Philippine Trip November 30-December 21
Ron & Donna Halbrook
3505 Horse Run Ct.
Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954
PLEASE SHARE THIS LETTER ON GOSPEL PREACHING IN THE PHILIPPINES!
November 2, 2015th Year of Our Lord
Dear brethren,
God willing, November 30-December 21 I will labor for the Master in the Philippines, my 60th 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 second trip with me. These men are not only competent evangelists but also excellent song leaders who can teach singing. Through the gospel God tunes our hearts to join the angels in praising His Son: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing” (Rev. 5:12).
The three of us will leave our respective homes on November 30, to meet in Tokyo, Japan. God willing, we will arrive in Manila late on the night of December 1. Elias Cruz will meet us the next day to repack materials we will bring to be shipped to the places where singing classes will be taught.
In December of 2012 the first singing class at the Kapitbahayan church of Christ, Navotas, Metro Manila was very successful and brethren even traveled from distant places to attend. Jerry Toreja and Fred Gonzales are diligent elders and Elias Cruz is one of the evangelists at this very active congregation. Arrangements have been made to conduct follow-up sessions there on December 3-4.
Brethren in other parts of the Philippines have requested the singing classes in their areas – Filipinos love to sing the praises of God! Saturday, December 5, the three of us will fly to Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. On Sunday we will scatter to preach for several congregations including the saints in the provincial jail. Vic Domingo and Mat Sibayan, Sr. are long-time gospel preachers in the Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur provinces where dozens of churches are now scattered. Vic and Mat will each select 25 men who show good potential as song leaders. These 50 men will receive the printed materials. Others will attend on a sit-in basis and participate in the training scheduled for Monday through Wednesday.
Jim and Steven will give instructions on music and song leading. Selecting topics to augment singing classes, I will teach such lessons as “The Purpose of Our Lives,” “Before Abraham Was, I Am,” “Reverence in Worship,” “Holy in Worship & in Life,” “I Will Sing Unto the Lord,” and “Instrumental Music in Worship.”
On Thursday, December 10, we will fly over 1,200 miles from Laoag City on northern Luzon to Davao City on southern Mindanao to work with Juanito Balbin, his sons (Dudley Ross, Sonni Dave, & Connie), and other brethren. The singing classes will begin immediately the next day and continue until noon on Saturday, when the preachers will scatter back to their respective congregations to preach on Sunday. We will also preach in the area on Sunday. The classes will resume Monday and Tuesday. Fifty men will receive printed materials and many more will join on a sit-in basis. The wheels are still turning on Juanito’s efforts to purchase land at a prime location for a new church building; I will have a report after visiting there.
On Wednesday, the 16th, Jim and Steven will fly to Manila and return home the next day. I will travel to General Santos City for an unusual opportunity. A friend of Atoy Frano in Metro Manila put him in contact with a group of denominational preachers in the remote mountains of Saranggani Province on faraway Mindanao. They are willing to study with us. It is not safe for me to travel to their location, but we will rent a couple of jeepneys to bring them to General Santos City to study December 17-18.
When I return to Manila on the 19th, I plan to buy again as many Bibles as possible. The saints enjoy singing from English songbooks but also plead for songbooks in their different dialects. Filipinos have prepared small songbooks which must be specially printed and I need to begin raising funds for this purpose.
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: