Help A Neighbor Inc

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March 15

Church of Christ at Minaposok, Calatrava, Negros Occidental

This picture is a typical expression of gratitude from saints who received help after typhoon Yolanda struck the Philippines on Nov. 8, 2013. These are members of the church of Christ at Minaposok, Calatrava, Negros Occidental where Jordan Cabras preaches.

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March 7

Ron safely home

Dear family, brethren, & friends,

Under God’s gracious care I arrived home safely from the Philippines about 6:00 PM Thursday. I rushed to eat something, change my clothes, and arrive at the Hebron Lane church of Christ where our gospel meeting is ongoing. I am beginning to rest and to make plans for the next trip. Meanwhile, our dear Filipino brethren and friends are always in our thoughts and prayers. Especially at this time we remember those who are suffering the tragic effects of the super typhoon Yolanda. It is a blessing to see their faith, hope, and love expressed in many sacrifices in serving Christ. My small part in the Philippine work could not succeed without the constant love, talents, and help of Filipino saints! It is a great privilege to work with them.

I apologize for many emails I have not been able to answer because of the hectic schedule and because internet connections were not strong this time as I traveled in the Philippines. I will do my best to answer when time permits, but there will be further delay because I must go to California to preach the funeral service for brother Olen Holderby who passed away on March 4.

Meanwhile, may God bless each and every one of you as you “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14).

In Christian love,

Ron Halbrook

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March 6

Halbrook Philippine Report Feb. 27-Mar. 5, 2014

March 5, 2014th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

The trip has gone well to the last day, but, I must issue this alert! The end time is near! On February 27, the flight Jonathan Carino and I took from Cebu City to Bacolod City, Negros Oriental left ahead of schedule and landed 30 minutes early! This is a first in all my 53 Philippine trips. It may be a first in Philippine aviation history. Of course, we must factor in the fact that this flight originated in Cebu City and not in Manila which is constantly congested, but this is still a significant milestone. Neither Jonathan Carino nor I could remember ever having had this experience.

Jack Jaco and Shem Tagapan met us at the airport and brought us to the hotel for a good night of rest to prepare for the rigors of another very challenging and rewarding day ahead. And, I was counting just one more week till I can see precious Donna and all our loved ones at home!

Friday our circuit visiting churches began just after 7:30 A.M. and we arrived back at the hotel at 9:00 P.M., tired but uplifted by the day’s events. The typhoon Yolanda took its toll on hundreds of Christians in Negros Occidental not so much because of damage to houses, though there was some, but more because of damage to sources of income. This region grows sugarcane and many brethren are day laborers in the cane fields. When the crops were destroyed, their source of income was destroyed. Jobs have been lost and workers displaced. Hunger has been their greatest enemy.

The fields now are becoming active again, but our poor brethren can ill afford the income losses they suffered and many remain out of work. They openly rejoiced at our coming with the benevolence representing the love of God and of brethren from afar. They profusely expressed appreciation although the amount given per person was significantly less than what was given on Leyte because the number of people helped was far greater here on Negros. Some people kept coming back and shook my hand 3-4 times, overcome with joy and thanksgiving.

Benevolence was given in the following areas. These are included in the wide geography of Escalante City: 1. Buenavista (24 members; Jessie Isitan, evangelist). 2. Santa Bangkal, JonobJonob (43 members; Addy Sorbeto, evangelist). 3. Escalante City proper (20; Arnold Garcia, evangelist). 4. Drier, Balintawak (25; Danny Alquiza, evanelist). 5. Old Poblacion (29; Roger Eson, evangelist). 6. Balintawak (84; James Berden, evangelist). 7. Amparo, Mabini (87 members; Morito Panadero, evangelist).

Other churches which received benevolence included Japitan (43 members; Arnel Tayactac, evangelist), Bago, Salvador Benedicto (57; Vicente Alquiza, evangelist), Sagay City (63; Jerry De Erio, evangelist), and Toboso (25; Jun Anonas, evangelist).

The total number of saints who received help today was 491. Ten times today I presented the short lesson on “Benevolence” before giving the funds to the churches. Brethren patiently waited for us during the day because it was not possible to schedule our time due to the travel conditions. We left Bacolod City on good roads but as we got into the countryside filled with sugarcane fields the roads quickly deteriorated. Roads are generally poorly built in the Philippines, but their roads here in this area groan under the constant pressure of huge trucks loaded and overloaded with cane. Also the trucks drop so much cane that the roads ride like washboards. In some places we ran out of pavement and drove on dirt roads. At one place the road ended and we got out and walked some distance to the church building.

There was no time to take a lunch break, and if there had been time, I do not know where we would have found food safe to eat. At a couple of places the brethren cut coconuts open and offered us the meat and milk, both of which are tasty. I drank the coconut milk both times because it is far more effective in counteracting dehydration than the Gatorade we normally drink. I survived fine on the snacks Donna packed such as peanut butter crackers and raisins.

Our morning schedule on Saturday, March 1, was delayed while we tried to find MoneyGram and Western Union agents who open before 10:00 A.M. in order to receive additional funds needed for today’s benevolence. We succeeded but service was so slow we still did not get out of town until 10:15. We call this “operating on Filipino time.” This was another busy day as we traversed the large Sagay City region of Negros Occidental. Funds were delivered to the following churches:

1. Tinabuan, Magdalena Extin., Paraiso, Sagay City (Jessie Isitan, evangelist; 34 members). 2. Pur. Dalia, Brgy. Puey, Sagay City (Jordan Cabras, evangelist; 108 members). 3. Narra, Tinampaan, Cadiz City (Jessie Isitan, evangelist; 28 members). 4. Complex Cadiz City (Jessie Isitan, evangelist; 51 members). 5. Minaposok, Calatrava (Jordan Cabras, evangelist; 11 members). 6. Kawayanan, Taloc, Bago City (Shem Tagapan, evangelist; 51 members). 7. Kapisan Village, Vesta Alegre, Bacolod City (Shem Tagapan, evangelist; 26 members).

The distribution made today reaches another 309 saints who are victims of Yolanda. Arrangements are being made to help another 170 saints in the Negros Occidental Province, bringing the total of recipients from this one effort to 972. This provision was made for food. Additional funds will be sent to address needs for repairing houses. All of this is being made possible by the love and sacrifices of saints around the world, especially in the U.S.

Again today I presented my short lesson on “Benevolence” at each place we visited to give the Bible foundation for this kind of work. Jack has given me more insight into the importance of this benevolence work. He says the amount received in each place is not nearly as important as the encouragement the brethren receive just from seeing us come from afar to show the love and concern we have for them. They feel so small and ignored in this world that their spirits are greatly uplifted by our coming to bring benevolence from saints so far away, regardless of the amount.

On Sunday, March 2, our drive to the Vicotrias City church of Christ where Jack Jaco preaches took less than an hour. When I first visited here in 1999 with Steve Curtis, the church met in a small public chapel. As the church has grown through the years, Jack has extended the space in his house to accommodate their services. This morning that extended room overflowed with more than 100 people packed like sardines in a can, with being forced to stand outside.

My lesson was on “The Prison of Sin” (1 Pet. 3:18-4:11). Six visitors responded to the Lord’s invitation and confessed Christ – I missed the baptisms because I had to hurry to the airport. At the end of the service, I gave the short lesson on “Benevolence.” There was again much joy and thanksgiving.

The islands hit by typhoon Yolanda are having many conversions to Christ. This is not due to the occasional benevolence, because brethren do not advertise it, but people in times of suffering are humbled and often begin to seek God during times of disaster. It is sad to know that tragedy forces people to recognize God when we all ought to be so thankful for every moment of life and every blessing of life that it would win us to God in thanksgiving! Especially when we consider that He gave His Son to die for our sins, which we can never earn, deserve, or merit!

Sunday afternoon I flew to Manila to spend a short night. It was necessary to get up at 3:45 A.M. to catch a 5:00 A.M. flight to the island of Masbate where I preached in December. Many denominational preachers have been converted and have been busy baptizing their members into the church of Christ. Now other denominational preachers are willing to study, so I prepared to teach the series of lessons on “The Authority of Christ,” and Jonathan and Jack could help with other basic subjects.

3:45 A.M. came in a hurry on Monday, but Jonathan, Jack, and I made it to Masbate by 6:00 A.M. Greg Jumao-as, a preacher converted from the Baptists last year, met us and guided us to a church where he had helped to convert a friend, Edgar Diaz. This new brother was also a former Baptist and he had invited contacts who were curious to understand why he had left the Baptist faith. We traveled on asphalt paved roads, concrete roads, and dirt and gravel roads to reach Dimasalang and begin preaching about 10:00 A.M.

My first lesson was a detailed study of “The Great Commission” as recorded in Matthew 28:18-20. There were 70 in attendance representing all ages – a group of young people sat near the front and paid close attention. Building on the same passage, I began teaching “The Authority of Christ.” This material was entirely new to our audience, but it was clear that many were absorbing the point as various applications were made.

After two of these lessons, the floor was opened to questions. The questions clarified that the collection should be every Sunday but not every time there is a meeting during the week, and God does not bind tithing today. As always, several questions focused on baptism, whether it is essential for salvation, and whether people baptized into a denomination should be baptized again.

One “pastor” was quite defensive of the doctrine of salvation by faith alone, but when we dismissed he said he learned new things today and he would definitely return the next day. His wife and children are with him. A man from Belgium married to a Filipina attended in December and was here today for the whole day. He brought 15 people in his pickup truck. He has no particular religion though he received Catholic sprinkling as an infant, but his face showed the gospel is touching his heart. The great joy of the Philippine work is seeing the hunger of souls to learn God’s Word!

On Tuesday, March 4, we again traveled an hour and a half to reach Dimasalang. The day began with two lessons contrasting the doctrine of Christ with the faith and practices of the Roman Catholic religion and the Protestant denominations. These lesson include historical information on how these religious groups developed as a result of departures from the authority of Christ. In the afternoon I spoke on the restoration plea and its proper application. Jonathan preached on “Obedience” and on “Baptism.”

The open forum included questions about tithing, the two covenants, and especially instrumental music. Jack Jaco exhorted the audience to obey the gospel, and one precious soul did! There will certainly be others to follow, but we do not expect large numbers of baptisms when most of the audience have been saturated in denominationalism for many years, and then they hear the original gospel for the first time. We will patiently trust in the power of the gospel to do its work in the souls of men who open their minds and hearts to hear it.

The Belgium man was back again for the full day. He has become very attentive. During lunch I discussed his doubts that the Bible has been accurately preserved which seemed to help him. One of the “pastors” who fought us on baptism yesterday and on instrumental music today is pleading for me to let him gather many other “pastors” who are his friends to hear what we are teaching. Truly, the fields are white unto harvest!

Today, Wednesday, at last we have reached our last day of work on this trip. We got up at 5:15 A.M. to catch our flight to Manila. When we arrived, I thanked Jonathan and Jack for their great help and we parted company. Jimmy Battung brought Terry Parchman to the hotel and I studied with him for an hour. Terry moved from the U.S. to Manila. His background is in the church of Christ, among liberals, but he has graduated to the ecumenical denominational concept of Christians in all denominations and he works with an interdenominational group. He had begun circulating among our brethren in Manila, saying he was a member of the church of Christ.

I started with Mark 16:15-16 to show Jesus teaches that only people who first believe the gospel and then submit to Christ in baptism receive salvation or forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ. People in denominations have not submitted to this plan of salvation and are therefore lost. Terry said that Jesus did not mean in this passage that men must be baptized to be saved, but we erroneously read it that way! Terry explains it can also mean a person who believes is saved and can be baptized later. It is clear we do not believe and practice the same thing, but the discussion was held in a healthy manner.

As soon as this study was finished, we left to go downtown to the Philippine Bible Society where I purchased 1,112 Bibles in several dialects. These will be shipped to the waiting hands of saints on Luzon, on Mindanao, and especially in the Visayas where typhoon Yolanda swept away Bibles and church buildings, not to mention almost 10,000 lives. Many who read these reports made this order possible by the grace of God and by generous giving. It is by far the largest number of Bibles I have ever bought. Only God knows how gratefully they will be received and how effectively they will work in the hearts and lives of people who will use them.

As this trip now ends, my heart overflows with thanksgiving for God’s providence in making it possible and for all the prayers and financial contributions of the saints of God.

In Christian love,

Ron Halbrook

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March 5

Halbrook Philippine Report Feb. 24-26, 2014

February 27, 2014th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

God continues to bless our efforts with safety and success. On Monday, February 24, I had a safe flight from Manila to Cebu City, Cebu, preparing to do benevolence work in the Visayan Islands.

When Jonathan Carino met me at the airport, a pleasant surprise was waiting: His parents were here finishing a short vacation. It is always encouraging to see brother and sister Ramon Carino. Brother Ramon is still mentally sharp and very active at 89, though he cannot travel widely as he did in past years. The church in Pagadian City, Misamis Oriental, on Mindanao where he preaches has made a major stride after many years: They are constructing a church building on their lot little by little as funds become available.

A few minutes past 4:00 A.M. Tuesday, I arose from sleep so that we could go to the dock to catch the SuperCat fastcraft to Ormoc City, Southern Leyte. (Ferryboats of all kinds are common in countries with many islands. SuperCat is a word formed by joining “super” and “catamaran,” which is a vessel with two parallel hulls. This design results in less drag and therefore faster speed.) After nearly three hours travel, our fastcraft arrived safely in Ormoc City. It was instantly obvious that recovery from Yolanda is painfully slow. We rented a van with the driver for the whole day, ate breakfast, and then began traveling to visit area churches.

Benevolence funds for food were delivered to churches at Baybay, Candadan, Ampihonon Caibu, Mahaplag (two churches), San Vicente, and Ormoc City. On three occasions I presented a short lesson on “Benevolence” to show that it expresses God’s love for us and our love for each other, it meets a temporary emergency, and it tests our honesty in handling funds from church treasuries. We returned to Ormoc City about 5:30 P.M. to catch the 7:00 P.M. SuperCat back to Cebu City. It was late, so we arrived back in Cebu about 11:00 P.M.

Having first witnessed conditions in the Visayas last December, it still is startling to see the devastation caused by the Super Typhoon Yolanda which hit Leyte on November 8, 2013. The body count is now about 8,000 with nearly 2,000 still missing. Decomposed bodies are still being discovered especially in remote areas. An estimated ten million people have been seriously affected by the typhoon. Much of the damage to homes and other buildings still has not been repaired. 550,000 homes were destroyed! Construction materials are scarce and expensive for the average Filipino. Electricity is still not generally available because hundreds of power lines and poles were destroyed. People with sufficient prosperity to purchase a generator have power, but the average citizen does not.

We passed school after school which suffered such severe damage that many buildings cannot be used at all.

The mind can hardly comprehend what the eyes see!

Most of our brethren are among the poorest peoples and they suffer the most. At our last stop I saw the little house of a widow which would have easily fit into our living room but which had been demolished to the ground. It was located in extremely cramped quarters surrounded on every side by squalor. How in the world do I have the gumption to complain about physical and material problems? Ever! Because of the generosity of saints back home, I was able to leave 1,000 pesos ($20) to help her start rebuilding. Most of the money I have with me is being used to provide food.

At this last stop I cautioned brethren about the danger of fire when using candles and lamps. Some parts of Ormoc City proper have power but there was a brownout while we were waiting in the ferry terminal. The reason was soon apparent. A huge building near the terminal became engulfed in flames which angrily shot up well above the city skyline. I went outside to take a picture and could feel the heat though we were a short block away. Destruction and sorrows do not end after such a terrible typhoon passes.

On Wednesday, February 26, after three hours sleep, it was time to get up about 4:15 A.M. to go to the airport for a 35 minute flight to Tacloban City, Nortern Leyte, but, alas, the flight was cancelled at the last minute. We rushed to the SuperCat ferry dock for another three hour trip to Ormoc City, where we got a ticket to ride a public van for almost three hours crossing Leyte to Tacloban City. So, a 35 minute trip became a six hour adventure, typical for Philippine life. But, again, how dare I complain when my situation is contrasted to the situation of the poor saints affected by Yolanda!

As we traveled across Leyte the devastation is still pronounced everywhere, but clean-up efforts are progressing. As an example of how serious the devastation is, consider that hundreds upon hundreds of thousands of coconut trees were so severely damaged in the storm’s path they will never bear fruit again. In many cases the tops where all the branches grow were literally cut off and blown away, and in many cases the trees were flattened to the ground like so many toothpicks thrown on the floor. This affects people who made a living directly and indirectly from this major Filipino crop: the branches, the shell, the meat, the milk, and the oil all produce income. Newly planted trees take 7-10 years to begin producing mature coconuts! The Philippine government sets the poverty line at $120 per month, and in such poverty every peso counts!

Nilo Zabala met us and guided us to his place where several brethren gathered representing congregations in need which we could not reach (and there are yet many more we have not been able to reach). The membership lists were reviewed and funds were divided in hopes of providing food for about three to four months. Churches receiving benevolence in the province of Northern Leyte included the Scandinavian Village church in Tacloban City and the Abuyog church. Churches receiving benevolence from the province of Western Samar on the island of Samar included San Voaquin, Binaliw, and Cagnipa, all in the Calbayog City region.

After my short lesson on “Benevolence,” we hurried to our taxi to go to the airport, hoping the afternoon flight to and from Cebu City was not cancelled. As we entered Tacloban City, traffic was snarled and we had a long wait. The streets have been mostly cleared but debris and rubble from destroyed houses and businesses are still being cleared away. I saw 5-6 body bags at the side of the road – cadavers are regularly being discovered in the clearing process. No one paid attention to these bags filled with human remains, awaiting to be picked up by the proper authorities.

We began to wonder if we could reach the airport at all when the police appeared leading a United Nations relief agency convoy. Since the way was opened for the convoy, our taxi joined the convoy which was headed to the airport – we made it with 10-15 minutes to spare!

The brethren who are receiving benevolence express their thanksgiving and love again and again to all the saints who donated these funds. And we are reminded again and again, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

There was no time to eat today under the constrains of time, but I would not want to eat in the environment of Tacloban City anyway. Fortunately, my sweet wife packs snack foods so I nibbled on peanut butter crackers and raisins until getting to supper in Cebu City. All is well that ends well.

We fly to Bacolod City in the province of Negros Occidental on Negros Island in a couple of hours to distribute benevolence there.

My words are not adequate to thank all of you who are praying for us – and watching the moon, too.

In Christian love,

Ron Halbrook

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February 24

Halbrook Philippine Report Feb. 18-23, 2014

February 23, 2014th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

By God’s good grace the trip from Louisville to Manila went smoothly on Tuesday, arriving Wednesday about 10:30 PM (Feb. 18-19). By the time I passed through customs, got to the hotel, and got to bed it was 2:30 AM on the 20th. The nice thing about being exhausted is the good sleep that follows!

I brought four additional boxes filled with Bibles and study materials, clothes, food, and personal items. Elias Cruz met me at the hotel to repack the contents to send the boxes ahead via air cargo, which is much cheaper than checked bags. He left here at 3:00 PM, so I ate a late lunch, studied, and exercised in an effort to offset the exhaustion created by the 12 hour time difference.

Friday I met Cyrus Gesulga and his wife for an all-day study. Rody Gumpad joined me. Cyrus lives in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental Province, on Mindanao but had come to Manila for a few days. For years he was a leading preacher among premillennial churches of Christ but came to hear me preach in December 2010. In the months which followed we had an extensive study via email reviewing passages he thought taught the premillennial system. He repented in August 2011 for helping to create and perpetuate a faction among God’s people. The Guardian of Truth Foundation later published a tract by Cyrus affirming the simple Bible doctrine of Christ’s return, the resurrection, and the Final Judgment.

Our studies today further confirmed his faith and better equipped him to teach about 70 preachers who have been associated with him. We discussed plans for me to teach on the book of Revelation and to present more detailed lessons on errors of premillennialism. He is anxious for me to do that. It was a very profitable day.

On February 22, Saturday, I left my hotel about 7:00 AM to join Cyrus and Rody to travel two hours north to Santa Cruz, Santa Maria, Bulacan Province, where Cyrus has contacts for a day of preaching. Our audience numbered about 35-40 for this gospel meeting. My first lesson was on “The Purpose of Our Lives.” Rody then gave an overview of Bible history and of the one true church. After lunch my topic was “The Gospel Makes Us Right with God (Rom. 1:16-17).” During the open forum which followed questions ranged from the Sabbath Day observance to the proper use of the church treasury.

Atoy Franco picked me up on the Lord’s Day to travel to Bilibid Prison, Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila. This is the national prison where Willie Pastor has been incarcerated since 2010. He has trusted God’s providence in these difficult circumstances like Joseph and has persistently taught the gospel, resulting in some 500 baptisms. Inmates are rotated from Willie’s sector where they first arrive to other sectors and there are now three separate congregations meeting in the prison. Willie’s brother Kenneth held services for the other two today, so I did not get to see him.

My topic today was “Jesus Came to Seek and Save the Lost,” which I broke into two lessons in order to explain basic concepts in more detail for these unlearned men and also to give Willie time to translate the lesson. There were 65 present and over 30 of them have already been baptized. They paid excellent attention and expressed appreciation for the studies.

The Philippine President has been very strict and hesitant about giving pardons or early releases because of past abuses in the system. Willie is qualified on both grounds, but it appears he will serve out his minimum sentence and be allowed to go home in July or August. His wife Kathy and their precious children continue to struggle financially in Willie’s absence, though compassionate brethren are giving some help.

In the afternoon Atoy took me to the home of Jimmy Battung. His garage has been converted as a meeting place and a church of 15-20 meets here. After presenting the lesson “Jesus Came to Seek and Save the Lost,” I conducted an open forum where we discussed at length the plan of salvation for the sake of an attentive visitor, and questions about our existence in the hadean realm.

The next segment of my trip is in the Visayan Islands where the super-typhoon Yolanda hit.

I saw the moon and remembered that loved ones back in the U.S. are looking at the same moon. Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, and financial help which makes these trips possible.

In Christian love,

Ron Halbrook

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