PLEASE SHARE THIS LETTER ON GOSPEL PREACHING IN THE PHILIPPINES!

September 5, 2018th Year of Our Lord                                                                     

Dear brethren,

God willing, November 27-December 18 I will labor for the Master in the Philippines, my 72^nd trip since Jim McDonald first took me there in 1995. Jim Barnett who labors with the saints in Hope, NM and  Steven Saunders who preaches in Macon, MO will be making their third trip with me.  These men are not only competent evangelists but also excellent song leaders who can teach singing – and Filipino brethren dearly love to sing the praises of God.  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 sing this psalm by singing the beautiful song “Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah.”

The three of us will leave our respective homes on November 27 to meet in Detroit, MI, then fly to Tokyo, Japan, and arrive in Manila late on the night of November 28.  Filipino brethren will meet us the next day to repack materials we will bring to be shipped to the places where our gospel meetings are planned.

In December of 2012 and again in 2015 singing classes were conducted at the Kapitbahayan church of Christ, Navotas, Metro Manila.  Steve and Jim will teach classes to review, refresh, and re-motivate for the benefit of song leaders who have attended in the past.  I will preach lessons relating to worship.  Jerry Toreja and Fred Gonzales are diligent elders and Elias Cruz is one of the evangelists at this very active congregation.  These follow-up sessions will be conducted there on November 30-December 1.

On Sunday we will go different directions in order to preach in several places in Metro Manila.  If possible, I will preach again in the national prison, but it depends on changing policies and restrictions driven by security issues in the prison.  Ely Ebuenga continues doing a good work there among our poor brethren.

Monday, December 3 we plan to fly to the City of Puerto Princesa, an independent city of over 250,000 people on Palawan and the capital of this island province.  Our host will be Dario Belviz and the expected attendance will be 40-50.  Jim and Steve will distribute study guides to about 25 men for instruction in song leading and will conduct the song leading classes Monday through Wednesday.  I will sandwich in lessons on worship.  Thursday and Friday I will present the series on “The Bible Is the Word of God” with help from Steve and Jim.  It is designed to show why there are 66 books, how we know these are the right books, why the apocrypha is not included, and how we know there are no “lost books of the Bible.”

To have adequate facilities for this number and for this kind of training, we must rent a function room at a hotel.  Dario is doing his best to negotiate the price.  He, with the help of other brethren, will prepare two meals per day for the participants and will provide rustic sleeping quarters.

Saturday, December 8, is set aside for travel as we must fly from Palawan to Manila, and from there to the City of Bacolod, another independent city with a population of over 260,000 and the capital of Negros Occidental.  We will scatter to preach in the area on Sunday.  Our subject matter and format will be the same as the plan for Palawan.  Jack Jaco will serve as host and will rent a venue in Victorias City which we have used in the past.

On Saturday, the 16^th, we will fly back to Manila.  After we preach in Metro Manila on Sunday, Jim and Steve will return home the next day while I go to the Philippine Bible Society to buy Bibles in various dialects to be shipped to points throughout the nation.  God willing, I will fly home on December 18.

Living costs for Filipinos and the costs to conduct these meetings keep increasing, due in part to the new tax policies instituted this year. Total venue costs will hit about $7,000, not including other expenses.

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.
God willing, several members of the Hebron Lane church of Christ here in Shepherdsville, KY will help pack 22 boxes of Bibles, songbooks, study materials, and personal items this Saturday (Sept. 8).  Many of you donated funds for the cost of sending these boxes by ship and we lack only $150 to reach the goal of $3,000 for this effort.  Many thanks, on behalf of Filipino saints!