February 10, 2015

Dear family, friends,& brethren,

When I wrote the previous report dated February 6, I was finishing up in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

Early Friday, February 6, Jonathan Carino returned to Cebu City because he was scheduled to go immediately to Leyte for a gospel meeting. Jack Jaco took Sean to look for gifts for his family while I finished some work in my room. We left our hotel with plenty of time to stop and meet a retired Baptist preacher whose daughter I met in Batesville, AR (she is attending frequently the Quail Valley church of Christ where David Halbrook preaches). We had a pleasant visit discussing the Bible. He is disgusted with how many Baptist churches have drifted further and further away from the Bible. I gave him my tract on “The Original Church of Christ.” Jack plans to make some follow-up visits and give him reading material such as J.W. McGarvey’s commentary on Acts.

Sean and I said good-bye to Jack at the airport and flew into Manila just before dark.

I got up Saturday morning to see Sean off to the airport, thankful for the work we have shared. The rest of the day was spent working on backlogged email, reviewing sermons, relaxing, and preparing for the trip to Australia.

Atoy Franco drove me to the Edsa church of Christ here in Manila for Sunday worship. This is a relatively new congregation planted by Rody Gumpad and located in a central location. It is growing. I preached two lessons on “Serving Christ in the Local Church.” The attendance was 64 including young people from congregations in various provinces where I have preached through the years. Some are enrolled in college here and others are working. Junior Gumpad from Tuguegarao was in town to help the congregation today. After conducting a P.M. service, he will go home.

Meanwhile, I used the remainder of the day to make some last minute preparations to take an all-night flight to Australia. It left Manila for Sydney, New South Wales on Australia’s southeast coast at 11:00 P.M. I slept with my knees against the seat in front of me because the seats were so close together. I awoke during the landing approach about 10:00 A.M. Monday I ate breakfast in the airport before boarding a plane for Brisbane, Queensland, about an hour’s flight north. The next flight was another hour north on Australia’s eastern seaboard to Gladstone, arriving about 3:30 P.M. It was good to see Jamie, Deborah, Timothy, and Seth. (For those who do not recognize these names, Jamie Williams married Deborah Halbrook and Jamie’s job brought the family here. I did not come for a vacation but to help the small church here in a gospel meeting.)

Deborah was scheduled to teach a ladies Bible class on Tuesday morning. Several ladies who are not members of the church of Christ have attended from time to time. I was asked to teach today while Deborah stayed home with Seth who had a fever. A Mormon lady named Elizabeth hosted the class in her home. Carol Zussino, a member here, has been bringing her friend Jane who has no religious background but has been learning little by little. The class has been studying some excellent outlines prepared by David Halbrook. I prepared to teach the next lesson but offered as an alternative to answer the question, “Why are there so many churches and religions?”

Since they were curious about that question, I guided them through a brief summary of God’s plan of redemption from the Old to the New Testament. Next, we focused on warnings in the New Testament about men changing the original gospel, and then on the history of how Catholicism and denominationalism developed. This led Jane and Elizabeth to ask several perceptive questions. For instance, Elizabeth asked why we did not restore the priesthood in the churches of Christ (Mormons have priests). I pointed out in 1 Peter 2:5 all Christians are priests, but the New Testament gives no instructions or qualifications for a separate priesthood as existed in the Old Testament.

Jane remarked that she is impressed with the simplicity of the gospel. I had stressed that each local church looks to Christ as head without any earthly headquarters. Elizabeth asked how is it possible for all churches to worship in the same manner under such a plan? I pointed out that Christians in every place are taught to submit to Christ’s instructions in the New Testament rather than to a group of men at an earthly headquarters. For instance, Acts 20:7 teaches that the New Testament church observed the Lord’s Supper every Sunday. Since we all follow the same standard, we all observe the Lord’s Supper every Sunday. Everyone got the point.

Both Jane and Elizabeth promised to attend the gospel meeting which is scheduled for February 11-15 on “The Authority of Christ.”

The church here at Gladstone meets Tuesday nights for a midweek service. I taught on “The Prison of Sin,” a textual study of 1 Peter 3:18-4:11. Eight attended the service including Carol’s friend Jane. After class I spent extra time with her explaining Mark 16:15-16. Jane is very appreciative for what she is learning.

Announcements are being distributed and posted around town. We look forward to beginning the meeting (or “mission” as Australians say). Please pray for these efforts to bear fruit to God’s glory.

I have been able to see the moon as clear as day for the last week, and I can hear all of your encouraging messages bouncing off of it loud and clear! Because of demands on my time for travel and teaching, I have fallen behind on reading and responding to emails. I regret this and will try to catch up little by little when possible.

In Christian love, Ron Halbrook