PLEASE SHARE THIS LETTER ON GOSPEL PREACHING IN THE PHILIPPINES!

October 20, 2026^th Year of Our Lord

Dear brethren,

November 30-December 21 I make the 96^th preaching trip to the Philippines with a 4^th trip to Malayasia.  I thank Jim McDonald who introduced me to this work. Greg Walker (Hebron Lane church in Shepherdsville, KY) will go with me to stay in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.  Tim Torno and Darren Martin will join me for the first time from the West Main church in Lewisville, TX (Nov. 30-Dec. 14).  Lordy Salunga from the Southside church  in Angeles City, Pampanga will join the trip to Malayasia as we work with Nick Rowe the 12^th-18^th. 

As Paul traveled and preached on one occasion, he received a vision at Troas: “There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us” (Acts 16:9).  During this time of a great harvest in the Philippines and a meager harvest in Malayasia, saints in those lands plead, “Come help us!”

Dear brethren,                                  

God graciously sent me to the Philippines with Jim McDonald in 1995 and July 24-August 28 my 95^th trip was completed.  John Weaver from the Mariner Blvd. church of Christ in Spring Hill, FL joined the 1^st segment of the trip and Filipino saints captured his heart.  John is president of Florida College but was here as an evangelist.  When leading preachers in Jerusalem gave Paul and Barnabas “the right hands of fellowship,” they asked them to “remember the poor” (Gal. 2:9-10).  Gentile saints extending benevolence to Jewish saints in their suffering helped bind them all together in Christ.  Filipino saints suffer one disaster after another, giving us the opportunity to draw closer to them by sharing their burdens according to our abilities.

On Sunday, July 26, we met with the Edsa-Pasay church including deaf-mute members.  I preached on “God’s Great Plan for Our Salvation” and John preached on “Misunderstandings about Jesus.”  Monday was for errands, then Tuesday brought us to all-day preaching at the Kaptibahayan church of Christ in Navotas, Metro Manila. I taught on singing vs. instrumental music in worship and John addressed the Lord’s Day and the victory of the saints over Rome in Revelation 20:4.  The 29^th we flew to Laoag City, Ilocos Norte and kept separate appointments at 6 churches July 30-August 1.  

Dear family, brethren, & friends,

With much thanksgiving, I arrived home safely about midnight and got to bed before 3:00 A.M.  I feel inadequate to express my praise and thanksgiving to God for enabling me to preach the gospel of Christ in the Philippines again.  I also lack adequate words to thank all the saints who make these trips possible by your prayers, donations, and encouragement in the work of the Lord.  Of course, I owe the greatest debt to Donna.  None of this would have been possible without her constant help!  Also, for almost 30 years the Hebron Lane church of Christ here in Shepherdsville, Kentucky has facilitated this work and I am greatly indebted to these saints.

Working with Filipino saints is a blessing beyond measure.  In preparing and teaching the lessons, I am edified by God’s Word, but I am also edified by the dedicated help and sacrifices of our Filipino brethren.  They are always in my heart and prayers. 

May God bless us all as we press forward on our journey to heaven.   

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

The lectureship with four lessons on the theme of “Suffering: Why, and How Long?” was presented Monday at the church in Lanton, Apopong, General Santos City, South Cotabato with Jolly Julom.  140 souls from throughout the region joined us.  The open forum was challenging and covered a lot of ground.  I will share a few examples of the questions.

Is God the ultimate source of suffering?  God put man in a perfect garden with no sin and no suffering.  God warned that sin would bring suffering and death.  Satan, not God, tempted Adam and Eve to sin with the result that suffering and death entered our world.  Suffering and death were the malicious intents of Satan. God overrules Satan through the gospel of Christ by forgiving our sins and opening the way to heaven where Satan, sin, suffering, and death cannot enter in all of eternity.

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Tuesday was designated as a day to rest and to study for the upcoming days.  I worked until 1:30 A.M. preparing lessons for the next leg of the trip.  The highlight of the day was spending the evening at a Chinese restaurant with the Balbins including Erlinda (Juanito’s widow), Sonni’s family, Connie’s family, and Honey Mae’s family.  I believe I met Juanito Balbin here in Davao City in 1997.  

I got up at 6:15 A.M. on Wednesday to travel to Kitakal, Malungon, Sarangani where Dondon Cadayona serves as an evangelist.  Their church building sits just off the main highway between Digos City and General Santos City.  Over 100 souls were gathered to hear a sermon series on “Suffering: Why, and How Long?” which includes “When Good People Suffer Bad Things,” “Take Job as an Example,” “God Rules the Nations,” and “Wait on the Lord.”  Julie Notarte translated the lessons into the Cebuano dialect for the sake of several in the audience who do not understand English well.  The building overflowed with many people sitting outside and hearing the sermons from our microphones.

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Our Friday was consumed by travel on the Island of Mindanao from Pagadian City to Davao City.  Jack Jaco, Jonathan and Nanette Carino, and I got up early and left our hotel at 7:00 A.M. to catch our flight, only to learn it had been cancelled.  We came back to the old Carino homeplace where I rested and got some work done plus, enjoyed a great lunch.  About 4:30 P.M. we flew to Cebu City on the Island of Cebu and later changed planes to fly to Davao City in southern Mindanao.  By 10:00 P.M. we finally got into our hotel rooms.  By the time I got settled in, did a little work, and took my walk, I got to bed just past 12:30 A.M.

The Downtown church of Christ in Davao City is served by Sonni and Connie Balbin and other good men.  They have an annual combined singing and gospel meeting which was conducted today, Saturday, 8:30 A.M.-1:00 P.M., with 230 present.  Knowing their church building could not accommodate such large numbers, they rented a function room at a hotel which was air conditioned – but the AC struggled with such a full room.  

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Saturday James Paet picked me up at 6:00 A.M. to go the Manila airport to fly to Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur on the Island of Mindanao.  The monsoon rain made for a rough ride leaving Luzon and for some reason we had a bumpy approach coming into Pagadian City, but all is well that ends well.  Ezekiel Carino along with his brother Jonathan and Jack Jaco welcomed me.  After arriving at the hotel about 11:00 A.M., I was so exhausted I fell asleep for a couple of hours before getting some work done.  I walked at a nearby mall, ate supper at a Kenny Rogers Restaurant in the mall, prepared sermons for tomorrow, and got to bed just past midnight.

On the Lord’s Day we traveled out into the countryside to meet with the saints at Maraya, Vincenzo Sagun where Junie Gocela has preached for many years.  Two auditoriums are joined to accommodate the 133 souls who gathered for worship.  My sermon was entitled “The Lord Is Our Shepherd-King,” a study of Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34, and John 10. The brethren provided an excellent meal at Junie’s house.

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Monday morning, we began three days of classes on “The Home and Family Life” using L. A. Stauffer’s workbook “Family Life: A Biblical Perspective” as a guide.  Egdon Sabio at the church in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur is our host.   This church met for years in Egdon’s home but began meeting in their new church building in 2024. It is very comfortable teaching in this building with air conditioning in the hot Philippine summer.

Our classes are scheduled to start at 9:00 AM each day and dismiss about 5:30 PM. Over 80 are attending.  This first day my lessons included a biblical perspective on life and the home, God’s design of marriage, and the wife’s role of subjection in marriage.  John addressed the atmosphere of love, the husband’s love for his wife, and his role as head of the wife.  

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

On Wednesday we flew to Laoag City in the Province of Ilocos Norte to labor in this area along with Ilocos Sur.  Many brethren including Rolly Salvador met us when we arrived about 10:00 PM.  As we disembarked from the plane, we were greeted by a full, brightly beaming moon!  I hope you saw it, too!

John and I are on separate schedules for the next three days.  Thursday morning, Rolly brought me to the church meeting in the foothills of Escoda, Marcos where Rex Bayaca labors in the gospel.  This church has been meeting for many years and over 100 souls gathered to hear God’s Word (many more attend on Sunday).  “Come Out of Her, My People” was the sermon and Rex translated.  Three precious souls were baptized for the remission of their sins.  Meanwhile, John was preaching at Tanap with Roger Borja, where one was baptized.  

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

By God’s good grace, my 95^th preaching trip July 24-August 28 is underway after Jim McDonald graciously introduced me to this work in 1995.  My wife Donna has been my greatest helper all through these years.  I thank God every day.

When I checked in at the Louisville, Kentucky airport early on Friday, an African named Isaac was the Delta Airlines agent.  I explained the six boxes contained Bibles and Bible study materials for Filipinos.  He said he was a preacher and had preached in Pagadian City on Mindanao.  When I told him I have been there many times and will preach there again on this trip, he wanted me to visit the churches where he goes.  I gave him the foldout tract on “The One True Church” by James R. Cope with my email address and invited him to study with me when I return home.  He seemed very open and interested.