Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Last Saturday night I worked until 2:00 A.M. catching up on some email (the previous hotel had no working internet), but I woke up feeling rested and ready for the Lord’s Day activities.  Mat Sibayan, Sr. picked me up so that we could attend the morning worship services at the Laoag City church of Christ. About 60 attended as I presented studies entitled “Helping Each Other” and “Born of Water and the Spirit.”

I first visited this congregation with Jim McDonald in 1995, but there was no church building at that time.  It has been a joy to observe brother Sibayan’s work with this church as they grew in spirit and in number.  Elders and deacons were appointed years ago and a commodious building was erected in the downtown.  At 80 years of age Mat’s pace is not what it used to be, and like others of us he contends with hearing problems, but he presses forward with vigor.
Continue reading

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

The Philippine preaching trip planned for April 9-May 7 is well underway.  I had the rare treat of 3 ½ hours sleep Monday night (usually the last night is so busy there is no time to sleep), which made for a great start!  The Tuesday-Wednesday flights from Louisville to Detroit to Tokyo to Manila were smooth and uneventful, the preferred way to travel.  Just for a little spice, the flight arrived in Detroit with only about 30 minutes for me to reach the Tokyo flight, but I ran to the next concourse and they held the flight till I could board – whew!  What is that song?…“Count Your Blessings.”  “Name them one by one.”

I worked on sermon material and napped on the 13 hour trip to Tokyo and the 4 ½ hour trip to Manila.  We arrived about 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, which allowed time for exercise before sleeping – that really helps overcome jet lag.

Thursday morning James Paet, Junior Gumpad, Ely Ebuenga, Elias Cruz, and a couple of other brethren joined me at the hotel to unpack and repack the boxes of Bibles and study materials which came as checked luggage.  Elias took the boxes to ship them ahead to the various places on my itinerary.  Later, Jerry and Teresa Toreja visited me at the hotel.  She is a doctor and wanted to examine a small sore on my face which started a couple of days ago suspiciously the same way as a staph infection which came up on my face in January.  She gave me some medicines to take in the hope of heading this problem off before it can get a good start.
Continue reading

Dear family, brethren, & friends,

God willing, my next Philippine trip begins Tuesday morning.  I am providing the itinerary and looking forward to seeing many dear Filipino brethren.  I covet also the prayers of those of you who are not in the Philippines in the hope that God will give the increase and be glorified in all that we do.  May God bless each one of you as you serve Him.

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook
Continue reading

March 21, 2019^th Year of Our Lord
HALBROOK REPORT: 73^rd PHILIPPINE TRIP Jan. 28-Mar. 1, 2019

Dear brethren,                                        

With much thanksgiving to God and brethren, I completed my 73^rd Philippine trip since first going with Jim McDonald in 1995.  This trip covered January 28-March 1, leaving a day early because of a winter storm and returning a day late because of an overbooked flight.  For the first time stops in London and Paris were included on the itinerary.  Jesus proclaimed, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (Jn. 7:37-38).  Rivers of salvation flow around the world with the help of Filipino saints!

I taught 56 lessons and 15 precious souls submitted to Christ in baptism to wash away their sins.

January 29-February 4 found me in London, England where I rented a hotel function room and studied with residents and Filipino immigrants Teddy and Bing Gumpad (she is pregnant!).  Not only was I able to put Filipino brethren in touch with the church at Brighton, but also it was a privilege to meet Constant Coulibaly, Kenneth Peters, Adrian Limb, and other British brethren.  We studied a series on “The Authority of Christ” as well as other topics.  February 5-10 it was my privilege to work with Edwin Cortez and the saints worshiping with him in a suburb of Paris, France. Sessions ran three hours with high interest and wide-ranging discussions, especially on the work of the church.  Lyca Bernardo was baptized in a bathtub.  We visited typical Paris sites including basilicas and cathedrals such as Notre-Dame de Paris.
Continue reading

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

It is almost midnight on Friday, March 2, and I am finally at my house by God’s good providence.  My trip from Manila was delayed for a day because my original airplane was overbooked.  This trip has had more unusual twists and turns than any I can remember, but all is well that ends well.  When I feel a little frustrated over changes beyond my control, I just think how delighted Paul and the first Christians would have been if they could have had the facilities we have for travel.  What do I know about frustrations over changes in plans when I consider men like Paul:  beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, floating in the ocean, and numerous other perils they experienced!

I arrived home to find Donna well, and our children and their families are all well.  There is no time to rest.  Tomorrow we will meet some brethren to load and store Bible study materials which have been donated for the Philippine work and which eventually will be shipped to Filipino saints.  Then I must get ready to preach on Sunday.
Continue reading

Wednesday, February 27, 2019th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

Bible lectureships are good to encourage and edify preachers and hopefully to better equip them to be more effective in their local work.  It is also good to visit some local churches when possible to see the work firsthand and to help in harvesting souls – usually there are visitors.  On Monday James Paet and Junior Gumpad picked me up at 7:45 A.M. to visit two congregations, and I returned to the hotel about 8:00 P.M.

The first stop was at the church in San Pablo, Laguna Province, one of the churches Ely Ebuenga helps.  He as been working with this congregation 13 years.  Today 21 attended and my sermon was “Precious: The Death of God’s Saints” (Ps. 116:15).

In the open forum several points were discussed further including the question whether people baptized into the Catholic Church need to be baptized again (this nation is 80% Catholic).  In Acts 19:1-5 twelve people learned their baptism was not the baptism commanded by Jesus Christ in the Great Commission.  Jesus said in Mark 16:16, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.”  The Catholic religion changes it to mean, “The baby who is baptized shall be saved, and believe later at confirmation.”  This is not the baptism commanded by Christ.  Our visitors were very attentive to this answer to their question and we hope it will bear fruit soon.
Continue reading

February 24, 2019th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

After the series was completed at Diffun, Quirino with Willie Pastor and all the brethren there on  Wednesday, Rody and Tessie Gumpad brought me to Tuguegarao City, Cagayan for the Wednesday evening service.  Thursday, February 21, I enjoyed their hospitality as Tessie served a delicious pancake breakfast, and then I flew to Manila.  Fortunately, the Manila-Tuguegarao flight was not cancelled this time!

After getting to the hotel in Manila I visited the moneychanger, took a short rest, and divided the remainder of the day between lesson preparation and exercise because I will need plenty of stamina.  Tomorrow I begin teaching the book of Revelation to the deaf mute church which now meets in a better location thanks to God’s providence working through Elias Cruz with TonyBoy Hornado.  I always look forward to my time with these saints.
Continue reading

February 17, 2019th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

When I mentioned in the previous report that “international travel” has two “a’s” for double adventure, I failed to consider that Philippine Air Lines adds another “a” for triple adventure.  My suitcase which was diverted to China was next diverted to Canada.  You ask, “Why?”  Count the “a’s” again, or refer to Murphy’s law.  Wednesday I exercised a little by walking, rested, worked on email, and studied lessons for tomorrow.  So as not to get bored, I received several updates on my suitcase alternately offering and dashing hopes it would arrive anytime soon.

To say Thursday was a full day would be an understatement.  James Paet and Junior Gumpad drove for two and a half hours to bring me to the Phase 6 church in Caloocan City, Metro Manila where Andrew Romero preachers.  The vehicle has a GPS which said the trip was 45 minutes, but that definitely does not take into account Manila traffic!  While the brethren were patiently awaiting our arrival, Gert-Jan van Zanten visiting from Holland presented a lesson. I was thankful to meet him after hearing of his travels in the Philippines.
Continue reading

February 12, 2019th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

Each day has been a treasure this week getting to know Edwin Cortez better and better.  Friday, February 12, was no exception as we spent time again discussing many spiritual things while visiting historic sites in Paris.  Edwin had taken vacation days so that we would have this time together since the work schedules of other brethren did not permit us to immediately meet.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus or Sacre-Coeur Basilica is an impressive structure of ancient Roman and Byzantine architecture rising 272 feet high, completed in 1914.  Previous cathedrals we visited were filled with huge paintings and sculptures dating 200-300 years ago, but this church is lavished with the most intricate mosaics of religious scenes created from millions of tiny pieces of stone, an enormous number of which are gold and silver or plated with gold and silver.  These scenes cover entire walls in the portals, coves, or side chapels as well as the entire dome above the huge area where the main altar is constructed.  The artwork is stunning beyond words.
Continue reading