PLEASE SHARE THIS LETTER ON GOSPEL PREACHING IN THE PHILIPPINES!

January 15, 2025^th Year of Our Lord

Dear brethren,

Through God’s loving providence, Jim McDonald from Lufkin, TX brought me to preach with him in the Philippines in 1995.  The 89^th trip planned for February 3-28 includes a 7^th side trip to preach in Australia, God willing.  While calling sinners to salvation in Christ, the lessons planned concentrate on edifying saints and especially challenging preachers to stand united in the great work of spreading the gospel of Christ.

Paul encountered opposition from unbelievers which led to his arrest and discouragement from believers motivated by a spirit of competition.  He challenged all the saints at Philippi, “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27).  The Amplified Bible says “with one mind striving side by side [as if in combat] for the faith of the gospel.”  We want to be filled with the spirit of fellow-soldiers and fellow-workers for the cause of Christ.

God willing, February 3-4 will bring me from Louisville, KY to Atlanta, GA to Seoul-Incheon, South Korea to Manila in the Philippines in 28 hours.  The next day will find Filipino brethren helping me sort Bibles and study materials brought on the plane for distribution. On the 6^th, deaf mute saints at the Edsa-Pasay church will hear studies on Bible authority for the work and organization of the New Testament church.

February 7-10 will be used for a round trip to Tuguegarao, Cagayan in order for me to travel west in northern Luzon.  Saturday I plan to preach for the saints at Cabaritan West, Cagayan with Jhun Miranda and at the Payagan West, Ballesteros church with Johnson Ramil.  Sunday is scheduled to work and worship with Sammy Vargas at the San Carlos church, Sta. Marcela, Apayao.

After returning to Manila on the 10^th, I hope to fly at 2:45 AM the next day to Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, arriving on the 12^th.  After I preach at Rocky on Friday-Saturday, Daryl Johnson will drive me 4 hours to reach the church meeting at Bundaberg to present 3 lessons to the saints on the Lord’s Day there with Ray Ward.  After a Monday morning study, we will drive back to Rocky and I hope to visit Tuesday with Gordon & Glenda Johnson from the Capricorn Coast church and Carol Zussino from Gladstone (where Jamie and Deborah Williams worshiped while he worked on a ConocoPhillips job back in 2011-2017).

February 19-20 I fly back to Manila to work in this area from the 21^st-27^th.  Friday will find me at the church at Vicas, N. Caloocan City where Ciriaco Evangelista labors in the gospel.  I plan to preach Saturday at Santa Maria, Bulacan with Alex Estoy and Dominador Guevarra. The Lord’s Day is scheduled with the saints at the Taytay church in Taytay, Rizal where Sammy Medrano preaches.  Monday I will preach at Canlubang, Laguna with Edwin De Pedro.

A lectureship will be conducted on the theme “Preachers Help Preachers Reach Heaven” at Edsa-Pasay where James Paet labors the 25^th-27^th.  The speakers are Lordy Salunga, Rody Gumpad, Elias Cruz, Julie Notarte, Jonathan Carino, Jack Jaco, Jolly Julom, Willie Pastor, Dario Belviz, and myself.  This unusual occasion brings mature Filipino preachers together to preach, to become better acquainted with each other, to learn of each other’s work, and to encourage one another.  I will help the speakers with travel expenses.  It is difficult for Filipinos to conduct such lectureships because of their limited resources.

Thank you for prayers and donations which make these trips possible!  This one will be unusually expensive because of the plans for Australia and for the Edsa-Pasay lectures, but God will provide.

Individuals needing a legal tax deduction may write checks to Help A Neighbor.  Write all other checks to Ron Halbrook. Mail all checks to 3505 Horse Run Ct., Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954.  For PayPal, the account is Richard Halbrook or halbrook@twc.com – indicate “send to a friend” not “pay for item or service.” Donors receive financial reports (2 Cor. 8:21).

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook

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

PS Please remember I am always looking for English songbooks to ship to the Philippines.