Philippine Preaching Planned December 2-20, 2019
Ron & Donna Halbrook
3505 Horse Run Ct.
Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954
PLEASE SHARE THIS LETTER ON GOSPEL PREACHING IN THE PHILIPPINES!
November 2, 2019th Year of Our Lord
Dear brethren,
Plans are falling into place for my 76th preaching trip to the Philippines December 2-20, after Jim McDonald first took me there in 1995. By God’s providence, the harvest of souls to spend eternity with Him in heaven moves from land to land and place to place – and the Republic of the Philippines is one of the most fruitful at this time in history. We must make hay while the sun shines because no one can predict when that harvest will decline as it has done in our own country. Thessalonica was a pagan city in ancient Greece when Paul planted the gospel there. Many souls “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” so that soon the church there rang out the message of salvation in Christ in every direction–“The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia – your faith in God has become known everywhere” (1 Thess. 1:8-10, niv).
December 2-3 will be spent in about 24 hours of travel from Louisville, KY to Manila. Wednesday morning local brethren will help me repack boxes to ship ahead so that materials can be distributed in the areas where I will teach.
December 5-10 will be devoted to working with the brethren in the Bicol region of Luzon about 12 hours southeast of Manila. Bulusan Volcano and Mayon Volcano are active in Bicol but not more active than some faithful evangelists laboring in the region. Jhun Layusa lives in the Municipality of Mercedes in the province of Camarines Norte. Larry Ebuenga lives at San Isidro in the Municipality of Prieto Diaz in the contiguous province of Sorsogon. I plan to labor alongside them and other good men in the region. There will be lessons to edify and encourage the preachers, but also plans are being made to visit congregations where they labor. For many years these brethren have sacrificed their money and time to join our gatherings in Manila and other places and I have wanted to visit their region for many years. Knowing how hard they work, I know this will be a fruitful time with them. Jonathan Carino plans to join me there.
December 12-15 I plan to be on the Island of Panay, the sixth-largest and fourth most-populous island in the Philippines. It sits just west of the Island of Negros and is bordered on the east by the Sulu Sea and on the west by the Visayan Sea. Both Jim McDonald and I spent a lot of time preaching in IloIlo City which sits on the southeastern tip of Panay and is the capital city of the province of Panay. The city has almost a half million residents. We baptized many there, some of whom still worship while others have died, moved away, or fallen away. It is time to return to stoke the remaining embers of this work with the help of Jack Jaco and Jonathan Carino.
A Filipino man living near here in Louisville, KY handles the boxes I ship to the Philippines via Forex Cargo and is building a new home within the environs of IloIlo City. He will be there during the time I am visiting Panay and I plan to spend a day with him. He is Catholic and I hope he will attend our preaching.
God willing, on December 17 I will return to Manila. I am asking the help of Ely Ebuenga again to preach to the saints and visitors in Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City in Metro Manila. Having lost some of his support, Ely is struggling as a taxi driver to supplement his income which hampers his ability to work with the inmates and limits his evangelistic work in other ways. A visit is scheduled the next day at the Philippine Bible Society to purchase Bibles in Filipino dialects to be shipped to brethren requesting them, always a highlight of the trip! On the 20th I hope to return home to Donna and all of our loved ones here.
Thank you for prayers and donations which make these trips possible! Individuals needing a legal tax deduction may write checks to Help A Neighbor. Write all other checks to Ron Halbrook. Mail all checks 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@twc.com
P.S. There is a dire need for songbooks! I can ship new or used copies very cheaply.
To see good Bible study material, go to:
https://www.hebronlane.com
https://biblework.
https://truthbooks.com
https://www.truthmagazine.com