relief

A Ray of Hope in the Storm: Extending Christ’s Love to Cities Affected by Typhoon Carina

July 31, 2024

Last week, we woke up to dark gray skies and the deafening sound of heavy rainfall as the southwest monsoon enhanced by typhoon Carina ravaged our nation. Over 1.3 million lives were affected by severe floods and landslides, prompting rescue operations in several areas. The cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, and Marikina were the hardest hit across Metro Manila.

*The floodwaters rose high, making streets impassable and submerging homes and establishments.*

In times of darkness and despair, our church locations across the nation opened their doors, providing refuge from the storm.

Displaced families sought comfort and shelter in many of our church locations that served as emergency evacuation centers.

*Victory locations in Pampanga, Bataan, and Bulacan opened their doors to evacuees.*

With eager hearts, many brought donations across Metro Manila, immediately packing relief goods and non-food essentials like medicines, hygiene kits, school supplies, and cleaning materials.

*We’re grateful to our church members who generously donated, and volunteered to sort and pack relief goods.*

Not long after, these goods were distributed, opening doors to pray and speak a word of encouragement to affected communities.

*Our churches came together to provide relief goods across Metro Manila and in the hardest-hit communities in Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, and Marikina.*

*Aside from their basic needs, the affected families were in need of something deeper–a glimmer of hope through heartfelt prayers and compassionate words.*

Through your efforts, prayers, and heart of service, over 5,873 families in around 22 cities, 3 municipalities, 95 barangays, 14 campuses, and 23 villages/subdivisions as well as our Real LIFE scholars and church members experienced God’s love.

Thank you for reflecting Christ’s compassion and comfort through your wholehearted generosity, opening doors for the gospel to be proclaimed and demonstrated.

Let’s continue to pray for God’s peace, comfort, and provision as our nation recovers from this calamity. Amidst the darkness of this world, may God’s love shine through His Church so that more people will come to Him and find everlasting salvation and hope.

Thank you for helping and praying for Marikina and Rizal!

August 20, 2018

Starting on August 11, heavy and continuous rain flooded areas in Luzon and Metro Manila. Two of the most affected areas include the city of Marikina and the province of Rizal. Over 3,000 families were displaced because of the overflow of the Marikina River. San Mateo, Rizal, was placed under a state of calamity as well, and more than 5,000 of its residents were forced to evacuate from their homes.

We believe that God called His church to respond to situations like these with compassion and generosity. Our church members from Victory Metro East initiated relief efforts from August 12 to 15 to help the residents of Marikina and Rizal. We collected and gave away food, hygiene kits, and clothes. We also gave mattresses and blankets because some of the residents’ beds were washed up by the floods. With the help of our Victory group leaders from all walks of life, we distributed relief packages and prayed for the residents in Barangay Nangka and Barangay Tumana in Marikina and San Mateo, Rizal.

If you donated and volunteered in this relief operation, we would like to thank you for your generosity. We wouldn’t have been able to serve the people in Marikina and Rizal as one church without your participation.

Let us continue to pray for the people affected by the floods—let’s pray for grace and provision as they rebuild their homes and communities. Let us also continue to pray for God’s protection over our nation.

Thank You for Being a Blessing to Albay!

April 2, 2018

In late January, Mayon Volcano had a series of eruptions, which forced thousands of people in nearby towns to evacuate from their homes. Until now, many of them are still in evacuation centers.

Since then, we invited our church members to be a blessing to the residents of Albay. Many responded to the call to help. Through this effort, more than 1,500 families in Barangay Anoling, Barangay Bariw, Barangay Matanag, and Barangay Muladbucad received hygiene kits, groceries, and Bibles.

We held relief operations in February and March, where Victory group leaders and church members from Victory in Albay had opportunities to encourage the residents with God’s Word. We also worked closely with Operation Blessing and other churches in Albay to serve the communities.

Thank you to those who prayed and gave to the families affected by the eruption. Let us continue to pray for their safety, and let us also ask God for wisdom for the local government officials as they address the needs of the community.

. . . trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. (Psalm 37:3)

Restoring Typhoon-Stricken Communities in Cagayan de Oro

January 17, 2018

Days before Christmas last year, Typhoon Vinta struck Mindanao with torrential rains, massive floods, and strong winds, leaving many cities in a state of calamity and displacing residents in affected areas.

In times like these, we believe the Lord called His church to be a light to communities. Our church in Cagayan de Oro initiated relief efforts in three phases for those affected by Vinta in the city.

For the first phase, they provided food and water for members of the church whose homes were devastated. Eventually, the leaders decided to extend help to the neighbors of the church members as well. In the second phase, resources were pooled together to give household items such as electric fans for members who lost their furniture and appliances. For the third phase, our church reached out to the Body of Christ in Cagayan de Oro. Four community churches in the area were totally submerged in water when Vinta swept the city, damaging important equipment. We partnered with them in restoring their facilities and providing sound systems, so the churches can come together again and worship corporately.

These are just a few examples of our initiatives to be a light to the typhoon-stricken communities. There is more to be done, but we believe that God can sustain us with provision to bless others in trying times. Let’s continue to stand with our churches in prayer for the complete restoration of the affected communities of Mindanao.

Hope in the Ruins

January 27, 2012

A month has passed since Typhoon Sendong ravaged Mindanao. God brought different groups of people together to work as one in rebuilding Iligan and Cagayan de Oro.

One team of medical professionals, known as the Victory Health Professional Volunteers, visited six barangays in Iligan to administer much-needed medical aid. The team was led by Dr. Jojo Rivera and worked in partnership with Operation Blessing.

The volunteers extended different forms of support. Medical missions were held in various places where tetanus vaccines, wound treatments, vitamins, and hospital assistance were administered as needed. A total of 1,037 patients received medical attention and more than a third of them accepted Jesus into their lives.

A support program called Holiday of Hope and Cheer was also organized, this time for the youth. By conducting art therapy classes, the volunteers were able to help young children overcome the shock and trauma that the typhoon has caused them. Several teenagers were also treated to a free lunch in nearby fast food chains and were given clothing allowance. 225 young people accepted Jesus into their lives through this outreach program.

Other forms of relief included the distribution of relief packs, sacks of rice, and carpentry kits. Clean-up efforts were also conducted in some of the affected areas.

Janelle Pacete, one of the volunteers, recounts, “This experience personally touched me and taught me how to be very grateful for the things I normally take for granted. To me, it could just be another one of the inexpensive (fast food) meals. To them, it meant an experience of a lifetime.”

Lunch with the Kids — The kids enjoying their free lunch treat

Various forms of support are coming in, left and right, but the need still remains great. Let’s continue to include Iligan and Cagayan de Oro in our prayers.

Pray for emotional and physical strength for the victims, that they will rise above their current situation and look into the future with renewed hope and joy.
Pray for strength, wisdom, and fear of God for the local government officials in this time of recovery.
Pray for more opportunities to share the Word of God during this season.
Pray for strength for our leadership teams in Victory Iligan and Victory Cagayan de Oro as they continually minister to affected families and individuals.
Pray for more volunteers to invest their skills and resources into rebuilding these cities.

We are in faith that God will move mightily in spite of all that has happened to our brothers and sisters in Mindanao. Thank you for your support and for praying with us!

You can still participate in the ongoing relief efforts. For more information on how to give, click here.

Typhoon Pedring Update: How Can we Help?

October 4, 2011

On Tuesday, September 27, tropical storm Pedring raged into Philippine land, with the provinces of Central Luzon being the hardest hit in our nation, due to the strong wind and rains.

The province of Bulacan was declared under state of calamity. Countless families lost their homes and main roads were impassable due to floodwaters.

Let us see what we can do to help! Right now, Victory Malolos is spearheading relief operations in Calumpit, Hagonoy, and Paombong in Bulacan. Their center is open as a temporary shelter for evacuations. To know how you can help, please call the following numbers:

0922 8512794
0917 8002794
0920 9512794
(044) 896 1615

Victory Caloocan is open to receive donations in kind (clothes, beddings, instant noodles, canned goods, and bottled water) to be sent to Malolos. You may also send your donations directly to Victory Malolos at 2nd flr. Balaga Bldg., Dakila, Malolos City, 3000.

Cash donations can also be deposited through PS Bank Paseo del Congresso Malolos in this account:

Account name: Victory Christian Fellowship of Malolos, Inc.
Account number: 0281 1200 1353

You may also take part in Victory Cabanatuan’s Crisis and Calamity Ministry, for rescue and relief operations, as well as in clean-up campaigns and medical assistance. More details are available by contacting 0915 8914208.

Let’s pray for our brothers and sisters in Central Luzon who have been struck by the typhoon, and for the men and women who have volunteered their time and resources to help in relief operations.

Thank you for your generosity! We believe that as you have refreshed others, you will be blessed in return.

Note: By contributing to this project, ministry partners acknowledge that funds given to Every Nation will be directed to provide assistance to those affected by this disaster, and redirected, as necessary, should the funds contributed be in excess of the need. Every Nation partners as well with other non-government organizations who work in these areas.