The following update comes from Edith Dominguez, director of our child sponsorship program in the Philippines. Enjoy her report and reflection on the past year of ministry!

We thank the Lord for the blessing of the Sponsor A Child ministry this past year. It has been a hard year because of the economy, but our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ has carried us through these difficulties. We praise the Lord for parents who have come to know the Lord. Former and present sponsorship recipients who are in high school are now serving as Sunday school teachers, praise and worship leaders, as well as officers and evangelism workers in the local churches. They are all growing in their faith. Regular home Bible studies are also conducted in the homes of the recipients by follow-up workers in order to reach whole families with the Gospel.

At present we have 318 children in 44 villages enrolled in the program. Last year, 28 children graduated from high school and 166 parents, brothers, sisters, and relatives of the children came to know Christ. There are 96 home Bible study groups meeting regularly. One former sponsored child has enrolled in Bible school, preparing to serve the Lord full time. Relief and medical help were also given to many families affected by the two consecutive super typhoons we experienced. By God’s grace we pray that the sponsorship program will continue to be a channel of blessing, especially to unreached and needy families.

The impact of the program in the community cannot be underestimated. This is the testimony of a group of believers which 12 years ago did not welcome the preaching of the Word of God in their midst. They were so against the Christian workers that they ridiculed them every time they shared the Gospel. Still, we began a sponsorship program in the area, and many children were enrolled in the program. This was the beginning of many home Bible studies being held in the different homes and people began to open their hearts to the Lord. “The Lord of Harvest Christian Church” was established in the area. The same people who used to ridicule the Word of God are now sharing their faith, and the church is growing. The former sponsored children are now Sunday school teachers, and their parents have become leaders in the church. The change in the lives of these believers has attracted other people to give their hearts to the Lord. They have become a living testimony for the glory of His name. 

Thank you for your sponsorship, which impacts children, their families, and whole communities!

Life is hard for a single mom in any country. In Indonesia, Irpan’s mom battles not only the difficulties of providing for her family, but also endures persecution because she is a follower of Isa Al-Masih, Jesus the Messiah.

Irpan says, “I felt sad every time I saw my mother got persecuted. Seeing my mother’s faith was a disaster for our family. (My uncle) tried every effort to force my mother not to become a Christian.” She was physically abused, sent to another town, expelled from the family, and kept prisoner at home. But she not only endured, but taught Irpan how to pray in Isa’s name and to put his trust in Isa.

During the home imprisonment, no one was allowed to visit. As a result, no contact with Christians fellowship could happen—especially not when a pastor came to see her.

Irpan goes on with his story, “I thank God, He can still send me to school through this support, even now my mother has no job, but I can still continue my school. Please pray that God will open the way so I can go to Sunday School again, my mother gets a job, and my relatives will be won.”

Our God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us and this family is living in that promise. Sponsorship is giving them hope where there seems to be none.  Irpan is allowed to go to school where he has contact with other believers. Please remember this family in your prayers and consider sponsoring a child. You can make a difference in the Kingdom of God.