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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Dear family, brethren, and friends,

A merciful God brought Steven Saunders and Jim Barnett safely home yesterday, and I have just arrived safely home Tuesday night.  We will never forget the privilege God has given us to labor with His saints in the Philippine Islands again.  Filipino saints benefited much from the training they received in singing and song leading by Jim & Steven.  I hope and pray our series of lessons on “The Bible Is the Word of God” were edifying and uplifting as well.

The gospel continues to spread throughout the Philippines and the churches are maturing spiritually as well.  Though our focus was on the classes and not on basics of the gospel, 18 precious souls were baptized. There are problems from time to time because Satan never rests in his malicious attacks against God and His people.  Filipino Christians have learned that God’s Word equips them to defeat every ploy, stratagem, and deception used by Satan.  Some who have stumbled have made corrections and grown, while others have fallen and departed, but the work overall is growing and stronger in every way.
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Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

Thursday marked the beginning of two days of studies on the theme “The Bible Is the Word of God” with the same audience here in Victorias City, Negros Occidental.  To start the series Jim surveyed the Bible to show its fundamental message is the coming of Jesus Christ to be the Savior of the world.  After this introduction, I guided our audience in a verse by verse examination of Psalm 19, showing that the creation and Scripture proclaim “The Glory of God.”  I called on our audience to help in reading the passages we discussed.  Everyone listened intently and participated well.  One brother’s eyesight is so poor that he walked up the to the white screen which projected the passage in large letters in order to read it.

After a lunch break, Steven resumed our studies by giving an overview of the three Bible dispensations, emphasizing God’s will that men obey Him by faith.  My next lesson explained “The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:14-17),” showing that God miraculously guided and guarded the giving of every verse in the Bible.  Thus, the Bible expresses God’s authoritative Word for our salvation.  We must humbly and strictly submit to His instructions in order to receive the forgiveness of our sins, to live in a right relationship with Him, and to spend eternity in heaven with Him.
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Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world.

The final two days in Puerto Princesa City on Palawan were devoted to the theme “The Bible Is the Word of God.”  Jim began the series on Thursday with an overview of the Bible message which is focused on Jesus Christ.  My first presentation was a verse by verse examination of Psalm 19 entitled “The Glory of God.”  Both the creation and Scripture proclaim God’s great glory!  When we extended the Lord’s invitation, two young ladies came to be baptized as a result of the work of Jonathan and Emmanuel Sapitula.  They were baptized into Christ without delay!

After lunch Steven discussed the three periods of Bible history: the patriarchal age, the Mosaic age, and the gospel age or Christian age.  He emphasized that God has always expected man to obey Him.  I then directed our attention to “The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture” followed by “The Writing and Canon of Scripture.”  These lessons show the Scriptures were given by the miraculous inspiration of God, resulting in 66 books which He has protected and preserved to our time without the loss or addition of even one book.
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