Halbrook Report: 90th Philippine Trip April 2-May 6, 2025
May 6, 2025th Year of Our Lord
Dear brethren,
God’s gracious mercies provided the open doors, financial means, and safe travels for the completion of my 90th Philippine trip, and first trip to Japan, April 2-May 6. I am indebted to Jim McDonald for introducing me to this work in 1995. There were 82 occasions to preach, resulting in 30 souls who submitted to Christ in baptism and one sister who repented of backsliding and was restored to her Lord.
John proclaimed that because Jesus Christ is God or deity, He is the source of life, who enlightens us to God and all truth: “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (Jn. 1:4-5). Satan and sin could not defeat this light and it still shines in the Philippines, Japan, and all the world.
On April 2-3 airplanes brought me from Louisville, Kentucky to Atlanta, Georgia, on to Inchon, South Korea, and finally to Manila in the Philippines. After Filipino brethren helped repack boxes of study materials to ship ahead Friday, the next day James Paet drove me to Angeles City, Pampanga to a hotel. Sunday was spent at San Fernando working with Archie Alarcon and at Anao, Mexico with Jerry Moral. Both churches are thriving. A series on “Life, Death, & Beyond” was preached on the 7th at Betis, Guagua, Pampanga where Jojo Tacbad labors in the gospel. One soul was converted to Christ the next day at Inmalog, Sison where Bernardo Quibina preaches. An open forum ran for 1 ½ hours. We joined Sonny Ibanez on the 9th at Aduas, Paniqui, Tarlac for all-day preaching where 5 submitted to Christ.
Thursday was spent in the Province of Quirino at Asaklat, Nagtipunan with Jun Prado (1 baptized), at Dumabato Sur with Reneboy Maranion, and at Villa Hermosa Norte, Maddela with Roberto Domingo. The next day was devoted to “Life, Death, and Beyond” at the Gundaway church of Christ at Gundaway, Cabarroguis, Quirino with Willie Pastor. 4 obeyed the gospel. We rested Saturday. I worked Sunday at Cordon, Der-an, & Villaros, Isabela with Frankie Jacob and preached all day Monday at Cordon on “Moral Truth in an Amoral Age.” Another precious soul was baptized here.
Tuesday we traveled to Tuguegarao, Cagayan, then preached the 16th at Dy-Abra with Victor Sinon (1 baptized) and at Lanna, Tumauini with Reymund Welba, both in Tumauini, Isabela. I spoke that night at the Metro Tuguegarao church on Psalm 23 where Rody Gumpad labors. Over 200 people packed this building for the Thursday-Friday lectureship on “Life, Death, & Beyond.” A denominational preacher was converted. Saturday took us into the foothills of the mountains at Baliuag, Penablanca where Alfonso Danao preaches and 5 souls submitted to Christ in baptism. A gospel caravan joined us with three vehicles and 14 motorcycles including brethren from Manila, the Bicol region, and Davao City on Mindanao.
We drove 3 hours westward in Cagayan in order to join the Sunday worship at Dubeng, Pamplona with Robin Pulveras and 3 more were baptized. In the afternoon we visited the Magacan church, composed of natives called Negritos, served by Danilo Bautista, where I spoke on the Lord’s Supper. After driving to the Province of Ilocos Norte, and resting Monday, we worked with Rolly Salvador Tuesday-Wednesday in a lectureship on the theme “United, We Stand!” in Batac to over 170 brethren.
On the 24th I flew to Cebu City, Cebu to work with Jonathan Carino Friday-Saturday studying “Life, Death, & Beyond” with 90 souls at the Cebu City church. The Lord’s Day was spent with the saints at Balamban where Cornelio Roda labors and at the Seaside church in Mainggit where Shamar Cajigas preaches. Monday was spent at Libertad with Gil Suico and at Bogo City with Rupert Ramirez, where 2 Pentecostal preachers were converted to the true gospel. Tuesday I flew to Manila where 840 Bibles in Filipino dialects were purchased at the Philippine Bible Society the next day.
The 1st I flew to Tokyo-Narita, Japan where Kim Caa met me and brought me to Shizuoka. I rested on the 2nd. Saturday 25 people met for very productive studies in a home where Jomer Bato preaches. Then, we traveled 4-5 hours to reach Gunma-Ken where I preached Sunday-Monday to 30 hungry souls. One was restored and 2 were baptized into Christ.
God blessed me with safe travels home to our loved ones on Tuesday. I daily thank God for all the saints who pray for and support the cause of Christ in the Philippines!
In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook