Christmas is a joyous celebration—and it is almost always synonymous with the spirit of giving. We can see how evident this is even in our local communities.
Jesus, the reason for this season, is the ultimate example of generosity. His gracious, selfless sacrifice allows us to extend His love to others.
And as His church, we are called to be His hands and feet—a blessing to this world.
Because of your great generosity, we were able to bless over 3,271 families with God’s word and Noche Buena packages to families in Metro Manila.
Our volunteers packed and blessed families across Metro Manila with Noche Buena packages.
Families and communities across Metro Manila heard the good news of Christ’s salvation and were also prayed over by our volunteers.
As Romans 8:32 reminds us, “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?”
We are all recipients of God’s greatest gift— our salvation. Let’s celebrate this gift by sharing it with others, in and out of season.
Let’s persevere to preach and demonstrate Christ’s love to others as we welcome 2025.
The last month of the year was met with a series of powerful storms. From Typhoon Kristine to Pepito, these six devastating typhoons — Kristine (October 22), Typhoon Leon (October 27), Typhoon Marce (November 7), Typhoon Nika (November 11), Typhoon Ofel (November 14), and recently, Super Typhoon Pepito – have left widespread destruction in several areas, causing over P478 million in damages. Many Filipinos fled to evacuation centers during the series of storms, with 115,000 families occupying the 3,267 evacuation centers across eight regions.
October:
Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (October 22): Brought heavy rains, flooding, and landslides, particularly affecting Regions 5, 4A, and 2.
Typhoon Leon (October 27): Intensified into a super typhoon, passing near the Batanes Islands and worsening the impact of the previous storm, Super Typhoon Julian.
November:
Typhoon Marce (November 7): Made landfall in northern Luzon, prompting Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal #4 and causing significant damage.
Typhoon Nika (November 11): Hit northern Luzon, leading to heavy rains, high storm surges, and coastal infrastructure damage.
Typhoon Ofel (November 14): Moved towards Luzon, heavily impacting Cagayan and Isabela.
Super Typhoon Pepito (November 14): Made landfall in Catanduanes and Aurora, causing widespread devastation, especially in northern Luzon.
With the help of our church community, our different Victory churches extended immediate aid and assistance to nearby families and communities.
Families impacted by Super Typhoon Julian receive food packs.
Families impacted by Super Typhoon Kristine receive food packs, ready-to-eat meals, and bibles. Our volunteers prayed for them as well and preached the gospel to the communities.
Families impacted by Super Typhoon Pepito were prayed for and received relief bags with ready-to-eat meals, toiletries, and laundry materials.
Through your generosity and collaborative efforts, we have extended help to 2,299 families, 3 campuses, and 55 local communities nationwide. These families and communities received relief bags, financial assistance, ready-to-eat food items, laundry materials, and hygiene kits.
Amidst this, we thank the Lord for His steadfast love during these challenging times. His strength has sustained our nation as we slowly made progress in restoring homes and livelihoods together.
Let us continue to pray for everyone affected by these typhoons, as well as for our nation and our leaders. Be in faith that the Lord will grant them wisdom as we recover from the aftermath of these typhoons. Pray for provision, restoration, and hope throughout the rebuilding process.
In all things and circumstances, may the Lord continually be our strength and our song.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” These words from Psalm 46:1 have echoed through time, a testament to God’s faithfulness as a promise-keeper. His presence continues to offer comfort and hope in suffering.
It was a privilege to serve as His hands and feet by reaching out to the vulnerable residents of Kanlungan sa Pasig on October 5, 2024.
This facility provides shelter and support to children, women, the elderly, adults, teen moms, and victims of violence and abuse. It offers temporary residential care, diagnostic services, basic social services, and quality healthcare.
We were blessed to engage with the shelter residents, offering encouragement, prayer, and a listening ear.
Our outreach volunteers at the Kanlungan sa Pasig facility
These meaningful conversations paved the way for us to preach the gospel—the good news about Christ’s love that is available to all, regardless of the circumstance. This love welcomes those who place their faith in Christ to an eternal hope and a secure home forever.
Currently, Kanlungan sa Pasig is home to 149 individuals: 48 Children with Conflict with the Law (11-18+ years old), 80 Children in Need of Special Protection (0-18+ years old), and 21 Adults and Elderly (20-89 years old).
Let us continue to pray for them and trust in God’s power to nurture the seeds we have sown. We look forward to serving with more volunteers in our next outreach in December.
May we all remain vessels of God’s refuge and strength, a present help that endures in and out of troubles—through all of life’s seasons.
A team of volunteers had a desire to serve the residents of Camarin, North Caloocan—and this birthed from a simple prayer of sharing joy by giving better smiles to the community.
Just this September, the team partnered with dentists and held a dental mission for the community. They were stationed at the counseling stop where patients had to be before being treated. By God’s grace, the team listened, encouraged, prayed, and preached the gospel to 138 patients, face-to-face and one-on-one.
They were also able to pray for and encourage some of the dentists who served alongside them who did not yet have a relationship with Jesus.
Praise God for this privilege of proclaiming Him and comforting others through listening and prayer! These are some testimonies from the dental mission:
An elderly man with a speech disorder found hope and confidence in Christ after one of our team members prayed for him. It was the first time in his 62 years that someone had prayed for him.
A teenager who was longing for her parents’ presence and care received Christ’s perfect love for the first time. This perfect love casts all her fears now through one of the volunteers who shared a word of encouragement with her.
A married woman found her greatest love in the Lord when she heard the gospel, and many others found the greatest joy in Christ’s salvation.
As a church, whatever way or platform it may be, may everything we do to serve the community lead us back to God’s Great Commission for us: to go and make disciples of all nations wherever we may be. And it starts with preaching the gospel—the good news that brings true and lasting joy.
Do you have a testimony to share? Share it with us here.
Our God is a God who can turn tragedies into stories of redemption.
After nearly a month of devastation caused by Super Typhoon Carina, our nation is slowly recovering. Yet, amidst the rebuilding, we remember how the flood of God’s grace poured into the hearts of our communities, even as the floodwaters filled their homes.
Two days after the flood receded, affected families in a town in San Pedro returned to their homes to face the challenge of cleaning up. One volunteer from Victory San Pedro teamed up with a couple from Victory Alabang to serve their neighborhood and offer prayers during the cleanup. Pastor Rein to join them in ministering to the people. The small team was driven by a heart to bless the community and share God’s love.
They went door-to-door, offering assistance wherever needed. Little did they know that this would become an open door for God to touch hearts and invite people into a relationship with Him. On each visit, they asked about each family’s well-being. While no casualties were in their midst, the calamity brought fear and despair. The team heard stories of great fear as the floodwaters rapidly rose, an unprecedented event for the community.
The team encouraged the residents and reminded them of God’s protection for their families. These conversations led to a revelation of who Christ is and what He has done -His work on the cross covers and preserves; but more than anything, Christ has provided a solution for all eternity, giving us eternal hope.
From one family hearing the good news of the gospel, filled with great joy, word spread quickly, and soon, neighbors from across the street requested prayers as well. Around 12 families received prayer and ministry, and much later, people from the community flocked the streets and opened their hearts to receive God’s love in their midst.
It was undeniable that there was an outpouring of God’s spirit, a flood of grace that surpassed any physical floodwaters. The same hunger for Jesus was evident from one street to another.
Although the floodwaters invaded their homes, the overwhelming flood of God’s grace poured into their hearts at that very moment.
Please continue to pray for our teams in Alabang and San Pedro as they continually support the rebuilding — not just of homes but lives that are touched and transformed by Christ.
After Typhoon Carina caused widespread devastation across Metro Manila, schools had to resume a new school year. Many embraced the start of the school year with heavy hearts amidst the storm subsiding.
Despite it all, we find hope in the truth that God’s mercies are new every morning.
Through God’s grace, we are grateful for the hundreds of volunteers eager to serve about 50 campuses across Metro Manila during the Brigada Eskwela. This program brings together local communities, parents, teachers, and students to help clean and prepare public schools and facilities for the coming school year.
Willing hearts and ready hands helped clean and provided cleaning materials.
Our team of volunteers in Greenhills and Pasay
Medical mission in partnership with Operation Blessing at Parañaque National High School – Main that served 274 students, parents, and educators with medical, dental, and optical care.
The start of the school year welcomed more open doors to bless the campuses in the U-Belt and Santa Rosa area
In all these—from donations and cleaning up initiatives, we are grateful for every person who selflessly gave all for something that we hold last: the gospel.
The storm may have taken away many valuable things, but through your service and prayers, we know that the eternal love of God is something that the students gained and will treasure beyond this lifetime.
Hebrews 13:16
And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices, God is pleased.
But it is precisely at these times that we are urged to be the hands and feet of Jesus and embody Christ’s presence in our society. Every act of compassion, every raised prayer, and every extended hand is evidence of our Creator’s unquestionable love for us and others.
As the campuses open for a new school year, continue to stand with us in prayer as we build stronger partnerships with the faculty and administrative staff, seek more open doors to serve more campuses, and most importantly, preach the life-transforming message of the gospel to every student.
What started as a survey of where our church members are residing provided opportunities to share God’s love and reach out to the city–one barangay at a time.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.” — Psalm 127:1 With this verse as an anchor, our church in Las Piñas prayed for wisdom on how to best serve the people in this city.
From the start of the year, we gathered our key leaders and formed volunteer teams into three clusters that will cover and serve each barangay in Las Piñas. Each cluster will serve the city by praying in faith, moving in hope, and expressing love to the areas assigned to them. The three phases, faith, hope, and love, have also become our way to determine the specific needs of each cluster and how we can preach and demonstrate the gospel to them.
A leaders’ gathering and formation of volunteer teams that will serve barangays in Las Piñas
Prayer walks with the leaders at SM Southmall (Cluster 1) and regular prayer meetings held in the Villar Sipag area (Cluster 3)
Different families we visited in hospitals and their homes in clusters 1, 2, and 3, throughout the year
Brgy. Pilar Fire Victims outreach last March 4, 2024 and Brgy. Talon Uno outreach last December 19, 2023
Currently, Brgy. Pilar, Las Piñas has requested assistance towards mental health awareness in their small communities. Part of our service includes HOPE (House of Prayer and Encounter), where we reach out to residents through organized house visits and gatherings, to pray for them and share Jesus to them.
Weekly Bible study with Talon Uno barangay officials, participation in the Jesus Festival parade with our pastors and worship team volunteers
In all these, we believe that God has more great things in store for the city of Las Piñas—by faith, we hope that His love will be magnified and glorified.
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV)
God’s heart is for the lost, the last, and the least.
He calls us to be His hands and feet—to love and serve others, whatever it takes and wherever He places us. This is so they may hear God’s great love and experience His transforming work in their lives.
In the next three weeks, may we capture God’s heart through this series and be empowered to proclaim and demonstrate His love in every city.
Week 1: God’s heart
Week 2: Generous heart
Week 3: Righteous heart
See you at our weekend services!
You may check the worship service schedules here or by visiting your Victory location’s Facebook page.
During Jesus’ time on earth, He walked with His disciples, involving them in His life and ministry.
This series will explore stories where Jesus exemplified how we are to journey together through the highs, lows, and everything in between as His church while glorifying God and carrying out His mission.
Let’s journey through this series together, and ask God for wisdom and softened hearts as we respond to His word.
Week 1: Follow Him together
Week 2: Life Together
Week 3: On Mission Together
Just like the African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together.”
Don’t walk alone.
You may check the worship service schedules here or by visiting your Victory location’s Facebook page. See you!
News about suicide cases isn’t new to us at all. In the Philippines alone, DepEd has death records for a total of 404 learners and 2,147 records of those who attempted suicide in the academic year 2021-2022.
These numbers represent lives, leaving behind a trail of regret. Whenever we hear such stories, it either wounds us or serves as a powerful wake-up call.
However, grief is not the only response. The local government of Taguig moves swiftly in compassion–calling forth the whole city to slowly transform grief into action.
Taguig CARES (Community Awareness towards Resilient and Empowered Students) is one of the LGU’s programs that aims to equip students and their families with holistic tools to navigate life’s challenges through values formation and mental health talks.
62 public elementary and high schools across Taguig, Pateros, and Makati opened their doors to our campus ministry.
Our church had the privilege to partner with this effort by serving as resource speakers during the city-wide Parenting Seminar. Leaders and volunteers across Victory Metro Manila helped equip 40,000 parents with the biblical responsibility of parenting. Many signified their willingness to receive help and guidance as parents and guardians of the next generation.
Let us continue to empower more families with resilience and faith by fostering strong values and building a supportive community together.
Let us continue to empower more families with resilience and faith by fostering strong values and building a supportive community together.
Stand with us in prayer as we reach families in every city, shedding hope and dispelling darkness.
With March as a Fire Prevention Month, continue to pray for our nation’s protection from further devastating fire incidents.
Just over a week ago, a second-alarm fire struck the Maligaya Compound in Barangay Pilar, Las Piñas City.
This fire tragically impacted 30 homes, displacing 125 families and roughly 400 individuals. Thankfully, there were no reported casualties or injuries.
An overwhelming number of volunteers from various organizations across the city joined forces with us—including the body of Christ in Las Piñas.
We are also grateful for our leaders who readily offered help and provided meals to those affected.
What a sight of grace to behold—that despite the tragic event, we were led to an open door, an unexpected opportunity to demonstrate and proclaim the gospel.
We were also given the privilege to pray for and minister to our barangay officials.
May our hearts of compassion continue to burn with fire, to be vessels of things of eternal worth, unlike a physical fire that consumes and destroys.
Let’s continue to stand in prayer and faith together.
Pray for our second wave of efforts to provide counseling and medical support for the fire victims.
Pray for continued protection and recovery for the affected families. Just recently, another fire broke out on Wednesday (March 6) morning, displacing another 170 families.
We are called to serve others like how He did and be faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms (1 Peter 4:10-11).
In Quezon City, we serve as faithful stewards of God’s grace by sharing the value of family. We believe in God’s mandate and design for marriage, and we have been given the privilege to serve the families in Quezon City by providing seminars promoting biblical values on marriage.
Through these events, we are able to speak hope and encouragement towards building strong foundations as husbands and wives. This is key to changing communities and even the course of our nation.
Godly marriages will surely bless generations after generations that come after us. May we never tire of passing on the word of God and the baton to the next generation!
We are grateful for volunteers serving with us — and we ask God to give us sincere and utmost compassion that can continually transform lives. May we create a culture of growth and service that reflects the heart of God for all.
Let us continue to serve others, just as Jesus did.
The blood of Jesus makes us whole and alive—with all the joy that is set before him, He still chose to bear the cross in our place, so that we may have a restored relationship with a holy God.
This is the love that compels us to action.
Before 2023 ended, we spent Christmas within the walls of a juvenile detention center in San Juan City. Despite their past, we have the privilege to share the hope of salvation and reconciliation. Christ’s love and His church is not a place of condemnation but of restoration.
We shared laughs, enjoyed meals, and ministered to their needs as a church community.
This simple act of generosity also enabled us to extend our service to women in correctional facilities.
Let us always remember that God’s love is always looking after the least, lost, and the last. May we always find ourselves kneeling at the foot of the cross—the only place that qualifies us to be ministers of reconciliation to the world that seeks true and lasting hope.
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. — 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 ESV
God calls us to be His hands and feet here on earth, to love and serve His people, and to live out the gospel wherever we may be.
In December 2023, we were given the privilege to partner with the local government of Pasig to bless and minister to those in need at the Kanlungan sa Pasig facility. This place provides a space for healing and recovery for those in crisis—including children at risk, teens, victims of violence, and abandoned elderly.
A Christmas party was held where Noche Buena packages and hygiene kits were given to 180 families, as the children enjoyed a time of fun and games.
More than the tangible gifts, sharing the most beautiful gift of all—the gospel of Jesus Christ was the best thing that happened that day. It was such a joy to witness the children lift hands as they gave their lives to Jesus.
Just before we closed the year, a blood donation drive in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross called “Give Blood on Christmas Day” was also held in Victory Pasig. This allowed us to be an answered prayer for those in need of help; our act of faith and obedience surely made a huge difference in many lives.
We see more of His generosity overflow through us, wherever God sends us!
Thank you for praying and giving so others can experience the power of the gospel. Let us continue to believe in God for more open doors to serve our cities and allow Him to set us apart for His purpose this year.
For the past 5 days, we’ve come together for our annual Prayer, Fasting, and Consecration week.
As a church, we pondered upon the heart of God’s holiness, and this is the great news—we are already made righteous through Christ’s sacrifice.
On that cross, He cleansed us in His righteousness, washing away all our sins. This is the grace that made us from crimson red to as white as snow; the grace that makes us holy now and allows us to have full communion with our Abba Father.
As we carry this good news into each day of 2024, let the burden of striving for holiness fall away. But rather, may we always call to mind that being holy is being set apart for Christ and being clothed in Him “who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
May God’s call to holiness not become a daunting task but a warm invitation. He is calling us, His dear children, to walk this journey of holiness, together.
We are never alone in this walk, and we will never be. From every corner of the earth, our spiritual family surrounds us—and may this truth be like a warm embrace and spark of hope against and amidst the darkness.
Blessings be upon you and your loved ones as we walk through this year, hearts brimming with God’s holy presence. May we have a faith-filled, set-apart year ahead!
Have you experienced some breakthroughs lately? Share your testimony with us! We’d love to celebrate with you.
Watch the Every Nation 2024 Prayer, Fasting, and Consecration Week Recaphere.
Just like a father’s heart aches for his child in need, God’s love knows no bounds, especially for the lost, the least, and the last (Psalm 140:12).
Here in Taguig, a city of vibrant yet painful contrasts, we want to echo that very heart of Christ—not just within our church’s walls, but in the least, unseen communities.
Remember the joy of those Noche Buena gift packs we shared nearly two decades ago? That simple, compassionate act from our volunteers ignited a fire, a passion to be God’s hands and feet, to proclaim His love in a greater capacity—to even embed social responsibility in our vision as a church.
And that is where our Love the City initiative started—just from a desire to bless and embody the gospel within and beyond our city walls. By God’s grace, we strive to live out our faith not just in words, but also in acts of generosity and service. Taguig, amidst its divides, has brought us closer to those who need it most. We’ve joined hands with these organizations that are beacons of light and hope in our city:
Generations–Home: Their heart is to end the orphan crisis and give orphaned children a chance to be loved well by raising awareness about foster care and adoption. They do this by reaching out to families through forums, discussions, and more. Currently, twelve families from our church have already opened their hearts and homes—good news to celebrate as we start the year!
Generations Home (formerly ROHEI Foundation)
Our recent Justice and Worship Night was held at Victory BGC last November 30, 2023.
Zonta‘s Kababaihan Project: They advocate for women’s rights and support women in need; we serve alongside them by building bridges of mental health support and sharing Christ’s love with the moms and their children. Because of our volunteers’ efforts, at least three women are now on their discipleship journey with us!
Zonta Club of Makati & Environs
Marillac is a government facility that houses sexually abused and neglected young people. As a church, we partner with them by offering platforms of God’s healing through art therapy sessions, group discussions, and fun activities to spend time getting to know and building friendships with them.
Marillac Hills — National Training School for Girls
Wipe Every Tear: They rescue victims of human trafficking. We stand beside them by starting small group sessions with the women and children—talking and being with them, helping them process their thoughts and emotions, and just simply, hearing their stories.
Wipe Every Tear
We believe in starting small, in the ripple effect of a single act of love. Every shared meal, every listening ear, every word of blessing, and every prayer of hope matters.
To all our Victory BGC and Taguig volunteers, may the Lord bless you a hundredfold for all the time and effort you’ve given to minister to our communities.
Thank you for serving with us and loving on people just as Christ loves, wherever you are!
Ang naganap na lockdown dahil sa COVID-19 pandemic ay labis na nakaapekto sa mga kababayan nating jeepney driver. Narito ang salaysay ng isang maybahay na pamamasada ng jeep ang pangunahing ikinabubuhay ng pamilya.
Isa akong dispatcher ng mga jeep sa Victory Central Mall noong 2011 nang maimbitahan ako ng kasama ko rin na dispatcher upang dumalo sa service ng Victory Caloocan. Hindi nagtagal at isinuko ko ang buhay ko kay Jesus. Malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa church dahil gumagaan ang pakiramdam ko tuwing dumadalo ako ng worship service at mas nakikilala ko ang Panginoon. Nagkaroon din ako ng maraming kaibigan. Ang asawa ko ay jeepney driver, at ngayon nga na may kinakaharap tayong lahat na malaking pagsubok, sa Diyos lang talaga kami kumakapit.
Nang magsimula ang lockdown at mawalan ng pasada ang asawa ko, hindi kami pinabayaan ng Diyos. Nagkaroon ako ng puwesto sa malapit sa amin at nakapagtinda ng almusal. Ilang linggo rin na iyon ang pinagkunan namin ng kabuhayan. Minsan may mga lumalapit na kaibigan namin na driver din at humihingi ng tulong dahil wala na silang makain. Mahirap talaga, lalo na kung malaki ‘yung pamilya at bata pa ang mga anak. Hindi mo matitiis na makita ‘yung mga anak mo na nagugutom.
Ngayon na anim na buwan na ang nakalipas at hindi pa rin bumabalik sa dati ang biyahe ng mga tao, marami sa mga kasamahan namin ang walang-wala na talaga. Wala naman kaming mga ipon at umaasa lang kami sa araw-araw na kinikita namin. Kaya naisipan ng mga driver sa grupo namin na mamalimos na sa kalsada. Isang araw, nagulat na lang ako dahil may tumawag sa ‘kin na pastor. Napansin daw niya yung mga namamalimos na driver, at doon na nga nagsimula ang plano na tulungan sila.
Noong nakaraang linggo, Setyembre 6, pinuntahan namin ang 48 na driver mula sa dalawang grupo ng mga driver dito sa Caloocan upang makapagbigay ng relief goods. Hindi lamang sila nabigyan ng makakain. Naipagdasal din sila ng mga pastor at mga volunteer. Napakalaking tulong nito para sa mga pamilyang apektado ng sitwasyon ngayon. Mahirap ang mawalan ng trabaho, pero mas mahirap ang mawalan ng pag-asa. Kaya labis ang pasasalamat naming lahat dahil ang mga ganitong tulong ay nagbibigay sa amin ng pag-asa na malalagpasan namin ang isang napakalaking pagsubok nang matiwasay.
Sa panahon ng pandemic, mahirap man o mayaman, lahat tayo ay nakararanas ng lockdown at naaapektuhan ng mga nangyayari. Para sa pamilya namin at sa iba pang mga pamilya na nasa pamamasada ng jeep ang ikinabubuhay, isa talaga itong napakahirap na sitwasyon. Kaya labis kaming nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng mga taong patuloy na tumutulong.
Dahil sa kanila nararamdaman namin ang pangangalaga ng Diyos at ang pagmamahal Niya sa amin at sa aming pamilya. Siya talaga ang kaagapay natin sa anumang paghihirap sa buhay. Hindi Niya tayo pababayaan.
Kayo, O Diyos ang tumutulong sa akin.
Kayo, Panginoon ang aking maaasahan.
Salmo 54:4
Si Ruby ay 55 taong gulang at aktibong tumutulong sa ushering ministry ng Victory Caloocan.
Samahan ninyo kami sa pananalangin para sa mga pamilyang labis na naapektuhan ng kawalan ng mapagkakakitaan ngayong panahon ng pandemic. Bilang isang iglesya, patuloy nating ipahayag at ipakita ang katotohanan ng ebanghelyo sa kanila.
Hundreds of stranded travelers were housed in the Villamor Air Base Compound, Philippine State College of Aeronautics, and Philippine Army Gym after staying for days under a bridge near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Most of them are Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who were waiting for a ride home after their flights out of Manila had been canceled.
With the help of our generous donors and volunteers, some of our pastors and staff members visited them last week (June 12–17) to give food packs, mattresses, industrial fans, slippers, and face masks. A group of volunteers led by a couple from Victory Fort also went there to provide taho (soybean pudding) and ice cream to stranded OFWs.
Though most of them had to sleep on cardboard mats while waiting to be reunited with their families, they remained hopeful and resilient. They were ready to smile at everyone in spite of what they were going through. As one volunteer put it, “Even in the toughest times, they were still smiling. It’s inspiring and humbling at the same time.”
Aside from contributing in our own little way to extend help, we also prayed for them and the people in uniform who had been assigned to ensure their safety. We are in faith that God will work in their situation and make a way for them to go back to their hometowns and families.
Though times are hard, we can continue to hope in God and be His hands and feet in these trying times. Let us believe Him to provide as we do everything we can, no matter how small, to help those in need and spur faith.
As of this writing, we have teams available to provide prayer, counseling, and debriefing.
On March 31, we opened the Every Nation Building in Taguig as temporary housing for frontline healthcare workers from Rizal Medical Center and St. Luke’s Medical Center. Through the help of the management team of both hospitals, we were able to serve a total of 63 doctors and nurses for over six weeks.
Aside from providing food and shelter, we also did our part to encourage our front liners, knowing that they face tough battles in the hospital every day. We gave them opportunities to talk with our team of licensed counselors through Zoom. We also organized weekly huddles where they played games, listened to inspiring messages from our pastors, and prayed for each other.
During Mother’s Day, we tried to make the mothers feel special by putting up a booth where they can celebrate with their families through video calls. We did what we could to serve them during this difficult time, even as they serve many others. And we were so encouraged by their responses and the smiles on their faces.
Today, we are officially closing the temporary housing to prepare the Every Nation Building to resume offices, once government directives allow for this. During the last huddle with our guests on May 14, we were moved after hearing them narrate their journey. Here is one of the heartfelt messages from Joanne, a nurse from St. Luke’s:
“Natirahan ko na lahat ng rooms at floors na pwede doon [sa ospital] bago kami pumunta dito. Ito ang pinakablessing sa amin. Pagdating namin dito, very overwhelming lahat. Yung tipong wala ka nang gagawin talaga. Hihiga ka na lang. Tapos magtatrabaho ka at stressed ka, pero pagbalik mo dito, at home na at home ka. We’re very thankful po. Yung mga kasama ko sa hospital, pati po sa ibang unit, nagkita kami dito. Para kaming magkakapatid at magkakapamilya tapos meron pang extended family—meron from RMC at taga-Every Nation pa—so very thankful po kami. Ayaw namin umalis pero lahat ng bagay may end. Pero we look forward to seeing you again, everyone. Maraming, maraming salamat po.”
(I had slept in all the available rooms and floors [in the hospital] before we came here. This was really a blessing for us. We were overwhelmed when we got here. We didn’t need to do anything else but sleep. We were working and sometimes getting stressed, but when we would return here, we would feel at home. We are very thankful. I met people from my hospital, including those in other units. We’re like a family here, and we even have an extended family from RMC and Every Nation, so we’re very thankful. We don’t want to leave, but all things have an end. We look forward to seeing you again. Thank you very much.)
On behalf of these front liners, thank you for giving to and praying for this initiative. They are truly grateful for the help we were able to extend to them. As a church, we will continue to support them through other ways as they faithfully serve our nation. May God alone be honored in all this, and let’s continue to be salt and light to others!
Our mission to be God’s hands and feet continues in this season. Here’s how our church in Tuguegarao, Cagayan, has been reaching out to those in need in the city.
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan: Since May 1, 2020, the entire city has gradually transitioned from the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to the general community quarantine (GCQ).
While the city observes the “new normal” under the GCQ, some establishments and modes of public transportation have been allowed to operate at a reduced capacity. A “no mask, no entry” policy was imposed for everyone’s safety. A COVID Shield Control Pass (CSCP) was also issued by the local government unit to manage the movement in public places.
Though some offices have resumed operations, a significant number of workers are still displaced by the pandemic. Most of what they were able to save were depleted during the ECQ. Aside from the displaced workers in the area, there are also a number of students in different universities that are unable to go back to their respective towns and provinces (like Batanes, Calayan, and Ifugao) because of the lockdown.
Because of the current situation in the city, our church there has been actively continuing its relief efforts. During ECQ, our church in Tuguegarao initiated donation drives for food and medical supplies for Real LIFE scholars, frontline healthcare workers, and barangay officials stationed at checkpoints. Now, during GCQ, they are actively monitoring the condition of our church members and stranded students on different campuses.
With the help of our Victory group leaders, pastoral staff, and volunteers from Every Nation Campus, our church in that city is continually distributing relief packs to affected students and families. Just recently, they visited the Medical Colleges of Northern Philippines, International School of Asia and the Pacific, and the Cagayan State University, where there are approximately 64 students inside the dorms and roughly 75 students living in boarding houses in nearby subdivisions.
It is the hope and prayer of our church in Tuguegarao to continue doing what God has started through them. As long as there are families and students in need, they trust that God will provide them the means to be an instrument of His love and provision.
Aside from preaching the gospel, our mission also involves demonstrating God’s love to others. In this time of crisis, may we continue to be His hands and feet to those in need.
You can know more about our relief efforts by visiting victory.org.ph/GoodNews2020
Michelle and her Victory group have been reaching out to families in a barangay in Santa Rosa, Laguna long before the COVID-19 pandemic. She and other Kids Church volunteers have been doing outreach programs in that barangay to minister not just to the kids in the area, but even to their parents and families.
When the coronavirus outbreak started and most regions were placed under enhanced community quarantine, one of the parents from that barangay reached out to Michelle and sought help from her group. When she told her Victory group about this, they immediately responded by giving donations. She was soon overwhelmed with all the help they were willing to extend to those families.
Though unable to involve her Victory group in the packing and distribution of the relief items because of the community quarantine, Michelle had all the help she needed from her own family. And to her surprise, what she thought as a one-time thing was soon followed by more donations from people who were all willing to bring hope to families in need.
Now, they have been sorting and distributing relief packs every week not just to one barangay, but to three barangays! God’s generosity overflowed through different people, and it was way more than they expected.
God’s provision also paved the way for them to be an even greater blessing to the kids in the area. Aside from the relief packs, they have also started preparing and distributing snacks for the kids in those barangays every day. And in order to continue what they have started prior to the lockdown, they brought their Kids Church classes online through a messaging app. Aside from the lessons and snacks, they also provide activities and crafts for the kids and their parents.
In this season of uncertainty, we can go beyond helping people in need by sharing the message of the gospel with them. Michelle and her group have seen the changes in the lives of the kids they minister to and even in the lives of their parents. And it’s what motivates them to continue reaching out.
Like Michelle, her group, and all the other people who are doing what they can to be a blessing, let us bring hope all around us. In spite of the crisis, we can be a channel of blessing because we trust that God will always provide for us.
Michelle Papa is a Kids Church teacher and one of our Victory group leaders in Victory Santa Rosa.
Our partnership with the hospitals has helped with the screening of our guests and following the safety protocols in our building. We are now using six rooms as male and female sleeping quarters and serving meals in our cafeteria for 50 guests. Here are some of them.
Meet Nick, Geffen, and Marlotte. They recently passed the nursing board exam and are new hires of SLMC. They came all the way from Batangas and started to be on duty two weeks ago. They are grateful to have a temporary shelter until the end of the enhanced community quarantine.
Meet Raymond and Dr. Elvira. Raymond, a nurse who used to bike from his house in Rizal to RMC, and Elvira, an internal medicine doctor who rides with ambulances from RMC to her home in Quezon City. When the wards weren’t full yet, they both used to sleep in the hospital. Now, they can comfortably ride in our shuttles and rest well in our building.
We plan to extend our temporary housing initiative until April 30, the end of the enhanced community quarantine period. After the government lifts restrictions, we will resume offices and worship services in the building. Even beyond the enhanced community quarantine, we remain committed to serving our front liners and are looking for other ways to continue to support them.
Our church in Lipa was inspired by this initiative in BGC and also opened their facility for healthcare workers in Mary Mediatrix Medical Center. We have ongoing relief efforts for affected communities in 30 provinces. We are also partnering with the local government and nongovernment organizations to provide protective gear and meals and pray for front liners, such as army officers and policemen.
Together, let’s continue to face this crisis with faith, speak hope, and express God’s love in every way we can. You can read more inspiring stories from the front lines on victory.org.ph/GoodNews2020.
The past few weeks have been challenging to say the least because of the global impact of this pandemic. It has created a crisis on many different fronts – physical, financial, emotional, social, and political. The news and discussions online have sometimes been distressing and quite alarming. It’s understandable that many are agitated, upset, frustrated, and some are even angry.
As Christians, how we respond during these times is critical. With the increasing social unrest and heightened sensitivity (especially online), we can either help or make matters worse, depending on what we say. Let’s keep in mind that we are called to honor God in every way, including our posts on social media. We are also called to be disciples and to make disciples, so we hope to set an example for everyone through what we say online. Colossians 4:5,6 commands us to: Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Before we post online, let’s remember that we are Christians first with a citizenship in heaven before we are citizens of our nation. If we do post, here are some questions we could ask ourselves:
Will it honor God or just satisfy me? It would be good if we first check why we’re posting and what our goal is.
Will it help make disciples or discourage disciples? Let’s always keep discipleship in mind when we post. We can’t afford to be distracted from our mission to help others grow in their walk with God.
Will it build others up or tear them down? The criticism we provide can be constructive or destructive. We can determine who we are trying to address in our community, what kind of example the post will set, and who will be affected by the post. Consider also those who may be inadvertently affected.
Will it be a stepping stone or a stumbling block? We hope that the fruit of the Spirit is evident and abounding in the message and through our lives. Let’s not respond in anger (Ephesians 4:26) and lose our Christian witness through this.
Am I being led by the Spirit or the crowd? If we believe that God is telling us to speak up, then let’s do it. But let’s not just give in to pressure and post something. If we are being led by the crowd, we may not need to say it.
Is it based on facts or feelings? Specify, clarify, and qualify. Let’s not generalize and make blanket statements. Verify the facts before reacting (Proverbs 25:8). If we can’t get our facts straight, our credibility may be questioned. Let’s be clear about what we are really against. If not, the post can be easily misunderstood. If we are upset at one person, we probably just need to talk to the person instead of making a post.
Is it speaking against evil deeds or vilifying a person? Speak against evil and injustice, not people or personalities. Let’s determine if: we are holding people accountable or cursing authority; we are speaking life or wishing ill on people (Proverbs 18:21); the spirit by which we are speaking is upholding or reviling authority (Acts 23:5). Let’s remember that the battle is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12), and there’s no point in vilifying or demonizing people who oppose our views. Remember, not everyone has to agree with you.
This crisis is challenging and overwhelming, but we can respond to it with faith and hope because we know that God is in control and this situation is not beyond Him. Let us continue to declare and demonstrate the gospel. We believe that what a fearful world needs now is a fearless church. Let’s continue to pray for our nation, serve our communities in any way we can, and believe for God’s amazing grace to turn this crisis around. As God’s people, in every dark and seemingly hopeless situation, we are called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16).
The Taal Volcano eruption has left thousands of families in Batangas and nearby provinces displaced, distraught, and disheartened. But as the volcano’s strong internal unrest continues, an outpouring of help and support overflows from different individuals and volunteer groups—in spite of challenging situations.
Volunteering is not easy. It requires physical effort and a great deal of emotional strength. It takes a lot of resolve and courage to actually go out there and help affected families find hope and see God’s hand at work in the midst of pain and suffering.
But it takes an even greater strength from God to help and do what we can—even while facing loss ourselves.
Morris, one of our volunteers from Victory Lemery, has been going out of his way since last week to bring relief goods to affected families in Bauan and other nearby towns. But unknown to many, Morris himself is facing a heartbreaking tragedy.
Morris’s and his wife’s families in Bauan and Taal have also been affected by the calamity. But more than the devastating effects of the eruption, it was the recent passing of his wife that really took a toll on him and broke his heart. He has been silently dealing with the pain while taking part in our relief efforts in Batangas.
An old photo of Morris with his late wife and two daughters.
Morris’s wife, Katherine, passed away a few days before Taal’s eruption; she was buried a day before it all happened. Though mourning and still in pain, Morris braves the heartache knowing that God’s grace will always be sufficient.
Morris is now left with his two daughters and a two-month-old son. While still grappling with the loss of his wife, Morris believes that it shouldn’t stop him from reaching out. He is in faith that God will continue enabling him to help those who also lost a big part of their lives.
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
As we monitor the situation in Taal, may we be inspired and encouraged to be God’s hands and feet no matter our circumstance. Let us rely on His grace and peace to calm our hearts as we continue to be in faith and believe for the best.
Like Morris and the rest of the volunteers from our South Luzon churches, you can also help affected communities in Batangas. Visit victory.org.ph/taalrelief to know more.
