March 7, 2020th Year of Our Lord
                              
Dear brethren,

By God’s good grace Jim McDonald took me to the Philippines in 1995 and April 7-May 5 is set for my 78^th trip to preach the glorious gospel of Christ in that land.  It will be a blessing to work with Craig Thomas, evangelist with the Westside church of Christ in Bloomington, IN.  Both he and his son Ryan have preached in the Philippines and Ryan is married to Jennifer Gumpad, daughter of Rody and Tessie.

The great harvest of souls continues in the Philippines.  Preacher training classes are crucial as new men are converted and as young men aspire to preach.  Paul urged Timothy, “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2:1-3, NKJV).  We will concentrate on the pressing need to train preachers in the truth and challenge them to endure hardness in this great work.
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(Brethren, This is not an alarm because I learned long ago to trust in God’s providence.  This is just a reminder for the sake of anyone who may have intended to help on the trip, but it fell off your radar.

I have been pressing hard to find as much help as possible for the earthquake victims in southern Mindanao, and some help for victims of flooding elsewhere.  It is typical that around the New Year some of you send donations, leaving the use to my discretion in view of the many needs in the Philippines.  Today I sent another $25,000 to be spread among earthquake victims, including donations many of you gave for that purpose and also discretionary funds.  (While such basics as food and medicine are still needed, small houses are now being built for brethren living in “tent cities” under deplorable conditions.)
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PLEASE SHARE THIS LETTER ON GOSPEL PREACHING IN THE PHILIPPINES!
December 28, 2019th Year of Our Lord

Dear brethren,

The dates February 4-25, 2020 are scheduled for my 77th Philippine preaching trip since my first trip with Jim McDonald in 1995.  Kevin Stilts will join me for his first trip.  After serving as a deacon in the Hebron Lane church of Christ in Shepherdsville, KY, he moved to Elizabethtown, KY where he now serves as a deacon.  He is familiar with the Philippine work because he helps keep the financial records for this work.  Kevin is a competent Bible class teacher and has done some preaching.  We will visit several churches but will concentrate on teaching “How to Study the Bible” for preachers, including denominational pastors.

When the Jews of Thessalonica put Paul and the other saints in legal danger with the civil authorities, Paul fled to Berea where he immediately began teaching in the synagogue to convert the Jews to Christ.  “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).  Filipinos of noble character likewise are willing to search the Scriptures.
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Dear family, brethren, and friends,

I request your prayers as I prepare to leave the U.S. to preach in the Philippines.  Please pray also for the saints on Luzon and on the Visayan Islands in the central Philippines.  Typhoon Tisoy (also named Kammuri) became a massive storm mounting 140 mph winds.  It is on track to hit the Bicol peninsula of southeast Luzon December 2-3.  It remains to be seen whether it will interfere with my flight landing in Manila on the evening of the 3rd and with my schedule in Bicol December 5-11, but more importantly it will put Filipinos in harm’s way.

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook

PHILIPPINE TRIP  ITINERARY Dec 2-20, 2019
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Ron & Donna Halbrook
3505 Horse Run Ct.
Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954

PLEASE SHARE THIS LETTER ON GOSPEL PREACHING IN THE PHILIPPINES!
November 2, 2019th Year of Our Lord
                              
Dear brethren,

Plans are falling into place for my 76^th preaching trip to the Philippines December 2-20, after Jim McDonald first took me there in 1995.  By God’s providence, the harvest of souls to spend eternity with Him in heaven moves from land to land and place to place – and the Republic of the Philippines is one of the most fruitful at this time in history.  We must make hay while the sun shines because no one can predict when that harvest will decline as it has done in our own country.  Thessalonica was a pagan city in ancient Greece when Paul planted the gospel there.  Many souls “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” so that soon the church there rang out the message of salvation in Christ in every direction–“The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia – your faith in God has become known everywhere” (1 Thess. 1:8-10, niv).

December 2-3 will be spent in about 24 hours of travel from Louisville, KY to Manila.  Wednesday morning local brethren will help me repack boxes to ship ahead so that materials can be distributed in the  areas where I will teach.
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March 24, 2019th Year of Our Lord
                              
Dear brethren,

Preparations are progressing for trip #74 to preach Christ in the Philippines, since my 1995 trip with Jim McDonald.  The dates are April 9-May 7.  This trip will concentrate on the islands of Luzon and Mindoro.  After many invitations,  this is the first time I am able to fit Mindoro in the schedule.  God offers salvation to all men through the gospel of Christ. “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:16-17). This is a harvest time in the Philippines where many humbly hear, truly believe, and sincerely obey the gospel!

God willing, April 9-10 I will fly from Louisville, KY to Detroit, MI, then to Tokyo, Japan, and into Manila (about 24 hours of travel). The next day will be spent repacking boxes to ship ahead so that materials can be distributed in various areas where I will teach.  Elias Cruz and other brethren help when available.
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