Preaching Christ in the Philippines: December 2022
November 5, 2022nd Year of Our Lord
Dear brethren,
By God’s merciful providence my 80th preaching trip to the Philippine Islands is scheduled for November 29-December 20. Jim McDonald first took me in 1995. What a great privilege it is to preach among souls who are so earnestly seeking for God and the truth of His plan for our salvation! But there is another great blessing in this work: While preaching the gospel in cooperation with Filipino saints, I have learned many lessons about faith, hope, love, sacrifice, and service from their examples!
When there is such a great harvest of souls, two things are vitally needed. There must be an abundance of teaching about the first principles of the gospel which sustains the harvest and there must be much teaching to strengthen and solidify the faith of new converts. When the church at Antioch harvested Greeks as well as Jews, “the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord” (Acts 11:21). The church at Jerusalem sent Barnabas to help “who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord” (vs. 23). My trip will focus both on first principles and on exhorting saints to cleave to the Lord.
It has been well over two years since I was able to visit the Philippines, but this year has proven to be fruitful. In April I preached on Luzon in fulfilling the commitments to participate in the preacher training program at Tuguegarao and to teach the book of Revelation in the Ilocos region, commitments which were delayed for two years by covid regulations. In August I visited many churches on Mindanao where 16 earthquakes and over 4,000 aftershocks destroyed many houses, leaving poor saints without adequate shelter. The work of building little houses for them is progressing well. I have been longing to visit the Visayan Islands, the central part of the Philippines. The harvest there is unabated and much follow-up teaching is needed.
Unfortunately, I cannot visit all of the places where I have been invited, but December 3-9 will be spent on the large island of Negros in the Province of Negros Occidental. I will fly on the 3rd from Manila to Bacolod City in Negros Occidental to meet Jack Jaco from Victorias City, who will guide me as we travel and visit the following places. Sunday we will visit the saints at Kabankalan City. The next day will find us at Canlaon City, Codcod, San Carlos City. Victorias City will host classes for young people on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday we are scheduled to be at Escalante City.
December 9 will find us traveling to Cebu City on Cebu Island, possibly making a short visit at Toboso, Negros Occidental along the way. Jonathan Carino will guide me to the following appointments. Saturday and Sunday will be devoted to Mainngit, Toledo City where the late Nathan Cajigas preached for years – his son Shamar continues this work. The church at nearby Balamban is scheduled for Monday, where Cornelio Roda labors. The 13th we will travel to Bogo City where Rupert Ramirez is preaching.
On Wednesday the itinerary brings us to Liloan. Thursday will be a busy day as we visit brethren at Lapu-lapu City, Talisay City, and Cebu City. I return to Manila on Friday.
Saturday I will rest and prepare to preach in Manila on Sunday. Monday is reserved to purchase Bibles in Filipino dialects to ship many places. Then, I fly home Tuesday, the 20th.
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