11-22-2013 Update on Preaching Trip & Typhoon Haiyan Victims
Ron & Donna Halbrook
3505 Horse Run Ct.
Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954
PLEASE SHARE THIS LETTER ON GOSPEL PREACHING
IN THE PHILIPPINES!
FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION ON DEC. 2-20, 2013 TRIP
November 22, 2013th Year of Our Lord
Dear brethren,
Approaching my December 2-20 Philippine trip, for the first time ever I must revise much of my schedule. This is required in the aftermath of Haiyan, named Yolanda by Filipinos, the worst typhoon in recorded history. Keith Greer and I will teach God’s Word in concert with Filipino preachers. We also will deliver benevolence, knowing “the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God” (2 Cor. 9:12).
We will arrive in Manila late at night on December 3 and begin the next day by preaching to inmates in the Bilibid Prison at Muntinlupa, Metro Manila. This work is made possible by the presence of Willie Pastor in the prison, a brother sent to jail in 2010 after killing someone in self-defense many years earlier. Through his efforts along with his brother Kenneth who lives in the area, three congregations now meet in three of the prison’s sectors.
As a result of efforts in recent years in Bogo on northern Cebu, new congregations have been planted. This beachhead also led to conversions on the island of Masbate , located north of Cebu and west of Samar in the Visayan Sea (central Philippines). We will keep the appointment to preach December 5-6 on Masbate. (Jonathan Carino took Harry Osborne there in November with good success.) On the 7th we will travel to Cebu City and preach at the place of brother Ahl Bufral at Talamban, Cebu City.
The classes with preachers from churches of Christ using instrumental music in August were so successful that we scheduled additional classes at Ormoc City, Leyte for December 9-13. Just after completing my itinerary and sending out letters, typhoon Haiyan hit the Visayan Islands, especially Samar, Leyte, northern Cebu, and parts of Negros and Panay. The devastation was horrific and the death toll has passed 5,200 including saints of God. Bodies have been buried in mass graves to avoid spreading diseases, but more bodies are being found daily. The typhoon created a wall of water over 20 feet high that hit Tacloban City like a tsunami, destroying almost everything in its path. Ormoc City sits east of Tacloban on the other side of the island and was similarly destroyed. Law and order have been virtually non-existent. The U.S. State Department has issued a warning that it is not safe to go into these areas.
The classes for Ormoc City are cancelled. December 9-13 we will bring men from Masbate and invite others to join preacher training classes in Cebu City using Robert Harkrider’s Basic Bible Doctrine series, Bible dictionaries, and concordances. Jonathan Carino is our host, Jack Jaco will lead singing, and Lordy Salunga will also teach. Cebu is a safe haven for us to conduct classes.
Many brethren lost their homes and all possessions, and others suffered significant damage and losses. Church buildings were destroyed, Bibles and song books were ruined or swept away in the raging waters. The schedule for northern Mindanao is cancelled to make additional time December 14-17 to distribute benevolence. In some cases, men from congregations in the affected areas will come to us, in other cases we may go into the affected areas to find men if we can return to Cebu City the same day.
Thank you for your prayers and financial help! Following the pattern of 2 Corinthians 8:16-24, we will act as messengers to deliver funds from churches to representatives of churches in the affected areas. Individuals giving $500 or more for church buildings and similar needs can write checks to Help A Neighbor for a tax deduction. 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.
To see good Bible study material, go to: