Dear brethren,

Below is some information about the next Philippine preaching trip planned for November 27-December 18.  Funds for this trip have been slow to come in, especially in view of our concentrated efforts to find financial help for Filipino victims of the super Typhoon Mangkhut (also called Ompong) which hit Luzon on September 15.  Thank you for the generous response to their emergency needs for food, medicines, and repair of their houses.

I must now begin to focus on the preaching trip coming up next month as outlined below.  Also please read the appeal from Steven Saunders below regarding his preparations for the trip.

Let us remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 9:37-38, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”  Not everyone can help with funds for every trip, but please take a few moments and pray for the success of our labors.  May God bless each one of you.

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:
http://www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com
http://www.biblework.com
http://www.truthmagazine.com
http://www.CEIbooks.com

Ron & Donna Halbrook
3505 Horse Run Ct.
Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954

PLEASE SHARE THIS LETTER ON GOSPEL PREACHING IN THE PHILIPPINES!

September 5, 2018th Year of Our Lord                                                                     

Dear brethren,

God willing, November 27-December 18 I will labor for the Master in the Philippines, my 72^nd trip since Jim McDonald first took me there in 1995. Jim Barnett who labors with the saints in Hope, NM and  Steven Saunders who preaches in Macon, MO will be making their third trip with me.  These men are not only competent evangelists but also excellent song leaders who can teach singing – and Filipino brethren dearly love to sing the praises of God.  Psalm 148 calls upon all the creation to praise Jehovah:  “Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven” (Ps. 148:13).  We sing this psalm by singing the beautiful song “Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah.”

The three of us will leave our respective homes on November 27 to meet in Detroit, MI, then fly to Tokyo, Japan, and arrive in Manila late on the night of November 28.  Filipino brethren will meet us the next day to repack materials we will bring to be shipped to the places where our gospel meetings are planned.

In December of 2012 and again in 2015 singing classes were conducted at the Kapitbahayan church of Christ, Navotas, Metro Manila.  Steve and Jim will teach classes to review, refresh, and re-motivate for the benefit of song leaders who have attended in the past.  I will preach lessons relating to worship.  Jerry Toreja and Fred Gonzales are diligent elders and Elias Cruz is one of the evangelists at this very active congregation.  These follow-up sessions will be conducted there on November 30-December 1.

On Sunday we will go different directions in order to preach in several places in Metro Manila.  If possible, I will preach again in the national prison, but it depends on changing policies and restrictions driven by security issues in the prison.  Ely Ebuenga continues doing a good work there among our poor brethren.

Monday, December 3 we plan to fly to the City of Puerto Princesa, an independent city of over 250,000 people on Palawan and the capital of this island province.  Our host will be Dario Belviz and the expected attendance will be 40-50.  Jim and Steve will distribute study guides to about 25 men for instruction in song leading and will conduct the song leading classes Monday through Wednesday.  I will sandwich in lessons on worship.  Thursday and Friday I will present the series on “The Bible Is the Word of God” with help from Steve and Jim.  It is designed to show why there are 66 books, how we know these are the right books, why the apocrypha is not included, and how we know there are no “lost books of the Bible.”

To have adequate facilities for this number and for this kind of training, we must rent a function room at a hotel.  Dario is doing his best to negotiate the price.  He, with the help of other brethren, will prepare two meals per day for the participants and will provide rustic sleeping quarters.

Saturday, December 8, is set aside for travel as we must fly from Palawan to Manila, and from there to the City of Bacolod, another independent city with a population of over 260,000 and the capital of Negros Occidental.  We will scatter to preach in the area on Sunday.  Our subject matter and format will be the same as the plan for Palawan.  Jack Jaco will serve as host and will rent a venue in Victorias City which we have used in the past.

On Saturday, the 16^th, we will fly back to Manila.  After we preach in Metro Manila on Sunday, Jim and Steve will return home the next day while I go to the Philippine Bible Society to buy Bibles in various dialects to be shipped to points throughout the nation.  God willing, I will fly home on December 18.

Living costs for Filipinos and the costs to conduct these meetings keep increasing, due in part to the new tax policies instituted this year. Total venue costs will hit about $7,000, not including other expenses.

Thank you for prayers and donations which make these trips possible!  Individuals needing a legal tax deduction may write checks to Help A Neighbor.  Write all other checks to Ron Halbrook. Mail all checks to 3505 Horse Run Ct., Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954.  Donors receive financial reports (2 Cor. 8:21).

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook
Phone 502-955-1748 or 957-6726; e-mail halbrook@twc.com

P.S. There is a dire need for songbooks!  I can ship new or used copies very cheaply.
God willing, several members of the Hebron Lane church of Christ here in Shepherdsville, KY will help pack another 22 boxes of Bibles, songbooks, study materials, and personal items to be shipped throughout the Philippines before this next trip.  On behalf of Filipino saints, many thanks to all who help with funds for this effort!
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STEVEN SAUNDERS’ APPEAL

October 13, 2018

Brethren,

This is Steven Saunders.  Brother Jim Barnett, and I are planning to travel with brother Ron Halbrook to the Philippines at the end of November and will be returning just before Christmas.  This will be our 3rd trip together and we look forward to working with the brethren there.

Brother Halbrook brings a series of lessons through the week, while brother Barnett and I work with them on Song Leading and Song Worship.  Both of us have been using brother R. J. Stevens’ materials to teach and train those brethren on sight singing.  They really learn very fast, and are hungry to learn and equip themselves to help others in their congregations.  When we aren’t working with music, Jim and I both fill pulpits bringing lessons.  Jim and I will be assisting Ron on this series of studies on the Bible and its values.

We will travel this time to new areas, Palawan, and Negros Occidental, as well as Manila.  I am needing some support for my trip, about $5,000 still.  Time is drawing near, and I need to get some of the supplies for the trip.  If possible, I need these purchased and shipped before November 1st.

It’s always a joy to work with men whose hearts are on fire for the truth and the spread of the gospel.  For those who have helped me in the past, I thank you again for your support, and pray you may help again.

As you may know, the brethren there have suffered from a terrible typhoon.  Many have lost their homes, their livelihood, and church buildings have been destroyed.  If I can be of assistance in delivering help from you, I’d gladly do so on your behalf.  I know some of the men there have need for support in their preaching the gospel, as they labored to supplement their income with crops, which were destroyed.  Please keep them in your prayers and pray for the success of our efforts there once again.

My address is:  Steven Saunders, 4677 Hwy. 151, Clarence, Mo. 63437, and my phone is:  660-346-0710.  Thanks in advance for your support and prayers.  May God receive the glory in all we do.

In Him,
Steven Saunders
robsaunder@aol.com