Philippine Preaching Trip July 26-August 25, 2016
May 18, 2016th Year of Our Lord
Dear brethren,
By God’s providence I am preparing for my 63rd Philippine preaching trip July 26-August 25, after Jim McDonald taking me the first time in 1995. I will labor with Filipino preachers in fields ripe unto harvest. Two weeks will be spent on grounding and upgrading preachers for their great work. They in turn will train others. The gospel torch must pass from one generation to another until the end of time. “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2).
After arriving in Manila and shipping boxes of materials ahead, I plan to fly July 29 to southern Mindanao. God willing, I will work through August 11 in the vast regions reaching from Davao City south and west to Digos City and on to General Santos City. Many faithful evangelists labor in these areas and request visits whenever possible. These fields are truly white unto harvest, but this is also a region where the year-long drought has been very severe. I am trying to send relief before I go because the need is so great right now. I have messages from brethren who say the saints rejoiced with tears upon receiving even small amounts of benevolence. Even carabao (water buffalo) are dying from the heat. Rats have infested some areas searching for food and water. It is a blessing to be able to extend our help.
The greatest challenge is saving souls from hell’s fire. Idolatry, Catholicism, denominationalism, worldliness, corruption, and sin of every kind are rampant. Yet precious souls are searching for God. Jesus said, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6). He said again, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matt. 7:7). Sin brings inexpressible sorrow, suffering, and torment to the souls of men. The gospel of Christ brings forgiveness of sins, refreshing water to the soul. This, above all, is our first concern!
The week of August 8-12 will be spent in General Santos City teaching classes for preachers on the book of Revelation using Dan King’s new workbook and Mike Willis’ Then Comes the End. These lessons strengthen the faith of saints who pass through great trials and challenge them to prepare for our Lord’s return in final victory over Satan. We will expose the errors of premillennialism which are so rampant in the denominations and among some churches of Christ. An American false teacher named Allen Daves married a Filipina from this area and twists Revelation to teach the A.D. 70 heresy which I will address.
God willing, August 13 we will fly to Bacolod City, the provincial capital of Negros Occidental on the island of Negros. Denominational preachers are being converted here. On my April trip another Pentecostal preacher was baptized into Christ. An aged Baptist preacher stood up and said he had been deceived all these past years and he requested more study. He will be invited with our brethren for classes August 15-19 covering the 4 volumes of workbooks by Robert Harkrider on Basic Bible Doctrine. I will teach the preachers how to use study tools such as Strong’s Concordance and Zondervan’s Pictorial Dictionary of the Bible. At the end of the class I hope to distribute additional materials for their study.
Since I am going alone, I will bear all the expenses for the two weeks of preacher training classes including all the study materials. This month long trip will likely cost over $15,000 including all the travel, the venues which must be rented, and related expenses. I am buying the study materials in advance to ship them this week via large Forex Cargo boxes which will be much cheaper than checking them with my baggage on the plane. These books have already been purchased by faith that financial help will soon arrive.
On August 20 I will fly to Manila to preach in the prison again and to order Bibles. Thanks to so many saints sending funds for Bibles in honor of my 70th birthday, I do not need additional funds for this.
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.
http://www.biblework.com
http://www.truthmagazine.com
http://www.CEIbooks.com