I. Project Purpose and Goal : To provide assistance to the families and brethren affected by the July 28, 2022 earthquake in Abra Province, Philippines.
CNN, July 28, 2022: “At least five people died, and 130 others were injured after a powerful earthquake struck the northern Philippines on Wednesday, according to authorities in the Southeast Asian country. The 7.0-magnitude quake hit northern Luzon, the country’s most populous island, at 8:43 a.m. local time (8:43 p.m. ET), according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). … More than 21,000 people have been impacted by the quake, which caused about $687 million of infrastructure damage, according to the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center.”
The purpose of this assistance is to help families who have been affected by the magnitude 7 earthquake which hit the province of Abra in the Philippines last July 28, 2022. We plan to distribute food supplies/rice/needed assistance to the affected communities and to rebuild/repair at least 15 dwellings/homes and 2 church buildings which either have been destroyed or severely damaged by this earthquake. This will assist these families and congregations to rebuild, recover their losses and move on with their lives and service for the Lord.
II. Details of what was accomplished and who participated : With a grant from IDES and donations from HFCF donors, we were able to do the following:
- Helped rebuilt/repair thirteen (13) individual dwellings
- Helped rebuild one (1) church building and repaired three (3) chapels
- Distributed rice sacks/food supplies to 238 families
- Provided medical assistance to 71 individuals
- Funded children feeding program for 275 children
- Distributed 500 Bibles through 5 churches
The church pastor/on-site coordinator reported 26 baptisms among those who received food and house repairs assistance. PRAISE GOD!!
III. How this project is assisting your ministry in sharing the Gospel:
Pastor A. Tubana reported 26 baptisms within those who received either rice sacks/food packs or have been helped in rebuilding their damaged dwellings. Praise God!! These new believers are now regularly joining the church worship services, Bible studies and weekly prayer meetings. The assistance we have extended to these families opened the doors of their hearts to the gospel message through the manifested love and compassion they personally received.
What powerful testimony of the redeeming love of God!
We also rebuilt their church building (Udangan COC) which had suffered major structural damages, preventing the brethren to use the building as a gathering place for prayers and worship. Now, the church building is as good as new and the brethren rejoice in gathering with thanksgiving and praise, with unbelievers joining them in awe of what they have witnessed. From the ashes, God’s people rallied and were strengthened by the Spirit… and have overcome!!
We provided Bibles to be freely distributed among the brethren as well as children’s Bibles and study materials.