August 21, 2013th Year of Our Lord
Dear family, brethren, and friends,
Greetings from New Zealand, the land so far “down under” that you can almost see Antarctica from here!
On Thursday , August 15, the plane left Manila at 9:00 P.M. bound for Melbourne, Victoria in Australia. Fortunately, I was able to sleep for about five hours, and then after changing planes the next morning I slept another couple of hours on the four-hour flight to Auckland, New Zealand. The plane landed in a bowl of soup – rainy, misty, sloppy weather! This is winter because N.Z. is south of the equator, and the temperatures are running in the 40’s (though it feels colder with the rain and wind). This is a shock to the system after enduring the 80’s-90’s with high humidity in the Philippines!
Ronnie Salunga brought me to his house and we arrived about 6:30 P.M. Over a year ago they converted a detached garage into living quarters to accommodate preachers who come to help the Meadowood church of Christ. Ken McDaniel and I helped the Salunga family begin a new congregation in their basement in November-December 2010. A few months later the Randy Cabrillas family joined the new work, increasing the number from 5 to 8. They are Ronnie, Nina, Roanna, Angela, and Ron Salunga, and Randy, Krisel, and Azel Cabrillas.
Upon my arrival Friday at the Salunga’s, there was barely time to eat, shower, and get set up to begin teaching. I learned a Jew from South Africa was coming with a Filipina Catholic he wants to marry. I quickly changed the topic in order to discuss “The Message of the Bible: Salvation in Jesus Christ.” I explained our week’s theme is “Building a Godly Home” and every lesson would be based on the Bible and Bible principles. Therefore, we should first know the overall message of the Bible to better understand how our theme fits within its context. Eleven attended this first night.
After the study there were good questions about how God delivered and protected the Bible so that the message has been preserved and not corrupted. The Jewish man was very attentive but asked no questions. We dismissed about 10:45 P.M., but everyone was visiting and talking, so I sat down with him and had a long conversation getting acquainted. Finally, I asked him if he had any questions about our study. He responded, “Actually, I think you told me everything I needed to know in the presentation.” They said they wanted to return later this week and I learned they are planning to come early to have time for a private study.
By the diligent efforts of this small church, the seed is definitely being sown in Auckland, though we can never predict the results. I got to bed about 2:00 A.M., exhausted but very thankful and happy to be here again!
Saturday about 10:00 A.M. a dozen people were gathered in the Salunga’s basement ready to continue our study of the theme “Building a Godly Home.” The day’s first lesson was “God Created All Things,” a verse by verse study of Genesis 1, to show that God rules the universe and all things in it including all activities of mankind. Next we studied “The Purpose of Our Life,” which is to be companions and servants of God. Our relationship with God on earth can be better understood by the blessing of marriage as we experience the unique fellowship of husband and wife in keeping with His instructions.
After the lunch break, we focused on “Marriage: God’s Gift to Man and Woman.” This unique gift of God helps to improve and mold our character while also perpetuating the human race. The open forum typically runs 30 minutes-1 hour here at the Meadowood church, and sometimes the questions are quite challenging. For instance, a young girl asked something I had never heard before: “You mentioned God is a great King. If God is our King, does He have a Queen?” I explained God has authority over all things as a King, but He does not need to marry as we do! I had mentioned at one point how Donna and I taught our children memory verses. The mother of this young girl asked me to email the list of verses to her. She received them the next day and emailed me back to say they have started immediately learning these verses.
The meeting broke up about 6:00 P.M. The Salungas wanted me to join them in going to the grocery store (where the food was stacked to the rafters, literally!), and then we had a McDonald’s angus burger for supper. I so rarely visit McDonald’s in the U.S., I had to travel 15,000 miles to taste my first angus burger! When we got home, I walked about 50 minutes, studied, and then slept a good 7 hours, which refreshed me for the Lord’s Day activities (although I was still adjusting to the 4 hour change in time zones from Manila to here).
Our Lord’s Day A.M. service was attended by the 8 faithful members of the Meadowood church. Because there are four young people in their teens and early 20’s, I presented two lessons on “Selecting a Mate: The Lord Builds the House.” Our study first considered how God does His part in providing a mate, and then how we must do our part in finding a mate. It is all based on living by faith in God. Otherwise, we make terrible mistakes which result in great pain and injury to everyone involved. If we act by faith in God, His blessings are abundant in marriage.
After lunch our attendance rose to 12 as we studied “Solomon’s Song of Marital Love.” After a summary of The Song of Solomon, the lesson focused on things which can be learned and applied from this book to cultivate our love in marriage. Again, the Q & A session lasted for an hour with all sorts of questions about how God wants us to conduct our marriage and family life.
Several commented that this series is coming at the right time so that these young people can explore issues relating to the home before they marry, and thus hopefully act by faith in God and avoid many mistakes. The adults also said the series is helping them to see ways to strengthen their family life. God’s Word never loses its power to bless us in so many ways: “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward” (Ps. 19:10-11).
Monday while the Salungas were at work and at school, I studied, caught up on email, took a walk for exercise, and prepared for our evening service. I am always amazed at the faith, zeal, and persistence of the saints here. In addition to their regular services, they conduct a Friday night Bible study throughout the year and constantly invite friends and contacts to come. Over time dozens of people have come and the seed of the true gospel has been planted. The same thing is true when I or others come to preach and teach. In fact, this time they printed very attractive flyers which they gave to friends, posted where possible, and distributed door to door. There have been a couple of baptisms over time, but the people fell away. The brethren notice that because of the strict Bible teaching and practical application, some who show an initial interest gradually turn away.
But here is what is outstanding about these saints: They are undaunted! They have learned by hard experience that many people who appear interested in the truth turn away from it when they begin to hear and understand because they are unwilling to yield to God’s will. Yet, they are not weary in well doing – they continue working just as hard now to spread the gospel as they did from the start in spite of all the people who have disappointed them. They have remarked how they have come to appreciate what Jesus meant when he said, “Few there be that find it.”
Pursuing the theme “Building a Godly Home,” tonight I began a three part series on “Harmony in the Home.” All 8 members of the church were present. In addition a lady form the liberal church who often visits and shows great interest in the truth joined us. Also, a young Korean lady in her 20’s who has attended when I was here in the past came and showed great interest. Our service started at 7:30 P.M. The lesson was finished shortly after 8:30, but the questions continued until 10:00 P.M.
Actually, I used the first 30 minutes of the Q & A to ask the audience to discuss how the points we studied about Christian character help to promote reconciliation and harmony in families when there are disagreements, disappointments, and disruptions. Their answers were quite perceptive and proved they were attentive listeners. Then the floor was open for them to ask questions for the next hour. The questions ranged from how to convert unbelieving mates to how to resolve specific conflicts with people to the woman’s role in the home and in the church. It is exhausting but exhilarating to conduct these sessions and to see the hunger of these precious souls to learn and to grow!
It rained off and on Tuesday as it has every other day, typical of N.Z. winters, but the day flew by as I studied, answered email, and prepared for tonight’s lesson. The Jew and Filipina who wanted to tonight are an hour away and called to say they have no gas money, so an effort was made to find them a ride but it failed. Meanwhile, another man named Keil from the Philippines who attended during my past trips came again. A Filipino brother from the liberal church also came, so our attendance was 11.
After the second lesson on “Harmony in the Home” and before the Q & A, I again challenged the audience by presenting difficulties in family life and asking them how the principles we had studied might apply. As on the previous night, their insights and comments were excellent, showing they got the point. Then the open forum further enriched our session with good questions about proper conduct in the home, at work, and with friends.
After dismissal, everyone stayed in the basement talking. Angela Salunga and I discussed at length with Kiel until about 10:00 P.M., then the discussion moved upstairs to the dining room table. The ground we covered included fallacies of atheism and evolution, the chaos and pain caused by sinful conduct, and errors of Catholicism and denominationalism. Kiel’s background is Roman Catholic, as is true with 80% of Philippine citizens, but he has a sharp mind and a searching heart. He and his mother were already concerned after reading that bishops must be married and have families in 1 Timothy 3, because Catholic clergy must be celibate. Much of what we covered was new to him but he obviously found the study interesting and compelling. He did not leave until 11:30.
Again the Meadowood church is unrelenting in their efforts to sow the seed of God’s kingdom – God will surely give the increase according to His will and power. “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour” (1 Cor. 3:7-8).
Today, Wednesday, was our final day in the work here in Auckland. The rains were stronger today and almost constant even into the night and water began to seep into the Salunga’s basement. The Jewish South African and his Filipina friend came early to have a private Bible study. They have so little background in the Bible that we spent over an hour considering very basic information about God, man, sin, and salvation. I emphasized that there is only one true God and He has revealed only one perfect plan of salvation for all men. When I pointed out how Jewish and Catholic traditions depart from God’s plan, they were very open and receptive – they clearly saw the point. They were quite attentive to the lesson which followed.
As others arrived for our regular assembly, there were 13 in attendance to hear part 3 of “Harmony in the Home.” This was followed by the discussion period where I ask the audience to explain how the Bible principles presented apply in family life, and then there was another open forum. After dismissal everyone stood around talking about God’s Word until we finally went upstairs for light snacks and continued discussions. Everyone left by 11:00 P.M., but Roanna Salunga asked questions until midnight.
The Meadowood church composed of 8 souls managed to bring 11 visitors in six days, several of whom came multiple times. I highly commended them for their diligent efforts! How many congregations are able to produce more visitors than members for a gospel meeting? There were no conversions but the seed was sown. If they keep up these diligent efforts, souls will be saved sooner or later. May God bless these dear brethren in their tireless efforts to proclaim and uphold the gospel of Christ!
Tomorrow Ronnie Salunga and I will fly 600 miles to Timaru on South Island to edify Ric Halnas and to teach his friends in the hope of planting a new congregation there.
I miss everyone at home and am counting down the days until my return on the 29th, God willing.
In Christian love, Ron
To see good Bible study material, go to:
www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com
www.biblework.com
www.truthmagazine.com
www.CEIbooks.com