Ron & Donna Halbrook
3505 Horse Run Ct.
Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954

PLEASE SHARE THIS LETTER ON GOSPEL PREACHING IN THE PHILIPPINES!

October 13, 2017^th Year of Our Lord
                                                            
Dear brethren,

November 28-December 19 will make my 68^th preaching trip to the Philippines and my 8^th trip to New Zealand.  I am ever thankful for Jim McDonald starting me in this work in 1995. First principles of the gospel will be emphasized with confidence they will bear fruit to the salvation of souls and the glory of God.  Paul thanked God for the faith and love of the saints at Colosse “that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth” (Col. 1:3-6, NIV).  Yes, the gospel bears fruit “all over the world” including the Philippines and New Zealand!

After flying from Louisville, KY to Manila in the Philippines November 28-29, I will ship six boxes loaded with Bibles, study materials, and a few personal items like eye glasses.  Filipino brethren will meet me and help to re-pack these materials for shipment to various places in the Philippines.

The next day an all-night flight will take me to Auckland, New Zealand where I will work with Ronnie Salunga and all the saints at the Meadowood church of Christ.  This congregation began in Ronnie’s basement in 2009 but it is overflowing now, requiring a new meeting place.  I am anxious to see it.  These brethren never fail to invite friends and visitors, and the seed of truth is being sown again and again.

These brethren made contact in 2011 with Abner Salanguit at Ohope, Whakatane, in the Bay of Plenty Region, several hours from Auckland.  Years before in the Philippines Abner had been converted by the International Churches of Christ (the old Crossroads and Boston movement).  Isolated in New Zealand he began to study for himself.  He had some association with institutional brethren in N.Z. but began to see the fallacies of this movement.  Several months ago his studies led him to reject efforts of the ICOC people to work with him and more recently he also cut his ties with institutional brethren.  I admire the way he has patiently studied for himself.  All the while, he has been diligently teaching Filipinos and anyone who will listen.  The church now meets in a community center.  This will be my fourth trip to Ohope to sow the seed.

December 12 I plan to return to Manila on an all-night trip. The next day a gospel meeting will be held for a new congregation in Malabon City, Metro Manila at the house of Jhun Carpentero’s sister Anna Lynn C. Dela Cruz.  Jechres Mancia, Elias Cruz, Alex Estoy, and Roland Hilamon have been helping this new congregation.  Then on the 14^th-15^th Lordy Salunga will join me in teaching How to Study the Bible for the Sampaloc church of Christ in Manila.  These are deaf mute saints with whom Tony Boy Hernado has labored for many years.  We will use PowerPoint charts with a white board at the side where we can add some explanation and someone will help with sign language.

Saturday will be spent at the Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila with the help of Ely Ebuenga.  Sunday morning I will preach at the Edsa-Pasay congregation where Sammy Paet and Rody & Junior Gumpad labor (but Rody will be in the U.S.) in Metro Manila.  That afternoon I will worship with the church meeting at the home of Jimmy Battung in Paranaque City.  Monday I hope to visit the Philippine Bible Society to purchase Bibles in the dialects to be shipped several places.

Thank you in advance for making all this work possible!  Individuals writing checks to Help A Neighbor can get a legal tax deduction.  Write all other checks to Ron Halbrook. Mail them to 3505 Horse Run Ct., Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954. Donors receive financial reports (2 Cor. 8:21). God bless you all!

In Christian love,

Ron Halbrook
Phone 502-955-1748 or 957-6726; e-mail halbrook@twc.com

P.S. There is a dire need for songbooks!  I can ship new or used copies very cheaply.

To see good Bible study material, go to:
http://www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com
http://www.biblework.com
http://www.truthmagazine.com
http://www.CEIbooks.com