July 4, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear brethren,

God willing, July 31-August 29 will be devoted to preaching in the Philippines and in New Zealand.  Jesus prayed in John 17:17-21 for the Apostles to call a lost world to God, to the truth revealed by God, and to the way of salvation.  He prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”  He prayed “that the world may believe” through the united efforts of Christians through all the future centuries!  After beginning work in the Philippines in 1995 with Jim McDonald, this will be my 51st trip, and my 5th trip to N.Z., pleading for people to go “Back to the Bible!”  I will work with faithful Filipinos, Mark Mayberry (evangelist, Adoue Street Church of Christ, Alvin, TX), Kurt Smith (member of West Main Church of Christ, Lewisville, TX), and Harry Osborne (evangelist, 84th St. Church of Christ, Oklahoma City, OK) in the Philippines.

Mark has been to the Philippines, but this will be Kurt’s first preaching after taking the training classes conducted in Oklahoma City by Harry, John Isaac Edwards, and Brett Hogland.  Harry has been many times.

After Mark, Kurt, and I arrive in Manila August 1st,  Saturday will be spent with the saints at Vicas, Caloocan City where Ely and Larry Ebuenga preach.  Caloocan City is part of Metro Manila (12 million people) and is the 3rd largest city in the Philippines with 1,500,000 people.  This church is struggling to construct a meeting place, but the saints are very poor and help is needed.  We will preach the whole day.

Sunday will be divided between the new Edsa-Pasay congregation started by Rody Gumpad in Manila and the Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila.  The Edsa church began in January at a strategic location for Christians working in Manila and it has grown to an attendance of 35-45 including many visitors.  They may outgrow the function room they are renting at an old hotel before their lease expires!

Willie Pastor was taken from the preacher training classes we were conducting in Tuguegarao, Cagayan in February of 2010, put in jail, and later transferred to the national prison.  He was sentenced to 6-8 years for killing someone in self-defense many years ago.  His brother Kenneth in Manila joined hands with Willie to proclaim the gospel in the Bilibid Prison which houses over 10,000 inmates.  So many souls have been baptized that churches are now meeting in three sections of the prison with services conducted by Willie, Kenneth, and Ely Ebuenga.  We will do our best to encourage these saints.  Willie may be released this year.

Cyrus Gesulga, a leading voice among premillennial churches of Christ in the Philippines, gave up such theories in 2011 and has been working closely with us.  He has arranged for us to have classes in Ormoc City, Leyte with preachers from instrumental and liberal churches of Christ December 6-10. The lessons will concentrate on “How to Study the Bible” and “The Authority of Christ.”  We hope for another breakthrough!

On the 13th Mark and Kurt will meet Rody in Manila to travel and preach on Luzon until the 21st when they will return to the U.S.  I will meet Harry at Cebu City to work with denominational preachers at Bogo City who are asking for follow-up studies.  Jonathan Carino recently baptized four of them.

August 15-27 I will be in New Zealand.  Ronnie Salunga, a Filipino, moved to Auckland in 2007.  Finding no conservative brethren, he worshiped for two years with liberals.  During that time Ronnie  conducted studies in his home using materials primarily from the website of the Hebron Lane church here in Shepherdsville, KY.  His family prepared their basement as a meeting place where Ken McDaniel and I helped them start the Meadowood church in November of 2009.  I have returned three times, and David Halbrook, Harry Osborne, and Lordy Salunga have been once.  Rick Halnas, whom I baptized in Manila in May works in Timaru , on the south island 600 miles from Auckland.  Ronnie and I will spend one weekend there trying to edify Rick and convert some of his friends.  We hope to plant another new congregation!

Thank you in advance for your prayers and financial support for this work.  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.