Friday, March 8, 2013th Year of Our Lord
Dear family, brethren, and friends,
Greetings to everyone! Though I cannot see you with my eyes, you all are in my heart and prayers.
After finishing the work planned in Cebu City on February 25th, the following day (Tuesday) was left open before I started the long journey to Australia. It is good we did not schedule any activities today because I was absolutely exhausted. I rested, took some exercise, and studied as possible.
The Church of Christ in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
The next two days became one long extended day of travel. Wednesday I flew from Cebu City to Manila, where I took an all-night flight to Sydney, Queensland, Australia. After arriving there Thursday morning, I flew on to Brisbane, where I took another plane on to Gladstone. Jay Stevenson met me at the airport and drove me the remaining 70 miles to Rockhampton. The State of Queensland is huge and all of these places are in this State.
Daryl Johnson gave me a quick tour of Rockhampton. It was established in 1868 and currently has about 70,000 population. He took me to supper and left me at the hotel to rest-which I was very much ready to do by that time!
On Friday I studied and rested trying to adjust to the change of time zones between the Philippines and Australia. The Rockhampton church of Christ came out from the church of Christ here which became a part of the Associated Churches of Christ or “The Churches of Christ in Australia.” Many years ago they formed state conferences, which in turn are associated on the national level. Through these associational organizations the churches support missionary boards, a college, and various ecumenical endeavors. They also use instrumental music and other denominational practices like the Christian Churches in the U.S. The Rockhampton church broke away from this apostasy in 1957.
The church has a commodious building and has flourished at times, but in recent years has lost several members who fell into denominationalism or various forms of liberalism. Their normal attendance is 25-30. Three of the older men are trustees of the property and have worked very hard to keep the church on the strait and narrow path, and to keep brethren on the same page in making decisions about the work. They are Colin West, Daryl Johnson, and his brother Neville. This church has existed through most of its life without the help of a full-time evangelist, so the men have shared teaching duties.
It has been a very long time since they have had a gospel meeting and they have certainly gone to work on this one. They passed out 800 invitations in several neighborhoods, put two banners in front of the church building, personally invited various contacts, and put ads in the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday newspapers listing the topics.
The theme for this week was “The Authority of Christ” with six lessons starting in the first century and tracing the great apostasy which resulted in Roman Catholicism, followed by the rise of denominationalism, the restoration plea, and the need to avoid apostasy today. The brethren’s hard work paid off the very first night. Friday evening’s attendance was about 30 including five visitors. One of them told me he lives nearby and saw the banners, then read the newspaper ad. Another visitor is from the associated church here in town. Both of these men were very attentive. The neighbor took notes, selected several tracts, and promised to return.
The first two lessons presented tonight covered the authority of Christ expressed in Scripture, his authority exercised for our salvation, and his authority in the local church. The brethren decided to begin each service with the beautiful song “The Church’s One Foundation.” One of the members who is married to a non-Christian stayed for a long time afterward asking questions about how to convert her mate. I gave her as much encouragement as possible, then prayed with her that she might be strong and faithful to the end and also teach her children to obey the gospel regardless of what her husband does. We hope he will submit to Christ.
Weather patterns in this area include cycles of dry spells and rainy spells. In recent months they are having much rain with flooding. The heat and humidity caused me to sweat so much my clothes were wet when the lessons were finished, and I went back to my room exhausted. Air conditioning is not widely used and the church building has only small ceiling fans. Fortunately, the hotel room is air conditioned.
I studied Saturday morning until shortly before noon when Jamie, Deborah, Timothy, and Seth Williams arrived from Gladstone. We went out for lunch, spent a couple of hours together, then rested and got ready for the 6:30 PM service. Our service was blessed again by the presence of five visitors. The man from the associated or instrumental church returned and brought his 30 year old son to hear the lessons. The neighbor who came last night returned, paid close attention again, took careful notes, gathered more tracts, and seemed very happy to be there.
The lessons discussed the historical development of the Roman Catholic Church, followed by the development of denominationalism. During the Q & A period, the man from the associated church asked questions reflecting his agreement with some things covered in the two lessons. He is concerned about the liberal trends all across the religious landscape.
It was hot and humid again tonight-my shirt was wet again when I finished preaching.
The rain continued off and on Sunday morning, March 2, as I studied. When there was a pause, I took a break for a walk, but before I got back a heavy shower soaked me.
At 3:00 PM Daryl Johnson came to pick me up. The two services began at 4:00 and dismissed about 6:30, with the Lord’s Supper observed at the beginning of the second service. The custom here is for everyone who wants to partake to gather in a large circle at the communion table for Scripture reading and prayer, and then the communion is served.
There were 40-45 in attendance including our visitors again. The visitor from the neighborhood was present and promised to return, so we hope follow-up studies will be possible with him. The man from the instrumental church of Christ who brought his son to hear the lessons is a pillar in that group but was present again with his son for both lessons covering the restoration plea and the danger of apostasy today . I made it very clear that organizations centralizing the work of churches and instrumental music in worship are major apostasies which afflict God’s people. Again, he was very complimentary of the lessons, so I offered to teach the same series where he worships-we will see if anything materializes.
After services we gathered at the home of Troy Polzin for supper and to discuss the meeting. The brethren were elated that their efforts had opened doors for visitors to be present at every service. We hope fruit will be borne. I learned the recent rains caused so much flooding that one of the families lost several cattle to drowning and fought off 60 snakes fleeing the water.
Gladstone, Queensland, Australia with the Williams Family
Jamie and Deborah were present for these last services and drove me safely to their home in Gladstone after the supper gathering.
No studies were planned for Monday, March 4 , but the time was used to accomplish some needed work. First, I completed and sent a message to knowledgeable Filipinos cautioning them about Randy Hilburn from Bakersfield, CA. Though that church is not institutional, he has been preaching in the Philippines in recent years in the company of institutional liberals and also Jim Puterbaugh (who teaches God has one eternal moral covenant allowing all divorced people to marry new mates). Randy practices unity-in-doctrinal diversity by working in fellowship with such false brethren.
Then I phoned and encouraged a Filipino brother who had worshiped with his family at his house while working on a dairy farm in New Zealand, and who is now worshiping the same way on a chicken farm in Australia six hours from the nearest known church.
In addition, I contacted a Filipino family of four who have been meeting in their home here in Gladstone because they did not know there is a church here. The man’s brother sent me a message from the Philippines asking me to contact the man-providentially at the very time I was over here! We arranged for him to bring his family for supper at the home of Jamie and Deborah so they can get acquainted. This new family can be a great asset to the little church here!
The last thing I worked on late into the night was gathering material to email to a preacher on Mindanao who is preparing for a debate on the “one container” issue. During the day I did manage to squeeze in time to read Bible stories to the grandchildren, Timothy and Seth. This was a very full day and I was more than happy to finally find the bed!
I studied Tuesday, tried to catch up on some email, read Bible stories for an hour to the grandchildren, and then we had the new Filipino family over for supper and a study. Emmanuel, Ann, Ezekiel (age 12) and Sam (age 5) Tacbad arrived about 6:00 PM and stayed until almost 9:30. I have known many of Emmanuel’s family in the Philippines for years including his brother, a faithful preacher in the Pampanga Province, who asked me to help find a place for him to worship. He is a mechanical engineer and has worked in five countries including now Australia. He expects to be here for several years.
Though he has worshiped with his family, this is the first time outside the Philippines Emmanuel has worked where there is a true church, and he let us know he is thankful and excited about it. I presented the lesson on “The Glory of God,” Psalm 19 verse by verse, which he and his family thoroughly enjoyed. Though I leave tomorrow, we invited them to return here tomorrow night for the mid-week Bible study, which he immediately agreed to do.
The meeting in Rockhampton made my time in Australia worthwhile but so did this unexpected chain of events leading us to locate another family to be active in the Gladstone church!
Even Wednesday , the last day to teach in Australia, turned out to be a bonanza. Deborah has befriended an Aussie whose children enjoy playing with her children, and the two of them have engaged in Bible studies and discussions. Deborah invited her to come to the house this morning so that we could study, and she did. Kirsty Itallie is a dedicated member of her denomination, has done charity work in Africa, and is a diligent Bible student.
After sketching a basic time frame for Bible history, showing that the Great Commission was given after Jesus died and arose, I guided us through a verse by verse study of Mark 16 . When I focused on the plan of salvation in verse 16, she admitted that Deborah’s previous efforts had really set her to thinking about this. When I showed her that Catholicism changes the order by putting baptism first, she saw the point immediately.
When I showed her that denominationalism’s doctrine of salvation by faith only, followed by baptism, also changes the order given by Christ, she admitted she could see that, but added in all honesty, “When you have spent 30 years in another understanding of salvation, this is not easy to accept.” She granted salvation by faith must mean obedient faith, and when we applied this principle to Mark 16:16, again she did not hesitate to admit she saw the point, and she even brought up James 2 herself!
When she brought up the principle of salvation by grace through faith in Ephesians 2, I again pointed out that she had already granted it must be obedient faith and Acts 19:5 shows that the Ephesians who were saved by grace were baptized consistently with Mark 16:16.
At the end she asked if I thought she was saved or lost, adding, “Not that I think a man’s opinion is final, but I am interested in your thoughts on it.” I told her to answer her own question by reading the passage again. She was not offended and clearly saw the point! I then asked if it might be possible to feel saved but to be lost in terms of what the Bible reveals, and she immediately answered the Bible is the final authority on all such matters.
I gave her the notes we had sketched during our study and she promised to continue studying. No one can predict what she might finally do, but her openness and honesty really showed through. Deborah and I both noticed Kirsty beginning to tear up as she recognized the truth and its application to her soul. Let us pray she will fully submit to Christ, which again will open more doors for the little church in Gladstone!
Just before we left the house, Timothy spilled his orange juice from Dan to Beersheba, dousing my trousers. There was no time to change, so I wiped it off as best I could and let it dry on the way to the airport. Grandchildren have a way of filling our lives with new adventures-that was my first time to wear orange juice on an airplane. I kissed them all goodbye and boarded a flight to Brisbane. What a wonderful day it has been!
Headed to Home, Sweet Home!
A connecting flight took me to Sydney to spend the night and prepare for the eight-hour flight on Thursday to Manila. I spent Friday recovering, studying, and preparing for the 24-hour trip home on Saturday, March 9. I will be in the air and on the way by the time many of you see this last report.
My heart is filled with joy and gratitude to God and to all the saints who make these trips possible. May God give the increase and be glorified in all that we do together serving Him. As the song beautifully proclaims, “To God be the glory, great things He has done!”
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.truthbooks.net