Preach in Philippines April 22 – May 11, 2024
April 5, 2024th Year of Our Lord
Dear brethren,
My 86th trip to preach in the Philippines has been on hold, pending Donna’s progress in recovering from knee-replacement surgery. She is making steady progress and is comfortable with me going ahead April 22-May 11. If something unexpected happens that she needs me, the trip will be postponed again. I am indebted to her for every single preaching trip I have ever made by God’s good providence.
I cannot forget Jim McDonald introduced me to the Philippine work in 1995 and has encouraged me.
This short notice means funds will arrive late. I will trust God and go with confidence saints will help.
It is disheartening to see man’s inhumanity to man but uplifting to see the gospel’s power to reconcile us to God and to unite the bitterest enemies in peace, joy, and love. Isaiah 11 prophesied this great work of Christ which would change the hearts of Jews and Gentiles and other divided peoples throughout the world: “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (vs. 9). We must not tire in spreading the gospel of Christ to all men!
April 22-24 will be used to fly from Louisville to Manila and tend to errands. The next three days will be spent with saints who have a special place in my heart: deaf-mute saints in Metro Manila. I have worked with them 15-20 years and have learned to love Antonio “Tonyboy” Hornedo who is a deaf-mute evangelist and pillar of strength for these saints. At least two of these days will be spent studying the theme “Marriage and Morals.”
The 3rd day, the 27th, is reserved for a new congregation they formed. The older congregation meets in the same facility as the Edsa-Pasay church which began in 2013. This is a central location which serves brethren who come from the provinces to find work. The Edsa-Pasay church meets on the 4th floor of an old office building which has been modified to include a room where 20-25 deaf-mute saints also meet. Much of the Philippines is suffering a drought and the heat is stifling on this 4th floor, but I will try to find funds for a couple of small AC units. If the heat is dangerous where the new group meets, I will pay their fares to bring them here.
April 28-29 will be devoted to my fellow-laborer Elias Cruz, a son of Ben Cruz (died 2011) who did pioneering work in Manila for many years. Elias helps several congregations including Kapitbahayan, and I will let him prepare the schedule of preaching for these two days wherever he feels we can be most effective.
On the 30th I plan to fly to Iloilo City on Panay Island where we have been trying to establish a beachhead and do some follow-up work with Jack Jaco. Through Jack’s contacts, we have been planting a lot of gospel seed in denominational preachers and churches in this area. He even went back to do additional teaching last month. If possible, Jonathan Carino will join us for meetings at San Jose, Antique Province on May 1, followed by Guimbal in the Province of Iloilo on May 2 where Marvin Escodero started a new work. A lectureship on the theme of “The Authority of Christ” will be conducted May 3-4 in Iloilo City. On the 5th we will labor with the saints in Balasan, Iloilo Province, where Jack’s brother Romeo preaches and where brethren from the new work in Pilar, Capiz Province will join us for the day of preaching.
May 6 will find me flying to Cebu City on Cebu Island to work with Jonathan Carino for three days.
May 10 I will go to Manila to purchase Bibles in dialects that day. I return home on the 11th.
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. For PayPal, the account is Richard Halbrook – indicate “send to a friend” not “pay for item or service.” 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
PS There is a critical need for songbooks! I can ship new or used copies very cheaply.
PSS A dire drought is causing Filipino saints to suffer hunger in many places. Benevolence in direly needed.