Wednesday, February 27, 2019th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

Bible lectureships are good to encourage and edify preachers and hopefully to better equip them to be more effective in their local work.  It is also good to visit some local churches when possible to see the work firsthand and to help in harvesting souls – usually there are visitors.  On Monday James Paet and Junior Gumpad picked me up at 7:45 A.M. to visit two congregations, and I returned to the hotel about 8:00 P.M.

The first stop was at the church in San Pablo, Laguna Province, one of the churches Ely Ebuenga helps.  He as been working with this congregation 13 years.  Today 21 attended and my sermon was “Precious: The Death of God’s Saints” (Ps. 116:15).

In the open forum several points were discussed further including the question whether people baptized into the Catholic Church need to be baptized again (this nation is 80% Catholic).  In Acts 19:1-5 twelve people learned their baptism was not the baptism commanded by Jesus Christ in the Great Commission.  Jesus said in Mark 16:16, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.”  The Catholic religion changes it to mean, “The baby who is baptized shall be saved, and believe later at confirmation.”  This is not the baptism commanded by Christ.  Our visitors were very attentive to this answer to their question and we hope it will bear fruit soon.
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February 24, 2019th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

After the series was completed at Diffun, Quirino with Willie Pastor and all the brethren there on  Wednesday, Rody and Tessie Gumpad brought me to Tuguegarao City, Cagayan for the Wednesday evening service.  Thursday, February 21, I enjoyed their hospitality as Tessie served a delicious pancake breakfast, and then I flew to Manila.  Fortunately, the Manila-Tuguegarao flight was not cancelled this time!

After getting to the hotel in Manila I visited the moneychanger, took a short rest, and divided the remainder of the day between lesson preparation and exercise because I will need plenty of stamina.  Tomorrow I begin teaching the book of Revelation to the deaf mute church which now meets in a better location thanks to God’s providence working through Elias Cruz with TonyBoy Hornado.  I always look forward to my time with these saints.
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February 17, 2019th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

When I mentioned in the previous report that “international travel” has two “a’s” for double adventure, I failed to consider that Philippine Air Lines adds another “a” for triple adventure.  My suitcase which was diverted to China was next diverted to Canada.  You ask, “Why?”  Count the “a’s” again, or refer to Murphy’s law.  Wednesday I exercised a little by walking, rested, worked on email, and studied lessons for tomorrow.  So as not to get bored, I received several updates on my suitcase alternately offering and dashing hopes it would arrive anytime soon.

To say Thursday was a full day would be an understatement.  James Paet and Junior Gumpad drove for two and a half hours to bring me to the Phase 6 church in Caloocan City, Metro Manila where Andrew Romero preachers.  The vehicle has a GPS which said the trip was 45 minutes, but that definitely does not take into account Manila traffic!  While the brethren were patiently awaiting our arrival, Gert-Jan van Zanten visiting from Holland presented a lesson. I was thankful to meet him after hearing of his travels in the Philippines.
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February 12, 2019th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

Each day has been a treasure this week getting to know Edwin Cortez better and better.  Friday, February 12, was no exception as we spent time again discussing many spiritual things while visiting historic sites in Paris.  Edwin had taken vacation days so that we would have this time together since the work schedules of other brethren did not permit us to immediately meet.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus or Sacre-Coeur Basilica is an impressive structure of ancient Roman and Byzantine architecture rising 272 feet high, completed in 1914.  Previous cathedrals we visited were filled with huge paintings and sculptures dating 200-300 years ago, but this church is lavished with the most intricate mosaics of religious scenes created from millions of tiny pieces of stone, an enormous number of which are gold and silver or plated with gold and silver.  These scenes cover entire walls in the portals, coves, or side chapels as well as the entire dome above the huge area where the main altar is constructed.  The artwork is stunning beyond words.
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February 7, 2019th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

You may have noticed my first report began by saying, “This trip was scheduled to begin on Tuesday, February 29,” when it should have said January 29.  I won’t say the explanation is that I am not as sharp as I used to be because too many of you already know I was never that sharp to begin with.  At least the record is now set straight.  And, yes, I know there is no February 29 this year.

The next leg of this trip took me from London, England to Paris, France on Tuesday, February 5, to encourage a congregation made up primarily of Filipinos.  I had an adventure leaving London when a Delta message guided me to the wrong terminal to benefit from a new streamlined check-in process, which it turned out is in the works for the future but has not been enacted yet.  Fortunately I came early enough to get to the proper terminal and I made it to Paris okay by God’s good help.
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Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

This trip was scheduled to begin on Tuesday, February 29.  Monday shortly before noon Delta Airlines notified me that I should leave that very afternoon to avoid the danger of the approaching winter storm which might trap me in Atlanta and prevent me from reaching London.  Donna and I went into emergency scramble mode to finish all the preparations and Doug Rush rushed me to the airport at 5:30 P.M.

I had a couple of hours layover in Atlanta and then flew all night to reach London.  England is five hours ahead of the U.S., and we arrived at 10:00 A.M.  Tuesday found me in a fog – I answered several emails, went to the exercise room, and took a nap.  A weather report here also predicted ice and snow, so I am just thankful to be here.
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Ron & Donna Halbrook
3505 Horse Run Ct.
Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954

PLEASE SHARE THIS LETTER ON GOSPEL PREACHING IN THE PHILIPPINES!

January 10, 2019th Year of Our Lord
                              
Dear brethren,

By God’s good providence, plans are complete to preach in England, France, and the Philippines January 30-February 28, my 73^rd Philippine trip since first going with Jim McDonald in 1995. The London and Paris stops are for the benefit primarily of Filipinos living in those areas.   Jesus proclaimed, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (Jn. 7:37-38).  Beginning in Jerusalem in Acts 2 the Apostles preached the gospel and the refreshing water of salvation still flows around the world today – and Filipinos are helping!

Filipino Christians find jobs all around the globe.  I preached at the wedding of Teddy and “Bing” Gumpad in April of 2017, and they now work in London, England.  They want to locate a church where they can worship.  I will fly to London on January 29-30.  Some British brethren will join us and I will teach Friday-Saturday at a hotel function room in a central location.  Sunday we will proceed to the nearest congregation where I have also been invited to preach.  We hope to make contact with additional Filipinos in the area. I plan to teach on “The Authority of Christ,” showing how men have changed the original gospel and the original church revealed by Christ, and also how we can restore the original truth of God’s Word.
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December 18, 2018^th Year of Our Lord

HALBROOK REPORT: 72^nd PHILIPPINE TRIP Nov. 27-Dec. 18, 2018

Dear brethren,

God opened a door for me to go with Jim McDonald to the Philippines in 1995 and Nov. 27-Dec. 18 my 72^nd trip was completed.  Singing classes were conducted by Steven Saunders, evangelist in Macon, MO and Jim Barnett, evangelist in Hope, NM. 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 also taught classes on the theme “The Bible Is the Word of God.”

I taught 42 lessons and 18 precious souls submitted to Christ in baptism to wash away their sins.

Jim, Steven, and I arrived safely in Manila Wednesday, November 28, about 10:30 P.M.  The next day Elias Cruz and other Filipino brethren helped us re-pack the boxes we brought to send them ahead to the places we were scheduled to teach.  Steven and Jim distributed about 50 guide books on singing and song leading at each place, and I always distribute Bibles, study material, and CD’s after our lessons are completed.  I also distributed several communion trays made of plywood by Laymon Byers which are in great demand.
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