Typhoon Egay left the Philippine area of responsibility last week severely affecting over 600,000 families across 13 regions. More than 300,000 people were asked to evacuate their homes. Aside from the injured, missing, and deaths still being verified, there is significant damage to agriculture and infrastructure.

Some areas in Bulacan and Pampanga are still submerged in flood water but Cagayan province was the hardest hit. At least 16 provinces, towns, and cities in Luzon– including Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Mountain Province, Bataan, Cavite, Sablayan (Occidental Mindoro), Calasiao (Pangasinan), and Dagupan City are now under a state of calamity.

Our churches in the Northern and Central Luzon are continually mobilizing efforts to provide relief bags of food, drinking water, clothing, cleaning materials, and free charging stations to the communities affected. Together, we have ministered to over 380 families and we are preparing to extend more help in the coming weeks.

In every passing storm, our mighty God is our permanent refuge. Let us continue to pray for our countrymen.

• Pray for the families affected to experience God’s peace and provision in this time of great need. May God’s love be their refuge and strength as they recover what was lost.
• Let’s ask God for opportunities for our church to minister God’s hope as we extend help to those in need.
• Declare wisdom for the local government in these provinces as they initiate restoration and rehabilitation in severely affected communities.