Ron & Donna Halbrook

3505 Horse Run Ct.

Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954

PLEASE SHARE THIS LETTER ON GOSPEL PREACHING

IN THE PHILIPPINES!

January 31, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear brethren,

By God’s grace and providence my 49th trip to preach the gospel of Christ in the Philippines is planned for February 12-March 9 . I am eternally indebted to Jim McDonald for taking me there in 1995. The upcoming trip will include a side trip to Australia. Christ proclaims his authority for our salvation to all the world, and we must submit every phase of life to him: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Col. 3:17). The context applies his authority over our lives to our conduct, our attitudes, our worship, and our family life-all things!

This letter, my appeal, and my schedule are later than usual because I had surgery on my left ear on January 17 to begin addressing hearing problems which have grown worse. The stapes or stirrup bone was replaced with a prosthesis. If this helps my hearing, the same procedure will be done to the right ear later this year. The doctor did not want me to fly for 3 weeks after the surgery. He expects to release me February 6.

Since my return from the last trip, internet problems have plagued me, preventing me from having access to get the word out about this upcoming trip. I have also needed to get word out about the horrific damage done by typhoon Pablo which hit Mindanao while I was in Cebu in December, but was blocked from using my list of contacts. By communicating with a few of you we were able to send some relief. Sending multiple emails got me labeled as a spammer. I now pay for the Aweber service to avoid being blocked.

To top it off, new government red tape regulating banks in sending international bank wires resulted in my local bank dropping the service. I had to find a bank which can handle such wires which are necessary to some of the overseas work I am doing such as typhoon relief.

As if all this were not enough, our son David and his wife Starla had the audacity to bring their first child into the world on January 17! This necessitated our going to Batesville, AR to personally meet and examine Joel Nason Halbrook last week. We were able to approve Joel-he is definitely a keeper!

In spite of this “perfect storm” of events, my trip is planned and I believe the necessary funds will be provided by the providence of God and the love of His saints. After arriving in Manila on February 13, I will fly the next day to Cebu City to begin preaching there. After working with some area churches, a class will be held February 18-22 on the home and family.

Philippine culture is family oriented on the surface, but in practice there is much corruption and immorality. It is not unusual for men to have a paramour or “second wife” while maintaining a traditional home. The problems in the church at Corinth mirrored Corinthian culture. The same thing is true in the Philippines, in the U.S., or anywhere else. Some of our brethren, even some preachers, have been involved in corruption and immorality. Therefore, I have been teaching this weeklong series on the home and family in recent years and it is received very well. In fact, brethren are pleading in many places for the series.

After the class, I will stay five more days in Cebu City as a base of operations in the area including nearby islands where doors are open to us. Jonathan Carino and I will be doing follow up work with some established churches and some newly planted churches. I will detail it all in the report to follow my trip.

February 27-March 7 will be spent traveling to and from Gladstone and Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. Previous visits to Gladstone led to visiting Rockhampton where there is a church of 30 or so. I will present a six-part series there on “The Authority of Christ” and will encourage the Gladstone saints also.

I regret the delay in getting out this letter, but it was unavoidable. By the time some of you can read it and respond with funds, I will already be on my way. I will use a credit card to get by and Donna can forward funds to me while I am in the Philippines. God always provides through the love of His saints! Individuals giving $500 or more for church buildings and similar needs can write checks to Help A Neighbor for a tax deduction. Write all other checks to Ron Halbrook. Mail 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@insightbb.com

P.S. There is a dire need for songbooks! I can ship new or used copies very cheaply.