Floodwaters of Grace
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.
A Ray of Hope in the Storm: Extending Christ’s Love to Cities Affected by Typhoon Carina
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.
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.
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.
Not long after, these goods were distributed, opening doors to pray and speak a word of encouragement to affected communities.
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.
PRAY FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY TYPHOON EGAY
Restoring Typhoon-Stricken Communities in Cagayan de Oro
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.
Restoring Hope Together in Zamboanga
Earlier this week, several provinces in Mindanao were struck by two storms in quick succession. Tropical depressions Odette and Paolo forced many residents to evacuate their homes, and massive floods formed over the island, especially in Zamboanga City.
For the past four years, residents in the Tugbungan community have given Victory group leaders the opportunity to serve through Victory groups and a Kids Church service. Once the floods set in, Victory Zamboanga was privileged to attend to their immediate needs through the distribution of food supplies and hygiene kits. As the relief goods were distributed, we took the moment to encourage the mothers who received the kits by preaching the gospel to them.
We stand in faith that this is the latest opportunity God has given us to be His hands and feet to this community, and we look forward to mobilizing our resources to further help out those who were affected by the typhoons.
Meanwhile, let us continue to pray for the people and cities who were affected by the typhoons. Pray for protection, comfort, peace, and provision as they rebuild their homes and communities. Believe that our church in Zamboanga will also be salt and light to the people in Mindanao at this time.
Let us pray for Cagayan de Oro!
Today, the local government of Cagayan de Oro City declared the city under a state of calamity, hours after the city was inundated by floodwaters caused by heavy rains caused by a low pressure area and the tail-end of a monsoon cold front. Many residents in waterlogged towns in the Visayas and Mindanao were evacuated even as the rains destroyed millions of pesos worth of property throughout the region.
We read in Isaiah 41:10 about how God protects and watches over His people: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Let us pray for our countrymen who have been affected by the flooding caused by heavy monsoon rains in Cagayan de Oro and other parts of the Visayas and Mindanao. May God sustain them and all of us with His comfort, peace, protection and provision.
Strength After the Storm
A month after Typhoon Sendong (international name: Washi), Victory Cagayan de Oro is currently in the rebuilding stage, helping grief-stricken families in the area in various ways: visiting the sick in hospitals, offering financial aid, and coursing relief goods to accredited non-profit organizations, to name a few.
As for Victory Iligan, the church has implemented its rebuilding program. They started off by building relationships with affected families, inviting those who live in nearby villages to spend a day at the Victory Iligan center. After engaging and encouraging the victims, the church blesses each one with goods based on their need: medicine for the sick, shelter for the homeless, and financial support for failed businesses.
Aside from receiving emotional empowerment and support, some of the victims also came to know Christ as their Lord and Savior through these rehabilitation efforts. These individuals left with not just supplies and relief goods, but also a personal relationship with Jesus.
We are in faith that our brothers and sisters in the Mindanao region will pull through in this calamity! Please continue to pray for grace, strength, and wisdom for our leaders in the area. Let’s also seek God for His comfort for the victims at this period of their lives.
Typhoon Sendong Relief Efforts
We are all grieved by the tragedy that has befallen Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and other parts of Mindanao. From our congregation in Cagayan de Oro alone, more than fifty families have lost homes and possessions as a result of this calamity. We are all crying out for God’s comfort and mercy for all those who’ve lost their loved ones, and who need help to recover from this ordeal.
As a church, we immediately responded to help the city in practical ways. Victory Metro Manila has sent financial aid to help with their relief and rehabilitation efforts. We are also coordinating with Operation Blessing to assist in disaster response in the area.
Our churches in Mindanao have also taken part in this effort. Victory Cagayan de Oro has opened their center as a temporary shelter for those who lost their homes in the floods. Our leaders in Cagayan de Oro have also risen up to help their community by taking up a special offering to help their members with the relief efforts. Victory Pagadian, Victory Zamboanga, and Victory General Santos have sent financial aid as well.
How we can Help
Our senior pastor in Victory Cagayan de Oro, Pastor Janssen Torredes, is currently coordinating Victory’s relief efforts for Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. According to Pastor Janssen, the most practical way to help right now is to help fund the relief efforts. The immediate need is to provide food and water for the affected families. Our team in Cagayan de Oro will take care of purchasing, packaging, and deploying the goods to the affected families.
How to Give
Let’s do what we can to help our brothers and sisters in Mindanao. We are accepting cash donations for those afflicted by tropical storm Sendong.
Here are ways on how you can give to Sendong relief efforts:
- Through BPI Express Online
Please select the “Others” church code. - Through Credit Cards
In the Church/Organization field of our Online Giving Portal, select *SENDONG Relief Effort.
NOTE: For more information on how to give online, please visit victory.org.ph/give.
- Through your local congregation
- Please indicate “Sendong Relief Efforts” on the “Others” field on the offering envelope
Thank you for your Christ-like compassion and service to our brothers and sisters in Mindanao. Let us continue praying for those who have lost loved ones, and for those who are participating in relief operations in the affected areas of Mindanao.
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.
Typhoon Pedring Update: How Can we Help?
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.