Last year, brother Ron Halbrook asked me to join him on a preaching trip to the Philippine Islands. The trip was designed to target areas where denominational preachers were willing to gather for intensive study, and to follow up at places where such sessions were previously successful. There were 80 baptized on the trip, the majority being denominational preachers. After returning to help train preachers last summer, preparations are now being finalized for a third trip beginning December 2 and returning December 22.
As a result of previous efforts, many requests have come for us to study with numerous denominational preacher in various places. We have also received a large number of requests from brethren throughout the Philippines asking us to preach in efforts to reach the lost or strengthen the saints in their area. It was simply impossible for us to conduct all of the studies requested. With just one group, as in the previous year, we could not even meet a sizable fraction of the requests. So, the Lord willing, we have enough brethren involved in this effort to divide into three groups going to preach throughout the Visayas, the middle islands of the Philippines, and Mindanao, the large island in the south. This will provide for more studies to be conducted than has been possible in previous efforts. We will again focus on reaching denominational preachers who have stated a willingness to take part in open studies that examine the doctrines taught by their churches and compare them to God's word. Venues for the studies have been secured and participants have been invited.
Brother Halbrook and I will begin our efforts together in sessions with denominational preachers at Bacolod City on the island of Negros. (This was the home city of our beloved Cora Vlk and we hope to meet with Cora's mother and sister during the stay.) Jack Jaco, a very experienced preacher from Negros, will work with us at Bacolod City. I will continue to work with him in similar studies on the island of Negros with other gatherings of sectarian preachers as well as preaching for several churches there before heading south to Mindanao.
This will allow brother Ron Halbrook to go to the islands of Mindanao, Cebu and Leyte with brother Ciprinao Carpentero, a very talented and faithful Filipino preacher. They will conduct lectures with denominational preachers being joined at times by Rody Gumpad with whom we worked in this summer's preacher training. Their efforts will carry them to the place where our lectures began last year because many there have sought further study. They will also go to a very fruitful area in western Mindanao which was not visited in last year's efforts.
Brethren Steve Wallace (of Ramstein, Germany) and Chris Reeves (who preaches in Springfield, Tennessee and is the brother-in-law of our Charla Palmer) will engaged in other studies during this period on Panay and Cebu islands with the assistance of Jonathan Carino and Rody Gumpad. They will visit Ilo-Ilo City and Toledo City which were both very receptive areas during last year's efforts with several baptism having occurred at each place. One of our own, brother Rick Baughn, will also be joining each group at various times to help in the efforts being made.
After the first week of the trip, all will be going to Mindanao to begin two weeks of intensive work on that island. Studies have been arranged with denominational preachers and some brethren throughout that very large island. In each study, we will be working closely with our Filipino co-workers who will be able to follow-up after these studies in order to further ground and encourage those converted. Due to the number of requests, this three-pronged effort is being undertaken in order to reach as many of the denominational preachers willing to study as possible. Mindanao has been a very fruitful area in recent years which has provided immense opportunities and great challenges. Though our media reports (and greatly exaggerates) the problems of Muslim terrorism there, the fact is that it is very safe in the areas we are visiting. (Many Filipinos, however, will come to studies with us from places that are very dangerous and we ask your prayers for their safety.) As in any area where the gospel spreads rapidly, there are also serious problems among those newly converted which must be addressed. Some of those new Christians have been engaged in conduct which must be reproved on this trip just as it was last year in other cases. Please remember those efforts as well.
Within the last few days, the support needed for the trip has been completed. My round-trip airfare between the U.S. and the Philippines of a little over $1400 has been supplied by this congregation, just as it has in previous trips. In order to carry on with plans to conduct all of the studies arranged with denominational preachers at 8 venues previously planned, I needed to raise at least $6000 to cover the associated costs (rental of facilities, travel within the islands, lodging, food, literature, etc.). In addition, there is the ever present need for funds to buy Bibles in the various dialects or first principles literature (tracts, books, etc.). To date, I have received commitments totaling $9350 from churches and individuals to carry on this work. The abundant response has made possible an added 9th venue to be secured for meeting more requests for studies with additional people.
Many people in the Philippines are hungering and thirsting for the gospel at this time, but that open door will not last forever as Satan and his allies will surely work to close it (1 Cor. 16:9). At this time, however, we have an opportunity to help spread the gospel further and further as one open door leads to another. The words of Jesus seem appropriate and applicable: "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few" (Matt. 9:37). Denominational preachers come by the scores, often 100 or more, for two or three days of concentrated studies on how to establish and apply Bible authority, the Bible message of salvation in Christ, the conditions of pardon, and the Bible pattern for the work, worship, and organization of the church. How many opportunities of this kind exist with denominational preachers in the U.S.A.? Question-and-answer sessions are robust and sometimes tense, but they are also very productive. Not all of those attending obey the gospel, but some do. Others return for follow-up studies conducted by Filipino brethren. Still others resist the truth. Often those who obey the gospel suffer great adversity and deprivation as they break with their past denominational supporters. We promise them nothing in monetary term for obeying the gospel. Yet, I saw last year several preachers from large denominational churches leave good salaries and future financial security behind to obey the Lord. Many of them have gone on to live hand-to-mouth while spreading the gospel to the best of their abilities. In fact, many of them are the ones responsible for arranging the seminars with their former denominational associates that are planned on this trip. Please pray that we may speak the gospel as we ought with boldness, love and clarity (Eph. 5:18-19; Col. 4:3-4).
As previously noted, this trip is also being planned to conduct studies that edify and strengthen our Filipino brethren in Christ, especially the preachers. At times, we join these brethren in preaching evangelistic sermons at the congregations where they work to audiences ranging from a handful to several hundred. At other times, we join them in refuting error or addressing a particular subject needed in that place. Even the time away from organized preaching and teaching is often filled with discussions of Bible passages and subjects. In my two previous trips to the Philippines, I have grown to love the brethren there and have them always in my heart. Their love for or Lord and their dedication to His cause make me want to do all I possibly can to assist them in the great work they are doing. Please keep them in your prayers also.
This brings me to a final point that I express with all my heart. I am thankful for the financial help of brethren here and numerous places across this country who have sacrificed much to provide the support necessary to carry the gospel to the Philippines. Saying, "Thank you," seems a small thing, but please know it comes with deep appreciation and heart-felt gratitude. The Philippine fields remain ripe unto harvest with much work yet to do, but your help in this effort will greatly assist in carrying the precious gospel to lost souls. We can be sure that te Lord will not let it return to Him void, but it will accomplish that which He intends and it will prosper in the thing to which it is sent (Isa. 55:11).