by Ron Halbrook
Synopsis: Having labored for many years in the Philippines, brother Ron suggests ways in which we can help spread the borders of Christ's kingdom, both at home and abroad.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Rom. 12:1-2, KJV).
These stirring words of Paul remind us to keep our focus on serving God and not to be diverted from our duties by worldly pressures or inducements. I was fortunate to play on a high school football team that had an amazing string of unbroken wins. Coach Bill Burke taught us that, as soon as a play was completed, we should focus on the upcoming play, not the last one. Our line coach said, "Don't be looking for nickels, keep your head up," i.e., pay attention to the person we were assigned to block. In serving the Lord, we must focus on what needs to be done next and not obsess over the past. We should keep our heads up and pay attention to the task at hand. Such reminders are needed in spreading the gospel in the Philippines during this harvest season.
Even at the young age of twelve, Jesus devoted time to listening to and asking questions of the teachers at the temple. His parents were surprised that He had not joined the journey back to Nazareth; He was equally surprised that they did not understand his devotion to God's Word and the Father's will: "How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" (Luke 2:49).
Many people came to Jesus in Perea, saying, "John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true" (John 10:41). When news of Lazarus' serious illness reached the Lord, He remained for two days—concentrating on the opportunity at hand before proceeding to Judea to raise Lazarus (John 11:1-7). Our Lord had a clear focus on what needed to be done in each place. He did not "drop the ball" in Perea to rush immediately to Judea.
When the soldiers came to Gethsemane to arrest Jesus, He told Peter to sheathe his drawn sword, saying, "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" (Matt. 26:53–54). Christ knew well the Father's plan for our redemption through His perfect sacrifice, and He was fully committed to fulfilling that plan. Only at His dying breath could He say, "It is finished" (John 19:30).
In God's providence, the gospel goes where souls are most receptive, where the fields "are white already to harvest" (John 4:35). God prepared for a great harvest which occurred beginning on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, and that harvest has extended to the farthest reaches of the earth until now. The harvest does not remain at its peak in any one place. Satan assaulted the church from within and without. The church in Jerusalem was decimated by persecution but grew again later (Acts 8:1; 9:31).
The true gospel came to the Philippines shortly after the Spanish-American War of 1898, when the Philippines became a U.S. territory. George S. Benson reported visiting Mindoro in 1928 and baptizing fifty-two souls (Gospel Advocate, Sept. 27, 1928, p. 927). When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, they also bombed Manila, and soon invaded the Philippines. Churches were scattered, buildings were burned, and some brethren ended up in internment camps. After WW II, the gospel spread again rapidly, and a great harvest continues to this day.
Only God knows how many hundreds and thousands of churches of Christ are scattered throughout the Philippine islands. They are mostly small groups, struggling to provide basic things like a meeting place, Bibles, songbooks, and communion ware. Many of our brethren are very evangelistic. They keep putting one foot in front of another to find the means to spread the gospel and to make contacts. Radio preaching is very effective. Eighty percent of all Filipinos are nominal Catholics, but ancient animism, typical Eastern religions, and many denominations are also present. Brethren must stay focused on preaching the fundamentals of the faith.
Mature Filipino saints are seeking to edify the established congregations with two important goals in mind (Acts 11:23). Despite a third-world economy, they would like to become self-supporting. Most of our brethren are from the poorest classes and can barely maintain their daily needs, yet mature preachers remind them to sacrifice for the cause of Christ. Another crucial goal is developing men who will be qualified to serve as elders (Acts 14:23). There are already churches that have elders such as at Navotas, Laoag City, Davao City, and other places.
In NT times, churches in Jerusalem, Antioch, Philippi, and Thessalonica were evangelistic-minded in spreading the gospel far and wide. None of these churches attempted to function as "mother" churches in overseeing new congregations. Rather, they sent out preachers who helped to proclaim the gospel, to baptize the lost, and to edify new works so they could function as independent and autonomous churches.
Mature preachers from the U.S. and other countries can likewise help the Philippine harvest. We must studiously avoid trying to manage, control, or oversee Filipino churches. The Hebron Lane Church of Christ in Shepherdsville, KY, sustains my family needs while I make four trips each year to the Philippines and a few other countries. July will mark the seventy-first trip.
Filipinos even in remote places can gather an audience of people, large or small, to sit down and hear the gospel preached. They love to engage in open forums after the lessons. There is a spirit of searching as the people see the emptiness of the widespread corruption, immorality, and false religions in their land. The work can be physically exhausting but spiritually uplifting. There are often baptisms, but the poverty keeps scattering the people as they look for work. Just as happened in Acts, Satan stays busy trying to disrupt the work from without and within. We can help by steadily and consistently preaching the first principles of the gospel.
Many brethren, and especially preachers, are hungry to be edified. It is helpful to conduct classes lasting all day or for several days on such themes as "The Bible Is the Word of God" (showing why there are sixty-six books with nothing lost and nothing added), "Home and Family Life" (emphasizing God's pattern for the home, because immorality is widespread, with Muslims and people in remote areas practicing polygamy), "Basic Bible Doctrine" (I use Robert Harkrider's four workbooks.), individual books of the Bible, the church (its work, worship, and organization), and many other topics. When we teach Filipino preachers, they are better equipped to teach these lessons in the local dialects among the churches. This can be hard work with all-day sessions and expensive work in renting venues and providing materials—but it is also extremely effective work!
Wisdom and compassion must be balanced in providing assistance. Bibles and songbooks are desperately needed, but care should be taken to get these materials into the hands of reliable, sound men. Men needing support should be vetted. Careful research should be done before benevolence is sent. We must continuously reiterate that benevolence is for emergency needs and not as a social welfare program. Men supported should provide regular reports and should be reminded to teach the local church the duty of supporting preachers.
While this harvest continues, let us stay on course. May we exemplify Paul's admonition that we should use our lives as "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God," and do all the good we can in this dark world until the Lord calls us home.
Author Bio: Ron Halbrook has shared preaching duties at the Hebron Lane church of Christ in Shepherdsville, KY since August of 1997. David Dann and Ron have worked together there since April of 2016. Ron has made 70 trips to the Philippines. The church website is hebronlane.com. He can be reached at ronhalbrook@gmail.com.
