Dear brethren,

By God’s grace and providence my 44th preaching trip to the Philippines (5th to New Zealand) was successfully completed November 29-December 19, 2011. I am forever indebted to Jim McDonald for taking me with him in 1995. It was a joy to work with Steven Deaton (Hebron Ln. church of Christ, Shepherdsville, KY) and Jesse Flowers (Pruett & Lobit Sts. chuch of Christ, Baytown, TX). Filipino brethren expressed appreciation for their good work. In addition to their lessons, I presented 38 lessons, and 15 were baptized by our joint efforts (most when Steven and Jesse worked with Rody Gumpad).

We continue these trips because precious Filipino souls are seeking the “one pearl of great price,” as Jesus described salvation in the kingdom of God (Matt. 13:44-46). It is a harvest time in the Philippines, but it will not always be so. Let us work while the sun shines. Let us work till Christ returns.

After arriving in Manila on Luzon, we flew on December 1 to Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte Province on the island of Mindanao. About 50 preachers, mostly from premillennial churches of Christ, gathered for five days of study and training (Dec. 2-3, 5-7). Edgardo Parangan of Dipolog City worked very hard as a host, and Bavien Sausa from nearby Plaridel was helpful. Arranging and conducting these classes required a team effort by many brethren including Cyrus Gesulga, Jonathan Carino, Jack Jaco, Jhun Carpentero, Pablo Espinosa, Mario Rubio, Ernie Collado, and others. The first two days were held in a function room at the Top Plaza Hotel, the last three in a room we rented at the Zamboanga del Norte Convention Center.

As a study guide we covered Robert Harkrider’s four volume workbook series on Basic Bible Doctrine including these major themes: Understanding the Theme of the Bible, Practicing Undenominational Christianity, New Testament Worship, How to Study the Bible, How to Establish Bible Authority, The Mission & Work of the Church, The Holy Spirit, The One Baptism, Calvinism, Premillennialism, Catholicism, and the Cults.

When I presented four lessons on premillennialism the last day, everyone was very attentive and there was no adverse reaction. Questions asked during an open forum about such points as the rapture and the 1,000 year reign of Christ showed a spirit of inquiry not rejection. Before leaving the next day, I had time to study the 1,000 year reign in Revelation 20:1-4 with a key man in private. After being entrenched in premillennialism for many years, these men are beginning to see this theory divided God’s people. Laying aside this theory will unite and strengthen us in the truth, making our efforts to convert a lost world more effective just as Jesus prayed in John 17:21: “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

Each brother received a reference Bible, a Bible concordance, and a Bible dictionary. Sessions on “Tools of Bible Study” trained them in the proper use of their reference books. Some of them struggled, but all of them progressed. It is a privilege to teach men young and old who are so hungry to learn!

On Sunday we scattered to preach. Jesse was well received in Dipolog City where Ed Parangan labors. I went to the church at Lao, Sta. Cruz, Plaridel, Misamis Occidental where Bavien Sausa preaches. After a flat tire was fixed, Steven proceeded to Lopez Jaena. About 40 souls at Lao heard my study on “New Beginnings in Christ:” a new covenant, a new kingdom, and a new birth. Bavien later commented that he had discarded preaching theories about the rapture and the millennium.

December 8 we flew to Manila. Steven and Jesse went to Tuguegarao, Cagayan Province to work with Rody Gumpad while I went to Auckland, New Zealand to work with the Meadowood church of Christ meeting in Ronnie Salunga’s home. The Salunga and the Randy Cabrillas families are making every effort to spread the gospel. A garage was converted into living quarters for visiting preachers. Filipinos, Malaysians, and Koreans joined our study on “Evidences for God and His Creation” (using the Word in the Heart workbook series). New Zealand is a Western style society needing much teaching on evidences. Asians there exposed to denominationalism have no solid foundation for their faith.

Sunday we drove five hours to visit and study with the Abner Salanguit family at Ohope in the Whakatane District of The Bay of Plenty Region. Abner and Lani are professional people employed by government agencies. Their background was with the Boston movement and with institutional folks, but they are very open to study. With more follow-up work, there is potential to begin a sound church in Ohope. Monday we reached the place of Gochi Punzalan in the Tirau District of the Waikato Region where he works on a dairy farm. We arrived shortly after he finished his work. This family conducts worship every Sunday in their home and are very devoted.

The Salunga’s basement was filled for the last lesson December 13 which emphasized that God not man must establish moral standards. May God bless the Meadowood church for their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope (1 Thess. 1:3).

The 14th found me flying from Auckland to Sydney to Manila, where Steven, Jesse, and I shared our experiences before their return home the next day. They both are glad they came and hope to return in the future. Thanks to generous U.S. saints I purchased on Thursday 416 Tagolog, Cebuano, and Ilocano Bibles to send to eight different parts of the Philippines.

December 16-17 Lordy Salunga joined me to teach classes at Kapitbahayan, Navotas on “How to Study the Bible” for teenagers. Longtime preacher Ben Cruz passed away October 27 but the brethren are vigorously pressing forward. His son Elias is one of the preachers and his son-in-law Jerry Toreja is an elder. 63 teenagers received a New Testament and a workbook covering such basic principles as why men should study the Bible, proper and improper attitudes in Bible study, periods of Bible history, the two covenants, translations, historical context of passages, Bible authority, and figurative language. Every student participated in reading passages and answering review questions.

Sunday morning 8:30-12:00 I joined Atoy Franco, Kenneth Pastor, Kathy Pastor, and two other saints in worship with Willie Pastor and 25 brethren in the Bilibid National Prison in Muntinlupa City. Since Willie was incarcerated in February 2010, over 100 inmates have obeyed the gospel. I preached on “The Resurrection of Christ” (Mark 16) and three responded to the invitation. Willie’s application for a pardon or clemency passed a review panel and awaits the final decision of President Benigno Aquino III.

Typhoon Sendeng hit northern Mindanao about midnight on Saturday killing well over 1,000 people with another 1,000 missing. Messages from Cipriano Carpentero, Edgar Samodal, and Cyrus Gesulga before I left Manila confirm that saints lost their homes and possessions, barely escaping with the clothes on their backs. Let us pray for brethren in Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City, and Dipolog City who are suffering, and open our hearts to help them.

God guided and protected Steven, Jesse, and myself in traveling and teaching. Many of you reading this report helped make this trip safe and successful by your prayers, donations, and encouragement, a sweet smelling sacrifice, “well pleasing to God” (Phil. 4:18). God is glorified when souls are saved and edified by the power of His Word through the united efforts of His people. May He continue to open doors for Filipinos seeking the “one pearl of great price.”

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook

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