Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

Wednesday night I got to bed at 1:30 A.M. (i.e., Thursday morning) because after the classes each night I work on email trying to answer and help Filipino brethren with many things.  Some of the time is spent waiting on the weak slow internet connection or trying to reconnect because the connection breaks.  Fortunately, Mark and Lordy had the first classes Thursday morning as we continued teaching on the home and family.

Mark taught a final lesson in the series on the new man in Christ, then Lordy introduced the Sermon on the Mount with the beatitudes and I followed with two studies on the Sermon showing the proper conduct of citizens in the new kingdom of God.  Proper conduct must be applied in all realms and relationships of life including the home.  There will be harmony in the home when we provide a good example in our conduct (salt, light), when we avoid sinful expressions of anger, when we follow Jesus’ teaching on how to settle conflicts, when we avoid sinful sexual lusts, when we avoid fornication and divorce, when we are truthful at all times, etc., etc.
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Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

At the Cabanatuan City church of Christ, a five day series on The Home and Family began on Monday, April 16, with Lordy Salunga, Mark Mayberry, and me teaching.  Workbooks on Family Life by L.A. Stauffer and Harmony in the Home by Mike Willis were provided to less than half of the 72 attendees – Jhun Bautista had expected 20-30.

In Philippine culture Jhun is considered the host to all out-of-town guests, so he and his wife have shouldered providing all the daily needs of these saints with the help of several local brethren. Thin foam mats will be used to sleep on the floor each night.  What a privilege it is to teach God’s Word to saints who sacrifice their time and efforts to attend a full week of study, leaving the comforts of their own homes to sleep on a concrete floor!
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Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

By God’s grace our trip continues to go well.  A little past 10:00 A.M. Friday Sammy Paet picked up Mark Mayberry and me in Manila and waded into the labyrinth of Manila traffic, rated among the worst in the world.  Fortunately, Sammy used to drive a jeepney (a Filipino taxi jeep) and knows how to traverse the side streets and byways of the bowels of Manila.  After an hour or more we emerged and proceeded to Angeles City to meet Lordy Salunga and brethren with him there.

Lordy accompanied Mark to the Bayani St. church in Santa Ana in the Pampanga Province where Rupert Gaspar labors with a new congregation.

Jerry Morales met with six brethren this past Sunday in the first meeting of another new congregation at Anao, Mexico also in Pampanga.  Jerry is from that area and has a lot of contacts and friends among denominations and liberal churches there.  Jerry brought me there and I preached on “Salvation: Amazing, Astonishing” (Isa 52:13-53:12) and on “Trust God Till the Danger Passes” (Ps. 57:1).  About 30 souls attended including a Pentecostal “pastor” and four of his members, all of whom were very attentive and told me they enjoyed the study.  During the open forum, this “pastor” was recognized to ask if he had any questions, but he said he understood everything well.
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Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

On Monday, April 9, we traveled from Cagayan de Oro City to Iligan City, Lanao del Norte where Patricio Peregrino labors in the gospel.  The lesson presented is entitled “God’s Weather Report” (Gen. 8:22), showing that God not man rules the weather and will destroy the universe at His will – not global warming, not a new ice age, and not climate change.  Edgar Samodal who recently had surgery was there and is doing fine.  He said his father Fred can still teach but must stay close to home because of problems related to the aging process.  I missed seeing him.

Our journey continued and brought us to the Sigapod church in Maigo where Alejandro Gallo preaches.  There was no time to preach, but Cipriano Carpentero consulted with five people who had decided to be baptized, took their confessions, and baptized them in the ocean nearby as we watched from the shore.  There was great rejoicing in both heaven and earth!
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Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

Greetings in the name of our great God who sustains us day and night!  My 70st Philippine trip is now well underway and I hope to send reports along the way.  My flight on Tuesday left Louisville ahead of stormy weather which hit later, but we got to Atlanta and flew on to Tokyo and into Manila with smooth sailing by the good grace of God.  In fact, I was in my hotel room by 8:15 P.M. Wednesday night which sets a record.

Believe it or not, after being up and traveling for over 24 hours (actually 48 hours – the last day I don’t make it to bed at night), taking exercise helps overcome leg cramps and promotes sleeping like a baby.  So I immediately went to the exercise room for about 45 minutes.  Next, after 8 hours sleep – very rare for me – Thursday morning I had a good breakfast and went to the moneychanger to get pesos.  Then, I met some Filipino brethren in the lobby who came to help sort the Bible study materials packed in six boxes I brought on the plane so they can be delivered to the appropriate venues where I will teach.  This left the afternoon free to study lessons, work on email, and prepare for the first leg of my trip on the island of Mindanao, starting tomorrow.
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PLEASE SHARE THIS LETTER ON GOSPEL PREACHING IN THE PHILIPPINES!
February 24, 2018^th Year of Our Lord
                                                            
Dear brethren,

God willing, April 3-May 1 will find me in the Philippines for the 70^th trip since Jim McDonald first took me there to preach in 1995.  Mark Mayberry from Alvin, TX will arrive on April 11 and we will work together for the remainder of the trip.  This is his 6^th trip and he will be a great asset.  The work of evangelism includes converting people out of the world and then training them to be strong, stable, and steadfast in the faith.  God wants our souls to be saturated with His Word, “according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Pet. 1:3).  We aim to save the lost and edify the saved on this trip.

After arriving in Manila on April 4, the next morning Filipino brethren will assist me in dividing six large boxes of Bibles and study materials to be distributed from place to place as we travel and teach.
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February 20, 2018^th Year of Our Lord
HALBROOK REPORT: 69^th PHILIPPINE TRIP JAN. 30-FEB. 20, 2018

Dear brethren,                               

A merciful God blessed my 69^th preaching trip to the Philippines and my 7^th trip to Australia January 30-February 20.  He blessed me in 1995 by bringing me to the Philippines with Jim McDonald.   Every trip could be the last, but God’s providence continues to open doors to proclaim the crucified and risen Savior: “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11, NIV).  I presented 38 lessons and 15 precious souls submitted to the gospel, bowing to Christ as King.

The flights from Louisville to Manila were safely completed on January 30-31.  The next day Sammy Paet, Jhun Gumpad, and Ely Ebuenga helped me sort the packages of Bibles and study materials to be distributed in the Philippines and Australia.  Friday morning Jhun Bautista and Lordy Salunga picked me up and we traveled five hours to reached Cabanatuan City in the province of Nueva Ecija.
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Dear family, brethren, and friends,

I arrived home safely late last night after another good trip to the Philippines and Australia preaching the gospel of Christ.  Fourteen souls submitted to Christ in the Philippines and one in Australia.  The Word of God does not return void to Him but accomplishes His purpose — God gives the increase and God alone is glorified.

My efforts in these lands is only occasional, but the local brethren are to be commended for the work they do for the Lord day-in and day-out.  It is a privilege to work with these saints, to encourage and edify them, and to help them gather the harvest resulting from their labors.
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Dear family, brethren, and friends,

The Sampaloc church of Christ in Metro Manila is composed of brethren who are deaf mutes.  On Friday I visited this church where Tony Hornado has preached for many years.  Rody and Tessie Gumpad and Sammy and Marie Paet went to assist and encourage.  About 25 attended today as I presented three lessons on “How to Study the Bible” to complete the series I started last December, followed by the subject of “The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible.”  Rody Gumpad also preached, which was his first time to teach deaf mutes.

We preach by presenting PowerPoint charts and making notations on a white board at the side.  Meanwhile, someone who signs stands at the other side translating into sign language everything he sees which we present.  The audience interacts with the person signing and with each other as we go along to clarify what they are learning.  Three men took turns signing for the different lessons today.   A young man who appeared to be in his 20’s came forward to submit to Christ in water baptism for the remission of his sins.  We all rejoiced with the angels of heaven.
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Dear family, brethren, and friends,

I got up about 4:30 A.M. Monday to retrace my steps from Rockhampton to Brisbane to Sydney and back to Manila.  I reached the hotel about 9:30 P.M., went to exercise for 45 minutes, and then crash landed in the bed for a sound night of sleep.  Tuesday flew by with some email work, a visit to the money changer, and preparing to preach the rest of this week (and yes, I got a little extra rest).

Our Wednesday appointment was an hour’s drive from the hotel to Binan, Laguna where Ferdie Ong preaches.  There were 120 souls present to hear a sermon on “Restoring New Testament Christianity.”  Many could not understand English well, so Ferdie translated as I preached.  This was followed by a short lesson on “Bible Authority: Separate Essentials & Incidentals.”
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