Halbrook Report: 51st Philippine Trip July 31- Aug. 29, 2013
August 29, 2013th Year of Our Lord
Dear brethren,
God’s good providence blessed my 51st preaching trip to the Philippines (and 5th trip to New Zealand) with safety and success July 31-August 29 . Jim McDonald has been my mentor since he first took me in 1995. Knowing the united efforts of Christians would bring many souls to him, Jesus prayed to the Father for his Apostles and for future saints to be united and sanctified “through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (Jn. 17:17-21). The Bible contains that truth in its entirety. It was a privilege to join hands with faithful Filipino saints again, and to labor with Mark Mayberry (Adoue Street Church of Christ, Alvin, TX) and Harry Osborne (84th St. Church of Christ, Oklahoma City, OK). I presented 53 lessons sowing the seed and we know of 25 baptisms as God gave the increase. Till Jesus returns we plead with the lost, “Back to the Bible!”
Mark and I left home July 31st, arrived the next day in Manila, shipped books ahead and conducted a study on August 2nd, then Saturday worked with Ely and Larry Ebuenga in an all-day gospel meeting at Vicas, North Caloocan City. About 65 souls heard my study on “The Purpose of Our Life,” Mark on the plan of salvation, and Rody Gumpad’s introduction to the one true church. Two souls responded.
On Sunday Mark went with Rody to the new Edsa-Pasay church. Atoy Franco brought me to the national Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa to work with Willie & Kenneth Pastor. Willie was incarcerated almost 3 years ago and our prayers for his release may be answered soon. Mark and Rody preached later in the day in other parts of the prison, and 11 submitted to the gospel on this Lord’s Day. About 500 have been baptized in the prison work since Willie first started it! I also visited the small new church meeting at the home of Jimmy Battung in Paranaque. My topic was “Back to the Bible.”
August 6-11 Cyrus Gesulga, Jonathan Carino, Lordy Salunga, Jack Jaco, Mark, and I went to Ormoc City on Leyte to teach classes on “How to Study the Bible” and “The Authority of Christ” to a group of preachers from churches of Christ using instrumental music. One of them asked to present the case for instruments. After he spoke, Mark and I answered him. The exchange was conducted in good spirits and bore fruit. Four Catholic visitors at the classes were baptized. On Sunday Mark and I spoke to the church nearby at San Vicente and they repented of using the instrument.
Mark, Jonathan, Jack, and I took an all-night ship from Ormoc City to Cebu City on Cebu Island. From here Mark flew to Manila to meet Rody Gumpad for 10 days work together. Harry Osborne had been preaching in the Manila area for a couple of days and joined us at Cebu City to preach two days at Bogo City. Denominational preachers have welcomed Harry and me there in the past. Jonathan and Gil Suico have converted several, and they gathered again with additional friends to study more. Three more were baptized including one who has attended in the past and who tried to counter Bible teaching on baptism on Tuesday.
On the 15th Harry proceeded to Luzon to work with Lordy and I traveled to Auckland, New Zealand to work for 6 days with the Meadowood church of Christ meeting in Ronnie Salunga’s home. This group of 8 saints managed to gather 11 visitors for the series on “Building a Godly Home.” This church includes 4 young people ranging up to 23 years of age, and they appreciated the opportunity to study this important theme while they are still unmarried. Visitors included people from the liberal church, from denominations, and one professing Jew. Since this church began in late 2010, dozens of people have heard the pure gospel and these saints refuse to relent in their efforts. They are truly an inspiration to keep on keeping on!
God’s providence is marvelous. A few years ago Atoy Franco was visiting a son in Lakeland, FL, met Don Hastings, and was converted. He returned to the Philippines and converted his close friend, Jimmy Battung, a former police chief. Last May I baptized Jimmy’s son-in-law, Ric Halnas, and his daughter Melaine and their two children. Ric works in Timaru, South Island, New Zealand. August 22-25 Ronnie Salunga and I went to Timaru where Ric gathered Filipino co-workers to hear the gospel for the first time. The lessons were so well received that I urgently hope to find resources to send Lordy Salunga to follow up with teaching in their dialect. God knows how to open doors to spread the gospel in marvelous ways!
My last day in Manila I spent $1,500 to send 200+ Bibles to waiting hands in the Philippines & N.Z.
All of our work and service is in God’s hands. He touches the hearts of saints who have yielded to Him to make these preaching trips possible. To all who help in any way, thank you, and God bless you!
In Christian love, Ron Halbrook
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