May 26, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Steven and I are counting the days until we will see our loved ones back home!

Today is the Lord’s Day, May 19 , and Steven traveled to the Kapitbahayan church to worship with them and to present two studies in the life of Joseph. Meanwhile, I joined the saints meeting at Edsa to present a two-part examination of “The First Gospel Sermon” (Acts 2 verse by verse). Rody Gumpad was in Tuguegarao, but his sons Junior and Jay were at Edsa with their wives. Junior and Jay knew I was coming but the congregation had not heard there would be a guest speaker, yet the room was full with about 45 souls including visitors. One young couple said they had been observing the large sign out front and wanted to get acquainted. The man is an American from Tennessee and the young lady a Filipina. They are members of the church. I got his email address to follow up and the brethren also got contact information from him.

Atoy Franco then drove me to Kapitbahayan for the continuation of the preacher training classes. Steven had already started teaching his classes which gave me a chance to take a much needed nap on the cot in the adjoining room before I taught. I was still recovering my strength after the sickness on Friday and was much improved. I taught three afternoon classes and I commended the young men who have been studying with us so diligently. Some are so anxious to participate that they begin reading the verses out loud as we announce then even before we call on them to read!

Our classes continued and were completed during the following week of May 20-25 (Monday-Friday ). This has been a busy week as Lordy, Steven, and I have worked together in teaching these 25 young men who are learning to preach. We have surveyed every book of the Bible, the New Testament church, denominational doctrines, the life and work of a preacher, the history of the church from the first to the twenty-first centuries, and issues which have divided brethren (such as instrumental music, missionary societies, one container, institutionalism, and the social gospel).

The classes began each day at 7:00 A.M. and ended at 7:30 P.M. The students had assignments to prepare at night. This has been a challenging series of classes for both teachers and students. The most difficult class for the students was the survey of church history because they have little understanding of history period. They lack the historical context in which church history occurred, but as we moved forward I tried to give them as much context as possible. They began to grasp such events as the development of Catholicism, denominationalism, and restoration efforts as they began to relate them to their own Philippine history. I let them prepare short reports each day on men who were being introduced to them and about whom they were curious to know more.

When we learned how to use Bible study tools, I gave them exercises using Bible maps, which was entirely new to most of them. They caught on quickly, using maps introduced to them in their reference Bibles and Bible dictionaries. Some students not only filled in the blank maps I gave them but also colored them to look professional.

Since nearly all of these men are single, one of the last lessons I studied with them was “Selecting a Mate: The Lord Builds the House” (Psalm 127). Selecting a mate will be the most crucial decision they will make as they grow to maturity and strive to develop themselves as servants of God. I did my best to convince them to marry a faithful Christian and to trust in God’s help and providence to find that right mate.

When we finished teaching on Friday evening, we followed the Filipino custom of having a “graduation” to give certificates for completing the classes. Two students were recognized as “Most Improved” and two as “Most Inquisitive” (the “Ask, Seek, Knock” award). Each student came to the front to personally express appreciation for everyone who made these classes possible including U.S. brethren who provided financing to send Steven and me and for the purchase of Bibles and study materials. Some of them referred to specific lessons which helped them, or quoted new verses they had memorized. Some became very emotional and could hardly talk as tears welled up in their eyes. At the request of many of the young men, Steven and I wrote a short note of encouragement in their Bibles after we dismissed.

Only God can measure the potential all these young men will have in the future as they give their talents to the service of God, their brethren, and a lost world!

These classes could not have been taught without the financial help of brethren who donated funds for Steven and me to travel to the Philippines, for Bibles and study materials, and for related expenses. How I wish each of you there could meet these fine young men, see their diligent efforts to learn, hear their insightful questions, and observe their growth. Actually, it will be a joyous occasion in heaven for those who have made such sacrifices on each side of the ocean to meet each other and to unite in glorifying God for eternity!

Steven left very early Saturday morning to go home as scheduled.  I extended my stay to include May 25-26 (Sat.-Sun. ) in order to preach again at the Edsa church here in Manila by the request of the Halnas family. The room rented by the Edsa church was filled today with 45 in attendance. Rody preached a short lesson on how souls are saved and added to the body of Christ. I followed with a lesson on “True Repentance” and “The Gospel Makes Us Right with God.”

At the invitation, the entire Halnas family came forward to confess their faith in Christ including Ricky, Malaine, Kyle, and Audrie. Since Malaine’s father (Jimmy Battung) was baptized several years ago, the Halnas family has been studying and searching for the truth. Rick had just arrived last night from New Zealand where he works, to have a three week vacation with his family. They had decided the very first thing they wanted to do was to obey the gospel together.

One reason I agreed to extend my stay for these two additional days was to talk with Ricky about what he can do to worship in New Zealand. There is no church of Christ in Timaru where he lives on the south island and it is very far from the new church in Auckland on the north island meeting in Ronnie Salunga’s home. Ricky is urging me to come to Timaru and he will gather friends to try to convert them and start a church there. I will be praying about this matter and I told him we would do our best to find a way to help him. Through Filipinos, the gospel is spreading around the world!

Steven Deaton made it home Saturday night by the grace of God. By the time many of you read this last report I will be somewhere high in the sky praying for a safe return. I truly thank God for the saints who sacrifice to make these trips possible. May God bless and reward each one of you!

In Christian love,

Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:

www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com

www.biblework.com

www.truthmagazine.com

www.CEIbooks.com

May 18, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Greetings to all the family and saints back at home in the U.S.A. (and also some in Australia).

The last activity scheduled for this trip is a preacher training class to be conducted at the Kapitbahayan church of Christ, Navotas, in Metro Manila on May 13-24. Elias Cruz is an evangelist there and Jerry Toreja is one of the elders. Atoy Franco guided Steven and me to the church building via the Mass Rail Transit (MRT), a new experience. We hoped this would save time, but by the time we took a taxi after leaving the MRT we did not save much time. Therefore, Atoy plans to take us in his car tomorrow.

Our preacher training classes got off to a good start with 25 men enrolled. The students ranged in age from 9 to the 30’s with one man in his 70’s. They are sleeping on pasteboard and mats at the second floor of the building. A room was set up with handmade wooden tables and plastic chairs so the students can open their Bibles, books, and notepads as we study.

The teachers are Steven Deaton, Lordy Salunga , and me. Each day Steven teaches the Old Testament prophets, the New Testament through 1 Corinthians, and denominational doctrines. Lordy teaches an Old Testament survey through the Song of Solomon, the New Testament from 2 Corinthians to the end, and The New Testament Church book by Roy E. Cogdill. My classes cover issues dividing brethren historically (such as missionary societies, instrumental music, etc.), the preacher’s life and work, church history, and Bible study tools (using Strong’s Concordance and the Zondervan Bible dictionary).

On May 14-15, as we are progressing through the second and third days, all the teachers have remarked on the unusual reaction of our students. Typically in our experience teaching such classes, Filipinos are slow to participate by initiating questions and discussions. This group constantly asks questions, so much it is hard to complete the lessons. Even when we finish, they will come up to ask additional questions. They cut into their lunch time asking questions. This is wonderful even if the lessons are hard to complete – it shows they are listening and learning!

Thursday, May 16, we continue to cover a lot of material and the students are remarkably attentive. They continue to ask all sorts of questions, for which we are thrilled.

Friday started as a normal day and the classes proceeded well. I may have eaten something bad for the stomach or gotten a 24 hour virus because I began to have diarrhea about 11:00 A.M. After I started my afternoon classes, about 3:00 P.M. I had to stop and lay down on a cot in the adjoining room because of stomach pain. Dr. Teresa Toreja administered some medicines but there was no improvement. I stayed there on the cot fighting the urge to vomit, and dozing, until 7:00 P.M. Since I was not able to take water, I was becoming dehydrated. Dr. Teresa decided to take me to her clinic and keep me overnight to give me an IV bottle along with several medicines.

On Saturday by God’s grace I was able to teach by 9:00 A.M. after Lordy finished. I completed my classes today feeling tired but no longer sick. I began teaching how to outline by taking the class through Genesis 1, and showing them how to make applications from the text. For instance, the text makes it clear the days are 24 hour days because it keeps repeating the expression “the evening and the morning,” i.e., 12 hours darkness and 12 light, so there is no room for the evolutionary theory of billions of years. Also, the Bible is accurate in biology and zoology by teaching life comes from life, and life reproduces after its kind from the seed.

We have one more week of classes to complete this preacher training series. Steven will return home on May 25.

As a result of the two day gospel meeting at the new Edsa church last Saturday and Sunday, I learned that members of the Jimmy Battung family are seriously studying the gospel. His daughter Malaine said she and her husband with their two children have been studying since they first heard me preach about six years ago. They have been comparing what we teach with Catholic teaching and with denominational teaching. Her husband is working in New Zealand and will arrive here to visit his family on Saturday, May 25. They requested to talk to me about obeying the gospel at that time. Therefore, I have delayed my return from May 25 to May 27 to accommodate this request. I have done this only two times in all these 50 trips, only when there is some pressing reason. I fully expect to report several baptisms as a result of working with this family. Jimmy Battung also said he is ready to place membership at the Edsa church.

I miss everyone back home and am counting the days until my return. Meanwhile, may God bless and keep everyone of you!

In Christian love,

Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:

www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com

www.biblework.com

www.truthmagazine.com

www.CEIbooks.com

May 7-12, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

I hope and pray all of you are well physically and spiritually – and busy serving the Lord, thus enjoying the highest blessings of fellowship with God. You are always in my thoughts and prayers.

On my birthday, May 7,  I flew from Cagayan de Oro City on Mindanao to Manila on Luzon, arriving at the hotel about 6:00 P.M. I was surprised when shortly someone knocked at the door: The hotel sent a small delicious chocolate birthday cake to my room. I assume they noticed my birth date on my passport. To include all of you in the celebration, I ate an extra bite in memory of you! I hope you enjoyed it!

Wednesday was spent answering backlogged email (as a result of poor internet connections for two weeks in Mindanao), studying and preparing and reviewing lessons, taking exercise, and squeezing in a short rest.

The next day, May 9, Rody Gumpad, Atoy Franco, and Ely Ebuenga picked me up at the hotel and took me to meet Kenneth Pastor so that we could teach in the Medium Security sector of the New Bilibid Prison, the Philippines’ national prison. Willie Pastor has been incarcerated for about three years as a result of killing someone in self-defense many years ago. Through the joint efforts of Willie and Kenneth, over 200 souls have obeyed the gospel in the prison. Willie has not been sitting down feeling sorry for himself but has been proclaiming the gospel of Christ! Saints now meet in various sections of the prison.

Willie is in the Receiving and Diagnostics Center (RDC) where all new inmates are processed for a couple of months. He begins teaching them as soon as they arrive. Since he is in RDC, he could not join us today.

My morning lesson on “Jesus Came to Seek and Save the Lost” was translated by Kenneth, which slows the process but clarifies the lesson for these disadvantaged men, many of whom have had only minimal schooling. Rody then gave an overview of Bible history and God’s plan of salvation. After lunch Rody translated as I spoke on “Attitudes Essential in God’s Kingdom,” a verse by verse study of Matthew 5, dealing with principles all of these men have violated during their journeys to prison life. Five precious souls responded to the Lord’s invitation today. The prison harvest continues!

Friday was a good day at the RDC sector of the prison with Kenneth and Willie, Ely, Rody, and Atoy. 100 souls attended and heard my lessons on “The Gospel Makes Us Right with God” (translated by Willie) and “True Repentance” (translated by Ely). Rody taught two lessons summarizing Bible history and the plan of salvation. In spite of the heat, the audience showed exceptionally good attention. Three souls responded to the gospel invitation.

The weather has been mid-90’s for these two days and, of course, Philippine prisons have no air conditioning except nature itself. Though soaked in sweat, we rejoice for these opportunities. In fact, we preached today in a Catholic chapel with several images watching over us as we explained the difference between New Testament Christianity and the false doctrines of Catholicism and denominationalism!

A two-day gospel meeting was conducted Saturday and Sunday with the new Edsa-Pasay church of Christ in Manila where Rody Gumpad is preaching with the help of faithful co-laborers. Rody travels 8-10 hours from Tuguegarao a couple of weekends each month to work with this church, as do his sons and sons-in-laws in alternating. The church meets in the CYA Building which is located at a central point easily accessible to many Filipinos who come from the provinces to work in Manila. This work is off to an excellent start.

Saturday I began with a sermon on “The Purpose of Our Lives.” This was followed by three parts of a series on “The Authority of Christ” discussing the Bible plan of salvation including the New Testament church and various departures which resulted in the formation of the Roman Catholic Church. The rented room was full with 78 in attendance. There was a good Q & A session at the day’s end with a wide range of subjects from instrumental music to the dangers of anger to soul and spirit.

Steven Deaton arrived safely late Friday night. After a day of study and rest, he joined us on Sunday and presented an excellent study of the life and faith of Joseph. I then presented three additional studies on “The Authority of Christ” tracing the development of the Protestant Reformation and subsequent efforts to restore New Testament Christianity, and closing with a study of the danger of apostasy again today. Our attendance was 57.

A family of four is very near to the kingdom of God and we expect to see them obey the gospel within a short time. Actually, we have been studying with this family for several years. They commented that this series of studies clarified some things which confirmed the truth in their minds.

Thank you one and all for your love, your support, your prayers, and your encouragement in this great harvest of Philippine souls!

In Christian love,

Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:

www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com

www.biblework.com

www.truthmagazine.com

www.CEIbooks.com

May 6, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

By the grace of God on May 1 my flight from General Santos City to Manila and back to the island of Mindanao was safe and without incident. Cagayan de Oro City is the capital of Misamis Oriental. It is home to Cipriano Carpentero and Cyrus Gesulga.

Cyrus is host for the Home and Family series with the cooperation of Cipriano. The venue is the building of the the church at Buntong Camaman-an where Cipriano preaches, but the men are staying at the building where Cyrus preaches (Capisnon). Here at Camaman-an in August 2011 during a preacher training session, Cyrus stood and apologized for his role in the longstanding division over premillennialism in the Philippines. We prayed for his forgiveness and he pledged to spend the rest of his life doing everything possible to heal the division and solidify the unity of the saints. Since then we have been working together and making good progress.

Our attendance today was 40 and the teachers are Jonathan Carino from Cebu, Jack Jaco from Victorias City in Negros Occidental, and myself. These two brethren have attended the series several times through the years and are now well equipped to teach it. I focused today on the need to begin with a biblical perspective, then discussed the design of marriage, the husband’s role as head, and the wife’s role as a suitable companion. We got off to an excellent start.

Friday, May 3rd, we are pressing forward. The days are so busy and fruitful they seem to pass rapidly. I taught two lessons today dealing with God binding man and woman in the marriage covenant, and warning against false doctrines that profess people who violate and break the marriage covenant may take new mates. Jonathan and Jack taught on a range of other topics involving duties of husbands and wives.

The men have learned to sing “Where Love Is In the Home” and “God Give Us Christian Homes,” and they sing with feeling and fervor. We finished going through the workbook on Family Life and began Mike Willis’ workbook on Harmony in the Home. I taught two lessons on laying aside the old man and putting on the new man in terms of attitudes and conduct affecting family life.

These men are as attentive and interested in the classes as any group we have ever taught! I am emphasizing that we as preachers must first apply these lessons to ourselves and then teach our brethren to apply them in their homes. The men are offering many comments and expressions of appreciation. To see this attitude makes it worth all the time, money, and effort necessary to arrange and teach these classes.

Continuing our series on Saturday , Jack taught one lesson and I taught two on the Sermon on the Mount, all focused on applying principles in this sermon to family life. Many of the principles Jesus taught about the character necessary to citizenship in his kingdom have a great impact on our homes such as controlling the temper and the tongue, working for reconciliation, and avoiding the spirit of revenge and retaliation. Jack and Jonathan also presented excellent material on such themes as the need to show respect for each other, to accept responsibilities, and to be unselfish. It was another good day.

The men are remarking they are anxious to go home and teach what they have learned to the brethren where they labor. “Where Love Is in the Home” and “God Give Us Christian Homes” are being sung again and again with increased appreciation for the blessings of godly homes.

Jack and Jonathan preached this Lord’s Day at the Camaman-an church where Cipriano Carpentero labors. The brethren at Capisnon where Cyrus Gesulga preaches invited me to speak. The two topics covered were “God Created All Things” and “The Purpose of Our Lives.” About 100 souls attended the worship and I was warmly received.

After lunch the series on the home and family resumed. The afternoon theme was “Man’s Leadership in the Home” with Jack and Jon delivering one section each and myself three. An afternoon brownout or power loss lasted about an hour which shut down our little air conditioning unit and made us appreciate it much more! Water levels are low and the hydroelectric plants on Mindanao cannot keep up with the demand. A nationwide election occurs May 13 and this is one of the issues politicians are focusing on – just as they have done in the past with negligible results.

By God’s grace on Monday I presented four lessons going through the Song of Solomon chapter by chapter and verse by verse. It is always an uplifting joy to study this celebration of passionate love in marriage, the most beautiful and unique of all the 1,005 songs written by Solomon. It is a wonderful reminder of how greatly we should appreciate this special gift of God’s love in our lives.

The men were given simple certificates acknowledging their completion of the classes on the home and family (this is a Filipino custom). They were very appreciative and some are asking for arrangements to be made to bring these classes to their own areas. Meanwhile, they will be doing their best to teach some of the lessons they have learned to the saints in their home congregations.

Is it really possible that the fourth segment of this six week trip is now complete? And tomorrow I go to Manila to begin the final two-and-a-half weeks? Yes, life moves forward at a steady pace and this trip will soon be history. And, before we know it, our very lives will be history. Meanwhile, we know the joys of serving God and serving each other to His glory.

After flying to Manila tomorrow, I will make final preparations to begin preaching in the national prison and then Steven Deaton will arrive and join me in two full days of preaching at the new Edsa congregation in Manila. Thank you for your love and prayers, dear saints of God!

In Christian love,

Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:

www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com

www.biblework.com

www.truthmagazine.com

www.CEIbooks.com

April 30, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

It has been a joy to see the moon night after night especially now that it has been a full moon! I can almost see your reflection on it there in the U.S. (Someone will be sure to remind me it is daytime there when it is nighttime here, but that is my story and I’m sticking to it. 🙂 )

Having completed the second leg of my trip by working on the island of Cebu, on the 25th I studied and prepared for the next leg. We flew to General Santos City in southern Mindanao on Friday and I preached all day Saturday at the Lagao church of Christ in Balite, a suburb of General Santos City. Ricardo dela Cruz was the longtime preacher here but he died last year and the church struggled in his absence. Romeo, his son, lives here but preaches far from here, The men rotate in teaching as they move through the New Testament and Delfin Allas does much of the preaching. C.B. Balbin comes at least once a month to preach and to give special attention to the young people.

C.B.’s work with the young people is bearing good fruit. Over half of today’s 33 attendees were young people. They showed keen interest as lessons were presented on “Attitudes Essential in God’s Kingdom,” “Purify Your Souls,” “Total Honesty,” and “True Repentance.” The attention was excellent in spite of stifling heat – we are just six degrees north of the equator here! An afternoon shower gave us some relief. After our open forum, we ended shortly before 5:00 P.M. Everyone is urging me to please return soon. I would like to come back and present lessons aimed at increasing the faith of young people in the challenges they face.

On April 28, the Lord’s Day, I worshiped with Aguillardo Untal at Bula, General Santos City. He was a friend of Rudy Tampon and was converted from the Pentecostal religion last fall. He had a large church but lost many members as the denominational pastors accused him of joining a cult. Therefore, I decided to schedule a two-day gospel meeting here to help him stabilize the situation. Jonathan Carino, Cyrus Gesulga, and Juanito Balbin with two of his sons (Dudly Ross and Sonnie Dave) were with me today.

About 75 attended this morning’s worship as I spoke on “Jesus Came to Seek and Save the Lost,” a very basic first-principles lesson. This afternoon we began with a two-hour open forum covering questions on the plan of salvation, worship, various aspects of denominationalism, and the charge that the church of Christ is a cult. Many of the questions were answered in the dialect by brethren Cyrus, Jonathan, and Juanito. Then, I preached on “New Beginnings in Christ” (a new covenant, a new kingdom, and a new birth).

The heat was sweltering again. The meeting place has only low walls and while I was preaching this afternoon the brethren moved the pulpit area to get me out of the direct sunlight which was turning me into a burnt offering. When I arrived bck at the hotel about 6:00 P.M. in wet clothes, I showered and fell asleep for over an hour from heat exhaustion and ate supper about 8:30 P.M. after cooling down. Regardless of the heat, this was a good day and I look forward to tomorrow!

Monday was the second day with brother Untal at Bula and our attendance was almost 100 including many young people again. At the morning session I gave lessons on “‘The Resurrection of Christ” and “The Gospel Makes Us Right with God.” After lunch the lesson was entitled “How Sinners Receive Salvation,” to clarify more about baptism. Then there was an hour-long open forum with several questions centering on baptism – it is hard for people from denominational backgrounds to understand why they need to be baptized again.

Although there were no baptisms, the seed was sown and good was accomplished by reinforcing the work of brother Untal in the congregation and the community. Many who left him after his conversion were able to give much in the collections, so now he faces a huge challenge because he can no longer meet his financial obligations for the property on which his house and the church building afe located. He may lose it all but so far he is standing firm.

On Tuesday, April 30, we traveled an hour from General Santos City to reach the church at Kitakal, Malungon, in the Sarangani Province. A couple of years ago the preacher there named Rene Sandoval was killed in a highway accident and his widow, Sel, has continued to labor faithfully for the Lord with the help of the brethren. 140 attended today including many young people. In the morning I taught on “The Purpose of Our Life,” and began a study of “The First Gospel Sermon” (Acts 2). After lunch the study of Acts 2 was completed. To encourage the young people I presented another lesson on “How Shall the Young Secure Their Hearts.” Two adults and one teenager were baptized.

The third leg of this trip is now history, which also means I am now closer to home. Tomorrow, God willing, I fly to Manila to make a connecting flight back to Mindanao to Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental. Thank you for your love and prayers as we are laborers together with God!

In Christian love,

Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:

www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com

www.biblework.com

www.truthmagazine.com

www.CEIbooks.com

April 24, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, & friends,

Greetings to all from the Philippines where the moon is still shining every night! I am thinking of all of my loved ones back home and praying for all of you. Thank you for sending me here to teach God’s Word – and to also learn and grow from my association with these precious Filipino saints.

On Saturday, April 20, I flew from Laoag City in northern Luzon to Manila, where I caught a connecting flight to Cebu City on the island of Cebu. Jonathan Carino lives here and has labored here in God’s kingdom for many years. We planned to follow up on beachheads which were established during my previous trip.

Early on the first day of the week we drove over two hours to the village near Bogo City named Libjo Tabogon where a new church is meeting in a house owned by one of the members. Gil Suico started the congregation when we baptized 26 people he brought to Bogo City on my previous trip. The church numbers 25-30 but today we had 66 including visitors from several denominations. I taught two lessons entitled “The First Gospel Sermon,” covering Acts 2 verse by verse, to ground them more fully in the fundamentals.

Next we had a lengthy and productive Q & A session with questions covering a wide range of issues from 7th Day Adventist doctrine to worldliness to modest dress. It would lift the hearts of brethren back home to hear so many good questions from sincere searching hearts!

Our round trip took about 5 hours, which was quite exhausting, but I would not trade anything for being there!

Monday we made the long round trip again to reach Bogo City proper. This time we rented a hotel function room made for 40 people and 110 showed up including about 40 denominational “pastors,” mostly Pentecostal and Baptist. This is the result of joint efforts by Gil Suico and Felix Cantulan. Felix was converted last year from the “local church” movement started by a Chineseman named Watchman Nee in 1922 and spread to the U.S. and the Philippines by Witness Lee. Felix gathered contacts among his former members and among denominational preachers in Bogo City and also on the island of Masbate (the world’s 59th largest island in population-I have been invited there a number of times but have not made it, yet).

This very attentive audience of 110 souls studied four lesson and many heard things which were completely new to them on “The Last Great Prophet: Jesus Christ or Mohamed?”, “Jesus Came to Seek and Save the Lost,” “New Beginnings in Christ,” and “When Peter Confessed Christ.” In order to take full advantage of our limited teaching time, I asked them to hold their questions for tomorrow. This was another long hard day worth every minute!

We returned Tuesday , arriving at 11:00 A.M. because the small van of Jonathan Carino had a flat tire. Before lunch I taught on “Judgment by Christ: Jerusalem, and All Men” (Matthew 24 verse by verse). The first lesson after lunch was “Thy Kingdom Come”-both these lessons addressed various aspects of premillennial error. Then the last study was “The Gospel Makes Us Right with God” – we must seek and find the right God, the right Savior, the right gospel, the right baptism, the right church, and the right life. About 110 attended again today. The open forum ran for over an hour with questions ranging from “the last days” to baptism. The sincerity of this audience was clear to all of us.

These denominational preachers said they will gather fellow preachers for meetings like this every three months if I will agree to teach them. I will try to schedule this on the August trip and we will see where it goes from there. When the invitation was extended, a young lady 12 years old came immediately with confidence ready to obey what she had learned. I do not doubt that several of the “pastors” will likewise be baptized. In fact, after we left about 5:30 P.M., many people stayed discussing what they had learned with Gil and Felix until 10:00 P.M.! The comment was heard several times, “We cannot deny what was taught because it all came straight out of the Bible.”

Today, Wednesday, April 24, it was a relief to travel only 30 minutes to reach the small congregation of Benjie “Julius” Labura at Sacred Homes, Cansojong, Talisay City in Metro Cebu. He was converted from the Baptist Church during my previous trip here and is slowly trying to teach what he has learned to his members. There were no baptisms today but there were many good indications of progress. After two first principles lessons, the floor was opened for questions. The questions were again wide ranging from whether babies who die without baptism are saved to the difference between the soul and the spirit.

One of the leading men approached me to say he understood the day’s lessons, so I asked if he understood baptism. He said yes. He remarked to another brother that he had turned away from his vices except for sometimes drinking with his friends and he understood from the lessons that he must first repent of this sin in order to be baptized. Good! We do not want to baptize people who do not understand what it means to first repent.

The church meets in Benjie’s small house and 25-30 squeezed inside with several more listening outside. He is so poor he does not even have a table on which to serve guests. When we took our lunch break, he removed the mat from his bed and brought it in to be used as a very low table. Yet, he was happy to have all these people in his home to study God’s Word – and the people where satisfied that they heard the truth and asked us to return as soon as possible. Meanwhile, follow-up teaching will continue and we are confident there will be conversions.

I constantly thank God for every saint at home who has offered a prayer, a penny, or an encouraging word on behalf of the Philippine work. Without your help and cooperation, this trip would be impossible for me to make. May God bless and keep each one of you!

In Christian love,

Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:

www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com

www.biblework.com

www.truthmagazine.com

www.CEIbooks.com

Friday, April 19, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

I think I have seen the moon every night since I got here, so greetings to all via the moon beams!  When I got to the airport April 9 to fly to the Philippines, I was forced to go back home and rebook the flight because a five-hour delay would make it impossible to make my connections. So, after the day’s delay, I flew to Manila safely and then went on to Laoag City, Ilocos Norte in northwestern Luzon.

Vic Domingo was conducting training classes for young preachers at Escoda, Marcos, I.N. and I joined the sessions for April 13-15, teaching a series of six lessons on “The Authority of Christ.” This material was published in booklet form by the Guardian of Truth Foundation and each student received a copy. The students were mostly teenagers but there were a few in the 8-10 year old bracket. To my surprise, these youngest men were quite attentive and did well reading passages. About 50 attended including a Catholic priest converted in December. The first day it was 95 degrees and there is no air conditioning just hot, hot, hot!

Continue reading

March 27, 2013th Year of Our Lord

HALBROOK REPORT: 49th PHILIPPINE TRIP

FEB. 12-MAR. 9, 2013

Dear brethren,

My 49th preaching trip the Philippines since Jim McDonald first took me in 1995 was completed February 12-March 9 , including several days work in Australia.  Christ exercised his divine authority to complete God’s plan for our salvation and we must submit our lives to him to receive salvation: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Col. 3:17).  The lessons on this trip varied from the most basic first principles of the gospel to family life to detailed lessons on the history of how men changed the original gospel and found their way back to it.  All of these 40 lessons stressed the necessity of our submitting to Christ’s authority in all things!  By God’s grace, 31 precious souls submitted to Christ in baptism.

After my safe trip to Manila and on to Cebu City on Cebu Island, the first appointment was with the church at Sitio Marupa, Subabasbas, Lapu-lapu City in the Metro Cebu City area. Pablo Espinosa has preached here for years.  Fifty attended including a large number of Roman Catholics to hear lessons on “God Created All Things,” “The Purpose of Our Lives,” and “The Gospel Makes Us Right with God.”  Jonathan Carino and Fred Ogario summarized the lessons in the local dialect to an attentive audience.

The Labogon church of Christ is located in Mandaue City which is part of Metro Cebu, where we spent Saturday preaching with Roy Matta, previously a Baptist preacher.  He does a good work.

On Sunday Jonathan and I took an early morning ferry to reach Ormoc City, Leyte to worship with Willie Pelino with the Linao and San Vicente churches.  Having lost his support, he teaches school but continues to preach as best he can.  About 25 attend each place and he works with a new third group also.

February 18-22 was dedicated to a study of the home and family at the Cebu City church of Christ where Jonathan Carino preaches.  Jack Jaco from Negros Island and Lordy Salunga from Luzon came to share in the teaching load as we studied about 9 hours per day covering all the lessons in L.A. Stauffer’s Family Life and Mike Willis’ Harmony in the Home.  Additional lessons examined “Man’s Leadership in the Home” and the celebration of passionate love in marriage in the Song of Solomon.  About 40 attended including preachers from as far away as Mindanao.  A young Baptist preacher attended and was baptized.

Saturday and Sunday we drove to Bogo City to work with Gil Suico who gathered a group from a nearby village at a rented room.  These were Roman Catholics who had never studied the Bible.  We baptized 26 precious souls and now they are now trying to gather funds for a small meeting place in their village!

The newly converted Baptist preacher, Julius Labura, and Fred Ogario gathered 127 souls on Monday at Talisay, Metro Cebu .  I taught very basic lessons since most of them were hearing the truth for the first time: “God Created All Things,” “The Purpose of Our Lives,” and “The Gospel Makes Us Right with God.”  Fred and Julius planned to do follow up work among them.

Wednesday I flew from Cebu City to Manila, where I took an all-night flight to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. After arriving there Thursday morning, I flew on to Brisbane, Queensland State, where I took another plane on to Gladstone.  From there I traveled by car to Rockhampton where there is an established church of about 30 souls.  We conducted a gospel meeting on the theme of “The Authority of Christ” reviewing the history of the church from its establishment to modern times.  The brethren worked hard and several visitors came for the whole series.  Colin West, Daryl Johnson, and his brother Neville have worked hard through the years to keep this church in the strait and narrow way of truth.

While in Rockhampton I received an email message from Jojo Tacbad in the Philippines saying that his brother Emmanuel was working in Gladstone and looking for the church.  I spent March 4-6 in Gladstone, located Emmanuel and his family (four souls), and held a study with them in the home of Jamie and Deborah Williams.  The Tacbad family makes a wonderful addition to the little Gladstone church.  On my last day I conducted a home study with a lady Deborah befriended and was well received.

By God’s grace I arrived home safely on March 9 to be with Donna and all the saints at the Hebron Lane church.  My heart overflows with thanksgiving for the sacrifices and encouragement of so many saints who make these trips possible.  “To God be the glory, great things He has done!”

In Christian love, Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:

www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com

www.biblework.com

www.truthmagazine.com

www.CEIbooks.com

March 12, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear brethren,

Steve Willis has labored for many years in a difficult outpost:  Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada.  The Carry Drive church of Christ is small and can provide only partial support.  Steve and his wife has suffered medical problems during the past year but both are making a good comeback and recovery.

Every month Steve sends a report on his work including the up’s and down’s.  I have just returned from preaching in the Philippines and Australia and read his Feb. 12 report.   In the long struggle to maintain sufficient support, he has suffered setbacks as the result of the U.S. recession and churches declining in membership.  In recent years his support has gradually declined but not his expenses.

If you have or know of available resources, please keep Steve in mind.  He can be contacted at 2Swillis@gmail.com via email and he will be glad to answer any questions or provide any information.

If some individual would like to help Steve on a regular basis or send one-time help, and if a tax deduction would help, you may make out the check to HELP A NEIGHBOR, INC. and send it to me at 3505 Horse Run Ct., Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954 (include a note stating your desire to help Steve).  Otherwise, you can send help to Steve Willis at his home address: 18 Rossmere Court SE, Medicine Hat, AB, Canada T1B 2M3.

Let us remember brethren like Steve who have sacrificed to stay at their stations of duty under difficult circumstances in order to proclaim the gospel to all the world.  They need our prayers and encouragement!

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.truthbooks.net

Friday, March 8, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Greetings to everyone! Though I cannot see you with my eyes, you all are in my heart and prayers.

After finishing the work planned in Cebu City on February 25th, the following day (Tuesday) was left open before I started the long journey to Australia. It is good we did not schedule any activities today because I was absolutely exhausted. I rested, took some exercise, and studied as possible.

The Church of Christ in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

The next two days became one long extended day of travel. Wednesday I flew from Cebu City to Manila, where I took an all-night flight to Sydney, Queensland, Australia. After arriving there Thursday morning, I flew on to Brisbane, where I took another plane on to Gladstone. Jay Stevenson met me at the airport and drove me the remaining 70 miles to Rockhampton. The State of Queensland is huge and all of these places are in this State.

Daryl Johnson gave me a quick tour of Rockhampton. It was established in 1868 and currently has about 70,000 population. He took me to supper and left me at the hotel to rest-which I was very much ready to do by that time!

On Friday I studied and rested trying to adjust to the change of time zones between the Philippines and Australia. The Rockhampton church of Christ came out from the church of Christ here which became a part of the Associated Churches of Christ or “The Churches of Christ in Australia.” Many years ago they formed state conferences, which in turn are associated on the national level. Through these associational organizations the churches support missionary boards, a college, and various ecumenical endeavors. They also use instrumental music and other denominational practices like the Christian Churches in the U.S. The Rockhampton church broke away from this apostasy in 1957.

The church has a commodious building and has flourished at times, but in recent years has lost several members who fell into denominationalism or various forms of liberalism. Their normal attendance is 25-30. Three of the older men are trustees of the property and have worked very hard to keep the church on the strait and narrow path, and to keep brethren on the same page in making decisions about the work. They are Colin West, Daryl Johnson, and his brother Neville. This church has existed through most of its life without the help of a full-time evangelist, so the men have shared teaching duties.

It has been a very long time since they have had a gospel meeting and they have certainly gone to work on this one. They passed out 800 invitations in several neighborhoods, put two banners in front of the church building, personally invited various contacts, and put ads in the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday newspapers listing the topics.

The theme for this week was “The Authority of Christ” with six lessons starting in the first century and tracing the great apostasy which resulted in Roman Catholicism, followed by the rise of denominationalism, the restoration plea, and the need to avoid apostasy today. The brethren’s hard work paid off the very first night. Friday evening’s attendance was about 30 including five visitors. One of them told me he lives nearby and saw the banners, then read the newspaper ad. Another visitor is from the associated church here in town. Both of these men were very attentive. The neighbor took notes, selected several tracts, and promised to return.

The first two lessons presented tonight covered the authority of Christ expressed in Scripture, his authority exercised for our salvation, and his authority in the local church. The brethren decided to begin each service with the beautiful song “The Church’s One Foundation.” One of the members who is married to a non-Christian stayed for a long time afterward asking questions about how to convert her mate. I gave her as much encouragement as possible, then prayed with her that she might be strong and faithful to the end and also teach her children to obey the gospel regardless of what her husband does. We hope he will submit to Christ.

Weather patterns in this area include cycles of dry spells and rainy spells. In recent months they are having much rain with flooding. The heat and humidity caused me to sweat so much my clothes were wet when the lessons were finished, and I went back to my room exhausted. Air conditioning is not widely used and the church building has only small ceiling fans. Fortunately, the hotel room is air conditioned.

I studied Saturday morning until shortly before noon when Jamie, Deborah, Timothy, and Seth Williams arrived from Gladstone. We went out for lunch, spent a couple of hours together, then rested and got ready for the 6:30 PM service. Our service was blessed again by the presence of five visitors. The man from the associated or instrumental church returned and brought his 30 year old son to hear the lessons. The neighbor who came last night returned, paid close attention again, took careful notes, gathered more tracts, and seemed very happy to be there.

The lessons discussed the historical development of the Roman Catholic Church, followed by the development of denominationalism. During the Q & A period, the man from the associated church asked questions reflecting his agreement with some things covered in the two lessons. He is concerned about the liberal trends all across the religious landscape.

It was hot and humid again tonight-my shirt was wet again when I finished preaching.

The rain continued off and on Sunday morning, March 2, as I studied. When there was a pause, I took a break for a walk, but before I got back a heavy shower soaked me.

At 3:00 PM Daryl Johnson came to pick me up. The two services began at 4:00 and dismissed about 6:30, with the Lord’s Supper observed at the beginning of the second service. The custom here is for everyone who wants to partake to gather in a large circle at the communion table for Scripture reading and prayer, and then the communion is served.

There were 40-45 in attendance including our visitors again. The visitor from the neighborhood was present and promised to return, so we hope follow-up studies will be possible with him. The man from the instrumental church of Christ who brought his son to hear the lessons is a pillar in that group but was present again with his son for both lessons covering the restoration plea and the danger of apostasy today . I made it very clear that organizations centralizing the work of churches and instrumental music in worship are major apostasies which afflict God’s people. Again, he was very complimentary of the lessons, so I offered to teach the same series where he worships-we will see if anything materializes.

After services we gathered at the home of Troy Polzin for supper and to discuss the meeting. The brethren were elated that their efforts had opened doors for visitors to be present at every service. We hope fruit will be borne. I learned the recent rains caused so much flooding that one of the families lost several cattle to drowning and fought off 60 snakes fleeing the water.

Gladstone, Queensland, Australia with the Williams Family

Jamie and Deborah were present for these last services and drove me safely to their home in Gladstone after the supper gathering.

No studies were planned for Monday, March 4 , but the time was used to accomplish some needed work. First, I completed and sent a message to knowledgeable Filipinos cautioning them about Randy Hilburn from Bakersfield, CA. Though that church is not institutional, he has been preaching in the Philippines in recent years in the company of institutional liberals and also Jim Puterbaugh (who teaches God has one eternal moral covenant allowing all divorced people to marry new mates). Randy practices unity-in-doctrinal diversity by working in fellowship with such false brethren.

Then I phoned and encouraged a Filipino brother who had worshiped with his family at his house while working on a dairy farm in New Zealand, and who is now worshiping the same way on a chicken farm in Australia six hours from the nearest known church.

In addition, I contacted a Filipino family of four who have been meeting in their home here in Gladstone because they did not know there is a church here. The man’s brother sent me a message from the Philippines asking me to contact the man-providentially at the very time I was over here! We arranged for him to bring his family for supper at the home of Jamie and Deborah so they can get acquainted. This new family can be a great asset to the little church here!

The last thing I worked on late into the night was gathering material to email to a preacher on Mindanao who is preparing for a debate on the “one container” issue. During the day I did manage to squeeze in time to read Bible stories to the grandchildren, Timothy and Seth. This was a very full day and I was more than happy to finally find the bed!

I studied Tuesday, tried to catch up on some email, read Bible stories for an hour to the grandchildren, and then we had the new Filipino family over for supper and a study. Emmanuel, Ann, Ezekiel (age 12) and Sam (age 5) Tacbad arrived about 6:00 PM and stayed until almost 9:30. I have known many of Emmanuel’s family in the Philippines for years including his brother, a faithful preacher in the Pampanga Province, who asked me to help find a place for him to worship. He is a mechanical engineer and has worked in five countries including now Australia. He expects to be here for several years.

Though he has worshiped with his family, this is the first time outside the Philippines Emmanuel has worked where there is a true church, and he let us know he is thankful and excited about it. I presented the lesson on “The Glory of God,” Psalm 19 verse by verse, which he and his family thoroughly enjoyed. Though I leave tomorrow, we invited them to return here tomorrow night for the mid-week Bible study, which he immediately agreed to do.

The meeting in Rockhampton made my time in Australia worthwhile but so did this unexpected chain of events leading us to locate another family to be active in the Gladstone church!

Even Wednesday , the last day to teach in Australia, turned out to be a bonanza. Deborah has befriended an Aussie whose children enjoy playing with her children, and the two of them have engaged in Bible studies and discussions. Deborah invited her to come to the house this morning so that we could study, and she did. Kirsty Itallie is a dedicated member of her denomination, has done charity work in Africa, and is a diligent Bible student.

After sketching a basic time frame for Bible history, showing that the Great Commission was given after Jesus died and arose, I guided us through a verse by verse study of Mark 16 . When I focused on the plan of salvation in verse 16, she admitted that Deborah’s previous efforts had really set her to thinking about this. When I showed her that Catholicism changes the order by putting baptism first, she saw the point immediately.

When I showed her that denominationalism’s doctrine of salvation by faith only, followed by baptism, also changes the order given by Christ, she admitted she could see that, but added in all honesty, “When you have spent 30 years in another understanding of salvation, this is not easy to accept.” She granted salvation by faith must mean obedient faith, and when we applied this principle to Mark 16:16, again she did not hesitate to admit she saw the point, and she even brought up James 2 herself!

When she brought up the principle of salvation by grace through faith in Ephesians 2, I again pointed out that she had already granted it must be obedient faith and Acts 19:5 shows that the Ephesians who were saved by grace were baptized consistently with Mark 16:16.

At the end she asked if I thought she was saved or lost, adding, “Not that I think a man’s opinion is final, but I am interested in your thoughts on it.” I told her to answer her own question by reading the passage again. She was not offended and clearly saw the point! I then asked if it might be possible to feel saved but to be lost in terms of what the Bible reveals, and she immediately answered the Bible is the final authority on all such matters.

I gave her the notes we had sketched during our study and she promised to continue studying. No one can predict what she might finally do, but her openness and honesty really showed through. Deborah and I both noticed Kirsty beginning to tear up as she recognized the truth and its application to her soul. Let us pray she will fully submit to Christ, which again will open more doors for the little church in Gladstone!

Just before we left the house, Timothy spilled his orange juice from Dan to Beersheba, dousing my trousers. There was no time to change, so I wiped it off as best I could and let it dry on the way to the airport. Grandchildren have a way of filling our lives with new adventures-that was my first time to wear orange juice on an airplane. I kissed them all goodbye and boarded a flight to Brisbane. What a wonderful day it has been!

Headed to Home, Sweet Home!

A connecting flight took me to Sydney to spend the night and prepare for the eight-hour flight on Thursday to Manila. I spent Friday recovering, studying, and preparing for the 24-hour trip home on Saturday, March 9. I will be in the air and on the way by the time many of you see this last report.

My heart is filled with joy and gratitude to God and to all the saints who make these trips possible. May God give the increase and be glorified in all that we do together serving Him. As the song beautifully proclaims, “To God be the glory, great things He has done!”
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.truthbooks.net