The Faith Family Foundation, in cooperation with its mother unit, the Faith Family Church, held a Missionary for a Day activity on February 18, 2018 . The Church’s Intercession Ministry visited nine barangays in Dasmarinas and GMA, Cavite to bring Christ’s salvation closer to the community. In this activity called “Missionary for a Day”, groups of men, women, and young people prayed for healing, financial provisions, and salvation for families. Holding on to a belief that every Christian is a missionary and every non-believer is a mission field, they diligently walked their way to their assigned barangays, withstanding the humid weather.
Women praying for a woman’s petitions
They visited the poorest members of the community and ministered to the people who were living in the direst conditions. Some of the cases petitioned for were a stroke patient, an infant with a rare disease, a woman struggling for money, and many others. The collected prayers were prayed for round-the-clock through the Intercession Ministry’s 24-7 Prayer Chain. A small pack of baked cookies was given to each visited household. Children also received colorful booklets to learn about the love of Christ. This event illustrates FFC’s vision to bring the Good News of salvation to the community and beyond. Those who were visited felt blessed that despite their circumstances, someone is thinking of them.
Children reading booklets about God’s love
The participants experienced a double portion of love and joy as they retreated from their sowing, in anticipation of a good harvest for the greater glory of God.
About 180 community children felt God’s love this Christmas
Shouts of excitement and peals of laughter could be heard at Faith Family Church as the Faith Family Foundation in collaboration with the Children Ministry hosted the annual Children’s Christmas party on December 22, 2018. With the generous donations of various sponsors, 190 children were able to eat heartily, play games, and celebrate Christmas. As an annual project of Faith Family Foundation, the Children’s Christmas party serves as a way for underprivileged children of the community to truly feel the spirit of Christmas.
As early as 7:30 AM, the children enthusiastically started to arrive, greeted by the friendly volunteers of the Children Ministry. While waiting for the party, the children were asked about what they like most about Christmas. They could not help but exclaim, “gifts!” The prospect of receiving gifts greatly energized the children even more as they went around themselves and talked about what they gifts they might get from the party. Opening the party was a short message from FFC’s pastor, Nel Trinidad, telling the children how much God loves them as He had so graciously prepared this party with them in mind. This rings true as the party would not have happened without God touching the hearts of the numerous sponsors that donated to the party. Continuing the party, the children participated in different games.
a happy girl shows off her gift Barbie doll
Whether looking for chocolate coins in containers of flour or trying not to let balloons fall to the ground, the happiness of the children was impossible to miss. Holding up the prizes they received from the games, their smiles grew even bigger. Having been exhausted by the games, lunch was next on the program much to the elation of the children. Sponsored by Ms Gibb Alfafara and Ms Lalaine Ortega, a classic Filipino lunch was served: Jollibee chickenjoy and spaghetti. After digging into their lunches with gusto, the children finally received their gifts. Grouped by age, they were able to choose the gifts they wanted from a spread of gifts displayed at the bottom of the stage. Ranging from dolls to cars, there was something for every child. Watching the children open their gifts and play with them was the most magical moment of the party. These children, who have gone through many hardships, were bursting with joy at what they received whether it was a toy or school supplies.
children prepare for their next parlor game
“The purpose of the party is to make children happy especially those who are in the community around the Church who are less fortunate with the message of hope that is in Jesus,” states Jena Manabat, the head of the Children Ministry. Indeed, the Christmas party made the children overflow with happiness. The spirit of Christmas was also shared to them through this simple party, exposing them to the joy that Jesus can bring.
Every person has the right to be protected from violence and abuse, and since children are especially vulnerable from such abuses, it is important that extra care should be given to their cause. Bullying is a form of violence and abuse which happens mostly in schools. Children spend more time in schools than at home and cases of bullying have been reported occurring inside school premises. For this reason and in accordance with the Anti Bullying enacted by the Philippine Government, the Faith Family Foundation, Intl., Inc, has taken the initiative to undertake an event to raise awareness among students about bullying and help them cope with this social malaise.
Last August 30, 2018 the Foundation, on it’s 3rd year of implementing this program, went to Paliparan II Integrated National High School to conduct a seminar which was attended by almost 400 Grade 7 and 8 students.
The campaign not only aimed at raising awareness about bullying but focused more on how God loves all the students and that He values each of them and protects their well-being, their dignity and has provided a good future for them. The students were given a letter from their Creator (passages taken from the Bible) letting them know how they are loved and thought of. In this way, they learned how to value each other, especially themselves. The School officials applauded the way the Anti Bullying Campaign was presented to the students noting that the approach was holistic and was more appealing to the students because of the spiritual perspective from which the issue is tackled. The heart-rendering testimony of Elizabeth Trinidad, a member of the Faith Family Church, exposed the ugly reality of bullying and how one can overcome it with help of God and by approaching the right people.
Students small groups.
After the talk, small groups were formed to process what the students heard and learned. They were also presented the Gospel and were prayed for. A simple but hearty ‘merienda’ was enjoyed by all.
Special thanks goes to Ps. John Hayes for the financial support to cover expenses for the snacks served during the event. The Faith Family Foundation brings back the glory to God because of the great success of this program.
Every family has their own tradition. For Faith Family Church doing acts of kindness without strings attached is a tradition and they have shared this love for serving the community through three dentists. On April 22, 2018 another dental mission took place in Silang, Cavite in the community of Magnagon. Dr. Eloi, Dr. Grace and Dr. Glenda didn’t mind the trip to Cavite to serve the community. The dentists from Jeremiah 3017 dental clinic have always been finding ways to give back to the community by conducting dental missions. This is something that they have been doing for a long time now. Faith Family Church always endeavours to be able to organize events like the Dental Mission. The Dental Mission usually takes place in Faith Family Church but this year the dentists were brought to the community. The Young Adult Ministry took on the challenge of organizing the dental mission.
Photography By: Gabby Manabat
Most spend their summers swimming away in beaches but everyone in the hall chose to hustle for the community. As the day got hotter, more people began arriving. All people of all sorts of ages and sizes came to avail the free tooth extraction. There were several funny moments with different patients like how there was a mother who didn’t want her son to go through with the tooth extraction because her son will play basketball the next day. There was also a child who cried not because he was in pain but more of because how he can’t eat ice cream because his mother is taking too long with the dentist. The community was warm and welcoming. It made serving them a joy. The heat only created a warm atmosphere for everyone all around. 64 patients were served in total. Some of them only came to have a check up and some didn’t need to have their tooth extracted immediately. It was another successful dental mission. By 4pm everyone started packing up so that they can huddle in for pictures. As another memory of serving the community is tucked in safely everyone said their prayers before going home. All in a day’s work.
At the beginning of each school year, the Faith Family Foundation endeavors to support the studies of needy schoolchildren by providing school supplies to students of public schools who would otherwise not have this “luxury,’ as their scant funds would be spent on tuition and other fees. Priority, however, is given to students being supported by the Foundation . In June , 2016 the Faith Family Foundation decided to distribute school supplies to the students who are members of Faith Family Church.
At the beginning of each school year, the Faith Family Foundation endeavors to support the studies of needy schoolchildren by providing school supplies to students of public schools who would otherwise not have this “luxury,’ as their scant funds would be spent on tuition and other fees. Priority, however, is given to students being supported by the Foundation . In June , 2016 the Faith Family Foundation decided to distribute school supplies to the students who are members of Faith Family Church.
Scholars receiving their school supplies
They also received school uniforms, socks , bags and other essentials for their studies. The joy in the students and parents hearts was palpable, as they eagerly and gratefully queed up and received the very supplies that they had been praying for.Some students even compared the color of the notebooks that they got and talked about how they were excited to use their new materials for the coming school year. Some parents were more excited than the students themselves.
The Foundation is currently supporting 120 students under this project. The Faith Family Foundation hopes that they could extend the same kind of sui[pport, if not more, in the coming years, as they see this a a very practical way of helping and supporting students of the community. The Foundation extended its thanks to the donors of this activity, particularly the officers and Staff of the Philippine Mission to ASEAN , based in Jakarta Indonesia.
Every school year students from Faith Family Church are given an opportunity to pursue their studies. Students are given a maximum of Php 10,000 each which they are free to use – either in augmenting their tuition or other school fees, buying books or simply to help them with their day-to-day needs.. Most of them do not have the resources to pay for their tuition fee or afford having an allowance.
Scholars receiving ther school supplies
The Foundation is currently supporting 5 elementary students, 8 high school students, 4 grade 11 students and 11 college students. Elementary students are given 3,000 Philippine pesos, High school students and Grade 11 are given 5,000 pesos, and finally College students are given 10,000 pesos. The amount of money distributed to the scholars increases as they advance their academic studies because their needs also increase. Many became hopeful because of the support given by the Foundation.
Some scholars are taking up Business Administration, Computer Science, Information Technology and Hotel and Restaurant Management. Receiving support from the Foundation boosted their motivation to finish their studies. Scholars have several requirements that they must fulfill if they want to be able to apply or keep their scholarship. The scholars are required to attend their cell group meetings and church regularly; they are scheduled to help in cleaning the Church as a way of giving back, they should maintain a certain average grade and they cannot have any failing grade. Scholars are also discouraged from having a girlfriend and boyfriend to ensure that would not be distracted in their studies. The Foundation hopes that the students would not only be provided financial help, but they would also be molded with values.
Faith Family Church saw its grounds packed with patients as another dental mission, conducted by the Faith Family Foundation, was held on October 7, 2017. Hailing from Jeremiah 3017 Dental Clinic, Dr. Eloi Crisostomo, Dr. Glenda Clamar, and Dr. Louis Clyde Bautista, along with their assistants, graciously lent their services to help 100 patients. Free medicine was also distributed to patients. Around 20 volunteers were also present to assist in various matters, such as registration, cleaning of medical supplies, checking the patients’ vital signs, and providing help to the dentists.
As early as 6:30 AM, patients had started to line up to avail of the free dental services provided by doctors from Jeremiah 3017 Dental Clinic. Patients of all ages registered, but a vast majority of them were young children, accompanied by their parents. For most of the patients, travelling to the dental mission was not difficult as many of them live in areas near the church. Dental missions like these are the only opportunity that some of the patients get to visit a dentist. Salvacion Bautista, 44 and mother of two, expressed her gratitude that events like these occur. “Yung dentista kasi doon pa sa may GMA. Mahirap pumunta at mahal pa magpabunot. Kaya pag naririnig ko na may ganito sa Faith, talagang pumupunta kami ng mga anak ko.” (I have to go to GMA to visit a dentist. It is hard to go there and the cost of tooth extraction is too high. Whenever I hear that Faith Family Foundation conducts events like these, I make sure to bring my children.) Others, like Christian (19) and Wilson (52), usually wait for dental missions to have their teeth extracted. They talked about how convenient and helpful dental missions were because they do not have to spend what little money they earn. Many of the patients had either been to past dental missions or had heard from friends and family members who had previously gone to dental missions.
The children, on the other hand, had nothing but smiles ready for the dentists. A few of them were nervous and scared to see the dentists, but were soon consoled by the promise of free ice cream. Peter Mupas, an ice cream vendor, set up his ice cream cart outside the make-shift clinic to console patients who had just had their teeth extracted. Alumni of the Faith Family Foundation pooled their resources together to hire Mr. Peter for the day. The ice cream cart surely made for a comforting sight after a bout of pain.
Patients get their treats after teeth extractions.
The dentists, veterans of dental missions, were nothing but professional, managing to do their tasks efficiently and effectively. Their bright attitudes also shone through while joking with patients to calm them down. Dr. Glenda stated, “This is my way to give back the glory to the Lord. I am thankful for His blessings and His faithfulness, so I want to give back. It is also fulfilling to serve in line with my profession.” Fulfillment is a big part of the dental mission for them, as Dr. Clyde mentions that his exhaustion is only second to the feeling of fulfillment and doing God’s work. Their success in their field is a gift from God, as Dr. Eloi says. “I believe God has called me to bless others because He has gifted me with this profession. I can use my profession to let others feel the love of God.” The dentists and their assistants have indeed let others feel the love of God through their excellent dental services that served 100 people.
Happy Faces All. Despite their exhausting whole day work, Doctors, volunteers and church leaders share a light moment at the close of the dental Mission.
