All Systems “GO” for Philippine Trip March 29 – April 29, 2022
Dear brethren,
Greetings to all of you in our sovereign Savior’s royal name.
Two years ago at this time I had completed 77 Philippine trips and was planning to make the next trip in April, concentrating on appointments on the island of Luzon. That trip was cancelled due to the rise of coronavirus and related travel restrictions. By the grace of God, I am now moving forward to fulfill the commitments made two years ago. I planned this trip for March 29-May 6, only to learn from the Philippine embassy there is a protocol after the covid pandemic which limits my visit to 30 days. Unfortunately, I was forced to cancel several days of preaching already promised in order to squeeze my trip into the 30 day limit.
God willing, Craig Thomas, evangelist for the Westside church of Christ in Bloomington, IN, and I will leave Louisville, Kentucky on March 29. We plan to preach on Friday, April 1, at Kapitbahayan, Navotas City, Metro Manila in the morning. In the afternoon we will transfer to the church at Lapu-Lapu, San Antonio, Parañaque, Metro Manila with Jerry Toreja.
Then Saturday we travel to Tuguegarao, Cagayan to work with Rody Gumpad and other brethren. We will finally hold the Preacher Training Classes at Tuguegarao which were planned and promised two years ago. The classes will be conducted April 4-29, but Craig and I will teach the first two weeks and then Harry Osborne (health permitting), Lordy Salunga, and Jonathan Carino will teach the next two weeks.
Preacher training classes are crucial as new men are converted and as young men aspire to preach. Paul urged Timothy, “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2:1-3, NKJV). We will concentrate on the pressing need to train preachers in the truth and challenge them to endure hardness in this great work. In addition to our own efforts, mature Filipino preachers continue to conduct their own classes throughout the Philippines with good results.
April 16-18 Craig and I will work with Robinson Pulveras, Fidelfin Miranda, Sammy Vargas, Danilo Bautista, and Randy Tiene visiting several congregations to preach in the Pamplona region of Cagayan and the nearby Province of Apayao. On Tuesday, the 19th, we will visit Pagudpud with Abraham Aguete and at Bangui with Oscar Gumalaoui as we enter the Province of Ilocos Norte. It will be a joy to work with Efren Ramos and other dear saints in the Ilocos region through April 25.
Wednesday through Friday classes on the book of Revelation will be conducted at the Banna church of Christ in Binacag, Ilocos Norte. Saturday is reserved to rest and to prepare for preaching for two more days.
On Sunday, the 24th, I will preach in Ilocos Norte at Escoda in Marcos with Rex Bayaca and at Palyas in Vintar with Christian Agapay. The brethren at the Nalibegan church in Banna where Elizer Villanueva and Dexter Manuel labor have invited Craig to speak Sunday morning. Next, he will proceed to Elizabeth West in Marcos, Ilocos Norte with Remigio Vicente for the afternoon service.
On Monday a one-day Bible lectureship is planned at the church in Parado, Dingras, Ilocos Norte with Warner Macusi.
Tuesday, April 26, we travel to Manila for a one-day Bible lectureship to be conducted on Wednesday at the Edsa-Pasay church with James Paet. Thursday morning a visit to the Philippine Bible Society is scheduled to buy Bibles in Filipino dialects to be shipped throughout the islands. Requests for Bibles in various dialects have been pouring in and I hope our funds will stretch to meet this critical need. We thank God for the many saints who have donated funds for this purpose.
Late that same evening we fly back to our loved ones in the U.S., arriving home April 29, God willing.
I request the patience and understanding of all who correspond with me via email. These last 10 days of preparation followed by the month-long trip will delay my responding in a timely way. I do not mean to ignore anyone’s message, but time constraints plus uneven internet service in the Philippines will make it impossible for me to correspond in a normal way.
We thank God for His loving providence which has re-opened door for travel and preaching in the Philippine Islands and for the prayers and financial help of many saints which make this work possible. Please pray that the war in the Ukraine and the ambitions of China in the South China Sea will not intercede to disrupt our travel. International travel is already being affected. God rules the nations and we must trust Him to accomplish His own purpose in spite of arrogant national leaders who are used by Satan to spread destruction and death and to disrupt the work of spreading the gospel.
In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook
To see good Bible study material, go to:
https://www.
https://biblework.
https://truthbooks.com
https://www.truthmagazine.com