Halbrook Report: 78th Philippine Trip March 29 – April 29, 2022
Dear brethren,
By the mercies of God Jim McDonald brought me to the Philippines in 1995 to preach the gospel and my 78th trip has now been completed March 29-April 29. Craig Thomas who labors with the Westside church of Christ in Bloomington, IN was an able companion. I taught 73 lessons – Craig taught a like number of lessons – and 30 submitted to Christ in baptism for the remission of their sins.
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). This trip focused on training and equipping evangelists. Even during the pandemic the gospel continued to spread and the great harvest of souls continues unabated.
We flew from Louisville to Detroit where a schedule change rerouted us through San Francisco. After an 8 hour wait we flew for almost 15 hours to reach Manila. Elias Cruz and James Paet joined us at the hotel to re-pack 8 boxes of teaching materials to send ahead to be distributed at our destinations.
Saturday we flew from Manila to Tuguegarao, Cagayan where Rody Gumpad met us. Tessie provided a breakfast box and we began preaching. I went to Barocboc where Edgar Lingbawan labors and preached “To Seek & Save the Lost” to 50 people under a tarp in the rain because their small church building is under construction. I challenged the church at Casabang where Ben and Kernal Vistro preach to “Work While It Is Day” and 4 obeyed the gospel. Another 4 obeyed where Craig visited.
“Wait on the Lord” was my message on the Lord’s Day at the Metro Tuguegarao church where 147 gathered. Two were baptized & another two later in the day. Mark Daquioag took me to two congregations where he labors. A full building at Palca heard “Precious: The Death of God’s Saints” and 50-60 at Dagupan at the side of a brother’s house under a tarp heard “Work While It Is Day.”
Craig and I joined Rody April 4-15 to teach a preacher training class for 33 participants scheduled for 2020 but delayed by covid. Jonathan Carino and Harry Osborne taught the final two weeks. Our session included the New Testament church, how to study the Bible, surveys of the Old and New Testaments, basic Bible doctrines, and issues that divided brethren in the past, plus classes on using a reference Bible, a Bible concordance, and a Bible dictionary. The oldest student was 54 and the youngest 12. All participated well and we pray God will give them many years to preach the gospel.
On April 10 Gerald Ganela brought me to Kinama in Rizal, Kalinga Province where 72 people met in the new church building under construction without windows or a concrete floor because of a lack of funds. He translated as I spoke on “The Lord’s Supper.” Rody took me to the Baliuag congregation in Peña Blanca, Cagayan served by Alfonso Danao. 8 souls submitted to Christ.
April 16-18 we worked with Robin Pulveras in the Pamplona region of Cagayan. We preached to 100 souls at Cabuluan East, Ballesteros where Fidelfin Miranda labors and one was baptized. Sunday 100 gathered at the Dubeng church where a blind man was baptized, and 40 met in Apayao where Sammy Vargas preaches – 2 were baptized. Monday 161 Negritos gathered at Magacan where Danilo Bautista works and another 3 obeyed Christ. Next we met with 50 souls at the Santor congregation where Randy Tiene labors. An American forbad his Filipina wife to be baptized, but she obeyed Christ the next day.
On the 19th Robin took us to Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte where Abraham Aguete labors – 2 were saved. 30 gathered at Bagunsanay in Bangui where Sherwin Ravelo preaches and 2 submitted to Christ. For 3 days we taught the book of Revelation at the Banna church in Binacag where Efren Ramos labors. Sunday I preached at Escoda, Marcos to over 200 with Rex Bayaca and then at Palyas Vintar with Christian Agapay where 2 obeyed Christ. Craig and I spoke Monday at Parado, Dingras with Warner Macusi.
After flying to Manila, we preached Tuesday to 97 souls at the Edsa-Pasay church with James Paet and the deaf-mute saints joined us. Wednesday I ordered 3,876 Bibles in various dialects to be shipped far and wide – a record number resulting from my 2 year absence. Our April 28-29 trip home was safe.
Praise God for saints on both sides of the ocean who advance the cause of Christ in the Philippines!
In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook
P.S. Craig Thomas suffered a blister on his small toe on the trip. It got infected and after his return home, the toe had to be removed. Please keep him in your prayers. He can be contacted at craigthomas82000@gmail.com or 385 N. Main Street, Spencer, IN 47460.
To see good Bible study material, go to:
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https://www.truthmagazine.com