Philippine Report April 5-30, 2017
April 30, 2017th Year of Our Lord
HALBROOK REPORT: 66th PHILIPPINE TRIP April 5-30, 2017
Dear brethren,
Thanks to God who keeps opening doors, I have successfully completed my 66th preaching trip to the Philippines April 5-30, after first going with Jim McDonald in 1995. I am always amazed at the work Filipinos do with such meager resources! I am just a visitor who hopes to encourage and edify them, but they are the real heroes of faith. This trip included two vacation Bible study series for young people in an effort to raise up even more workers: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). 51 lessons were presented toward that end, not counting the ones presented by Filipino brethren. 16 were baptized into Christ.
This trip started with a bang when bad weather diverted my Atlanta flight to South Carolina, resulting in 50 hours of travel, double the usual time. I even had the bonus of sleeping on the floor at the Atlanta airport with thousands of other stranded people, but all is well that ends well. I arrived safely in Manila by God’s good providence. In spite of this one day delay, I made it to Davao City and began work there April 8-12.
It is always a joy to work in Davao City in southern Mindanao with Juanito Balbin and his sons Dudley, Sonni, and Connie along with other brethren. They arranged a vacation Bible school for April 10-14 with teachers including Lordy Salunga, Archie Alarcon, Jerry Moral, Jonathan Carino, and myself. 80 students attended the series on How to Study the Bible (workbook by Cecil Willis). I also preached on “Young People, Study the Bible,” “Selecting a Mate,” and “Modesty through the Ages.” Some young ladies did not have modest dresses and I quietly made provision for them to be provided one. Poverty often drives that problem in the Philippines, but conforming to our ungodly culture drives it in the U.S. There were 10 baptisms.
April 13-16 was devoted to northern Mindanao with Jonathan Carino, Jun Carpentero, and Edgar Samodal as travel companions. Thursday we visited the Eslon church of Christ, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte where Edgar preaches, then preached at Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte with Romeo Samodal, and finally reached the Logpond church, Tubod, Lanao del Norte where Leo Entroso labors.
Friday we were in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur for all day lectures at the Bogo church with Ramon Carino. Though 93 he is still sharp and active, sitting on the front row all day as usual. Late that afternoon we went to Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental to preach the next morning at a house church in Lower Lamac, Oroquieta City with Nelson Flores and in the afternoon at the Clarin church, Misamis Occidental with Juanito Lagasca. Sunday we met with Nelson at the Oroquieta City church which rents a room in the Misamis Occidental National High School.
Sunday afternoon Jonathan and I flew to Cebu Cityon Cebu and took an early morning flight to Manila and on to Tuguegarao, Cagayan in north-central Luzon. Tuesday I spoke on “How Love Grows in Marriage” at the wedding of Teddy Gumpad and Rovina Catubag. Jonathan, Lordy, and Rody Gumpad also spoke. The next day over 200 attended the preachers’ study where Jonathan, Lordy, and I spoke.
Thursday morning we traveled from Tuguegarao to Angeles City, Pampanga. Friday was devoted to working with Roger Molina at Limay in the Province of Bataan. I spoke on “The Gospel Makes Us Right with God” and “The Resurrection of Christ” followed by Rody’s overview of the plan of redemption under a brush arbor in punishing heat with 50 in attendance. When we stopped, they asked for more!
We rested and prepared for the upcoming week on Saturday. I accompanied Archie Alarcon for the Lord’s Day service at a young house church in Sta. Ana and later at the Unity St. church in San Fernando.
Monday through Wednesday a vacation Bible study was conducted for 50 young people at the Southside church in Angeles City where Lordy preaches, and three were baptized. Thursday–Friday was devoted to a preachers’ study of Then Comes the End by Mike Willis attended by 40 attentive souls.
I lost the last two days of preaching plus my usual visit to the Philippine Bible Society to buy Bibles in the dialects when I suddenly had to go home and see a retina specialist. God will see me through this.
Meanwhile, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to all of you who make these trips possible. It is a high privilege and an humbling experience to work with Filipinos in this time of such a great harvest of souls.
In Christian love, Ron Halbrook
To see good Bible study material, go to:
http://www.
http://www.biblework.com
http://www.truthmagazine.com
http://www.CEIbooks.com