August 21, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Greetings from New Zealand, the land so far “down under” that you can almost see Antarctica from here!

On Thursday , August 15, the plane left Manila at 9:00 P.M. bound for Melbourne, Victoria in Australia.  Fortunately, I was able to sleep for about five hours, and then after changing planes the next morning I slept another couple of hours on the four-hour flight to Auckland, New Zealand.  The plane landed in a bowl of soup – rainy, misty, sloppy weather!  This is winter because N.Z. is south of the equator, and the temperatures are running in the 40’s (though it feels colder with the rain and wind).  This is a shock to the system after enduring the 80’s-90’s with high humidity in the Philippines!

Ronnie Salunga brought me to his house and we arrived about 6:30 P.M.  Over a year ago they converted a detached garage into living quarters to accommodate preachers who come to help the Meadowood church of Christ.  Ken McDaniel and I helped the Salunga family begin a new congregation in their basement in November-December 2010.  A few months later the Randy Cabrillas family joined the new work, increasing the number from 5 to 8.  They are Ronnie, Nina, Roanna, Angela, and Ron Salunga, and Randy, Krisel, and Azel Cabrillas.

Upon my arrival Friday at the Salunga’s, there was barely time to eat, shower, and get set up to begin teaching.  I learned a Jew from South Africa was coming with a Filipina Catholic he wants to marry.  I quickly changed the topic in order to discuss “The Message of the Bible: Salvation in Jesus Christ.”  I explained our week’s theme is “Building a Godly Home” and every lesson would be based on the Bible and Bible principles.  Therefore, we should first know the overall message of the Bible to better understand how our theme fits within its context.  Eleven attended this first night.

After the study there were good questions about how God delivered and protected the Bible so that the message has been preserved and not corrupted.  The Jewish man was very attentive but asked no questions.  We dismissed about 10:45 P.M., but everyone was visiting and talking, so I sat down with him and had a long conversation getting acquainted.  Finally, I asked him if he had any questions about our study.  He responded, “Actually, I think you told me everything I needed to know in the presentation.”  They said they wanted to return later this week and I learned they are planning to come early to have time for a private study.

By the diligent efforts of this small church, the seed is definitely being sown in Auckland, though we can never predict the results.  I got to bed about 2:00 A.M., exhausted but very thankful and happy to be here again!

Saturday about 10:00 A.M. a dozen people were gathered in the Salunga’s basement ready to continue our study of the theme “Building a Godly Home.”  The day’s first lesson was “God Created All Things,” a verse by verse study of Genesis 1, to show that God rules the universe and all things in it including all activities of mankind.  Next we studied “The Purpose of Our Life,” which is to be companions and servants of God.  Our relationship with God on earth can be better understood by the blessing of marriage as we experience the unique fellowship of husband and wife in keeping with His instructions.

After the lunch break, we focused on “Marriage: God’s Gift to Man and Woman.”  This unique gift of God helps to improve and mold our character while also perpetuating the human race.  The open forum typically runs 30 minutes-1 hour here at the Meadowood church, and sometimes the questions are quite challenging.  For instance, a young girl asked something I had never heard before: “You mentioned God is a great King.  If God is our King, does He have a Queen?”  I explained God has authority over all things as a King, but He does not need to marry as we do! I had mentioned at one point how Donna and I taught our children memory verses.  The mother of this young girl asked me to email the list of verses to her.  She received them the next day and emailed me back to say they have started immediately learning these verses.

The meeting broke up about 6:00 P.M.  The Salungas wanted me to join them in going to the grocery store (where the food was stacked to the rafters, literally!), and then we had a McDonald’s angus burger for supper.  I so rarely visit McDonald’s in the U.S., I had to travel 15,000 miles to taste my first angus burger!  When we got home, I walked about 50 minutes, studied, and then slept a good 7 hours, which refreshed me for the Lord’s Day activities (although I was still adjusting to the 4 hour change in time zones from Manila to here).

Our Lord’s Day A.M. service was attended by the 8 faithful members of the Meadowood church.  Because there are four young people in their teens and early 20’s, I presented two lessons on “Selecting a Mate: The Lord Builds the House.”  Our study first considered how God does His part in providing a mate, and then how we must do our part in finding a mate.  It is all based on living by faith in God.  Otherwise, we make terrible mistakes which result in great pain and injury to everyone involved.  If we act by faith in God, His blessings are abundant in marriage.

After lunch our attendance rose to 12 as we studied “Solomon’s Song of Marital Love.”  After a summary of The Song of Solomon, the lesson focused on things which can be learned and applied from this book to cultivate our love in marriage.  Again, the Q & A session lasted for an hour with all sorts of questions about how God wants us to conduct our marriage and family life.

Several commented that this series is coming at the right time so that these young people can explore issues relating to the home before they marry, and thus hopefully act by faith in God and avoid many mistakes.  The adults also said the series is helping them to see ways to strengthen their family life.  God’s Word never loses its power to bless us in so many ways: “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward” (Ps. 19:10-11).

Monday while the Salungas were at work and at school, I studied, caught up on email, took a walk for exercise, and prepared for our evening service.  I am always amazed at the faith, zeal, and persistence of the saints here.  In addition to their regular services, they conduct a Friday night Bible study throughout the year and constantly invite friends and contacts to come.  Over time dozens of people have come and the seed of the true gospel has been planted.  The same thing is true when I or others come to preach and teach.  In fact, this time they printed very attractive flyers which they gave to friends, posted where possible, and distributed door to door.  There have been a couple of baptisms over time, but the people fell away.  The brethren notice that because of the strict Bible teaching and practical application, some who show an initial interest gradually turn away.

But here is what is outstanding about these saints: They are undaunted!  They have learned by hard experience that many people who appear interested in the truth turn away from it when they begin to hear and understand because they are unwilling to yield to God’s will.  Yet, they are not weary in well doing – they continue working just as hard now to spread the gospel as they did from the start in spite of all the people who have disappointed them.  They have remarked how they have come to appreciate what Jesus meant when he said, “Few there be that find it.”

Pursuing the theme “Building a Godly Home,” tonight I began a three part series on “Harmony in the Home.”  All 8 members of the church were present.  In addition a lady form the liberal church who often visits and shows great interest in the truth joined us.  Also, a young Korean lady in her 20’s who has attended when I was here in the past came and showed great interest.  Our service started at 7:30 P.M.  The lesson was finished shortly after 8:30, but the questions continued until 10:00 P.M.

Actually, I used the first 30 minutes of the Q & A to ask the audience to discuss how the points we studied about Christian character help to promote reconciliation and harmony in families when there are disagreements, disappointments, and disruptions.  Their answers were quite perceptive and proved they were attentive listeners.  Then the floor was open for them to ask questions for the next hour.  The questions ranged from how to convert unbelieving mates to how to resolve specific conflicts with people to the woman’s role in the home and in the church.  It is exhausting but exhilarating to conduct these sessions and to see the hunger of these precious souls to learn and to grow!

It rained off and on Tuesday as it has every other day, typical of N.Z. winters, but the day flew by as I studied, answered email, and prepared for tonight’s lesson.  The Jew and Filipina who wanted to tonight are an hour away and called to say they have no gas money, so an effort was made to find them a ride but it failed.  Meanwhile, another man named Keil from the Philippines who attended during my past trips came again.  A Filipino brother from the liberal church also came, so our attendance was 11.

After the second lesson on “Harmony in the Home” and before the Q & A, I again challenged the audience by presenting difficulties in family life and asking them how the principles we had studied might apply.  As on the previous night, their insights and comments were excellent, showing they got the point.  Then the open forum further enriched our session with good questions about proper conduct in the home, at work, and with friends.

After dismissal, everyone stayed in the basement talking.  Angela Salunga and I discussed at length with Kiel until about 10:00 P.M., then the discussion moved upstairs to the dining room table.  The ground we covered included fallacies of atheism and evolution, the chaos and pain caused by sinful conduct, and errors of Catholicism and denominationalism.  Kiel’s background is Roman Catholic, as is true with 80% of Philippine citizens, but he has a sharp mind and a searching heart.  He and his mother were already concerned after reading that bishops must be married and have families in 1 Timothy 3, because Catholic clergy must be celibate.  Much of what we covered was new to him but he obviously found the study interesting and compelling.  He did not leave until 11:30.

Again the Meadowood church is unrelenting in their efforts to sow the seed of God’s kingdom – God will surely give the increase according to His will and power.  “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour” (1 Cor. 3:7-8).

Today, Wednesday, was our final day in the work here in Auckland.  The rains were stronger today and almost constant even into the night and water began to seep into the Salunga’s basement.  The Jewish South African and his Filipina friend came early to have a private Bible study.   They have so little background in the Bible that we spent over an hour considering very basic information about God, man, sin, and salvation.  I emphasized that there is only one true God and He has revealed only one perfect plan of salvation for all men.  When I pointed out how Jewish and Catholic traditions depart from God’s plan, they were very open and receptive – they clearly saw the point.  They were quite attentive to the lesson which followed.

As others arrived for our regular assembly, there were 13 in attendance to hear part 3 of “Harmony in the Home.”  This was followed by the discussion period where I ask the audience to explain how the Bible principles presented apply in family life, and then there was another open forum.  After dismissal everyone stood around talking about God’s Word until we finally went upstairs for light snacks and continued discussions.  Everyone left by 11:00 P.M., but Roanna Salunga asked questions until midnight.

The Meadowood church composed of 8 souls managed to bring 11 visitors in six days, several of whom came multiple times.  I highly commended them for their diligent efforts!  How many congregations are able to produce more visitors than members for a gospel meeting?  There were no conversions but the seed was sown.  If they keep up these diligent efforts, souls will be saved sooner or later.  May God bless these dear brethren in their tireless efforts to proclaim and uphold the gospel of Christ!

Tomorrow Ronnie Salunga and I will fly 600 miles to Timaru on South Island to edify Ric Halnas and to teach his friends in the hope of planting a new congregation there.

I miss everyone at home and am counting down the days until my return on the 29th, God willing.

In Christian love, Ron

To see good Bible study material, go to:

www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com

www.biblework.com

www.truthmagazine.com

www.CEIbooks.com

July 4, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear brethren,

With God’s help my 50th Philippine trip was completed April 9-May 27.  I thank God and Jim McDonald for introducing me to this work in 1995.  Isaiah prophesied, “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it” (Isa. 35:8 ).  Many Filipinos are seeking The Way of Holiness leading to heaven!  This trip involved visiting churches, preaching to the lost, teaching a weeklong series on the home and family, and training preachers.  The latter classes were conducted with the invaluable help of Steven Deaton from the Hebron Lane church of Christ here in Shepherdsville, KY and Lordy Salunga from the Southside church of Christ in Angeles City, Pampanga Province.  I taught 127 lessons and 23 confessed Christ, asking to be baptized.

I flew from home to Manila and immediately on to Escoda, Marcos, Ilocos Norte to join Vic Domingo’s training classes for young preachers.   April 13-15 I taught a series on “The Authority of Christ,” providing each student my booklet by that title.  About 50 attended including a Catholic priest converted in December.  At 82 years of age Vic is still very active with the help of men such as Rex Bayaca, Jensen Pascua, and others.  On Sunday, the 14th, about 200 souls attended worship including dear sister Lingling from the distant mountains where saints are in need of basic necessities.  It was also good to see Sherwin Vizcarra, faithful preacher whose wife suffers from myelogenous leukemia (help is needed for treatments).

On Tuesday the 16th about 200 people of all ages but especially young people attended the Laoag City church of Christ where Mat Sibayan, Sr. has preached for many years.  They heard lessons entitled “How Shall the Young Secure Their Hearts?” and “The Purpose of Our Lives.”

Wednesday was spent working with Egdon Sabio, preacher for the Cabugao, Ilocos Sur church .  He is a manager at an electric cooperative, and took me to two sites to speak to employees on “Christ Teaches Total Honesty.”  At Edgon’s house preachers gathered for a morning of study. During the open forum, the questions centered on how to work for reconciliation when brethren are alienated.  On the 18th Warner Macusi brought me to the small rural church at Pacifico, Marcos, I.N.  where 50 souls gathered under a tarpaulin stretched between two houses. Friday Efren Ramos brought me to the Binacag Banna church of Christ, Nueva Era, I.N. , a rural church which has grown through the years.  After preaching we went to a canal to baptize five precious souls who confessed their faith in Christ.  I usually help brethren with expenses in these meetings, but Efren refused any help explaining that they wanted to do this for themselves.  It is a joy working with brethren who are determined to help themselves.

Next, I flew from Laoag City to Manila and on to Cebu City to work with Jonathan Carino and other brethren on Cebu Island. Sunday we went to the village of Libjo Tabogon where Gil Suico preaches for a new church meeting in a house rented by a member.  Normal attendance is 25-30 but 66 attended.  The saints need their own meeting place because the owner plans to drive them out.  We returned to the area again to preach in Bogo City at a hotel function room to an audience of 110 including about 40 denominational “pastors” gathered by Gil Suico and Felix Cantulan.  After two days of intensive study, the “pastors” insisted I return ASAP to teach them more.  I will try to do so.

April 24 was devoted to the small congregation of Baptists where Benjie Labura preached before his conversion during my last trip.  This is at Sacred Homes, Cansojong, Talisay City in Metro Cebu.

The next segment of the trip took me to the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines.  Saturday the Lagao church of Christ in Balite, a suburb of General Santos City, hosted a one-day gospel meeting. Romeo Dela Cruz, who lives here but preaches in a remote area, joined us. Delfin Allas does much of the preaching at Balite. C.B. Balbin from Davao City helps once a month. Many young people heard lessons on “Attitudes Essential in God’s Kingdom,” “Purify Your Souls,” “Total Honesty,” and “True Repentance.”  April 28-29 I worked with Aguillardo Untal at Bula, General Santos City. He was converted from the Pentecostal religion last fall and we are trying to help him convert his congregation.

Three were baptized Tuesday in an all-day meeting at Kitakal, Malungon, in the Sarangani Province. Rene Sandoval preached here before his death; the church including his wife Sel is still very active.

May 1-6 found me in northern Mindanao at Cagayan de Oro City, the capital of Misamis Oriental Province. It is home to Cipriano Carpentero, Jr. and Cyrus Gesulga.  Cyrus  hosted the Home and Family series with the cooperation of Cipriano. Our classes met in the building of the church at Buntong Camaman-an where Cipriano preaches, but the men slept at the Capisnon building where Cyrus preaches.  Jonathan Carino from Cebu and Jack Jaco from Victorias City in Negros Occidental helped me teach the lessons. The men repeatedly sang “Where Love Is In the Home” and “God Give Us Christian Homes” with feeling and fervor.  They were as attentive as any group we have ever taught!

On my birthday, May 7, I flew from Cagayan de Oro City on Mindanao to Manila on Luzon.  Seeing my birth date on my passport, the hotel sent a small birthday cake to my room.  Thursday and Friday were devoted to preaching at the Bilibid Prison where Willie Pastor has been incarcerated for about three years as a result of killing someone in self-defense many years ago.  While his family prays and works for his release, Willie and his brother Kenneth who lives in Manila have been proclaiming the gospel of Christ to the inmates! Saints now meet in various sections of the prison.  Ely Ebuenga also helps with the prison work.

Willie, like Joseph in Genesis, is a highly trusted inmate who is given much flexibility in his efforts to teach God’s Word.  He works in the Receiving and Diagnostics Center (RDC) where all new inmates are processed for a couple of months. He begins teaching them as soon as they arrive.  He could not join us when we preached in the Medium Security facility, but Kenneth and Rody Gumpad helped with the teaching.  Five precious souls responded to the Lord’s invitation.  Friday was a good day at the RDC sector with Kenneth and Willie, Ely Ebuenga, Rody, and Atoy Franco. 100 souls attended and three responded to the gospel invitation. The prison harvest continues!

Next, a two-day gospel meeting was conducted Saturday and Sunday with the new Edsa-Pasay church of Christ in Manila. Rody Gumpad alternates with his sons and sons-in-law in traveling from Tuguegarao to Manila to work with this church.  The church meets in the CYA Building, located at a central point accessible to many Filipinos who come from the provinces to work in Manila. This church is off to an excellent start.  I focused on “The Authority of Christ,” discussing the Bible plan of salvation including the New Testament church and various departures which formed the Roman Catholic Church.  Steven Deaton arrived from the U.S., and joined us on Sunday.  We had a full house.

May 13-24 was devoted to preacher training classes at the Kapitbahayan church of Christ, Navotas, in Metro Manila. Elias Cruz is an evangelist there; Jerry Toreja and Fred Gonzales are elders.  The students ranged from age 9 to the 30’s with one man in his 70’s. They slept on pasteboard and mats at the second floor of the building. A room was set up with handmade wooden tables and plastic chairs so the students could open their Bibles, books, and notepads. Steven Deaton, Lordy Salunga, and I taught classes surveying every book in the Bible, The New Testament Church by Roy E. Cogdill, denominational doctrines, issues dividing brethren historically, the preacher’s life and work, church history, and Bible study tools (Strong’s Concordance & the Zondervan Bible dictionary).  This group constantly asked questions, even approaching us after the lessons and cutting into the lunch hour.

I preached on Sunday at the new Edsa church again.  Jimmy Battung expressed his desire to place membership.  His daughter Malaine and her husband Ricky Halnas with their two children had been studying since they first heard me preach about six years ago. They compared what we teach with Catholic and denominational teaching. Ricky works in New Zealand and planned to arrive in Manila on Saturday, May 25.  They requested I delay my return from May 25 to May 27 to study further with them.

After the last classes at the week’s end at Kapitbahayan, each student spoke on what they had learned, and expressed appreciation for the teachers and for the U.S. brethren who provided their Bibles and other study materials.  Only God can measure the potential these young men will have as they give their talents to the service of God!  Steven returned home the next day.

After Rody and I preached on Sunday, May 26, the entire Ricky Halnas family confessed their faith in Christ. Ricky had just arrived from New Zealand and they wanted to obey the gospel immediately. There is no church in Timaru, N.Z. where Ricky works on the south island.  I told him we would do our best to find a way to help him. Through Filipinos, the gospel is spreading around the world!

No words adequately express my appreciation for donors who make this work possible, but God knows who you are and will reward you.  May God be glorified as He gives the increase!

In Christian love, Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:

www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com

www.biblework.com

www.truthmagazine.com

www.CEIbooks.com

Monday, May 27, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

By the mercies and providence of God I arrived home about 5:00 PM today after a safe flight from Manila via Japan and Detroit.  It is always a special joy to see Donna’s kind and loving face at the airport after these long trips – it was six weeks this time.

Once again it has been my privilege to work with Filipino saints and to see their faith, hope, love, and talents in serving God.  Our brethren and sisters there in the Philippines work day and night serving the Lord and zealously spreading the gospel.  It is always a boost and an inspiration to my faith to work side by side with them.  I thank God for all my Filipino brethren who help me in so many ways when I have a small part in the great work they are doing.  On this trip we saw 23 precious souls respond to the gospel call.  In addition to presenting lessons designed to edify saints and to save sinners, preacher training sessions and a special series on the home were conducted.  I will send a more complete report soon.
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May 26, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Steven and I are counting the days until we will see our loved ones back home!

Today is the Lord’s Day, May 19 , and Steven traveled to the Kapitbahayan church to worship with them and to present two studies in the life of Joseph. Meanwhile, I joined the saints meeting at Edsa to present a two-part examination of “The First Gospel Sermon” (Acts 2 verse by verse). Rody Gumpad was in Tuguegarao, but his sons Junior and Jay were at Edsa with their wives. Junior and Jay knew I was coming but the congregation had not heard there would be a guest speaker, yet the room was full with about 45 souls including visitors. One young couple said they had been observing the large sign out front and wanted to get acquainted. The man is an American from Tennessee and the young lady a Filipina. They are members of the church. I got his email address to follow up and the brethren also got contact information from him.

Atoy Franco then drove me to Kapitbahayan for the continuation of the preacher training classes. Steven had already started teaching his classes which gave me a chance to take a much needed nap on the cot in the adjoining room before I taught. I was still recovering my strength after the sickness on Friday and was much improved. I taught three afternoon classes and I commended the young men who have been studying with us so diligently. Some are so anxious to participate that they begin reading the verses out loud as we announce then even before we call on them to read!

Our classes continued and were completed during the following week of May 20-25 (Monday-Friday ). This has been a busy week as Lordy, Steven, and I have worked together in teaching these 25 young men who are learning to preach. We have surveyed every book of the Bible, the New Testament church, denominational doctrines, the life and work of a preacher, the history of the church from the first to the twenty-first centuries, and issues which have divided brethren (such as instrumental music, missionary societies, one container, institutionalism, and the social gospel).

The classes began each day at 7:00 A.M. and ended at 7:30 P.M. The students had assignments to prepare at night. This has been a challenging series of classes for both teachers and students. The most difficult class for the students was the survey of church history because they have little understanding of history period. They lack the historical context in which church history occurred, but as we moved forward I tried to give them as much context as possible. They began to grasp such events as the development of Catholicism, denominationalism, and restoration efforts as they began to relate them to their own Philippine history. I let them prepare short reports each day on men who were being introduced to them and about whom they were curious to know more.

When we learned how to use Bible study tools, I gave them exercises using Bible maps, which was entirely new to most of them. They caught on quickly, using maps introduced to them in their reference Bibles and Bible dictionaries. Some students not only filled in the blank maps I gave them but also colored them to look professional.

Since nearly all of these men are single, one of the last lessons I studied with them was “Selecting a Mate: The Lord Builds the House” (Psalm 127). Selecting a mate will be the most crucial decision they will make as they grow to maturity and strive to develop themselves as servants of God. I did my best to convince them to marry a faithful Christian and to trust in God’s help and providence to find that right mate.

When we finished teaching on Friday evening, we followed the Filipino custom of having a “graduation” to give certificates for completing the classes. Two students were recognized as “Most Improved” and two as “Most Inquisitive” (the “Ask, Seek, Knock” award). Each student came to the front to personally express appreciation for everyone who made these classes possible including U.S. brethren who provided financing to send Steven and me and for the purchase of Bibles and study materials. Some of them referred to specific lessons which helped them, or quoted new verses they had memorized. Some became very emotional and could hardly talk as tears welled up in their eyes. At the request of many of the young men, Steven and I wrote a short note of encouragement in their Bibles after we dismissed.

Only God can measure the potential all these young men will have in the future as they give their talents to the service of God, their brethren, and a lost world!

These classes could not have been taught without the financial help of brethren who donated funds for Steven and me to travel to the Philippines, for Bibles and study materials, and for related expenses. How I wish each of you there could meet these fine young men, see their diligent efforts to learn, hear their insightful questions, and observe their growth. Actually, it will be a joyous occasion in heaven for those who have made such sacrifices on each side of the ocean to meet each other and to unite in glorifying God for eternity!

Steven left very early Saturday morning to go home as scheduled.  I extended my stay to include May 25-26 (Sat.-Sun. ) in order to preach again at the Edsa church here in Manila by the request of the Halnas family. The room rented by the Edsa church was filled today with 45 in attendance. Rody preached a short lesson on how souls are saved and added to the body of Christ. I followed with a lesson on “True Repentance” and “The Gospel Makes Us Right with God.”

At the invitation, the entire Halnas family came forward to confess their faith in Christ including Ricky, Malaine, Kyle, and Audrie. Since Malaine’s father (Jimmy Battung) was baptized several years ago, the Halnas family has been studying and searching for the truth. Rick had just arrived last night from New Zealand where he works, to have a three week vacation with his family. They had decided the very first thing they wanted to do was to obey the gospel together.

One reason I agreed to extend my stay for these two additional days was to talk with Ricky about what he can do to worship in New Zealand. There is no church of Christ in Timaru where he lives on the south island and it is very far from the new church in Auckland on the north island meeting in Ronnie Salunga’s home. Ricky is urging me to come to Timaru and he will gather friends to try to convert them and start a church there. I will be praying about this matter and I told him we would do our best to find a way to help him. Through Filipinos, the gospel is spreading around the world!

Steven Deaton made it home Saturday night by the grace of God. By the time many of you read this last report I will be somewhere high in the sky praying for a safe return. I truly thank God for the saints who sacrifice to make these trips possible. May God bless and reward each one of you!

In Christian love,

Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:

www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com

www.biblework.com

www.truthmagazine.com

www.CEIbooks.com

May 18, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Greetings to all the family and saints back at home in the U.S.A. (and also some in Australia).

The last activity scheduled for this trip is a preacher training class to be conducted at the Kapitbahayan church of Christ, Navotas, in Metro Manila on May 13-24. Elias Cruz is an evangelist there and Jerry Toreja is one of the elders. Atoy Franco guided Steven and me to the church building via the Mass Rail Transit (MRT), a new experience. We hoped this would save time, but by the time we took a taxi after leaving the MRT we did not save much time. Therefore, Atoy plans to take us in his car tomorrow.

Our preacher training classes got off to a good start with 25 men enrolled. The students ranged in age from 9 to the 30’s with one man in his 70’s. They are sleeping on pasteboard and mats at the second floor of the building. A room was set up with handmade wooden tables and plastic chairs so the students can open their Bibles, books, and notepads as we study.

The teachers are Steven Deaton, Lordy Salunga , and me. Each day Steven teaches the Old Testament prophets, the New Testament through 1 Corinthians, and denominational doctrines. Lordy teaches an Old Testament survey through the Song of Solomon, the New Testament from 2 Corinthians to the end, and The New Testament Church book by Roy E. Cogdill. My classes cover issues dividing brethren historically (such as missionary societies, instrumental music, etc.), the preacher’s life and work, church history, and Bible study tools (using Strong’s Concordance and the Zondervan Bible dictionary).

On May 14-15, as we are progressing through the second and third days, all the teachers have remarked on the unusual reaction of our students. Typically in our experience teaching such classes, Filipinos are slow to participate by initiating questions and discussions. This group constantly asks questions, so much it is hard to complete the lessons. Even when we finish, they will come up to ask additional questions. They cut into their lunch time asking questions. This is wonderful even if the lessons are hard to complete – it shows they are listening and learning!

Thursday, May 16, we continue to cover a lot of material and the students are remarkably attentive. They continue to ask all sorts of questions, for which we are thrilled.

Friday started as a normal day and the classes proceeded well. I may have eaten something bad for the stomach or gotten a 24 hour virus because I began to have diarrhea about 11:00 A.M. After I started my afternoon classes, about 3:00 P.M. I had to stop and lay down on a cot in the adjoining room because of stomach pain. Dr. Teresa Toreja administered some medicines but there was no improvement. I stayed there on the cot fighting the urge to vomit, and dozing, until 7:00 P.M. Since I was not able to take water, I was becoming dehydrated. Dr. Teresa decided to take me to her clinic and keep me overnight to give me an IV bottle along with several medicines.

On Saturday by God’s grace I was able to teach by 9:00 A.M. after Lordy finished. I completed my classes today feeling tired but no longer sick. I began teaching how to outline by taking the class through Genesis 1, and showing them how to make applications from the text. For instance, the text makes it clear the days are 24 hour days because it keeps repeating the expression “the evening and the morning,” i.e., 12 hours darkness and 12 light, so there is no room for the evolutionary theory of billions of years. Also, the Bible is accurate in biology and zoology by teaching life comes from life, and life reproduces after its kind from the seed.

We have one more week of classes to complete this preacher training series. Steven will return home on May 25.

As a result of the two day gospel meeting at the new Edsa church last Saturday and Sunday, I learned that members of the Jimmy Battung family are seriously studying the gospel. His daughter Malaine said she and her husband with their two children have been studying since they first heard me preach about six years ago. They have been comparing what we teach with Catholic teaching and with denominational teaching. Her husband is working in New Zealand and will arrive here to visit his family on Saturday, May 25. They requested to talk to me about obeying the gospel at that time. Therefore, I have delayed my return from May 25 to May 27 to accommodate this request. I have done this only two times in all these 50 trips, only when there is some pressing reason. I fully expect to report several baptisms as a result of working with this family. Jimmy Battung also said he is ready to place membership at the Edsa church.

I miss everyone back home and am counting the days until my return. Meanwhile, may God bless and keep everyone of you!

In Christian love,

Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:

www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com

www.biblework.com

www.truthmagazine.com

www.CEIbooks.com

May 7-12, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

I hope and pray all of you are well physically and spiritually – and busy serving the Lord, thus enjoying the highest blessings of fellowship with God. You are always in my thoughts and prayers.

On my birthday, May 7,  I flew from Cagayan de Oro City on Mindanao to Manila on Luzon, arriving at the hotel about 6:00 P.M. I was surprised when shortly someone knocked at the door: The hotel sent a small delicious chocolate birthday cake to my room. I assume they noticed my birth date on my passport. To include all of you in the celebration, I ate an extra bite in memory of you! I hope you enjoyed it!

Wednesday was spent answering backlogged email (as a result of poor internet connections for two weeks in Mindanao), studying and preparing and reviewing lessons, taking exercise, and squeezing in a short rest.

The next day, May 9, Rody Gumpad, Atoy Franco, and Ely Ebuenga picked me up at the hotel and took me to meet Kenneth Pastor so that we could teach in the Medium Security sector of the New Bilibid Prison, the Philippines’ national prison. Willie Pastor has been incarcerated for about three years as a result of killing someone in self-defense many years ago. Through the joint efforts of Willie and Kenneth, over 200 souls have obeyed the gospel in the prison. Willie has not been sitting down feeling sorry for himself but has been proclaiming the gospel of Christ! Saints now meet in various sections of the prison.

Willie is in the Receiving and Diagnostics Center (RDC) where all new inmates are processed for a couple of months. He begins teaching them as soon as they arrive. Since he is in RDC, he could not join us today.

My morning lesson on “Jesus Came to Seek and Save the Lost” was translated by Kenneth, which slows the process but clarifies the lesson for these disadvantaged men, many of whom have had only minimal schooling. Rody then gave an overview of Bible history and God’s plan of salvation. After lunch Rody translated as I spoke on “Attitudes Essential in God’s Kingdom,” a verse by verse study of Matthew 5, dealing with principles all of these men have violated during their journeys to prison life. Five precious souls responded to the Lord’s invitation today. The prison harvest continues!

Friday was a good day at the RDC sector of the prison with Kenneth and Willie, Ely, Rody, and Atoy. 100 souls attended and heard my lessons on “The Gospel Makes Us Right with God” (translated by Willie) and “True Repentance” (translated by Ely). Rody taught two lessons summarizing Bible history and the plan of salvation. In spite of the heat, the audience showed exceptionally good attention. Three souls responded to the gospel invitation.

The weather has been mid-90’s for these two days and, of course, Philippine prisons have no air conditioning except nature itself. Though soaked in sweat, we rejoice for these opportunities. In fact, we preached today in a Catholic chapel with several images watching over us as we explained the difference between New Testament Christianity and the false doctrines of Catholicism and denominationalism!

A two-day gospel meeting was conducted Saturday and Sunday with the new Edsa-Pasay church of Christ in Manila where Rody Gumpad is preaching with the help of faithful co-laborers. Rody travels 8-10 hours from Tuguegarao a couple of weekends each month to work with this church, as do his sons and sons-in-laws in alternating. The church meets in the CYA Building which is located at a central point easily accessible to many Filipinos who come from the provinces to work in Manila. This work is off to an excellent start.

Saturday I began with a sermon on “The Purpose of Our Lives.” This was followed by three parts of a series on “The Authority of Christ” discussing the Bible plan of salvation including the New Testament church and various departures which resulted in the formation of the Roman Catholic Church. The rented room was full with 78 in attendance. There was a good Q & A session at the day’s end with a wide range of subjects from instrumental music to the dangers of anger to soul and spirit.

Steven Deaton arrived safely late Friday night. After a day of study and rest, he joined us on Sunday and presented an excellent study of the life and faith of Joseph. I then presented three additional studies on “The Authority of Christ” tracing the development of the Protestant Reformation and subsequent efforts to restore New Testament Christianity, and closing with a study of the danger of apostasy again today. Our attendance was 57.

A family of four is very near to the kingdom of God and we expect to see them obey the gospel within a short time. Actually, we have been studying with this family for several years. They commented that this series of studies clarified some things which confirmed the truth in their minds.

Thank you one and all for your love, your support, your prayers, and your encouragement in this great harvest of Philippine souls!

In Christian love,

Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:

www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com

www.biblework.com

www.truthmagazine.com

www.CEIbooks.com