(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.)

I had planned to use a significant portion of the discretionary funds for my needs in traveling and preaching in the Philippines, but decided to squeeze as much as possible for the earthquake victims.  As a result, I can foresee that I will lack funds for upcoming travel and preaching.  For just one example, I already have requests for 350 Bibles, & those pleas will increase as the trip progresses (I can foresee $4,000-$5,000 in Bibles, partly because of needs in the earthquake region).  In other ways this trip will be more expensive than some others because we expect 100+ attendance for 3 days in lessons for denominational preachers who have requested to study with us.

I am confident the Lord will make a way to solve all of this.  Thank you for including this work in your prayers. Ron)

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

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.

February 4-5 Kevin and I will travel about 24 hours from Louisville, KY to Manila, Philippines.  Our luggage will include boxes of Bibles and teaching materials such as workbooks on “How to Study the Bible” from the excellent Word In the Heart series and my booklet on “The Authority of Christ.”  Filipino brethren will meet us at the hotel Thursday morning to re-pack the boxes which will then be shipped ahead.

On February 7 we will fly from Manila to Bacolod City, Negros Occidental to meet Jack Jaco and Jonathan Carino.  On Saturday and Sunday we will visit several churches to edify the saints and preach to the lost.  Then about 50 preachers are expected to meet us for the next two days to study “How to Study the Bible” at a rented venue in Victorias City.  All four of us will share the teaching duties.  The cause of Christ is growing and maturing on the island of Negros and this series should be well received.

After finishing the series on the 11th, we will immediately travel east in the Visayan Sea via ferryboat to the Island of Panay, the sixth-largest and fourth most-populous island in the Philippines.  I visited Iloilo City in December for the first time in seven years and preached to a group of denominational preachers who were exceptionally receptive toward the truth. At least 100 of them are expected to attend all day classes February 12-14 in a hotel function room for lessons on “How to Study the Bible,” a series on “The Authority of Christ,” and some other mixed topics.  Jack will host with the help of Bob Sinening and Roger Ramirez.  This is truly a unique opportunity to lead denominational preachers out of the darkness of human doctrines and traditions into the glorious light of the original gospel of Christ!

On Saturday the 15th Kevin and I will fly to Manila.  On the Lord’s day I hope to visit the saints and visitors in Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City in Metro Manila while Kevin preaches for the Edsa-Pasay congregation.  In the afternoon we will meet with the saints in Paranaque City at the residence of Jimmy Battung.  Monday I will let Kevin catch his breath and see some sights in Manila including the Manila American Cemetery where thousands of W.W. II U.S. soldiers are buried.  The next day he will fly home.

Tuesday I will prepare for the last days of teaching.  A series entitled “United to Proclaim Christ” will be presented on the 19th-20th at the Edsa-Pasay church in Manila where James Paet and Jhun Gumpad preach.  Then Friday through Sunday the deaf mute saints will gather in the Edsa-Pasay meeting place to study Then Comes the End, Mike Willis’ workbook.  Tony Hornedo labors with them. The 24th is reserved to purchase Bibles in Filipino dialects to be shipped to brethren requesting them.  I fly home the 25th.

Thank you for prayers and donations which make these trips possible!  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.  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

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