Our work in the Philippines began in the early 1990s, when Steve was invited to speak at a large Church leadership conference in Luzon Island. He was immediately moved by the immense needs which he encountered there, and began visiting regularly, often with volunteer teams. On these trips, Steve and the teams encouraged local churches and established community assistance projects.
Since then, the work has expanded into other islands to include many self-sustaining community assistance programs, early learning centres, care homes for children and widows, sponsorship programs, church planting efforts (including ongoing support), and disaster relief.
Early Learning Centres
In many parts of the Philippines, the first three years of childhood education are not provided by the Government. This presents an unfair obstacle to many families in poor communities. Without sufficient funds, how will their children become educated, ready for entrance to the local Government school? Our early learning centres have been established to help Filipino families overcome this early obstacle.
Mindoro – Liberty Christian Academy
In 2018, Liberty People purchased a large residential home next to Liberty Christian Church (the local church which we planted, and continue to support, in the municipality of Victoria), for the purpose of starting an early learning centre there. This blessing allowed for the establishment of Liberty Christian Academy! The Academy is a great blessing to families in the local community. Along with ensuring that the children are able to receive early education to a high standard, it also presents many opportunities for the local Church to powerfully become Jesus’ hands, feet and mouthpiece in their surrounding community!
Liberty People support the fulltime staff of the early childhood school in Victoria, Mindoro, and its physical property, while the families fund its daily running costs.
GIVE to Mindoro Early Learning Centre
Samar – Miracle Haven Community Learning Centre
In 2012, Liberty People funded the building of a new early learning centre in Samar Island. Miracle Haven Community Learning Centre is a major blessing to the local community. In addition to providing a high standard of early childhood education, it holds regular meetings and prayer for mums who, along with their children, are being transformed by the Gospel!
Liberty People support the fulltime staff of the early childhood school in Gandara, Samar, while the families fund its daily running costs.
GIVE to Samar Early Learning Centre
Empowering the Church
Since Steve’s earliest trips to the Philippines, the empowering of church leaders and congregations has been a high priority. Steve’s preaching and teaching are well-known in many regions, and Liberty’s practical assistance, which has included the building and refurbishing of many churches, has greatly empowered their gospel work.
Filipino congregations are often passionate and highly committed, not lacking in spirit, commitment or gifts, but only in resources and leadership training. Some churches under our care are bursting at the seams and desperate to accommodate their ever-growing congregations! Will you join with us in empowering Filipino churches with finances and prayer? Will you help us to bless them and aid their ongoing growth?
Short Term Teams
People young and old love going with us to the Philippines to minister in churches and outreaches, to renovate or build, or simply to spend time with the people! Teams go with a heart to serve and bless, but find that they are deeply blessed themselves.
Disaster Relief
2013 brought one of the most powerful super typhoons on record to the Philippines, known as Haiyan (or Yolanda). In its wake, we embarked on an eighteen-month rebuilding project which re-housed over 800 families who had either lost their homes altogether, or sustained massive damage (especially to roofs). Together with many volunteer teams, we trained local builders in the construction of hardy community homes which better withstood the elements, using materials supplied by our donors.
This was received with great joy and gratitude in the community, and was a great way to show God’s love and compassion to needy families in the Philippines. We are now well-equipped to respond to similar disasters in the Philippines, having built facilities to help with rebuilding, and have trusted local contacts in the building trades. Given the Philippines’ seasonal exposure to typhoons, this will no doubt bless the people of the Philippines in years to come.