philippines

Pray For Solidarity as Our Nation Prepares For The Year Ahead

November 28, 2024

Our nation faced various challenges this year—both longstanding and emerging. From political indifference to economic pressures and disputes in the West Philippine Sea to the impact of typhoons and disasters, we cannot deny the realities that have caused toil and hardship for Filipinos.

Yet, we also remember the truth that God is sovereign; He is merciful, gracious, and abounding in steadfast love. We hold on to our faith that we can overcome these challenges as we draw strength from Him and our collective hope as a nation. Our solidarity as Filipinos is crucial; it embodies the spirit of unity, harmony, and cooperation.

Scripture reminds us of the principles that demonstrate the significant rewards of our unity when we stand together as one people.

“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” – 1 Corinthians 1:10

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” – Psalm 133:1

“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” – 1 Peter 3:8-9

Let’s be in the spirit of solidarity and prayer as we prepare for the year ahead. Take a moment to lift our nation to God:

Prayer Points:

Pray for all the leaders of our nation to work together selflessly for the common good of the Filipino people, setting aside any personal and political interests.
Pray for divine protection upon our nation against the devil’s schemes – whether political, social, environmental, or economic – that seek to sow fear, frustration, discord, and division among Filipinos (Ephesians 6:10-12). Pray also for healing and a spirit of forgiveness to prevail upon our nation.

Pray for the church to lead by example in promoting unity and peace, serving as a beacon of hope and encouragement for the Filipino people in light of all the present issues challenging our nation.

Pray for the church to unite in praying for the welfare of our nation, declaring God’s promises and blessing to be upon our land. Pray also that the church will be zealous in taking part in nation-building by living out righteousness and integrity, and by faithfully doing evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development.

Strength Amidst Multiple Storms

November 18, 2024

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.

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/14/from-kristine-to-pepito-6-cyclones-batter-ph-one-after-another-2209

Pray for God’s healing and hope in light of the rising HIV cases

May 30, 2024

The Philippines is currently experiencing the highest rate of new HIV cases globally, with an average of fifty-five new cases reported daily. The majority of cases involve young people.

The Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,224 new HIV infections and 12 deaths. Nearly half of these new infections were among individuals aged 25–34, with almost a third occurring in those aged 15–24. Out of the 396 youth cases reported, 394 (99 percent) contracted HIV through sexual contact. Additionally, 80 (20 percent) of the youth cases were diagnosed with advanced HIV infection.

While HIV is no longer an incurable disease, access to antiretroviral treatment can be difficult for minors who need parental consent. Most minors often hide their condition, delaying treatment for years until it progresses to full-blown AIDS.

As a church that values the next generation, let’s continue to reach the campuses, minister the depths of Christ’s unconditional love, and encourage them to live set-apart lives. We pray that the next generation lives according to God’s word and walks free from sin and shame.

While culture and society aim to alleviate the stigma and shame, only in Christ’s power do we find transformation and healing.

In Him, our brokenness is made whole.

Prayer Points:

Pray for divine healing and restoration of health for those infected with HIV, especially the young people suffering from this disease. Pray also for the elimination of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV, so that they may be treated with compassion, dignity, and acceptance.
Pray for families to be strengthened and guided to uphold God’s ways in their households. Pray for endurance for those who have family members with HIV and that they will continue to provide unwavering support and care. Surround them with a community that will support them in their journey.
Pray for our campus ministry, especially student discipleship. May the students be empowered to make a positive difference on their campuses, being the salt and light among their classmates. Let them move in love and compassion as they share Jesus and His message of hope and salvation within their sphere of influence.
Pray for our government officials as they collaborate and strategize their efforts in their campaign for adolescent health. Pray that God will grant them wisdom, unity, and effectiveness in their actions, bringing about positive change and better health outcomes for our youth.

To learn more about the current situation in our nation, you can read the resources through the links below:

Pray for the Ongoing Academic Calendar Shift

April 30, 2024

The Department of Education (DepEd) has made it official – we are shifting back to the old school calendar of June-March from the current August-May calendar.

Many public school teachers and students have been suffering from extreme heat, which has resulted in the sacrifice of school calendar activities.

The shift is expected to complete its transition by the school year 2027-2028. Yet, DepEd received calls for an immediate return to the old school calendar instead of having a 2-year transition period.

There are concerns that the senior high school students going to college may experience potential learning loss due to the long 5-month break.

Some experts even suggest that reverting to the old calendar is only a temporary solution and that the heat problems must be addressed differently—this could include limiting class size, ensuring good room ventilation, and equipping teachers with remote learning teaching skills to avoid learning loss.

As a church, our heart has always been to reach and disciple the future leaders of our nation. Let’s continue to pray for our government officials as they embark on this two-year transition, in view of providing quality education for the next generation. Let’s also pray for grace upon the teachers, students, and parents as they adjust to this academic calendar shift. And of course, let us pray for churches all over the Philippines as we carry out student evangelism and discipleship in their context while adapting to changes in the academic calendar.

Prayer Points:

Pray for the Department of Education. Pray for wisdom and guidance as they plan and implement strategies that will truly benefit students, teachers, and the entire education system in our country.
Pray for the grace and well-being of teachers, students, and parents as they adjust to this academic calendar shift.
Pray for wisdom, creativity, and flexibility for our campus missionaries as they preach the gospel and disciple students despite the changing schedules.
Pray for God’s favor for more partnerships with high school and university teachers, professors, and school admin in discipling the next generation.

To learn more about the current situation in our nation, you can read the resources through the links below:

Pray for God’s Mercy and Intervention during the El Niño

March 22, 2024

Summer is almost here. While we’ve enjoyed cooler weather in the previous months, we may soon find ourselves facing warmer temperatures than usual. PAGASA defines El Niño as characterized by unusually warmer than average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific.

This year, El Niño is bringing drought, leading to three consecutive months of significantly below-normal rainfall conditions. Based on PAGASA’s projection, provinces will continue to be affected over the next three months. Six areas have already been declared to be in a state of calamity.

Task Force El Niño spokesperson Assistant Secretary Joey Villarama stated that currently, 67 provinces are experiencing the effects of El Niño, with 30 of them facing drought conditions. Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa, the spokesperson of the Department of Agriculture, reported nearly 30,000 farmers have already experienced a decrease in crop yield and harvest. These damages to our agriculture could adversely affect our entire economy with decreasing supply and rising commodity prices. Which is why we must pray for our nation at this time.

Drought and famine are familiar concepts, even dating back to ancient times. The Bible alone recounts numerous instances of drought and famine. Just as God faithfully provided in those times, we can rest assured that abundance is not far from us. Let us be in faith that the God who gives rain for the seed with which we sow the ground, will make our land rich and abundant (Isaiah 30:23).

“In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.” – Psalm 37:19 (NIV84)

Even in the droughts and famines of our lives, we declare for restoration of inheritance, as there will be rain in abundance, ready to quench the greater thirst of the human soul (Psalm 68:9).

Prayer Points:

Pray for God’s mercy and intervention in mitigating the effects of El Niño. Let us believe Him for a supernatural provision of rain and relief for affected regions, praying for an end to the drought and recovery of everything that was lost.
Pray for those impacted directly by El Niño – farmers, producers, livestock keepers, and communities facing food and water shortages. Pray for their health and protection, provision of basic needs, and resilience amidst another challenging circumstance.
Pray for wisdom for our government as they seek solutions to mitigate the impacts of El Niño. May they come up with innovative strategies and long-term solutions to combat this drought.
Pray that our church will continuously be God’s hands and feet during this time of El Niño. May the church be a beacon of hope to those in need by proclaiming and demonstrating the gospel to them.

To learn more about the current situation in our nation, you can read the resources through the links below:

Pray for the New School Year 2023-2024

August 30, 2023

A smooth opening of classes is seen today, with more than 22 million elementary and high school students expected to troop to school, based on the Department of Education (DepEd)’s enrollment figures. This marks the first time, since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, that schools nationwide will conduct full face-to-face sessions on the first day of classes. In Metro Manila, the opening of classes is one of the key factors to the increased volume of road traffic.

The DepEd’s data indicated that 22,676,964 students are enrolled in public and private kindergarten, elementary, and high schools across the country for the school year (SY) 2023-2024.

The agency earlier said it is expecting around 28.8 million students for this school year, a little over the 28.4 million enrolled in public and private schools in SY 2022-2023.

Today, as we see the millions of students returning onsite to school, we see the harvest of students that we can win for Jesus. We also see a great opportunity for our churches and campus ministries all over the Philippines to make an impact in the lives of these next generation leaders.

Let us pray for God’s mighty move in the campuses this school year! Let us believe that revival will take place on the campuses and students will turn their hearts to God and His purposes! Let us believe together for the visible fruits of the work of God on the campuses and in the lives of the students!

Prayer Points:

Pray that students will encounter and know God on the campuses this school year. Let us pray that the hearts of the students would be open to receiving the message of the gospel and making a life-changing decision to follow Jesus.

Pray for a revival to take place on the campuses this school year. Let us pray that students will turn their hearts and minds to God and His purposes. Let us ask God to ignite a passion for prayer, worship, devotion, and evangelism among the students.

Pray for the safety and protection of all the students on the campuses, physically and spiritually. Let us ask God to shield them from any diseases, or negative influences, and guide them away from harmful situations.

Pray for our churches all over the nation to actively and passionately take part in campus ministry. Let us pray that all generations will come together as one in reaching the students for Jesus!

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To learn more about the current situation in our nation, you can read the resources in these links below.

DepEd: 22 million students returning to school today

DepEd: All systems go for Aug. 29 opening of classes despite shortage of 159k classrooms

DepEd expects 28 million enrollees for SY 2023-2024

Back to School 2023: Bare walls and persistent issues

DepEd: Enrollment for School Year 2023-2024 begins

DepEd sets SY 2023-2024 class opening on Aug. 29