November 24

REPORT 11-1-2012

November 1, 2012th Year of Our Lord

 

Dear brethren and friends,

 

By God’s grace with your help we continue reaching out to encourage and aid our neighbors who are in need of a helping hand.  Help A Neighbor began in July of 2007 as one means of providing for others what they are unable to provide for themselves in the spirit of Matthew 22:39: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”  Help A Neighbor exists exclusively for humanitarian and charitable purposes as defined by section 501 (C) 3 of the IRS Code, which is why all donations are legally tax deductible.  This is purely a legal means for individuals to extend aid to individuals.  We do not accept donations from churches because we do not function as an ecclesiastical organization in any sense.

 

Thanks to the dedication and skill of Thomas and Jacob Keese, Help A Neighbor has an excellent web site at www.HelpANeighbor.net with reports, pictures, and other information about our efforts.

 

Because I am acquainted with the Philippines and many Christians there, our main focus has been to provide humanitarian help in the Philippines including daily necessities such as food, medical services, funds for the construction or repair of personal homes and church buildings, disaster relief, burial expenses, songbooks, Bibles, and Bible study materials.

 

Of the nearly $160,000 donated in 2011, well over one-third was used in efforts to construct church buildings ($64,400).  Some of these buildings are constructed using such materials as bamboo, coconut wood, and nippa roofing (dried palm leaves).  Others are built with more substantial materials to withstand typhoons such as small concrete blocks, steel trusses, and roofing of galvanized iron sheets.

 

These buildings are of various sizes.  This includes smaller meeting places at ten sites: three on Luzon (Santa Catalina, Isabela; Dumabato, Quirino; and San Agustin, Isabela); one on Negros (Manapla, Negros Occidental); and six on Mindanao (New Matina, Davao City; Riverside, General Santos City; Alegreia, Sarangani; Iligan City, Lanao del Norte; Padada, Davao del Sur; and Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental).  Incremental help has been extended for the construction of larger buildings on Luzon (Seaside church, La Union; Cordon, Isabela) and on Mindanao (Lanton, General Santos City).

 

At the behest of Bobby Holmes and Tom Roberts, we were given the opportunity to help the saints in Bangalore, India purchase property and prepare to start building a meeting house.  In 2011 about $50,000 went toward this project.  It is not finished and donations are welcomed for this purpose.

 

About $21,000 was distributed to extend a helping hand for all sorts of family and personal needs, for surgeries and medical expenses, and for such things as burying the dead.

 

The next largest amount was used for disaster relief, including those who suffered from three big typhoons which hit Luzon in the late summer and fall of 2010.  A total of $16,000 was sent to 14 different locations and hundreds of brethren were assisted.

 

Over $14,000 worth of Bibles and Bible study materials were purchased and distributed to brethren and to visitors.  Some Bibles were in local dialects and some in English.  The study materials are English.  Philippine schools teach English as a second language and many who cannot speak it well can read it.

 

Various donors provided about $15,000 out of interest in helping with travel expenses for five men who traveled abroad: Ron and David Halbrook to the Philippines, Marc Smith to India, Mike Willis to Germany, and Harry Osborne to the Philippines.

 

This provides a basic overview of how funds were used in 2011 without detailing all the projects, activities, and needs we have addressed during the year.  For instance, when the recession caused the Guardian of Truth Foundation to consolidate its two stores into one at Athens, AL, two U-haul trucks of  older, slow-moving, and damaged materials were donated to Help A Neighbor rather than transported to Athens.  I rented a large storage unit to protect these materials and am mailing them in large boxes to points scattered all over the Philippines from Luzon to Palawan to Mindoro to the Visayan Islands to Mindanao–about 65 large boxes so far, and plenty more to come!  In addition to storage, each box costs about $120 to ship.

 

All of this work has continued through 2012 until this very moment, and I hope to give an updated report later. At the present I am preparing for my 48th trip to the Philippines.  Two brethren going for their first time will join me, and in addition to preaching they will use their special talents to teaching singing classes:  Jim Barnett (Artesia, NM) and Steven Saunders (Clarence, MO).  First-timers generally have enough challenge raising their travel funds, so I do not ask them to share the heavy load of expenses we encounter for venues and related expenses.  Judging from past experiences, I estimate I am currently at least $6,000-$8,000 short for our upcoming trip November 27-December 20.  I have learned not to panic because the Lord provides our needs if we do the work He has given us to do.

 

Singing schools will be held at the Kapitbahayan church of Christ, Navotas, Metro Manila, at the Cebu City church of Christ on Cebu Island, and at Tuguegarao, Cagayan Province.  Jim and Steven will then return to the U.S. and I will proceed to General Santos City in southern Mindanao for a week of studies with a group of Pentecostal preachers.  Some of them attended a previous class and requested additional studies, to which they are inviting many of their associates.

 

Here are some ongoing needs as we complete 2012 and look forward to 2013:

 

1. The upcoming Philippine trip

2. Church buildings in the Philippines and the India project

3. Family & personal needs of Filipinos, including medical needs (an older preacher in Mindanao has needed eye surgery costing $600-$700 for a couple of years)

4. Disaster relief from time to time (brethren were affected by recent flash-flooding in southern Mindanao)

5. Bibles and study materials–including an urgent need for songbooks!!!

 

Lordy Salunga established and ably edited a gospel paper in the Philippines named Sword & Shield (1999-2009) with financial aid raised by Jim McDonald and then Bill Cavender.  It costs $1,500 per quarter to publish it and it is a very effective teaching tool, but it was discontinued for lack of funds.  Are there brethren interested in helping Lordy restart Sword & Shield?

 

Also, Filipinos plead for subscriptions to Truth Magazine ($27 per year).  I can provide more information to anyone willing to provide subs.

 

Occasionally, we do some limited work here in the U.S. when there is a need.  If someone knows of a special need and wants to help, notify us and we will consider it.

 

Thank you for loving hearts and generous hands extended to those in need who help themselves as best they can. Truly, “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35)!

 

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.truthbooks.net

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November 17

Work Report

Dear brother Ron,

 

It is with a great joy hearing from you and learned that you sent again some help for the construction of our church building.  I am very thankful for your continued effort looking faithful individual brothers and sisters there to help for the gradual construction of our church building here in Cabanatuan church.  I attach some pictures for you to see the present look of our church building.  We put the 25, 000 pesos in our building and these came from faithful individual members here and some from our church treasury.

 

I will retrieve today the money help you sent and will announce it this Sunday here in our worship service in Cabanatuan.  We will discuss about it and I am sure we will continue and use the money you sent to complete the roof trusses of the building.  You would be able to see it when you open the pictures I attached.  Yes, I will give you the receipt where we spent the money you sent.  I am planning to give it to you personally with your upcoming preaching journey again this November, may be when you are in Kapitbahayan in Navotas.  Or, may be after we spent the money for the building I will have a photocopy of it and will send you by email.

 

Please give our heartily appreciation to the saints who sacrificially shared for the construction of our building.  We are really encouraged by their faith and continued sacrifices for the sake of the work of the Lord.  Give also our appreciation to sister Donna who had the effort to send it to me.  She is really a blessing to you brother Ron and been a great help for your tireless effort preaching the gospel.

 

Been continued busy working in His vineyard in spite of hardships which is typical while we are living in this present life.  The sound and healthy Words continue leading us to a life of service that is acceptable before His throne of Mercy.

 

It is with a great joy to let you know that the gospel preaching we made in Mambaling, Cebu City on October 26 – 28, where brother Jhun Apatan works was successful.  I was glad because even I underwent minor surgery on my back last October 19, I had been able to go there.  There were 2 precious souls baptized as a result of this effort.  It was with encouragement to meet preachers there from different places like of course Jhun Apatan, Gil Suico, Adriano Bacalso, Samuel Malugao, and Ronilo Matta.  Lordy Salunga was my companion who traveled there by domestic airplane and preached for 2 days in the place of work of brother Jhun Apatan.  I attach some pictures.

 

With regard to our midweek studies and worship services in the congregations of Cabanatuan and Agbannawag where I am working went well and the lessons from the topics we have learned had been really uplifting to everyone.  It was encouraging to see that our new prospects had became our regular visitors in our services and showed interest to study with us.  But I am sorry to say that many of our old visitors did not continue to come though I considered it triumphant of Christ because we had been the opportunity to preach the gospel to them and I am sure they believe on it but did not have the courage or trust to obey it.

 

I have been continued visiting and preaching in San Jose where my younger brother Aries works to their worship services at least once a month.  It has been always refreshing in the heart to see my parents and my biological brothers and sisters there including their families.  My parents now are in the nearly 70’s of age and it is with encouragement to see them continue serving our Lord.

 

I am glad to let you know that we had baptism last October 21 in Agbannawag Church.  Two teenagers who had been our regular visitors came forward and confessed Christ after our worship service.  We rejoiced with the angels of Heaven with their decisions they made on their life and we prayed them that they will continue serving our Lord.  I attach some pictures.

 

My family and I have been always rejoicing for this good work I am continuing to do in the Kingdom of God.  We rejoice with God and the angels because you have the fervent desire to continue helping us here spreading and proclaiming the saving faith.  We are thankful because we have the health and strength to engage in many continuous labors for the gospel’s sake.

 

In Him who saves,  JHUN BAUTISTA AND FAMILY

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November 12

Negros Occidental Church Building

Brother Ronilo “Roy” Matta lives in Cebu City, Cebu, and is a former Baptist preacher.  Several years ago he learned the original gospel of Christ from Pablo Espinoza, and obeyed it.  In addition to preaching for the church in Labogon, Mandaue, Cebu City, he planted a new congregation:  the San Miguel church of Christ in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.  This church outgrew the house where they were meeting and is in the process of constructing a meeting place.  The pictures were taken during the summer of 2012.  Thanks to individual Christians willing to help those who help themselves, funds were sent from Help A Neighbor to aid in this project.

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October 11

Preparations For Upcoming – Trip November 2012

September 14, 2012th Year of Our Lord

Dear brethren,

By God’s grace November 27-December 20 will mark my 48th opportunity to proclaim Christ in the Philippines since Jim McDonald first took me there in 1995.  It is a privilege to bring Jim Barnett (Artesia NM) and Steven Saunders (Clarence, MO) to teach singing classes!  Another unexpected door has swung open to reach many Pentecostals with the gospel.  Satan takes our souls “captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ” (Col. 2:8 NIV).  How appropriate that we learn to sing praises to God when we are freed from the bondage of sin and error!  Preaching and singing are allies in serving God.  This should be a fruitful trip.

 

Jim, Steven, and I will reach Manila late November 28 and begin the singing classes immediately the next day at the Kapitbahayan church of Christ, Navotas, Metro Manila.  Jim and Steven will provide material on singing and pitch pipes for song leaders.  I will alternate with gospel lessons.  It will be a joy to work with this good church with its elders and preachers for three days.  Jerry Toreja and Wilfredo Gonzales are elders, and Elias Cruz an evangelist there.  Sunday Jim and Steven will preach here and I will preach at the Bilibid Prison with Willie Pastor, faithful preacher incarcerated at the national prison.

 

Sunday evening we fly to Cebu City for singing classes at the Cebu City church of Christ on Cebu Island where Jonathan Carino preaches.  Because Cebu City is centrally located in the Visayan Islands, men can come from throughout the region including northern Mindanao.  After the classes December 3-5, we will fly to Manila and on to Tuguegarao, Cagayan Province in northern Luzon.  Immediately upon arrival Thursday afternoon we will start classes at the Metro Tuguegarao church of Christ where Rody Gumpad preaches, and continue through Saturday.  I will miss some classes to preach at Tabuk, Kalinga Province with Ben Vistro and possibly other places.  Sunday after worship at the Metro church, visits are scheduled for area congregations at Alibagu, Maddarulog, Maguirig, Lingu, and Minagbag.

 

December 10, Monday, we fly back to Manila to part ways on the 11th: Jim and Steven go back to the U.S. as I proceed to General Santos City in southern Mindanao to work with Rudy Tampon, Jolly Julom, and other saints.  After laying aside premillennialism on August 5, 2011, Cyrus Gesulga has introduced us to a growing circle of associates.  His close friend, Rudy Tampon, gathered a group of men from the premillennial background at General Santos City in April for a profitable five-day series studying Robert Harkrider’s Basic Bible Doctrine.  Rudy invited several Pentecostal preachers to join the class.  They sat at the front, were inquisitive and at times defensive, and we were not sure how much progress was made with them.  When I arrived in Davao City for a similar class with premillennial brethren in August, Rudy brought letters from these Pentecostals pleading for me to return as soon as possible for additional studies.

 

To strike while the iron is hot, the General Santos City sessions December 12-15 will cover 13 lessons in a workbook on How to Study the Bible (proper and improper attitudes & methods of study, rightly dividing the word, old & new covenants, context, when God says nothing, etc.).  I will teach six lessons on “The Authority of Christ.”  Jonathan Carino, Jack Jaco, and other Filipino brethren will also present lessons.  The Pentecostal preachers admit they learned many things in April and promise to gather many of their brethren.

 

Sunday will be spent visiting our brethren in the area.  Several opportunities are being weighed for Monday.  A gospel meeting will be held at the Balite church in General Santos City on Tuesday, where Ricardo dela Cruz labored before his death last year.

 

This trip should be very fruitful to edify saints and to save sinners! I take a deep breath when planning these trips, wondering if U.S. saints will tire of supporting such work, but God’s love and grace have always been sufficient. I trust that He will provide again through the love of His saints!  Individuals giving $500 or more for church buildings and similar needs can write checks to Help A Neighbor for a tax deduction.  Write all other checks to Ron Halbrook.  Mail 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@insightbb.com

 

P.S. There is a dire need for songbooks!  I can ship new or used copies very cheaply.

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August 24

HALBROOK REPORT: 47th PHILIPPINE TRIP JULY 24-AUG. 25, 2012

Dear brethren,

Saving souls begins with equipping brethren to teach and to defend the first “principles of the doctrine of Christ” (Heb. 6:1).  My 47th preaching trip July 24-August 25 to the Philippines (and Australia) focused on evidences and basic principles of Bible study.  Jim McDonald graciously opened this field of labor to me in 1995 and the harvest is ripe.   No American was able to join me this time but effective Filipino brethren shared the teaching duties.  Not counting their lessons, I taught 63 times.

After arriving in Manila July 25, I flew the next day to Melbourne, Australia and on to Gladstone, Queensland to work with the Central Gladstone church.  In one week we covered 13 lessons in Evidences for God and His Creation. The members are Jamie and Deborah Williams (with Timothy and Seth), Carol and Gabby Zussino, and Emmanuel Boatswain from Trinidad.   The church is now meeting in a rented facility which gives them more public visibility.  Both Sundays we visited the P.M. service of the Rockhampton church of Christ where years ago Robert Turner, Harold Comer, and Jim Sasser spoke, and also David Halbrook earlier this year.  August 5th I preached for them on establishing Bible authority. The men at both churches share the preaching and teaching duties.

August 6-7 was lost traveling to Manila.  Monsoon rain flooding precluded my visit to preach at the Bilibid Prison where Willie Pastor is incarcerated.  Typhoons and monsoon rains have flooded homes and destroyed crops in several provinces.  Suffering Luzon saints plead for help.

Friday the rains relented and I was able to fly to Dipolog City, provincial capital of Zamboanga del Norte on the island of Mindanao.  Jonathan Carino met me there and Edguardo Parangan guided us to preaching appointments in rural areas on Saturday.  About 25 souls gathered at San Pedro, Polanco where Alex Moravilla preaches.  Their small church building is made of bamboo slats with a roof of G.I. sheets and a dirt floor.  Jonathan translated the lesson on “The Eyes of the Lord Are Over the Righteous” (1 Pet. 3:12), so the service lasted for two hours.  We then visited the church at Upper Gumay, Pinan where Celso Arconila and Juanito Salazar labor.  During the open forum a Jehovah’s Witness said he could see his baptism was not valid.  He is ripe for follow-up studies.

Sunday I preached at the Dipolog City church where Edgardo Parangan preaches.   The service lasted from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.  Jonathan again translated for me, and Cyrus Gesulga also preached.

Monday-Friday about 35 men gathered for the one-week preacher training program taught by Jonathan Carino, Jack Jaco, Cyrus Gesulga, and myself.  Preachers from premillennial churches of Christ were invited and were very receptive.  The theme was “How to Study the Bible” using Cecil Willis’ workbook by that title as a guide for the first three days.  Much of the material we teach undermines the foundations of premillennialism by clarifying God’s use of the Jews to bring the Savior into the world, the spiritual nature of the kingdom of God, and the events surrounding the second coming of Christ.  I also taught a six-part series on “The Authority of Christ.”

The 18th was spent traveling via Manila to Davao City in southern Mindanao.  Sunday I spoke at the Boulevard church where Johnny Espinosa labors.  That evening I preached at the New Matina church where Juanito Balbin has labored for years.  He is suffering from failing health and lacks funds to buy the medicines he needs.  I was able to help only a small amount, but he is pleading for someone to help him maintain his medicines monthly.  August 20-24 Cyrus Gesulga, Jonathan Carino, Jack Jaco, and myself repeated in Davao City the same classes we taught at Dipolog City, again for brethren from the premillennial background.  We were very well received.

Rudy Tampon reported that as a result of similar classes we taught at General Santos City in May, Pentecostal pastors who attended now say they are convinced we taught the truth.  They urge me to return for follow-up studies and they hope to bring their ten Pentecostal churches to the truth!  When can I go?!

I thank God for making this work possible through the loving help of Donna and the prayers and financial support of so many wonderful saints!

In Christian love,

Ron Halbrook

 

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June 2

Jhun Bautista’s Report On Cabanatuan City Church Building

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I attached some pictures for you to see the recent progress of the construction of our church building in Cabanatuan City.  We were thankful for the $500 you gave on April and helped much to move forward our building construction.  From the help you gave, we added 15, 000 from our church treasury, 10, 000 pesos again from individuals, and we borrowed 10, 000 pesos.  Right now we are ready for putting the steel trusses roof and galvanized iron sheet, steel windows, and doors.  We are sure if we completed the materials, then we could be able to use now the church building for our services even the floorings are not yet cemented.  We need almost 200,000 pesos ($4,800) more to get these materials.

Brother Jim McDonald gave $500 too with his recent trip here.  We were thankful for it and a great help for the construction.  We need $4,300 more.  The brethren here are willing to continue to give from their individual pockets as they did before.  We decided that we can give from individuals here $1,300.  From this we are soliciting about $3,000 more to complete the materials and we could be able to use the building.  I hope you are encouraged when you see the progress of our building construction.

I am praying that you would have again planning to come in our country shortly.  I hope you would be able to come in Cabanatuan to see our church building and will preach even only for one day.  You are welcome here.

Thanks for your continued love for the the work of the Lord in our country.  We appreciate your love to the Filipino saints.  May our Almighty God will continue to bless you richly.

In His service,

JHUN BAUTISTA

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May 30

Small Buildings in Maconacon, Isabella Region

[singlepic id=63 w=480 h=400 float=]A few years ago I flew in a small plane over high mountains on Luzon to reach a remote part of the Isabela Province in a place called Maconacon.  We had to swim a river to reach the place where people were gathered and waiting for us to preach.  The river was in flood stage and Rody Gumpad almost drowned.

An outpost for the truth is now well established in that region and the brethren are trying to erect two small church buildings, one at Mercedez and one at Flores.  They need $550 at each place to get a roof of the buildings.[singlepic id=62 w=400 h=320 float=right]

This is another example of the work we are doing in trying to help those who help themselves.

In Christian love,

Ron Halbrook

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May 30

Report from Pascual Cempron

Warmest greetings from Lapacan Sur, Buenavista, Bohol![slideshow id=6]

How are you today my dear Brother? I hope all is well in Christ Jesus nowadays.

The new converts (my relatives) donated “gemelina trees” so that we could build our own building.

Our lumber materials are almost completed and ready, if we have enough budgets for the continuation of our work.

The building was constructed now in the portion of land that was left by my late parents as our family’s inheritance.

We are now praying to God for funds so that we continue our work next week. We need around thirty thousand pesos (Php30, 000.00) so that we could finished and use this building as our new place of worship.

The new converts, and my family are humbly asking your kind heart to share a little counterpart funds to finish our building construction. Please help us, bro Ron.

We are constructed a 20×20 dimension of our building. But if we have sufficient funds I’ll make it 20×30.

 

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May 24

Update on Willie Pastor:

 On Sunday the 13th Atoy Franco and I met Kenneth Pastor at the R.D.C. Unit of the Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila. After getting our security check and tattoo (an ink image is stamped on the wrists of visitors), we joined Willie and Kathy Pastor with about 35 inmates for Bible study and worship (8:45 A.M.‑12:00 P.M.). I presented a verse by verse study of Matthew 5 entitled “Attitudes Essential in the Kingdom of God” in two parts. These basic attitudes are presented in verses 3‑12, and their importance is reflected in the rest of the chapter.

 Our audience was very attentive as I preached and Willie translated. Five precious souls yielded to the gospel and requested baptism.

In spite of the trials of incarceration, Willie’s faith is strong and he is diligently working to convert the lost. This year alone 46 inmates have been converted, bringing the total for the two years Willie has been in prison to about 150‑200. Two congregations now meet among the 10,000 inmates.
Willie’s wife Kathy was able to join us. Though we can hardly imagine the emotional, financial, and spiritual pressures she lives under with four children to manage, she like Willie manifests an indomitable faith in God!

Here is an update on Willie’s legal status. He was put into prison two and a half years ago for killing someone many years ago. It was done in self‑defense, but the attacker’s family had good lawyers who persisted until they got a conviction with a sentence of eight years with the possibility of parole for good behavior after a minimum of six years. Last year he applied to the President for an executive pardon. After some hopeful signs, the Board of Parole recommended the President not consider granting a pardon until Willie has served at least his minimum sentence.

As an alternative, Willie recently applied to the Public Attorney’s Office for “colonist status,” which allows the minimum sentence to be cut in half before considering any form of early release. If all the necessary people sign off on this, Willie could possibly be considered for some form of early release by the fall of 2013.

Willie and his family have spent much money pursuing these various appeals and they are very thankful for saints who have helped them through prayers and financial aid from time to time. Let us continue to pray for God’s providence in all this.

If anyone would like to send Willie and Kathy a note of encouragement, email messages can be addressed to willieoteypastor@rocketmail.com. His brother Kenneth goes to the prison every Sunday and often on other occasions helping to preach the gospel, which places constant financial strain on him. He receives no support but simply works to provide his family’s needs. If someone could provide $50 or $75 a month or even occasional one‑time gifts to help Kenneth, it would be money well spent for the cause of Christ. Kenneth can be contacted at kennethpastor30@yahoo.com.

In Christian love, Ron

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