SEPTEMBER 2022 REPORT ON THE WORK IN CORRIGAN, TEXAS [email protected]

Dear Beloved Brethren,

281-756-7957

ROBERT RAIF
171 CALDWELL ST.

LIVINGSTON, TX 77351

I pray that you are all well and pressing on in the Lord’s service. I am thankful that the Lord has opened the door back into the prison. We are meeting in a very small room, but we got 15 in there. We are supposed to move to a little bigger room soon. God has given us an open door. Pray for more open doors.

I spent my 4th week at the prison this morning with 15 men. We have a two hour session studying what the Bible says about being real men. Not about physical strength or popularity, but about being the kind of men the Bible describes. We are using Robert Harkrider’s book “I Sought For A Man.” It is, of course, Biblical, and it teaches the responsibilities of man as God created Him. Ten of these are Christians, and the others are searchers who have been studying with us for several years.

In Corrigan, I study with Curtis and then with Charlie on Fridays. They were both baptized. They probably won’t ever become leaders or teachers, but they bring joy to our group. I went door-knocking afterward and found a few people home and used the bulletin that we mail out as a door opener. But, there have been no takers when asking them for a home study. But they know where we are and that we have an interest in them. We just keep sowing the seed and the Lord will bring the growth.

Now that I study with 15 at the prison, I won’t be doing Correspondence courses with these men. That will free up some of my time. I have fallen behind in that area.

There have been 5 typhoons that have wiped out the food supply in the northern part of the Filipino islands. Rice, corn, bananas, etc. in some parts are totally gone. They are now really crying out for food. Just like the Jerusalem brethren, these and the Zimbabwe brethren seem to be the ones almost constantly in need. One preacher’s wife (Loli) has to cook under an umbrella because the tin roof over their stove is so leaky. Another preacher and his wife (Jimmy and Eden) have to spend a day cleaning out the water after every rain. They just don’t have the money to fix the damage that the typhoon caused years ago. But these feel blessed because they have homes, whereas some brethren are still living in tents after earthquakes destroyed their villages three years ago. This way of giving is much better than any Red Cross or other human benevolence Company. 100% of what you give goes to the ones in need, and it goes to brethren. Please give when you can!

Thank you so much, my beloved brethren, for standing with me in sharing the gospel with others and encouraging the saints here in Corrigan. My needs are fully supplied. Let’s pray that the Lord of Harvest sends for reapers and pray for open doors.

In Him who saves, Robert Raif

(Read on for more information on the benevolent work to those overseas.)

Here is the aid sent out for September. Over $5500 was sent. Some is for support of preachers. Most of these men are out almost every day teaching house to house and often baptizing - - sometimes 1, sometimes 4, and sometimes in the teens at one gospel meeting. They need money for their house, food for the family, and petrol to go and spread the truth. The first number is the benevolence, and the second number is for the preachers’ support.

Zimbabwe
600 300 Kudakwashe Bangure. 200 400 Brighton Makurudza.

Uganda
500 300 Kule Bisathu

Kenya
200 300 John Ositu.

Philippines

100 200 500 300 100 500 400 500 0 400 0 200 0 150 200 0

Glenn Fiesta.

Manny Pader.
Simeon Vargas.
Jimmy Domingo.
Rosendo Gumpad.
Andy M Dappas.
Felipe Jr Tan Tula.
Zurdan & Fe Baliog. The family of 3 were down for 8 weeks with the Monkey

Pox.

Nicaragua
300 200 Jose Ruiz.
120 0 Paulita Lopez. She has lingering medical needs from Covid damage.

MAY/ JUNE 2022 REPORT ON
THE WORK IN CORRIGAN, TEXAS [email protected]

Greetings Brethren,

281-756-7957

ROBERT RAIF
171 CALDWELL ST.

LIVINGSTON, TX 77351

I hope and pray you all are well. We are doing about the same. Except, around the middle of June I was able to put my full weight on my injured leg, so that really excited me that I would be able to go into the prison again - - when they let me. I went on a 2-week vacation in June to Philly to see my two oldest granddaughters graduate. I am sorry, this report should have been done on the first of July, and here it is on the first of August.

I spend about 3 days on the work in Corrigan - - getting my classes and sermons ready and then presenting them and going about visiting. I plan to start door knocking now that my hip is better. In the Bible study, we’ve been discussing lessons called “The Whole Man” which basically teaches us that we are to be committed to God 24/7. It has been a good study. I’m preaching through 1 and 2 Timothy now on Sunday nights.

I spend another 2 days in the prison work, grading lessons and teaching the 40 men who have questions. I send a “bulletin” out at the end of the month whether they send any lessons in or not, and that has helped influence two men to stay the course. Sam baptized one man in a laundry cart and another wants to know more about baptism because he has been fed the doctrine of “faith alone” by so many for so long and wants to be sure.

I’ve always taken off Monday and Tuesday for my “weekend.” But because of my wife’s health, we never go anywhere. So my “weekend” is now spent being a messenger and sending funds that individuals give to me for the poor saints in the Philippines, countries in Africa, and some in Nicaragua. The priority is for brethren without food, some to help people get their medical needs supplied, and some to supply preachers with food and petrol to do their work. Most of these preachers have little or no support. Some of the young preachers ask questions on a certain topic or want the material to present truth in a Bible study with a J.W. or something like that. So many people are being converted in these foreign countries due to poverty, sicknesses, and also because of oppressive governments. Of the 15 preachers I deal with, there are at least 15 baptisms a week as they go about almost every day teaching in homes. Sometimes 30 people gather at a home that they have gone to on their motorbike, and often 1 or 2 will want to become Christians. Since the members have no transportation, the preachers have to do a lot of traveling each day, and on Sunday working with 2 or 3 and sometimes 4 different churches! A big concern of theirs is “petrol” so they can go and teach others. Glenn Fiesta goes to pick up individuals with his only mode of transportation - - a motorbike with a sidecar. He arrives with 3 people on the bike and 4 inside the sidecar! But this is how he brings some of the older people who have to walk miles to get to the meeting house. And they have one Bible for every three people, so we buy Bibles for them.

I so much appreciate all those who have fellowship me in the work in Corrigan and the prisons. Please pray that the Chaplain at Estelle will allow me back in. I visited there this last week, but that will be in my July/August report.

Love in Jesus who saves, Robert Raif

(Read on for more information on the benevolent work to those overseas.)

Here is the aid sent out. Total $5800 for May and in the next column what was spent in June. They send pictures of the bills to verify their needs.

May June

Zimbabwe

700 700 Kudakwashe (200 for his food and petrol, 500 for 3 churches for food) for the month 400 450 Brighton Tapiwanashe Makurudza. Food , rent, petrol, and helping the poor.

Uganda

220 450 KULE EZRA BISATHU. 250 to feed the whole church for a month

Kenya

400 450 John Ositu. Medical needs and support (his only support for his family)

Philippines

250
300 300 500 500 400 600 400 400 200 250 150 100 90 80

Nicaragua

200 200 180 0

Manny Pader support and medical.
Simeon Vargas. Medicine for his 30–year-old daughter to enable her to walk again. Jimmy Domingo. Food, petrol, and medical bills.
Rosendo Gumpad support for him and his family
Andy M Dappas. Food and petrol for the work.
Felipe Jr Tan Tula. food and medical
Fe Apatan Baliog. Food and medicine

Jose Ruiz family food and medicine. Paulita Lopez. Medical needs.

In Him who saves, Robert Raif

Glen Fiesta’s son
with 7 passengers. Especially good on
cold rainy Sundays.---->

NOVEMBER 2020 REPORT ON THE WORK IN CORRIGAN, TEXAS [email protected]

Dear Brethren,

281-756-7957

ROBERT RAIF
171 CALDWELL ST. LIVINGSTON, TX 77351

It is with sadness that I tell you of the deaths of two brethren who were converted at the Estelle Unit. Spike (Kenneth Bourland) had been released a few years ago. He was 77 and had a brain tumor and he died in October. I got to talk to him and his wife on the phone in his last days, and all he could say is how thankful he was that he got to know the Lord in prison before they released him. He attended a faithful church when he could. John Martinez was out about 6 months and was worshipping with a faithful church. He lived with his family and was trying to teach them and others. He was hit by a car when he was walking home one day. He would call me once a week and "check-in." I was proud of both of these men for the changes they had made, and I am happy they died in the Lord.

Volunteers are still not allowed to enter the prisons. I am busy every day grading the lessons the prisoners send to me, explaining what they missed and why, sending new lessons, and writing to each one a personal note, and sending my sermon notes. This uses a lot more time than just grading the lessons, but I have grown to know these men and they have grown in their trust in me that I am not just a teacher when there, but their friend (and to some a brother) for life. One of the men got out 4 years ago and he is Catholic, but he called me this week about marriage advice. He is fierce-looking and big and strong and tattooed, but he said he is a different man than when he went in. He loves his wife and would do anything for his little son of a few months.

The work in Corrigan goes well. We finished Colossians and we have started Isaiah - - the Messianic prophet! I am preaching through Hebrews on Sunday nights.

Brethren, if you watch the news you are probably aware of what is going on in the Philippines. They have been devastated by two major typhoons recently. Many were already living in hunger, having no food, and living in tents in the southern part because their homes were wiped out last year from earthquakes. Now in the northern area, their homes have been swamped by overflowing rivers. Many have lost their homes and those who have not lost their homes have lost everything in them as the water came up so fast. They have strung ropes between trees and put those blue tarps over that - - sleeping in makeshift tents. They were needing money to buy food before the typhoon, now they are DESPERATELY in need. Entire congregations have no food to share now. Many of the crops have been wiped out.

There are something like 400 faithful churches in the islands. I get reports from three loyal Filipino preachers, and there are conversions every week among them. Perhaps hundreds every month in the islands. The church is on fire there and souls are being saved. Philippines is about the size of half the state of Texas, with a population of about 1/3 of the USA.

Whether our brethren are in Alabama, Alaska, or the Phillippines, we need to “Remember the poor.” The Jerusalem church needed help for years - - perhaps from the beginning in Acts 2 until 70AD, but brethren were always taking up contributions and sending to the poor. Almost every time the contribution was mentioned in the New Testament, it was for “the needy saints.” I know many of us are having a tough time now, but nothing like what is going on there. They are living on the streets and in the fields with no food and very little clothing.

This is our family, the family of God, and we want to respond with love, wisdom, and compassion as quickly as possible. “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Pet. 1:22).

If you want to send money directly with MoneyGram or Western Union, I can put you in touch with men I know personally there. I can advise you about sending it. If you want to send it to me for me to send as a messenger, just let me know. I have a bank account just for that purpose as I am always sending funds given to me for that purpose and will give you an accounting of where your money goes.

Ron Halbrook has been going to the Philippines several times a year for many years. He knows hundreds of preachers there. He writes, “I know faithful and trustworthy men across northern and central Luzon who personally know the conditions or who can depend on eyewitnesses from various rural and remote places. We will ask these faithful and reliable Filipinos to serve as messengers to deliver emergency benevolence to the saints in keeping with Bible principles. Paul wrote, ‘Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men’ (2 Cor. 8:20-21). These men know well how to properly document the delivery of benevolence.

Individuals who want to donate $250 or more and want it to be tax-deductible can make checks to Help A Neighbor (approved under section 501 (C) 3 of the IRS Code). Churches asking me to relay funds should write the checks to Ron Halbrook. In either case, send the checks to my home address at 3505 Horse Run Ct., Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954. H.A.N. is a labor of love. No one takes compensation for this service. Every penny donated goes to needs we have identified in some way as reflected in this report. Thank you to all who make it possible. Visit www.HelpANeighbor.net to learn more (thanks to Thomas and Jacob Keese).”

There you have it - - several ways to help your starving brethren. So often brethren ask me what is the best charity to give to that helps real people and doesn’t take half the money for “administrative costs.” Next time you want to give to a charity, think of giving to your brethren - - some who have no homes and have no money to rebuild but are honest hard-working souls living in a third world country. They are dealing with a lot of what the USA dealt with in the great depression 100 years ago. The government has mandated shutdowns there unlike what we have. And if they had not, the deaths from the Covid would be unbelievable. Once this pandemic is over, they will be able to more easily get back on their feet.

We often use James for our denominational friends, but James was writing to the church of Christ! “What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so, faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself (Jas 2:14-17).

Thank you so much brethren for the fellowship we have together in spreading the truth. My support is sufficient. Pray for more open doors - - the Lord keeps opening them. Pray for our Filipino brethren.

Yours in Him who saves, Robert Raif

AUGUST 2020 REPORT ON
THE WORK IN CORRIGAN, TEXAS [email protected]

Dear Brethren,

281-756-7957

ROBERT RAIF
171 CALDWELL ST. LIVINGSTON, TX 77351

We pray for all of you each night, praying that you stay safe and well, and that your souls are prospering. I have found that many have become introspective during this pandemic - - especially the prisoners who are locked up tight in their cells except for one hour a day to get out to shower. They are reading more, studying more, and considering how they want their lives to go in the future. This has been good for most of them. They got out of their cells for one week and to work and ate in the mess hall, but the CoVid spread again and they were all locked down again.

As I reported last time, now that they don’t let me come into the Estelle Unit, I started the men on correspondence courses. These are not simple T or F answers, but more complex. I have 4 different courses going and sometimes the corrected answers and explanations on my part requires a page or two. So every morning I’m in my study from about 6 to noon grading and answering these lessons. It is a challenge, and sometimes they build up on the weekend because that time is taken up by my sermon and class preparation. So Monday is usually a busy day of catching up.

Let me tell you about the men who have been paroled. They will call me occasionally. I always try and get them lined up with a good church before they get out. One man was an elder in a church in the Dallas area. He broke the law, spent time in the prison, and is now back with his wife worshiping with the church and working as he used to. Spike is out and worshiping with a church online worship. He is very sick and has cancer, but has been an encouragement to them. John got out and is worshiping with a church in San Antonio. Billy was never converted, but is worshiping with a church in Comanche. He is doing a study with me through the mail.

We sang Sunday in Corrigan, “Was it for CRIMES that I have done, He groaned upon the tree?” Truly, we have all committed crimes against God, but our crimes didn’t break man’s law so we are not in prison. Any man who lusts after a woman has committed adultery already. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer. Covetousness is idolatry. Well, Eric has been out for 4 1⁄2 years. He has visited with the leadership of 6 churches over the last 9 months who then said they would not be comfortable with him worshiping there. Amazing! God can forgive but we can’t? He committed the crime almost 20 years ago, and that is when he was totally in the world. Now he is a new creature, and a brother. Finally, last week he met with the elders at Bay City and they assured him and his wife that they were welcome to worship there. We were so glad to hear that news. You see what a challenge these brethren have coming out of prison, and why several brethren go back to the world when churches reject them.

Paul wanted to share with Corinth what had happened with the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.
For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability they gave of their own accord for the poor saints (2 Cor 8:2-3). I mentioned the brethren in Zimbabwe and the Philippines last month, and several responded . That is so good to see. Thousands of dollars have been sent to our brethren overseas who are starving. There are many thousands of good brethren in the Philippines, Zimbabwe, and India. I sent these funds to brethren I know who could be trusted there, and money was delivered to congregations who were in need. They reported back with receipts and I forwarded that to those who gave. Brethren, this virus is not going away any time soon, so I can just say as did the Jerusalem elders to Paul, “remember the poor.”

Yours in Him who saves, Robert Raif

JUNE/JULY 2020 REPORT ON
THE WORK IN CORRIGAN, TEXAS [email protected]

281-756-7957

ROBERT RAIF
171 CALDWELL ST. LIVINGSTON, TX 77351

Dear Brethren,
I find it just as hard, if not harder, to find time to write this report as when I was actually going to the prison. Going to the prison occupied two whole days basically. Now I find myself, every day, grading their lessons and sending them my sermons that I believe will help them and writing personal notes. Sometimes I get tired of the constant flow, getting lessons in the mail as I am sending more out. But I know it is opening their eyes as I am actually personally studying with each one. It is so encouraging to get to know them this way. I sent off five envelopes today and each one was about 1/4 inch thick. I went and bought $140 worth of stamps and a bunch of printer cartridges and 10 reams of paper and 1000 envelopes. Some write a lot and do perfect on the lessons, some are slower, some haven’t done any lessons yet - - but they write (There are 5 or 6 who are almost blind and it is difficult for them). I’ve heard from them all. And there is no telling if they will open up Estelle before the year ends.

Most of the prisons didn’t lock down like Estelle. Estelle is the medical unit for this region, so they get the sickest to come there. And if an individual needs a real hospital, then they are all sent to John Sealy Hospital in Galveston. Estelle had about 1000 tested positive out of 3000, and they were juggling them to keep the positives form the negatives. But Estelle is starting to open up a little. The men have been eating sandwiches three times a day in their cells. The same o' same o' for 70 day! And their sandwiches have no nice things in them. They were really happy this week to get out and go to the dining room - - no one complained about the food. And they got to go out and see the sun and breathe fresh air. Two of my guys were pretty sick, but they both pulled through. The work goes well.

Switching gears. The Christians in Jerusalem needed financial help from the get-go. And Paul was still helping brethren send contributions to those same brethren 30 years later on his third journey (Rom 15:26- 27)! He URGED brethren to help these “foreigners” because they were all in the same family - - the family of Christ. When Paul met with the church in Jerusalem, they only asked Paul to remember the poor there (Gal 2:10). Almost always the contribution is designated for the “poor saints” among us (I Cor 16:1-2; 2 Cor 8:5; 9:1, 12). We say “Amen” to all of this.

Our Filipino brethren barely make a living in harsh conditions, and many hundreds have been actually living in tattered tents even in winter the last year because the 2019 typhoons wiped out entire cities. And now the CoVid has hit. They are living in a nightmare - - no food, no shelter, and now sickness. Please consider them. I have been helping receive and send money to one particular preacher, Jimmy Domingo and his congregation over the years. He is a good and faithful worker, spoken of highly by good brethren like Ron Halbrook and others. He appealed for help for one special sister, Dalores Mabborang. She fell last weekend and broke her femur. The doctor said he could do a hip replacement for $1000, but that there would be another $1100 to pay the hospital etc. She got the hip replacement and is up and walking with an aid, but needs to pay off the rest. She is a good and active sister in the Tuguegarao City congregation where Jimmy preaches. Jimmy verified her situation by sending X-rays, and copies of the medical bills. If there are any who could help her, it would be greatly appreciated. If the hip were not fixed, she would die a slow painful death as she would waste away to nothing since she couldn’t move. The church there doesn’t have the money. They can hardly buy enough rice to eat. If you want to help, I can send money directly and Paypal charges just $4. It is not tax deductible. But if you want to send a large amount and want it to be a tax deduction, you can send it to Ron Halbrook who is constantly going down there and knows all these brethren personally. He has set up an account just for helping the poor and he can send it directly to them. If you want that information, write to me and I can give it to you.
Yours in Him who saves, Robert