Philippines-Malaysia report December 6-9, 2023
Dear family, brethren, and friends,
After a day of rest and work in Manila, on Wednesday the 6th I flew to Iloilo City on the island of Panay in the Visayan Islands in the central Philippines.
Fortunately, shortly before I left Manila I received more precise and accurate information which should be corrected from the previous report about our visit to Malaysia. The report should have read:
1. “Nick was born of a European and Asian background and married a Sino-Kadazan, but they were converted by Andy DeKlerk during Nick’s education in Iowa from 1983-1987.”
2. “To be legally recognized in Malaysia, churches must be organized under a Registrar of Society which puts them all under government scrutiny and regulation.”
3. The saints rent a room on the 2nd not the 4th floor of a building in a strip mall, but after climbing the 47 steep steps, you will surely think it is the 4th floor! 🙂
After a two-hour flight from Manila to Iloilo City, I was met by Jack Jaco in the company of three denominational preachers who have invited me to preach. We all visited at the hotel where I made the point that our appointment is not accidental because God in His good providence opens a door for searching hearts to seek and find Him. They thanked me and asked me to pray for them as we prepared to engage in our studies. This segment of the schedule is obviously off to a good start!
Our preaching appointment Thursday was at the Community Bible Baptist Church here in Iloilo City by the invitation of its preacher, Rey Lunita. He invited other Baptist preachers and also preachers from several other denominations and the attendance was 135.
First, we studied “The Final Prophet: Christ or Mohamed?” because I wanted to show that Jesus Christ is identified as the final prophet by the pattern of truth revealed in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament. Next, we studied “Nailed to the Cross” to show that Christ nailed the Law of Moses to the cross when he died as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men (Col. 2:14). This lesson shows that many practices authorized by the Law of Moses (Sabbath laws, burning incense and using musical instruments in worship, etc.) were not authorized by the gospel of Christ for us today. Then, Jack Jaco taught “Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth,” explaining the three dispensations of Bible history: the patriarchal age, the Mosaic age, and the Christian or gospel age.
An open forum was announced for the last session, but one Baptist preacher took to the floor after Jack’s lesson and castigated him for berating the Baptist Church. Jack did no such thing. He simply explained that in his training in the Baptist school he was not taught to distinguish the three periods of Bible history, as well as other important truths. Jack answered calmly, but the preacher was hot under the collar. The disruption spilled over among some preachers outside the church building, but it did not involve members of the church of Christ.
After lunch, I went ahead with my sermon entitled “When Peter Confessed Christ,” which included the promise that Christ would build his church – the church in the New Testament, not the Catholic religion or denominational groups. When I opened the floor for questions, someone arose to offer a question, but suddenly it was announced there would be no open forum because of the disruption which had occurred earlier.
The host was very gracious and there were many good comments after the dismissal. Jack and I stayed for an hour visiting with people and answering questions one on one.
We invited Rey to supper where we had some healthy discussion and he plans to attend with us for the next couple of days. Seeds of truth were planted and doors were opened today, and God will bring the harvest according to His will.
Our Friday schedule brought us to the Iloilo Christian Mission Church, a Baptist Church where Nonie Riconalla preaches. He is very open to hear us teach without getting upset if he hears something new or different because he says we should always be Bible students ready to consider new information. My two morning sermons studied Acts 2 in two parts entitled “The First Gospel Sermon.” Sixty souls heard these basic lessons followed by “Back to the Bible” after lunch.
The open forum went well as we considered questions about baptism, the organization of the church, instrumental music in worship, and the theory of premillennialism. They had used the instruments with the singing earlier in the day but dropped them when we sang later out of respect for our convictions and teaching.
A good spirit prevailed and they asked us to return and teach again. Most of these people are hearing such lessons for the first time and we do not expect instant conversions, but the seed is being planted and it is evident that precious souls are grasping the truth little by little.
For the third day in a row, our Saturday appointment was with a Baptist group, this one called Oton Gleaners Christian Church in Iloilo City where Hernane Equipado preaches. He attended the previous two days and he had already been listening very attentively. The instruments were left sitting silently as we sang today, and Hernane had insisted I should include some teaching on this matter.
Sixty-six souls filled the church building as we studied “The First Gospel Sermon” in two parts, followed by a lesson on “How Sinners Receive Salvation.” Jack also spoke briefly on baptism and helped during the open forum. Questions covered such things as the necessity of baptism for the remission of sins, whether there is a specific baptism formula of words to be pronounced, whether women should preach and lead in the church, and how to really find the true church established by Christ.
A group of visitors from the nearby Province of Antique insisted that we must come over and help them as soon as possible. Although there were no immediate baptisms, it was evident that many in the audience
understood what was taught from Scripture, including Acts 19:1-5 where people who learned their previous baptism was invalid were willing to be baptized again. We were heartily invited to return and teach more, and I hope funds can be arranged to help Jack follow up even before I can return. I was wet with sweat and washed out physically at the day’s end, but my heart is filled with joy and thanksgiving!
We had another Philippine adventure when we drove to the wharf to catch a ferry over to Bacolod City on the island of Negros. A Boy Scout event in Iloilo City had attracted hundreds of people and now many vehicles were lined up waiting to return home. When ours got in line, we were number 127. Four ferries run to Bacolod City day and night. After we waited an hour and a half and dark was falling, Jack decided to put me on a faster ferry so that I could go ahead to the hotel and get some work done, and he would follow with the vehicle later tonight. I got to the hotel in Bacolod City about 8:00 P.M., finished supper by 9:00, and have worked on sermons and this report.
In the Philippines, we must live by the words patience, flexibility, and new adventures! The ocean waters were calm, the salt air refreshing, and the trip safe, so we count our blessings and thank God for all of these opportunities to serve Him by spreading the original gospel of Christ for the salvation of all men.
With such golden opportunities unfolding day after day, how can I not come to the Philippines to preach the true and original gospel of Christ?! All of this travel can be tiring, even some days exhausting, but I cannot ignore these open doors with a clear conscience. I hear Jesus saying, “Freely ye have received, freely give” (Matt. 10:8). Donna and I miss each other during these trips, but this work for Christ could not be done without her constant support and sacrifices, which are largely unseen. It could not be done without the prayers and financial help of many saints in many places, or without the providence of our great God!
In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook
To see good Bible study material, go to:
https://www.
https://biblework.
https://truthbooks.com
https://www.truthmagazine.com