor congregation where Randy Tiene labors.  At least 50 people assembled here in a smaller building.  Craig again addressed the question, “What must I do to be saved?”  I followed with a sermon on “True Worship VS False Worship.”

We were surprised to learn an American and his Filipino wife have been attending, but they are not New Testament Christians.  Both Frank and Rose appeared to be attentive until I got into examples of false worship today and he got up and walked away.  To our surprise, Rose came forward and confessed Christ at the invitation and expressed her desire to be baptized, but after we dismissed Frank threatened to leave her if she obeyed the gospel.

I went out and found him and initiated a discussion.  He was hot under the collar, but I finally calmed him down and asked him to explain his objections.  He is wrapped up in premillennialism, advocates salvation by faith only, and believes people in all churches can go to heaven.  At one point he said his wife did not need to be baptized because both of them had been baptized in some kind of church in the past.  He said, “I went into the water as the old man and came up from the water as a new man in Christ.”  I pointed out this means he went in the water as a sinner and came out forgiven, which is what I was showing him in Mark 16:16.  This completely flustered him and he admitted he would need to think on this further.

I tried to point out that he is Roses’ husband but not her God, and he should let her make her own decision regarding her soul.  He adamantly insisted she not be baptized.  She finally decided to go home with him and to try to persuade him to understand the truth.  It is obvious he is trying to manipulate her by threatening to leave her, and 1 Corinthians 7:15 teaches it is better for an unbeliever to leave than for a person to compromise their faith to please the unbeliever. She said she will return to be baptized soon if she cannot persuade him.

We gathered in the little church building and prayed for Rose before leaving.  I request everyone reading this report to pray for her, and pray that Frank will humble himself and open his eyes to see the truth.

Last night when I walked I could see the moon as clouds passed and it appeared to be full, but tonight dark clouds hid it.  Even when we cannot see it, God is holding it in its orbit so that it will bless us as He intended.  God willing, we will travel further west to reach the Ilocos region.  Thank you for your prayers on our behalf, and we continue praying for all of you as well.

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:
https://www.hebronlanechurchofchrist.com
https://biblework.congregateclients.com
https://truthbooks.com
https://www.truthmagazine.com