Dear brethren,

Jeremiah lamented Judah’s fall, “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?” (Jer. 8:22) Many Filipinos accept God’s balm for sin-sick souls. By God’s grace, my 39^th Philippine trip was safely completed July 22-August 25. I worked with Phil Martin (Jere Whitson Road Church of Christ, Cookeville, TN) August 6-19 and Harry Osborne (84^th St. Church of Christ, Oklahoma City, OK) the 18^th -24^th. Thank God, Jim McDonald of Lufkin, TX introduced me to the Philippine work in 1995! I presented 97 lessons on this trip. Several souls were restored and 64 baptized as God gave the increase.

The first week focused on the Manila area. Saturday was spent teaching at the Kapitbahayan church where Ben & Elias Cruz have preached for many years. An open forum followed lessons on “The Great Commission” and “When Good People Suffer Bad Things.” About 125 attended, filling the church building. New elders are serving and the work is progressing. Sunday I preached to 30 souls at the Kenneth Pasig church where Lewelyn Lazaro labors, and to 20 souls jammed into the little home of Lucio Centeno where the Southville 3 church meets (squatter relocation project in Muntinlupa City). Elijah Sikat preaches for this group and Atoy Franco has been an asset here. The heat was suffocating!

Monday A.M. was spent with the Vicas church in Northern Caloocan City where Larry and Ely Ebuenga diligently labor; about 50 attended. Three were restored and one baptized. A typhoon blew away the galvanized-iron roofing sheets of their church building. I joined Jhun and Arnold Layusa and Andrew Rauero at the Phase 6, Northern Caloocan City church where GI sheets extended from the roof of Jhun’s house form a shelter for the church to gather. Our study focused on “Marriage, God’s Gift to Man & Woman (Gen. 2:24).” In the late afternoon precious memories were stirred by our visit to the church at Tala in Northern Caloocan City where a leprosarium was built in 1940; the leper Mario Pedurugao lived and preached there for many years. The scattered church has been restored.

Tuesday Jaime Battung took me to the Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. First, I preached to 18 inmates. Several baptized by a denominational group had questions on baptism. They said they prefer our teaching because it is fully Bible based. We pray for followup studies. Jaime took me into the area where Willie Pastor is incarcerated to visit. This gospel preacher (Burgos church, Cabarroguis, Quirino Province) is serving time for a killing in self-defense many years ago. His wife Kathy and children continue serving God. The authorities have agreed for him to preach to inmates.

The afternoon was used to preach under a tent cover at the squatter relocation project in Muntinlupa City. About 50 heard two basic lessons followed by an open forum on a wide range of topics from the Sabbath to cremation to baptism. One of the visitors attended the next Sunday service.

For over a year Abraham Cruz has been preaching in a former karaoke bar at Marilao. An overflow crowd heard my sermon Wednesday “Rejoice in the Lord Alway (Phil. 4:4).” Some of the questions centered on suicide. A distressed young man who had just lost both parents in an accident listened intently. There was a harvest of 13 souls on this day–including that young man. Next we visited the Minuyan III church in Sapang Palay, Bulacan Province where Enteng Cay preaches.

Thursday I sent 226 Bibles from the Philippine Bible Society in Manila to Mindanao, then flew 14 hours to Auckland, New Zealand to encourage the new Meadowood church which began there last November. The six days attendance at Ronnie Salunga’s house ran 11 to 26. The Randy Cabrillas family recently took their stand for truth. Another family has been attending almost every study. Most visitors are Filipino, few native New Zealanders join our studies. In February Gouchi Punzalan was restored and his wife baptized on a dairy farm four hours away. They spent two days with us and may move to Auckland. Sunday I presented two lessons on “Serving Christ in the Local Church” and two on “The Patience of God.” During the open forum there were questions on Bible translations. Therefore, Monday I taught on “God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated.” A family near to the kingdom was present for the lesson “Is Instrumental Music Authorized in Worship Today?” The open forum was lively but healthy. Since Ronnie and Randy must do all the teaching, Wednesday was set aside to study how to do Bible research and outlining of Scripture for sermon preparation. This church as real potential!

I returned from New Zealand’s winter to Manila’s heat and humidity. Phillip Martin arrived and we spent August 7-11 in the central Visayan Islands. Jonathan Carino from Cebu City, Cebu and Jack Jaco from Victorias City, Negros Occidental met us at Iloilo City, Panay Island. From this base, we took a ferry Sunday to Bacolod City, Negros Oriental. A van took us to the Kawayanan church in a rural area near Bago City where Shem Tagapan preaches. The church building was filled with 50-60 people. I spoke on “Lord, Increase Our Faith” and “New Beginnings in Christ.” Meanwhile, the van took Phil to the Dream Village church in Victorias City where Jack labors. After lunch we all joined forces for a meeting at a hotel function room in Bacalod City. Jack planned for 50 but 83 showed up! “Pastors” here who used to fight us tooth and nail now welcome us.

When Harry Osborne preached in Cebu City some time ago, Tony Abad was baptized. Tony was a denominational preacher in San Jose, Antique Province, Panay Island where no churches of Christ exist. August 9-10 were given to San Jose. The first day only 27 attended because denominational leaders discouraged people from attending. The audience liked the lessons and invited friends–45 came the next day. I taught on “The Authority of Christ,” and Phil on Christ, baptism, and godly living.

Wednesday 92 souls including denominational “pastors” heard us teach in a hotel function room in Iloilo City. Phil taught on conversions and baptism, and I addressed “Salvation by Grace through Faith,” “The Great Commission,” and “The Gospel Makes Us Right with God” to a receptive audience.

August 12-16 we labored in the General Santos City area of Mindanao Island. The first day

Phil preached with Samson Castillon at the Katangawan church in the Sarangani Province, while I was with Nestor Francisco in the church at his house in Sarangani Homes. Friday Phil preached at the Magsaysay church, Koronadal City, South Cotabato Province with Carlito Abella. I joined Rosalito Nardo at the San Filipe church in Tantangan, which overflowed with 150 souls. Two were baptized. After lunch we exchanged locations. 150 attended at Magsaysay. The 14^th Fred Tuhitum and Benjie Blonto gathered 75 souls in the mountains of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, home of the T’boli tribe.

Sunday Phil worked with Bernard Saquilan at the Balunto church, Labangal, and I was at the Balite church in General Santos City where Ricardo dela Cruz has preached for many years. After speaking on Leonardo Maste’s radio program, I joined Phil at the Riverside church where Johnny Julom preaches. We traveled to Malungon, Sarangani to speak at Rene Sandoval’s funeral. Lessons were presented all day Monday in a function room at our hotel to 75 souls including denominational pastors.

Tuesday found us at a gym in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur, arranged by Ben Canada (and his “pastor” friend Nestor Hernani). After the mayor’s greeting, about 100 souls heard my lessons on “The Message of the Bible” and “Jesus Came to Seek and Save the Lost” as translated by Julie Notarte, and Phil’s sermons translated by Jonathan Carino. Several were baptized as a result of this day’s labors.

Phil and I alternated Wednesday at Digos where Julie preaches and at Sitio Dulangan where Elmer Dianga labors with evacuees who have fled Muslim and communist rebels. Thirteen were baptized. Harry Osborne arrived at Davao City and joined us at a function room there Thursday, Phil’s last day. For two days we taught 70-90 souls, many denominational preachers. Saturday we preached all day to 86 very receptive souls at the Bible Baptist Church in Calinan. Afterward Hafley Caa confessed to us he had deceived the church in Edna, TX in handling funds, and he promised to make restitution. That night I preached at the Seaside church in Davao City where Ben Canada labors and one was baptized.

Sunday Harry preached at Seaside and at Lemuel Ortega’s place while I spent the day with a congregation newly converted from the Alliance Church at Lower Madapo, Davao City, including the preacher Robert Agsao. These poor people live in shanties among burial sites and banana trees! At night I preached at the New Matina church where Juanito Balbin has labored for many years. Monday we preached in a civic center to 125 souls in Tagum City, Davao del Norte and ran into a hornet’s nest of Calvinism, but the preachers admitted they learned a lot at the end of the day. That night we preached in Toril, Davao del Sur at the Victory Christian Fellowship. We expect baptisms here soon!

When I returned to Manila and home exhausted in body and mind, Harry had another ten days on his schedule. Thank you, brethren, for making these trips possible by your prayers and sacrifices!!!

In Christian love, Ron Halbrook

P.S. Dear brethren, May I please request your prayers. I must have surgery Tuesday. I will be confined in the hospital two days, followed by a recovery period at home. I regret that I will fall far behind in correspondence again, but thank you for your patience. May God bless us all as we serve Him.