Dear family, brethren, and friends,

I am thankful for God’s constant providence in supplying all our physical needs while also facilitating all our service to Him in His kingdom. Truly, He is Jehovah‑Jireh, the God who provides all things. As the Philippine work continues, we share the confidence expressed by Paul in Philippians 1:19 that all will be well through the prayers of our brethren and the providence of our great God.

On Monday, April 30, we started our last week of the preacher training class here in Davao City with the help of Juanito Balbin (and his sons Dudley, Sonni, and Connie), Cyrus Gesulga, and Johnny Espinosa. Cyrus and Johnny are from the premillennial background and we gave them the lead in inviting men. There are 45 representing a wide range of ages. The first day is always hectic and runs late as we get organized and get the men orientated to our format of study. Still, this was a good day as we covered an overview of the Bible’s message and the three dispensations. The Bible concordances and dicitonaries had arrived here last week, so the last session introduced these books and we researched the word “disciple” as a way to begin.

Our venue is a rented room at the University of the South Eastern Philippines 15‑20 minutes from my hotel. A few years ago we used a larger and better room upstairs in the same building, but it has been condemned. That gives a hint of the condition of the building, but it is adequate for our purpose. It is a dorm and the men can sleep on simple beds in other rooms.

The Philippines observes May 1, Labor Day, as an official holiday, so there was little traffic between the hotel and the venue. Thank God for gifts large and small! Today we discussed New Testament worship, how the Bible teaches, and the authority of Christ. The students are attentive and are participating by reading Scripture selections related to the lessons.

God’s providence opened a door we did not expect during the afternoon session. Ricardo dela Cruz was an aged preacher in General Santos City who died last year. His daughter Diana is married to an American named Tim Melton. Tim is from a very conservative and independent Baptist background. They now live in Davao City and attended the afternoon studies. After the last session on the use of Bible study tools was finished, they agreed to go to supper with me. This gave me a chance to talk with Tim one‑on‑one.

Our meal and discussion continued from 8:00 until 10:00 P.M.  Tim insists that when he was baptized as a young man, he was taught he was lost before baptism and that he was saved and entered God’s kingdom when he was baptized. He has been working for an oil company in foreign nations for many years, studying his Bible on his own, and he has been disillusioned with denominationalism for years. He believes we are teaching the truth and was not offended at anything I discussed even during our supper. He still uses some denominational terminology and there are other things he needs to learn, but Tim is certainly moving in the right direction. It was providential that he came at the very time we were presenting lessons on Christ’s authority as seen in the plan of salvation and in the New Testament church.

When I got back to my room just after 10:00 PM, I took some exercise, studied, looked at email a few minutes, and went to bed at 1:00 AM. Another day to be tired but thankful and happy!

Wednesday’s lessons focused on the mission and organization of the church, and we introduced the theme of the Holy Spirit. After my two morning lessons emphasizing the spiritual mission of the church, several men asked good questions for about 15 minutes and their reaction to the answers was excellent. In the afternoon I taught on “The Work of the Holy Spirit” as summarized in five words: revelation, confirmation, conviction, conversion, and sanctification. This resulted in another 15‑20 minutes Q & A period about the nature of the Godhead, God’s free will in changing His mind, and clarification of the Spirit’s work today. The last session on the proper use of Bible study tools focused on the word “impute” as used in the Bible and abused by Calvinism.

After two more lessons on the Holy Spirit Thursday, several men again had questions. One thought the Spirit was still giving prophecies and visions as in Acts 2:17 because of a dream he had about seeking the truth after he became disillusioned with Catholicism. I pointed out Acts 2:17 was fulfilled by the revelation of the gospel whereas his dream was a reflection of his intense desire to find the truth and was not a divine revelation. He saw the point. Lunch was about 40 minutes late because of our discussion and I commended them for being more interested in spiritual than physical food.

This P.M. we studied Calvinism including predestination–the brethren seemed to understand it well. After I led them in an exercise from Genesis 1 on outlining and sermon preparation, there was an excellent discussion about evolution, the day‑age theory, and related issues.

Jonathan Carino went home today to witness his daughter’s graduation and he will join us again Saturday.

Friday was the last day in this preacher training series. I taught four lessons in two hours on various aspects of premillennialism and then opened the floor for questions and discussion. Cyrus Gesulga made a plea to the brethren to drop the teaching of premillennialism so that the division can be healed, followed by additional good comments by Juanito Balbin emphasizing we can attain unity only in the truth. Juanito observed that he read a tract from a leading premillennial preacher in the U.S. who said the theory is not necessary to salvation. If that be the case, there is no reason to teach it! There were nods of agreement all around. So, we are not working toward a unity‑in‑doctrinal‑diversity compromise, but we are holding open discussions with our estranged brethren while teaching the truth.

Jack Jaco, who works zealously behind the scenes as part of our travel and setup team, taught a class for the first time today. He is well familiar with the material and brought in additional points on premillennial error in the local dialect since he believed it when he was a Baptist preacher.

This last day we gave attention not only to premillennialism but also to such cults as the Jehovah’s Witnesses. After another short Q & A period, we gave the men a certificate of completion and also materials for further study when they go home.  They expressed great appreciation!

Saturday, May 5, was a full and fruitful day: “What will we do with our instruments?” “What shall we do about our signboard?”

We left the hotel before 8:00 A.M. to get Jonathan at the airport and then drove two hours to reach Compostela in the Compostela Valley Province. The host was Topias Terio in Compostela, “pastor” of the Church of Christ (Temple Lot), a Mormon sect based in Independence, MO. Julie Notarte from Digos went early to start teaching and utilize every moment while we were coming, and C.B. and Sonnie Dave Balbin with others from Davao joined him to help. Both Julie and his son, Joshua, preached, before we arrived about 10:30 A.M. Just as we arrived there was a brownout. There was no air conditioning in the building, but there were small fans to stir the withering hot air–but they were knocked out.

I preached on the subject “When Peter Confessed Christ (Matt. 16:13‑19).” When I sat down I was soaking wet with sweat. After lunch Jonathan summarized the lesson in the local dialect. Then I spoke on “The Gospel Makes Us Right with God (Rom. 1:16‑17)” explaining there is a right God, a right Savior, a right gospel, a right baptism, a right church, and a right life in contrast to all the sin, error, and confusion in the world.

When we started the Q & A, we had typical questions such as why can’t people be saved in every church, but in the end the audience was satisfied we had answered everything with Scripture. The “pastor’s” wife asked, “Realizing that people I taught wrong are dead now, what am I to do?” I said those souls are in the hands of a perfect God who will judge them, but God has given us the work of the teaching the truth to the living and that is where we must focus our attention. This day was their first time to hear the original gospel of Christ. I kept waiting for the bombshell of objections but it never came. No one was baptized, but we made enough progress that after the dismissal they questioned among themselves, “What will we do with our instruments?” (i.e., now that we have learned not to use them in worship), and, “What shall we do about our signboard?” (i.e., now that we have learned there is no such thing as “Temple Lot” church of Christ). They have already made plans to continue their study with our brethren.

With all the travel and heat combined, this was an exhausting day–but also definitely an exhilarating day to see the power of the gospel working in the hearts of honest hearers!

Sunday, May 6, involved a three hour trip on deteriorating roads from Davao City to the Boracay church of Christ in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato Province. Finally, our van left the paved road to travel a short distance on a path in the grass until it ended, and then we walked another 100 yards to the small meeting house which was overflowing with about 40 people.

Since thousands of Muslims live on Mndanao, my first lesson was “The Final Prophet: Jesus Christ or Mohamed? (Deut. 18:18‑19).” After lunch we reconvened to study “The Resurrection of Christ (Mk. 16).” Everyone was attentive and appreciative.

These brethren are primarily relatives of Cyrus Gesulga who got us the invitation and guided us here. I may have been the first preacher in that pulpit not believing in premillennialism, but I was well received–and I did explain that the kingdom of God is on the earth today:  it is the church of Christ. Cyrus explained we are working to restore a broken unity, but that requires recognizing where we have been wrong in the past. We got back to Davao City about 7:00 P.M., tired but happy and thankful for this wonderful Lord’s Day!

May 7 required another trip of almost three hours over deteriorating highways, gravel roads, and pot hole roads (more like gullies!), bringing us to San Pedro, Kiblawan, Davao del Sur Province where Ben Canada preaches. They have just built a small meeting place with lumber of local trees for a frame and bamboo matting for walls, costing about $600 (not fully paid for yet). About 50‑60 filled the little building. I taught a very simple lesson on “Jesus Came to Seek and Save the Lost (Lk. 19:1‑10),” which Joshusa Notarte summarized in the local dialect, and then “The Gospel Makes Us Right with God (Rom. 1:16‑17),” summarized by Jonathan Carino.

In the open forum one lady asked if her denominational baptism was accepted by God. Another lady who is a religious leader said she was convinced we are teaching the truth but wanted to know if it is really urgent to obey now or is it okay to wait for a better time. I told her in view of the uncertainty of life and of the time Jesus will return, it is very urgent to obey now! She was one of eight who submitted to Christ in baptism. We traveled an hour to the ocean and baptized them in the early darkness of the night.

My voice has been growing weaker since I got overheated Saturday and it is about gone tonight. This has turned into a head cold, so I took medicine and am going to sleep by 11:30 (early for me) in hopes it will be stronger for another long hard day tomorrow.

Tuesday, May 8, my voice is not better, so I sent a cell phone text to tell Jonathan and other brethren to go ahead to Malita, Davao del Sur where Glenford Franca has gathered a group of school teachers to hear the gospel, but I have to stay in the hotel to recuperate. I contacted Dr. Teresa Toreja who said I must stay and drink liquids with rehydration salts. I feel very tired and no doubt dehydration is part of the problem. I will follow the doctor’s orders and expect to bounce back with the help of the constant prayers of the saints and by the providence of God.

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Greetings to everyone from southern Mindanao where we have been laboring in General Santos City and now in Davao City. Thank you for your prayers and occasional notes of encouragement. The halfway point is now past and thoughts of loved ones at home are always near and dear.

Monday, April 23, began our preacher training class in General Santos City with 24 men who registered plus another 25‑30 sit‑in students. Brethren from premillennial churches of Christ were given first priority to attend, and even several denominational “pastors” requested to attend. We rented a hotel function room to escape the stifling heat and humidity, and to utilize tables where the men could open their Bibles with notepads and the workbooks by Robert Harkrider on Basic Bible Doctrine.

Cyrus Gesulga, Rudy Tampon, and Jolly Julom helped behind the scenes inviting men and making other necessary arrangements. Many slept in the church building at Apopong where Jolly preaches.

Teachers were Jonathan Carino (from Cebu City, Cebu), Juanito Balbin and his son C.B. (from Davao City), and myself.  Jack Jaco is our righthand man constantly helping us with equipment and other needs.

It was disappointing to start the classes without books shipped two months ago, which deprived these men of their Bible concordances and Bible dictionaries. We prayed for them to arrive during the week.

Fortunately, the hotel has a generator. Brown‑outs have become so bad on Mindanao that Pres. Aquino made a special trip to Davao City recently to meet with government and civic leaders about the problem. A brownout hit while I was teaching on the first day, but the hotel generator kicked in almost immediately.

 Our first day was devoted to an overview of the Bible’s message including the periods of Bible history: Patriarchal, Mosaic, and Gospel or Christian Ages. We also focused on undenominational Christianity. I closed the day with a hands‑on session on how to outline passages for expository preaching since we had no concordances and dictionaries to study.

The Tuesday classes progressed well with students ranging in age from the 20’s to the 90’s. Yes, one attendee was over 90 years old, sitting on the second row with his Bible and notepad. Today’s lessons discussed how to study the Bible including such things as context, figurative language, and how to establish and apply the authority of Christ. Since some of the students were from Pentecostal, Baptist, and other denominations, some of these topics obviously were sensitive, but there was no angry reaction, only good questions from time to time.

When in my room, I heard people chattering just outside my fifth floor window. This really puzzled me until I looked out and saw sparrows built a nest under the air conditioner’s supporting frame–they were the ones chattering!

Wednesday was another excellent day as we concentrated on God’s pattern for the mission and organization of the church. The men listened well and asked good questions again. The two large boxes of concordances and dictionaries still did not arrive, but we finally were able to contact the shipper and learned they were likely sitting in a warehouse in Davao City three to four hours away. The company promised to look for them. Meanwhile, I continued teaching in the last session on sermon preparation, especially for expository preaching.

On Thursday we covered lessons on the Holy Spirit, baptism, and Calvinism with good results.  The Pentecostals naturally had questions about the Holy Spirit. One man in particular tried to defend their claims of miracles today, but he was not angry when we answered him and he stayed to complete the studies. It will take time for the truth to sink in and we must patiently teach.  Studying from 8:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. made for long days, but the men were very attentive.

Our two big boxes of books were located languishing in a warehouse in Davao City. After the delivery company promised to deliver them today, they later called to say their truck was broken down. Jolly Julom and Jack Jaco went to Davao City to get the boxes and returned with them about 10:00 P.M., thank God!

Friday morning I taught four lessons on premillennialism which were well received by our premillennial brethren. There were a few follow‑up questions for clarification but no one fighting us. In the afternoon I deviated from the planned outlines and taught four lessons on how to use the Bible concordances and Bible dictionaries which were finally distributed. All age groups were represented and the lessons moved slowly since such materials were entirely new to them. They were very appreciative.

At the day’s end I conducted an open forum which covered a wide range of topics. When we extended an invitation, no one responded, but there were private comments indicating several men are near to the kingdom. The certificates of completion of the five‑day training were distributed along with additional books for continued study after the men return home. This was a very good week indeed!

 Before I left home, Donna and I packed some boxes with Bibles and other materials which I brought on the plane. After reaching Manila these were sent ahead to the venues via air cargo. As we now open these boxes in each place, the new Bibles are missing! This is a bitter disappointment. I know from handling the boxes that the Bibles were still present when I arrived in the Philippines, but this country is noted for its corruption and dishonesty. This is the first time in 46 trips Bibles have been stolen in transit. Let us hope they fall into hands where some good will be done by God’s overruling providence!

Saturday morning I studied to teach at a wedding (or “weeding” as they at times say it) at 3:00 P.M. for Charmain Pangompia and Karen Jane Francisco, daughter of brother and sister Nestor Francisco. This is my third wedding in the Philippines. I summarized the Song of Solomon and drew some practical lessons for marriage from it.

Sunday, April 29, we traveled from General Santos City to Davao City, which took about four hours. Along the way we stopped at Kitakal, Malungon, Sarangani Province to worship with Sel Sandoval (widow of Rene Sandoval) and all the saints who meet there. Sixty souls attended as I taught on “The Resurrection of Christ (Mk. 16)” in the first period, which Jack Jaco summarized in the dialect.

By request I then taught on “The One Moral Covenant Doctrine” because an unstable man had caused trouble in the area by working with men who are associated with this false doctrine. It was introduced among our brethren several years ago in the U.S. and in the Philippines by Jim Puterbaugh. Jim’s friend Wallace Little then picked it up. They taught it in annual preacher training programs conducted in the Manila area, where Ernesto Canon also teaches.  The theory says the moral teaching of the Old Law was extended into the New Covenant, much the same as the 7th Day Adventists argue. It is applied to marriage, divorce, and remarriage in an attempt to prove God accepts all marriages subsequent to all divorces no matter how they happen. I broke the lesson into two parts and we studied until 2:30 P.M. before stopping for lunch because of the good questions and discussion. Jonathan Carino summarized and also translated during the open forum.

Sunday was a very profitable day! We arrived in Davao City late and tired but also very thankful and happy knowing that the saints at Kitakal are trying so hard to remain faithful.

We look forward to another good preacher training series in Davao City and will try to get a report out on it as time allows.

It is good to see the moon again the last couple of evenings, and to know that you can see it there, too. May God bless and keep each one of you.

In Christian love,

Ron

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

The 25 men enrolled in the preacher training program at Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Province in the Philippines is an interesting group representing the Cagayan, Isabela, Kalinga, and Quirino Provinces. Let me briefly introduce you to them:

Ricky Attaban, 20 years old, is a recent convert with a criminal background. He served time in prison. Elpedio Longboy is 71 years old. Because of poor eyesight, he had to walk up near to my PowerPoint charts to read passages in large print. We sent him to an optometrist to get the glasses he so badly needs. His schooling was limited to elementary level. I have known Mark Ramirez from his birth. His father is a longtime preacher who abandoned his family in recent years for another woman, but his wife and sons continue serving the Lord. Mark is 14, attentive and sharp.  Abraham (14) and Melchisedec (16) Yuson are son’s of longtime faithful preacher Dennis Yuson. They reflect their father’s faith.  Emmanuel Tablac, also 14, grew up in Tessie Gumpad’s Bible classes here at the Metro Tuguegarao church.  Teddy Boy Gumpad (21), Rody’s son, hesitated to join the class but is now one of the most active students and attained the highest score on tests among the students.

 Marshall Guilles (47) came from the one‑container faction, but understands the truth now and is better equipping himself to preach it.  Ranjet Layos (29) is a high school graduate but suffers from health problems.  He proved to be an outstanding student.  Dexter Amoyen is a new convert only 21 years old from the Kalinga Province where Ben Vistro preaches.  Ronuel Apalla is a 17 year old high school graduate wanting to use his talents to preach.  Norvin Camilo is a 17 year old from a remote place in the Cagayan Province.  Albert Modie (56) formerly was a Pentecostal preacher. For a time he worked in fellowship with such false teachers as Wallace Little but has separated himself from those influences.

Five men came from Rizal, Saguday, Quirino Province where Samuel Graneta preaches: Harvin Dulatre (23), Marvin Torres (18), and the three cousins Crisanto, Mark, and Angelito Fabros (19, 16, & 19 respectively).  Jun Espiritu (14) is from the church at Burgos, Cabarruguis, Quirino Province where Willie Pastor preached in past years before he was incarcerated a couple of years ago for killing someone in self‑defense many years ago.

Villamor Presa (60) is a former Pentecostal preacher from the remote mountains of the Kalinga Province.  Alex Ginelba (40) was converted from the Roman Catholic religion, and now he is preparing hmself to convert his family.  Eugene Malaggan (28) came from one of the minority native tribes of Kalinga to learn to preach.  Fernando Duque (27) was formerly working with the Philippine police and military in a paramilitary role tracking down N.P.A. rebels (active communists). Now he is a soldier of Christ. Romeo Basil (35) is from a tribal group in the Kalinga Province once noted and avoided for their head hunting activities. He now hunts souls to save.  Randy Tiene (25) is a Negrito from Cagayan, the aboriginal people of the Philippines.

It is thrilling to consider how God can use all these men in His good providence if they continue to serve Him faithfully!

Tuesday, April 10, was a good productive day. Our lessons covered “New Testament Worship” and “How to Study the Bible.” I taught on giving, interpreting figurative language, and establishing Bible authority. The evening session on “Bible Study Tools” went especially well whereas last night the men were struggling. They are picking up the skills needed for research using a concordance and a Bible dictionary in tandem. We used our resources to confirm that the name “Christian” was given by God to His people and not by Gentile enemies of the truth as claimed by some references books.

Wednesday went well also as we finished our studies on the New Testament church and began on the Holy Spirit. Lordy Salunga had to leave to participate in a gospel meeting planned some months ago and Jerome Forelo covered his remaining lessons.  The young men did a good job conducting the Wednesday night service at the Metro church here in Tuguegarao. Philippines churches do not typically have midweek services, but this one does.

All the students continued showing signs of progress Thursday. In spite of the long days and demanding schedule, the teachers did not find anyone falling asleep during the lessons. I taught on Holy Spirit baptism, the indwelling of the Spirit, predestination, and another session on how to use Bible study tools. During the studies on the Holy Spirit, Albert Modie, a former Pentecostal preacher, asked a few questions and expressed his complete satisfaction with the truth he was learning. Jerome did well on his first day of teaching, as I knew he would. Rody spent part of the day reviewing in preparation for a test he will give tomorrow. The students constantly express gratitude for the lessons and for the books they were given.

 Our last day, Friday, went well as we finished our scheduled topics. I presented four lessons on various aspects of premillennialism and one on the deity of Christ (defended against denials by the Jehovah’s Witnesses sect). My last class was on how to outline passages for textual sermons, based on Genesis 1. Rody gave a test over material he taught and everyone made passing grades or higher with a couple of exceptions. Even the exceptions did well when their backgrounds are considered. The men requested that we extend the classes because they feel they are learning so much, but other appointments will not allow for that. Again today they expressed gratitude for their Bible study books and the lessons presented.

Today, Saturday, the students gathered at 8:00 A.M. with family members, friends, and other brethren to receive certificates of completion for their two weeks of study and training. Representative students publicly expressed their appreciation for the study program. Jerome Forelo, Rody, and myself gave short lessons of admonition and encouragement. I spoke on “The Preacher’s Duty” from 1 Timothy 4. This was a good group of students and we have high hopes for their future service in the kingdom of God.

On a sad note, about 2:00 A.M. Tessie Gumpad was taken to the hospital because her blood pressure was extremely high. She is progressing today and hopes to go home tomorrow. Rody’s blood pressure has also been running high recently. Please keep both of them in your prayers.

Tuguegarao can be blistering hot this time of year, but it has been mildly hot by comparison this week.

At 1:00 P.M. I flew to Manila to teach the same series of lessons.  I look forward to working with the dear brethren of the Kaptibahayan church in Navotas, Metro Manila.

I have been talking with Donna each day for a few minutes on the phone.  She made it safely to Gladstone, Queensland, Australia to visit Jamie, Deborah, Timothy, and Seth.

It is hard to believe the first week of the trip has already been completed.  Please pray that my health and strength will continue.  I miss everyone at home and pray for everyone each day.

In Christian love,

Ron