January 5, 2015^th Year of Our Lord

                                                            

Dear brethren,

God opened the way for me to preach the gospel with Jim McDonald in the Philippines in 1995 and now plans are being made for my 57^th trip January 26-February 20, 2015.  Souls burdened by the crushing weight of sin and guilt thrill to hear the beautiful invitation of the Savior, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).  Sean Rizor, an evangelist at the Fremont, OH church of Christ, and I will echo that beautiful invitation of Christ in the Philippines.  When he returns home on February 7, I will proceed to Gladstone, Queensland, Australia to do my best to encourage the saints there in their good work.

After we arrive in Manila, we hope to preach to brethren and sinners at the Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, the national prison where Willie Pastor spent four years and baptized over 500 people.  He was released October 15 and has returned to his family in Quirino Province.  He wants to maintain contact with the saints in prison and he may join us if we can get into the prison to preach again.

The devastation of the killer typhoon Yolanda which hit the Philippines on November 8, 2013 was the worst on record, leaving over 6,000 dead. Millions were affected in various other ways such as losing their homes, possessions, and means of livelihood.  Their recovery will take years.  There is a silver lining to this terrible tragedy.  Having passed through the valley of the shadow of death, many survivors have clearly seen their greatest need is salvation from sin.  Many souls have submitted to Christ and many others are searching for salvation.  Negros Occidental suffered greatly during the typhoon and doors are opening there.

The island of Negros is divided into two provinces: Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.  There are many gospel preachers on Negros and the gospel is especially flourishing in Negros Occidental.  Bacolod City is the capital of this province.  The Philippines is a stronghold of Catholicism, but also Baptist churches and other denominations are numerous in Bacolod City.  Several times over the years I have presented a series of lessons on “The Authority of Christ” to gatherings of Baptists and other denominational preachers. The last time I preached those lessons, some of these “pastors” approached me requesting that the series be made available on DVD’s so that they could study them in more detail.  This shows the degree of interest they have in hearing the truth.  Perhaps someday I will find a way to put this material on high quality DVD’s so they could be reproduced, but meanwhile I hope they are ready to hear this series again.

Bacolod City will be our base of operation.  Forty minutes north of Bacolod City is Victorias City where Jack Jaco has labored in the gospel for many years.  The congregation in Victorias City has grown to the point it is overflowing with 100 people with some standing outside listening.  There are also thriving congregations scattered in the far flung rural regions of this province.  I visited many of these churches delivering benevolence last February and March, having time only to present short lessons of encouragement, but they also pled with me to return and preach the gospel to bring more souls to salvation.  This is what Sean and I plan to do.  Roy Matta from Cebu Island works with a new congregation we also hope to visit.

It has been over a year since I have visited the brethren in Gladstone, Queensland, Australia who number 7 when all are present.  I will be there February 9-16 to preach the series on “The Authority of Christ” in an effort to reach the lost and to edify the saints.

I thank God for the prayers and donations of His saints which make these trips possible.  We can do nothing alone, but we all are “laborers together with God” (1 Cor. 3:9).  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

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