September 25

Filipino Saints Suffering Hunger & Devastation

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

The Philippines gets 15-20 typhoons each year spread out over several months, which helps the rice fields which require much water, but this year several have hit in quick succession with monsoon rains in addition.  Therefore, the Philippines has suffered much flooding and other calamities which destroy crops, houses, and lives.  Much of the damage has been done on Luzon because of the track the most typhoons follow.  Many of our brethren have been struggling for food.  Recently, I learned that northern Mindanao is also suffering.  Successive torrential rains have destroyed crops and created landslides in southern Mindanao.

A super-typhoon with the international name Mangkhut, locally named “Typhoon Ompong,” hit the Philippines on Saturday, September 15, and much help will be needed especially on Luzon again.  Here are excerpts from a CNN report dated the day the typhoon hit:
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September 14

Philippine Preaching & Singing November 27- December 18, 2018

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 72nd 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.
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September 8

Philippine Report July 3 – August 2, 2018

Aug. 3, 2018th Year of Our Lord
HALBROOK REPORT: 71st PHILIPPINE TRIP JULY 3-AUGUST 2, 2018

Dear brethren,                               

God’s good providence first brought me to preach Christ in the Philippines in 1995 with Jim McDonald and the 71st trip was completed July 3-August 2.  It was a memorable trip working with Filipino saints who are such an inspiration and having Zach and Taya Martin make their first trip.  Zach effectively proclaimed the gospel and Taya effectively taught ladies’ classes.  He is back in medical school and she is back teaching school, but they will be long remembered by Filipino brethren.  The Philippine fields are white unto harvest because so many souls seek God in the spirit of Psalm 63:1, “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.”  I taught 60 lessons and 18 precious souls confessed Christ and were baptized.

Elias Cruz, Sammy Paet, and Jhun Gumpad met us at the hotel in Manila on July 5 to re-pack and ship ahead the 10 boxes of Bibles and study materials we brought to distribute.  July 6-7 I preached a series on “The Bible Is the Word of God” at Kaptibahayn, Navotas with Jerry Toreja. This series proves we have all the original 66 books of the Bible and why the Apocrypha, the pseudepigrapha, and so-called “lost books” are not included in God’s Word.  Zach’s sermons and Taya’s ladies’ classes were well received.  Zach learned about Philippine medical practice by spending time with Dr. Teresa Toreja, and later with Dr. Cathy Forelo.
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August 5

Home Again by God’s grace Thursday PM

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

I made it back home safely by God’s good grace.  The flight from Manila to Tokyo went fine, and from Tokyo to Detroit we encountered turbulence, but I arrived in Louisville, KY about 5:30 PM Thursday as planned.

This has been another heart warming and uplifting trip working with Filipino saints who serve the Lord by faith, hope, and love.  They are an inspiration.

It was also uplifting to have Zach and Taya Martin join with us in the work of the Lord on Luzon.  They were greatly blessed in meeting so many Filipino brethren
and they will never forget them.
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August 3

Halbrook Philippine Trip July 29-August 1, 2018

Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

On the Lord’s Day we worshiped with Ben Canada in the small newly constructed church building at Kiblawan, Davao del Sur.  My morning sermon was on “Salvation: Amazing, Astonishing” (Isa. 52:13-15).  We were blessed with visitors from denominations who are retired school teachers, servicemen, and policemen who have been studying with Ben and were very attentive all day.  One man took notes constantly.

The weather is quite hot again and I was soaked in sweat before lunch time – a small price for such a wonderful privilege.  After the lunch break I preached on “How Sinners Receive Salvation” (Rom. 10:1-17).   Comparing this passage with Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2, Acts 8:35-39, and Acts 22:16 proves that men “call on the name of the Lord” to receive salvation when they submit by faith to Christ in water baptism.
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August 2

Halbrook Philippine Trip July 25-28, 2018

Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,
                                                            
Wednesday morning we drove from Davao City to Kitakal, Malungon in the province of Sraangani.  Our trip of 2 ½ hours took us from the heavy traffic of Davao to winding roads in the edge of the mountains.  The morning gathering was set aside for me to conduct a wedding ceremony for Dondon Dacayona and Sel Sandoval (they previously had a simple ceremony to satisfy legal requirements, but our purpose was to focus on God’s Word).  My lesson on “Marital Love” summarized the Song of Solomon and made applications showing how to cultivate love in the home.  They have a custom of pinning a light veil over the bride’s head, indicating husband will lead, protect, and provide for her.  To stress the indissoluble nature of the union, a light cord encircles the necks of both parties and connects them.

After lunch I preached “When Peter Confessed Christ” (Matt. 16:13-19), showing that Christ gathers souls as his church based on his divine nature and authority as the Son of God, not based on Peter as the first Pope.  The role of Peter with all of the Apostles was to simply preach the gospel of Christ, thus bringing them to Christ the Savior, the Rock of our salvation.
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July 31

Doing What we can to Bless Others: Balikbayan Boxes

Dear brethren,

I am preaching in southern Mindanao on the last leg of this month-long Philippine trip.  We planned for 60 to participate in two days of preacher training here in General Santos City, but about 100 showed up the first day, including 10 denominational preachers.  God willing, I will return home in about a week. Thank you for praying for this work!

On this trip more than ever before, I see the evidence of the good being done by the Forex Cargo boxes (called balikbayan boxes) we have been sending in recent years, thanks to your donations.  I estimate 250-300 of these huge boxes have been sent with Bibles, Bible study materials, Bible teaching materials (including materials to teach children), and assorted clothes, food, and personal items.  Brethren of all ages at the Hebron Lane church of Christ have formed the most efficient packing team you have ever seen.  On this trip I have noticed several churches using the homemade communion sets we sent, many song books, children’s Bible study materials, and one brother wearing an “old faithful” suit I wore for many years!
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July 29

Halbrook Philippine Trip July 21-24, 2018

Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,
                                                            
Zach and Taya flew back home on Saturday, July 21, and I received word the next day of their safe arrival, with much thanksgiving.  After their departure I took a flight to Davao City, arriving at 3:30 P.M.  I contacted brother and sister Juanito Balbin and Connie and his family, and they joined me for a pizza supper along with Happy Mae, Connie’s sister.  After exercising and preparing for the next day, I got to bed about 12:30 A.M.

I joined the worship assembly on the Lord’s Day at Lower Madapo in Davao City with Robert Agsao.  This church is located in a squatters’ community right next to a huge Catholic cemetery.  There was a good rain last night and the little path into the community had standing water and mud, but we made our way to the church building.  Including children and seven visitors, there were over 60 in attendance as I preached on “Trust God Till the Danger Passes” (Ps. 57).  Everyone was very attentive.  Robert gave a short summary in the Cebuano dialect.
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July 25

Halbrook Philippine Trip July 17-20, 2018

Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

Our Tuesday, July 17, started in a leisurely way because the morning was free and we did not fly from Laoag City to Manila until 2:10 P.M. – then we were supposed to change planes and arrive in Cebu City on Cebu Island by 7:30 P.M.  Oh, well!  As it turned out our day lasted about 19 hours because the heavy evening rains delayed and backed up so many flights waiting to leave Manila.  By God’s grace, we finally arrived in Cebu City and were met by Jonathan and Kristopher Carino who took us to our hotel.  I got to bed about 2:00 A.M. Wednesday.  To say we all slept well is an understatement, but all is well that ends well.

Two days of lessons on “The Bible Is the Word of God” were planned for Cebu City, beginning Wednesday.  We slept a little late because the classes did not begin until 10:00 A.M. to allow time for brethren coming from distant places to arrive.  Zach got us off to a great start with his study in Acts 8 of Philip and the Ethiopian official.  At the same time Taya conducted morning classes for 36 ladies.  And meanwhile my first lesson was on “The Glory of God” proclaimed in the creation and in Scripture, based on Psalm 19.  There were 30 men in attendance as we taught.
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July 21

Halbrook Philippine Trip July 10-16, 2018

Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

We were blessed when a typhoon headed for the Philippines turned north out at sea, but Luzon has received a lot of rain.  We were worried that our Tuesday, July 10,  flight from Manila to Tuguegarao, Cagayan in northern Luzon might be cancelled, but instead the flight left Manila on time and arrived in Tuguegarao 25 minutes ahead of schedule.  Rody, Tessie, and Jay Gumpad along with Jerome Forelo warmly welcomed us.

After checking in at the hotel, we shared a late lunch, then rested.  Zach and I made our way on foot through the congested traffic and thick clouds of fumes to the track and field stadium of Cagayan State University where we walked for an hour. The heat should have been unbearable at this time of day, but dark clouds and strong winds moved in to cool the atmosphere, though it never rained.
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