Dear friends,
We pray that God’s overflowing grace be multiplied in your hearts and homes, not only for this Christmas season, but for the incoming year 2018!
Please allow me to summarize what God has led and allowed us, with your loving prayers and support, to do for this past year:
- MINISTERS’ SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT MISSION –
We are currently supporting the following eight (8) full-time ministers:
- Ricardo Moldogo – Calauan, Laguna
- Santiago Cacho – Namagbagan, Pangasinan
- Recem Greencio – Naga City, Camarines Sur
- Jose Caysip – Concepcion, Bulacan
- Petronilo de la Cruz – Talavera, Nueva Ecija
- Arnel Gajolin – Montalban, Rizal
- Romulo Subong – Kalibo, Aklan (Panay Island)
- Fidel Villaluna* – Mariveles, Bataan (* our latest minister/partner – he ministers to a new but growing congregation in a needy community located in Barangay Camaya, Mariveles, Bataan.)
- Ben Formales continues to serve as our Liaison/Overall Administrative Officer who oversees all of our continuing ministries in the Philippines. He also heads our Disaster/Rebuilding Mission. Bro. Arnel Gajolin serves as his able assistant.
2. MEDICAL/DENTAL/OPTHALMOLOGIC MISSIONS:
In continuing partnership with IDES (International Disaster and Emergency Services, Indianapolis), and several benefactors who sponsored medical missions in Nueva Ecija, we were able to conduct eight (8) free clinics for the year, benefiting more than 1,500 patients.
- We provided free consultations/ medications, dental services (cleaning, Flouride treatment, and filling/extraction), eye and vision check-up/refraction/glasses
, occasional physical therapy treatments, Bibles, and food/meals. - For the Tanza, Cavite medical mission last Oct. 29 (see pic below), we were able to partner with “GLOW (God’s Love on Wheels), a Manila-based Ministry, which provides wheelchairs for disabled patients.
In addition, IDES has indicated its willingness to include funds for wheelchairs in their financial grants to HFCF in 2018 ! We thank the Lord for this additional open door! - Rhoda R. Formales, who heads our Medical Mission Team, informed us that the medical missions for 2018 are now fully booked/scheduled (!)
3. CHILDREN FEEDING/SPECIAL PROGRAMS:
We have been sponsoring a Sunday feeding program for Kalibo street children through the Kalibo church (around 30-40 children). Bro. R. Subong (Kalibo church minister) expresses their heart-felt appreciation for our continuous partnership with them. We also will be sponsoring their Christmas program on Dec. 24.
Last June, we provided school bags/supplies for around 50 needy street children in Tanduay, Quiapo, MetroManila. For this Christmas, we gave 50 grocery packs to them last Dec. 13.
4. DISASTER/EMERGENCY SERVICES AND REBUILDING MISSION:
With a generous grant from IDES, we were able to help rebuild a total of twenty-three (23) individual/ families’ dwellings, one (1)mission house, and two (2) local church buildings (Balaba and Tabaco City)which were destroyed/heavily damaged by super-typhoon “Nina” (November 2016). These rebuilding projects were spread throughout five towns/ municipalities in Camarines Sur and Albay, in the Bicol Peninsula.
Balaba church, in Polangue, Albay – – before and after rebuilding efforts. The congregation sends its deep and heartfelt appreciation for the help in rebuilding their destroyed church building.
5. FUNDS FORWARDING MISSION *– We continue to serve as forwarding agents for the following churches/ministries:
- San Fernando, Pampanga church of Christ -Bro. J. Ladrillo, minister
- Hulugan, Tanza church of Christ -Bro. L. Bernardez, minister
- Manena, Pampanga church of Christ – c/o Bro. J. Copon, elder
- Manila Bible Seminary – student scholarships/ministry support
(* as a forwarding agent, we only serve as a conduit for financial support for these churches/institution. HFCF does not maintain any oversight/management stewardship over them; they report directly to their original sponsors/donors.)
As we prayerfully prepare for 2018, we ask you to join us in praying for God’s leading and guidance for His mighty work in the Philippines. So much still need to be done… so many workers/ministers still labor into the deep night. So many children still sleep, and eat, on the streets… so many of the sick and needy go unattended and uncared for… So many opportunities for grace.
We ask for your loving financial support, not only to continue, but to improve and enhance the stewardship ministries that God has put in our hands, for His glory alone—for He alone deserves it.
Your fellow servant in Christ,
David G. Romulo
Harvest For Christ / Executive Officer