THE PHILIPPINE OUTREACH CENTRE MINISTRIES

The Philippine Outreach Centre Ministries provides a Christian home and education for children who are either living on the streets, neglected, abused or have parents who are unable to care for them. It also ministers to the inmates of four jails and has planted several churches in the surrounding villages.

The country suffered badly during the pandemic with very harsh curfew laws but after 3 years of disruption due to Covid, life is returning to normal in the Philippines and to POC.

All the children are now back at school having face to face classes which is great. It was hard at first for everyone to get back into the swing of things as it had been almost three years since they were last having to go to school. For some the only school they had known was either online or by modular teaching. The government had schools open Monday to Thursday to help everyone adjust but all the children are happy now to be back in school.

Buying uniforms was a problem as after three years the children had outgrown all their clothes so each child had to have at least two new sets made so they can be washed etc. Thankfully a local charity sent money to help.

There are fewer students in school this year as many of the local children transferred during the pandemic, but the teachers are finding it much more manageable for this first year back to have smaller classes.

As it was hard for the students to get used to face to face lessons so it was for the staff too. In the first few weeks sickness quickly spread through the school but things are beginning to settle down. So far the teachers are pleased with the children's progress despite all the former trials of modular learning.

Whilst the school was closed it was possible to carry out much need maintenance work there and a local Australian veterans group offered to do some repairs in the children's home. They replaced the ceiling in the baby unit which had been eaten by termites and fitted sliding windows in the boys home which was a great blessing.

Six new children have been admitted to the children's home including a new born baby. Whilst Chrissy was ministering in Olongapo district jail she had a referral of a toddler, Sander (2 years old) . His mum was in a women's prison and was pregnant. Later she was was rushed to hospital to deliver the baby but baby Sandra was delivered in the van on the way to hospital. POC were immediately contacted to pick up the baby as mothers are not allowed to keep their new born babies with them in jail.

One of the other missions of POCM is prison ministry. Before the pandemic Chrissy and her team would visit four jails on a regular basis, conducting services and running bible study courses. Both these activities were well attended with many of the inmates coming to faith. All this was stopped during the pandemic. Slowly the team is gaining access to the jails again but there has been opposition in some. In a visit to one jail the guard apologised that there could be no service that day as all the guards had been required to escort 30 inmates to their court hearings and he was the only guard left. He was visibly fearful of the fact.

The team decided to continue the service in the visiting area despite no one being allowed to join them as the inmates could still gather near and hear from the other side of the bars. Eventually the guard relented and allowed the inmates to join them. Chrissy and the team were locked in with the inmates with the guard outside and had a wonderful service with around 60 inmates attending and many responding to God’s word. We pray that in time the team will have access to all the jails again.

Due to a new law all non government schools are required to own their premises so either money had to be raised to purchase the school and the surrounding land or close the school. Closing was an option to be avoided if at all possible as the government schools are overcrowded and do not provide a Christian education. So plans were put in place to find the money. Behind the school on the same land is a derelict hospital. It had been built by the Americans after the war but as it was situated on the top of a very steep hill with no public transport it was not well used and fell into disrepair. When Chrissy first saw it over 30 years ago she had a vision to turn it into a home and school for children with special needs. After praying about it she knew that it was part of Gods plan and one day her vision would be fulfilled but that she must wait. Now at last the opportunity to purchase both the school and the hospital has arisen and after much prayer and negotiation with the owners the first instalment on the land and buildings has been paid. Although derelict, the foundations and the walls of the hospital are sound. It will take a lot of work to fulfil Chrissy’s vision but she knows it’s what God wants her to do and that He will provide everything that is needed. It is a very exciting venture to be part of.

Please would you pray for the POCM . That there will be sufficient money for all their daily needs. that access will be given to the jails and that the new hospital project will flourish