April 21, 2015th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, & friends,

On Saturday, April 18, Mark and I sent out reports, packed, and went to the Tuguegarao airport to take a plane to Manila. After saying our painful goodbyes to Rody, Tessie, and Junior Gumpad, we flew safely to Manila, waited four hours, and took a connecting flight to Laoag City, Ilocos Norte arriving about 7:00 PM. It was a joy to see brother Mat Sibayan, Sr. and Jr. and company. We immediately proceeded to our hotel, ate supper, and studied for Sunday’s lessons. I “crashed and burned” about 1:30 AM.

Mark and I left our hotel at 8:00 AM on the Lord’s Day with Mat to attend the services at the Laoag City church of Christ in downtown Laoag City. My lesson was “Come Out of Her, My People” (Rev. 18:4) and Mark spoke on the father-son relationship both in physical and spiritual realms. I often look inside the front cover of the songbook to see where it came from, and the one I used was a very old one repaired with duck tape from the Hebron Lane church where I am a member in Shepherdsville, KY.

For several years brother Ben Pascual, a former elder of the Laoag City church, has not been able to attend services. Therefore, a small congregation started meeting in their house at Bengcag near Laoag City. Ben is in his 90’s but immediately recognized me and it was good to see him again. Mark spoke on repentance.

We rushed to Chowking, a Chinese chain restaurant, where we ate a quick lunch, then proceeded to the Ilocos Norte Provincial Jail. Mat and other brethren have been preaching there every Sunday and there are 44 active members now. My topic for them was “The Prison of Sin” (1 Pet. 3:18-4:11). Mat, Jr. translated for me because prisoners are often not well educated. A female inmate came forward during the invitation to obey the gospel. She was immediately baptized in a small baptistry the brethren were allowed to build in the jail.

Next, we drove an hour to reach the worship at the church in Katipunan, Sinait, Ilocos Sur which was in progress as we arrived. Mark preached on “Hard Things” to a very attentive audience and one young man responded to the gospel call. He was immediately baptized in a small pool on the property. This church has been meeting for many years in a large side room at the house of Mat Sibayan.

As soon as the baptism was completed, we jumped into the van to ride another hour and a half to reach the fifth service of the day, an evening service at Escoda, Marcos, Ilocos Norte where Vic Domingo has preached for many years. Since it was 8:00 PM when we arrived, Vic’s wife served us a wonderful meal while the saints just continued their beautiful singing in the church building next door. We entered the service at 8:30 PM and I spoke on the topic “Young People, Read the Bible,” followed by additional admonitions to young people by Mark Mayberry. A man and his wife came to Christ asking to be baptized into him. The service dismissed at 10:00 PM and we reached our hotel about 11:30 PM, exhausted but thankful to God for the wonderful day spent in His service.

On Monday 130 people gathered at the Laoag City church for two full days of study on “Leadership in the Church” based on my new workbook by that title which was recently published by Truth Books. I could provide only 70 copies, so the other people followed the passages presented and took notes. I began by presenting three lessons on leadership in the home because this is what produces leaders in the church. Mark then covered lessons on Bible leaders who set examples before us of good leadership, and he discussed leading in public worship. My last subject was “Holy Hands of Leaders.”

Rather than teaching in a lecture format, we utilized the participation of our audience by having them read pertinent passages and answer discussion type questions. Mark and I agreed that the level of participation was excellent.

After missing the moon for several evenings, when I went out to take exercise tonight I saw a sliver, and it was relaying all of your good thoughts and messages to me. Thanks!

Our classes continued Tuesday with a full house again and with excellent participation by the audience. In addition to a lesson on teachers as leaders, I addressed qualifications of elders including a study of problem areas, and also challenges faced by leaders. Twice we stretched today’s schedule to make time for questions. Almost as many ladies as men attended both days. They paid close attention as was evident from their good comments. Women too lead by fulfilling their roles, though they do not act so as to usurp the leadership of the men. The woman’s role is vital to the strength and success of the church in every place. We were glad they came.

Philippine churches have appointed elders and deacons through the years when possible, but just as in the U.S. there are churches which have gone far too long without appointing these servants who are part of God’s plan for the strength of the local church. More teaching must be done and more churches must press toward the goal of appointing scriptural leaders. Everyone felt the studies were effective and fruitful. I am reminded of Isaiah 55:10-11, “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

When Mark and I returned to the hotel, we walked about a quarter mile to the ocean to follow the beach for about 45 minutes of exercise. We walked into such a strong wind that flying sand stung us like pesky gnats, filling our hair, but it was beautiful to see the moon and the evening star against the backdrop of the dusk.

Brethren, thank you for making all of this possible by your prayers, encouragement, and financial help. May God be glorified through His Son Jesus Christ as we engage in the work of evangelism and edification of His saints.

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.CEIbooks.com