Halbrook Philippine Trip July 28-August 26, 2015
Halbrook Report: 59th Philippine Trip July 28-August 26, 2015
August 30, 2015th Year of Our Lord
Dear brethren,
By God’s grace my 59th preaching trip to the Philippines (5th trip to Australia) is now complete. Jim McDonald took me the first time in 1995. Keith Greer, evangelist at the Harrodsburg, KY church of Christ, and Grayson Key of Louisville joined this trip. They worked with Rody Gumpad on Palawan, Mindoro, and Luzon. We must prepare men for Christ’s return. He said, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (Jn. 5:28-29). I taught 72 times in both countries, 9 souls confessed Christ.
When our Louisville flight was delayed on July 28, Keith, Grayson, and I barely made our flight from Minneapolis to Manila. Elias Cruz met us to ship boxes of Bibles and study materials ahead for us.
To reach more places, we split up. Rody Gumpad took Keith and Grayson to work among churches on the islands of Palawan and Mindoro. Grayson is a talented song leader and brethren everywhere appreciated his skill in conducting songs. After Grayson returned home August 17, Rody took Keith to visit churches on Luzon. Many saints were edified by the work of these three men, and 163 sinners submitted to Christ in baptism. Americans do not claim credit for all these good results – Filipino preachers prepare the soil and sow much seed before we visit. We simply help facilitate the harvest from their good labors. Of course, it is God alone who actually gives the increase (1 Cor. 3:6).
On July 30 I flew to Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental. Sunday morning I preached for the Capisnon church where Cyrus Gesulga labors and in the afternoon the San Simon church established by Cipriano Carpentero. August 3-7 was devoted to classes for preachers on the book of Revelation using Dan King’s new workbook and on the theme Then Comes the End using Mike Willis’ workbook by that title. Sixty preachers attended including 15 invited by Cyrus who hold the premillennial doctrine.
My last lesson in the series is “Premillennialism Undermines the One Hope.” This doctrine is not just a harmless opinion but violates the divine platform of unity in Ephesians 4:4-6. Though recognizing these men have been baptized into Christ, I showed this doctrine violates “the one hope” by adding many additional hopes such as end-time signs, the rapture, the tribulation age, Christ on David’s literal throne in Jerusalem, a military Battle of Armageddon, and the 1,000 year reign of Christ in an earthly civil government. The open forums included healthy exchanges of views. No one was pressured or abused. We simply teach God’s Word confident it will not return unto Him void (Isa. 55:10-11).
At Davao City in southern Mindanao it was a joy to preach again Sunday at the New Matina church where Juanito Balbin has labored through the years. He and his sons (Dudley, Sonni, and C.B.) along with other brethren prepared well for the classes August 10-14. There were 75 preachers who enrolled and received Dan King’s workbook on Revelation, Robert Harkrider’s workbook on Revelation, and Mike Willis’ workbook on Then Comes the End. I had a limited number of Harkrider’s Commentary on Revelation which were given to men who made the most complete notes at Cagayan de Oro City and at Davao City. We studied every verse in Revelation and the printed materials will facilitate continued study.
On August 15 I returned to Manila to preach at the Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City in Metro Manila on Sunday. August 17-23 was spent in Australia at Gladstone and at Rockhampton, Queensland. The small church at Gladstone has helped in the Philippine work, so I taught “The Banner of Christ in the Philippines.” Six lessons were presented at Rockhampton emphasizing first principles and including two lessons on “Serving Christ in the Local Church” to edify and encourage the saints. The brethren had prepared well and our attendance reached about 40 on Sunday including several visitors.
I flew back to Manila to meet Keith. On the 25th we purchased 2,865 Bibles at the Philippine Bible Society to be shipped throughout the Philippines using funds donated by U.S. and Australia saints!
I thank God and all the brethren who pray for these efforts and who provide financial help. Truly, the harvest is great and the laborers are few. We must extend Christ’s invitation until he returns!
In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook
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