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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Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Australia was next on the schedule.  My flight from Manila to Sydney, Australia left Wednesday late afternoon and flew all night into Thursday morning.  From Sydney another plane went to Brisbane, followed by a final leg on to Rockhampton in the state of Queensland.  Rockhampton has a population of well over 80,000 and the church numbers about 30.  When special efforts are made to proclaim the gospel are planned, the brethren are diligent in spreading the announcements far and wide.  It will be known in this city that there are saints interested in the salvation of their family, friends, and fellow citizens until the Lord returns – regardless of how many or how few respond.

Daryl Johnson greeted me with a big smile at the airport.  We went straight to the church building to unload several packages of books, workbooks, tracts, and CD’s.  These materials will be spread on a large table for everyone to select and take according to their interests.  Such resources are not readily available here.  One of the joys of coming is to share such materials whenever possible.
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Dear family, brethren, and friends,

After teaching five lessons Saturday, I was concerned that my voice might be strained, but when I returned to the hotel I went to the exercise room for almost an hour, knowing this would increase my overall stamina.  I got to bed at 11:30 P.M. and got up at 5:30 Sunday morning and Jhun Bautista drove me to the Agbannawag church in Rizal for the 7:00 service.  The sermon was on “The Bread of Life” from John 6.   Our attendance was 15 and the brethren were very attentive.

We drove back an hour to reach the morning service at Cabanatuan City.  The brethren were singing when we arrived a little past 9:00. Both lessons at the Bible study period and the worship hour focused on “Avoiding Apostasy Today,” the last topic in the series on The Authority of Christ.  Jhun extended the invitation and a young couple who recently had been visiting the services came forward to confess Christ and to submit to him in baptism.  A grandson of Danny Banting also decided to obey the gospel as we prepared for the immersion.  All three were immersed in a large barrel with much rejoicing!
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Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Jhun Bautista and Lordy Salunga picked me up at the hotel in Manila Friday morning.  We first made a short visit at the clinic of Dr. Teresa Toreja to pick up some medicine she believes will bolster my resistence to getting sick.  Finally, after five hours of travel we reached Cabanatuan City in the province of Nueva Ecija in the late afternoon.

About 7:15 P.M. we arrived at the home of Danny Banting where a dozen people were gathered.  After a delicious Filipino meal, I taught a lesson entitled “When Peter Confessed Christ,” a verse by verse study of Matthew 16:13-19 showing that Christ established only one true church – and it is not Catholicism or denominational churches.  Our audience gave close attention, participated in reading the passages, and responded to brief questions presented to reinforce the lesson.
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Dear family, brethren, and friends,

By God’s grace I was permitted on Tuesday to begin my 69th preaching trip to the Philippines (7th trip to Australia), flying safely from Louisville to Detroit to Tokyo to Manila – about 24 hours travel time.  The flight did not leave Louisville until 10:00 A.M. (usually much earlier), which gave me almost an hour to sleep Monday night whereas often there is no time to sleep at all the last night before a trip.  It is surprising how much even an hour of sleep helps!

I worked and slept while flying.  We arrived Wednesday in Manila earlier than usual, about 9:30 P.M., so after checking in at the hotel, there was time to go to the exercise room at 10:15 for 40 minutes before I went to bed.  That really helps me overcome the exhausting effects of such long trips.
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Dear brethren,

By the mercies of God I reached home after more than 24 hours of travel from Manila to Japan to Detroit, Michigan to Louisville, Kentucky by plane and then by car to Shepherdsville.

My heart overflows with thanksgiving for the patient prayers and also financial support which made this trip possible.  It was uplifting to work with saints in the Philippines and in New Zealand again.  Twelve precious souls submitted to Christ by faith, repentance, confession, and baptism.  “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account” (Phil. 4:17).

Of course, I am only a temporary visitor in each place striving to strengthen and encourage the local saints who labor in God’s kingdom by faith, hope, and love.  The local saints labor day-in and day-out, trusting in God for the results.  “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour” (1 Cor. 3:7-8).
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