March 9, 2015^th Year of Our Lord

                                                            

Dear brethren,

By the grace of God my 58^th preaching trip to the Philippines is planned for March 31–April 28. God blessed me by allowing me to join Jim McDonald on the first trip in 1995 and the harvest continues.  The Royal Banner of Christ must be raised all around the world as promised in Isaiah 11:10, “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.”  Mark Mayberry, an evangelist and elder at the Adoue St. church of Christ in Alvin, TX, and I will join Filipino saints in raising the banner of Christ high in the Philippines.

After our arrival in Manila, Lordy Salunga will bring us to Angeles City, Pampanga to teach the book of Revelation April 3-4 at the Southside church of Christ.  I met Lordy on my first trip in 1995 and my love and respect for him have grown through the years.  The Southside church is active in sending out preachers, in spreading the gospel via radio, and standing against apostasy of every kind.  They requested April 3-4 because this is a vacation season and many saints will be able to attend.  Sunday after preaching in the area, we will travel to Manila to catch a flight to Cebu City on Cebu to meet Jonathan Carino.

Jonathan and I met first in 2000 when he helped Jim McDonald and me distribute aid to saints suffering from a year-long drought.  His help has been invaluable through the years.  April 6-10 will be devoted to teaching preachers “Basic Bible Doctrine,” a series of four workbooks by Robert Harkrider.  The Cebu City church of Christ will host the series for its members and others who wish to attend.  The last two years there has seen remarkable progress in converting denominational preachers on Masbate which is near Cebu.  They will join us for these classes.  The Lord’s Day will be spent with saints on Cebu Island.

April 13 we plan to fly from Cebu to Manila on Luzon, and then fly up to Tuguegarao, Cagayan in north-central Luzon.  Rody Gumpad and other brethren will be waiting to work with us April 14-17.  The faith, zeal, and dedication of Rody always lifts our hearts.  The gospel continues to spread in Cagayan and surrounding provinces, but institutional liberals and false teachers on divorce and remarriage are penetrating the region.  The first two days will be set aside for Bible lectures to be presented at the Metro Tuguegarao church of Christ to fortify the faith of gospel preachers and to better equip them for their labors in the kingdom of God.  On the 16^th a gospel meeting is scheduled at the congregation in Bliss, Ilagan, Isabela where Edgar Licodini preaches.

Friday we hope to travel to Cordon, Isabela to preach with Domie and Frankie Jacob.  We have worked together many times in the past years, but I have not been there since April of 2011.  During the interim his wife Leah has had health problems and I hope to see her doing much better.  Domie is a seasoned gospel preacher whom I first met in 1995 and his son Frankie has matured into a steadfast evangelist also.  They work with the churches at Cordon in the Isabela Province, Der-an, Diffun, Quirino Province, and Villaros, Bagabag, in the Nueva Vizcaya Province (all within an hour’s drive).

On April 18 our plan is to fly from Tuguegarao to Manila and on to Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.  Jim McDonald introduced me to Mat Sibayan, Sr. and Vic Domingo in 1995.  These strong preachers have concentrated their efforts in the Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur Provinces and dozens of churches are scattered there.  Sunday we will preach at churches in Laoag City, Bengcag, the jail, and Katipunan Sinait.  Monday and Tuesday will be devoted to lessons on “Leadership in the Church” using my new workbook at the Laoag City church. April 22–24 we will scatter to area churches for gospel meetings including a day with Efren Ramos.

On the 25^th we return to Manila to preach on Sunday, and purchase Bibles in the dialects Monday.

The prayers and donations of saints make these trips possible.  Individuals needing a legal tax deduction may write checks to Help A Neighbor.  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