Posts Tagged With: Philippines
A Heart Change
You’d never guess these men – well-groomed and fervently worshipping God together at a meeting of Cross International ministry partners in the Philippines – had once been homeless. You’d never guess some had spent their whole lives on the streets, begging and picking pockets. But now here they were, standing before us as living examples … Continue reading
New Creations
“My whole life has changed,” says 18-year-old John Michael Montilla, one of thousands of Filipinos benefiting from Cross International’s support of Gawad Kalinga, a ministry that revitalizes old, impoverished slums into new, Christ-centered communities. We help replace shacks made of tin and wood scraps with beautiful, concrete homes; clean up polluted streets; and turn a … Continue reading
Changing hearts in the Philippines
Whenever I see the results of Cross’ Gawad Kalinga house construction projects in the Philippines, my first thought is, “Wow! This used to be a slum?” The newness, the cleanliness, the bright, cheerful colors are a visual repudiation of poverty. This is the tangible part of ministry. It’s also, in some respects, the easy part. … Continue reading
Thank You from the Philippines
Cross has been working with Gawad Kalinga in the Philippines to transform the slums of metro Manila into thriving communities. The difference is like night and day, and you can see the change not only in the landscape but also in the hearts and minds of the families who now have so much hope. Here’s … Continue reading
It’s All About Jesus
This morning the entire Cross staff was able to participate in a special event halfway around the world. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, our offices in the U.S. joined our ministry partners in the Philippines for a special time of song and fellowship. Despite the 12-hour time difference or the fact we occupy … Continue reading
Slumdog Kaibigan
When I met 9-year-old Arsenio a week after he’d arrived at the Kaibigan (“Friend”) homeless shelter, he’d been running the streets of Manila, Philippines for three years. He and his two older brothers had run away from home when he was only 6 but they were soon separated. To survive on the streets he begged, … Continue reading
Christ at the center
It’s not often that I hear someone ask whether they should have flown west instead of east to visit our office. But when you live on the opposite side of the world, it’s a valid question. Cross partner Ruth Callanta stopped in this week to promote her Christ-centered approach to serving the poorest of the … Continue reading
A Dream Come True
For Mari Lu and Lino Vizoro, a new house changed everything. “We used to be one of three families who lived together in one house,” Mari Lu said. “The house had no toilet inside—we had just a common outhouse for 10 families! When it rained the house flooded because it was below street level. This … Continue reading
Giving with Dignity
It can be humiliating to be treated as a charity case—the object of someone else’s pity and justification for their pride. Not being able to feed your family can be enough of a blow to your self esteem; but having food (or a house, or other basic need) provided in the wrong spirit can be … Continue reading
Building a Dream Come True
Three brothers, along with their wives and children—12 people in all—lived together in one tiny makeshift shack in a slum in Manila, Philippines. The place crawled with mice and roaches. When it rained the house flooded in knee-deep dirty water. The only table in the house doubled as a bed because space was so tight. … Continue reading
