Dear family, brethren, and friends,

I got 2 hours sleep the last night at home, February 2, and had safe flights from Louisville to Manila as I napped and worked on a sermon.  By the time I got to my hotel and got to bed in Manila, it was 3:00 AM on Wednesday.  This morning four Filipino preachers met me here and repacked the boxes of Bibles and study materials to ship ahead to the venues where I will be teaching.  When I went to the moneychanger, the employees said they opened 13 years ago and I was among their first customers, and they wonder why I always look the same, no older!  Of course, I do not know when they last had their glasses checked because I will be 80 on May 7, God willing!  

In addition to jetlag and the 12-hour time change, I am adjusting to the winter weather change.  I left snow, sleet, and ice with temperatures plummeting to single digits and zero.  Now, daytime temperatures are in the mid-80’s, plummeting to mid-70’s at night, and I failed to bring a heavy coat.  I know you all pity me (smile, if you can).  A bright beautiful moon overlooks Manila tonight in a clear sky – can you see it there where you are?

The first preaching appointment was February 5-6 with the deaf-mute saints meeting at the Edsa-Pasay church in Manila.  Tony Hornedo is a deaf-mute evangelist who has labored with these saints for many years.  James Paet focuses on the saints who can hear and speak but also devotes time to helping the deaf mutes.  Thursday 49 attended and 52 on Friday, most all of whom are deaf mute.  In the U.S., the term “deaf mute” is considered out-of-date or even offensive to many who cannot hear or speak (they prefer “deaf” and “hard of hearing”), but Filipinos are fiercely proud to be identified as deaf mute. 

The theme for these two days was “Preparing for Eternity” with lessons on “Life and Death,” “When Peter Confessed Christ,” “Every Member at Every Service,” “Modest Dress through the Ages,” “After We Begin, What Then?” (2 parts), and “Two Attitudes Toward God’s Word: Conservative and Liberal” (2 parts).  The brethren brought friends and contacts.  Also, a hearing lady has been attending since December because she was told by an American online that the church of Christ is closest to following the Bible (but that American is not yet a member).  She took these two days off work to attend and was one of the three baptized for the remission of her sins this afternoon.  These three ladies were very happy and we rejoice with them and with the angels of heaven.

As always, the deaf mutes enjoy participating in open forums, but hearing brethren also offered some good questions.  Should a wife regard her husband as her head if he does not control his temper?  Yes, but she should patiently advise him to repent and correct his weakness.  How can we grow closer to God and become stronger Christians?  The two basic elements for cultivating growth are consistent Bible study (God speaks to us through His Word) and prayer (we speak to God).  This communication process leads to spiritual growth.  

If the church gives benevolence funds to meet the emergency needs of one or more members of the church, should funds be distributed to all members so that no one will have envy?  No.  The distribution should be made only to the members who suffered a tragedy.  If there is a general disaster affecting all members such as a prolonged drought or a devastating earthquake, then benevolence funds from the church can be shared with all of the members.  In Acts 6:1-7, faithful Christian widows were in need and distribution was made to them but not to all the members of the church – all members were not victims of hunger like these widows.  

Is a local church in sin if there are no elders?  It depends on why there are no elders.  If there are no men qualified according to 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, then the church is not in sin and cannot appoint elders.  The church should work to develop qualified men.  If the church has qualified men but refuses to appoint them, then, yes, the church is guilty of sin for not following the pattern of Christ’s teaching.  

If a person came from a liberal church, should he be baptized again?  That must be decided on a case-by-case basis.  If the person understood God’s plan of salvation and submitted to it from the heart, their sins were forgiven and Christ added them to his church.  Yet, when they learn that the liberal practices are sinful, they need to repent of those practices and not participate in them anymore.  If the person was baptized by a liberal preacher without understanding the steps leading to the forgiveness of our sins, then they need to be baptized again with the right understanding.

I saw the moon again last night, though partially hidden by clouds, but cannot see it tonight.  

I have been getting to bed about midnight, and it will be the same tonight.  Then, tomorrow I will fly to Tuguegarao to begin the second phase of this trip, God willing.  Thank you for your prayers and may God bless each one of you!

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook