Philippines

Orchard Road Presbyterian Church (English Congregation) has been sending teams on mission trips to the Philippines since 2009. Currently, we are supporting Fishport Church (Pastor Jason Nehab) and Sunrise Church (Pastor Marlon Bagotsay), both located in the slum areas in Rizal, Philippines.

Due to the Covid19 pandemic, there were many lockdowns and quarantine orders since March 2020, which limited and sometimes entirely stopped their ability to meet regularly for Sunday worship in church. During this time, the pastors have adopted various approaches, including online worship services and meeting in small home groups.

During the pandemic, many church members have also lost their jobs and have difficulty providing even basic necessities such as food for their families.

Food Distribution To The Poor

During the pandemic, ORPC extended God’s love and supported the Fishport and Sunrise church communities by providing groceries to families.

In 2020, a total of 138 households have benefited from this outreach which was done in two waves. The two pastors and their church leaders have visited each home twice period to personally distribute the groceries. This was also an outreach opportunity to reflect God’s love by sharing the gospel with many non-believer household members, praying for them and inviting them to visit Fishport and Sunrise churches after the quarantine is over.

In 2021, ORPC contributed to our ministry partner’s (Care Channels International) pandemic response program (phase 3) which will benefit 1300 poor families in the Philippines, including the poor families from Fishport and Sunrise Churches.

The Sunrise church and Fishport church communities live in the slum area, and are grateful recipients of groceries during the pandemic crisis. Church Pastors and leaders helped with groceries distribution, prayed for families, invited them to church after the quarantine and shared the gospel where appropriate. Groceries distributed to the community include rice, noodles, canned food, biscuits and packet milk for the children.

Children Ministries

The impact of Covid19 and government regulations have restricted the children from attending Sunday School in church since March 2020.

Modified Sunday School program during the pandemic that will bring Sunday school lessons to the homes of children and also provide them lunch.

Due to the pandemic, the children ministries have adapted to a home-based version since mid 2020. This involved “moving” Sunday School to the homes of children instead of meeting in church. Small groups of students would meet in selected homes with various teacher volunteers. During the even stricter lockdown period, the children remained at their own homes instead of small groups. In both cases, packed food and Sunday School lessons are delivered by church leaders and volunteers to their homes.

Volunteer teachers help prepare Sunday school lessons every week. The lessons are customised for different age groups. Other volunteers prepare packed lunches for the children. The children are nourished both spiritually and physically

We received positive feedback that the children look forward very much to Sunday School every week. This home-based Sunday School program is very effective and participation has increased significantly in the past year, especially among many unchurched families. This large group of unchurched parents of Sunday School children is a ministry for volunteers and church leaders who meet them weekly during the delivery of food packs and Sunday school materials.

Covid-19 Education

During the pandemic the two churches rallied together to support their local community by participating in the Covid19 education outreach. Twenty church volunteers from Fishport and Sunrise churches were trained and equipped to provide Covid19 education. Posters were set up to publicise the event. Attendees were provided informative leaflets and educated on the importance of wearing masks and hand hygiene. Each family was provided hand sanitizers and a pack of reusable cloth masks for adults and children. In total, they reached out to 440 families in their community.

[Photo – Covid19 Education held in Sunrise church] This program also served as an outreach opportunity to the unchurched families near Fishport and Sunrise churches.

This project, besides helping to protect and educate the community, was also an outreach opportunity to many unchurched families near Fishport and Sunrise churches.

Sunday Worship

Sunday worship at Fishport Church – Pastor Jason in red shirt

Men and Women Bible Study Groups / Youth Groups / Prayer Groups

Prayer Group and Teen Bible Study at Fishport Church
Women, Men and Youth Bible Study and Fellowship at Sunrise Church

past mission trips

Missions is a family affair. Rev Edward encouraged the churches in their faith journey in his messages. Other adults and the children helped with worship and activities for the Sunday School children at Fishport and Sunrise churches
Elder Gabriel and Benjamin greeting church members before morning service, where Elder Gabriel encouraged the church in his Sunday message
Dr Khoo providing dental hygiene education to children, assisted by Elder Lai Hong and a local interpreter
Medical Mission – Dr Goh tending to a young child. Assisting him was a local licenced doctor who also served as interpreter
Eye Mission – Irene assisting with vision test. Top right corner – mission trippers “assembling” spectacles according to prescription
Eye Mission – Sharing the gospel in the local language to those waiting for their new prescription spectacles
Bring your child(ren) along to our mission trips and involve them in God’s work in the mission field
Elder Hui Hong sharing and encouraging the church community
Members of the ORPC Chancel Choir ministered through worship and other programs. Elder Alimin also ministered to the congregation through the pulpit ministry.
Program for children
Children enjoying playtime with Dr Agnes

ministry review work trip

Ministry Review work trip – Elder Albert, Poey Leng and Pastor Timothy at a fellowship meal with our ministry partners at the OM Philippines office

Livelihood Projects

Many families in Fishport and Sunrise Churches have lost their jobs before and especially during the pandemic. We are helping the local churches and working with our second ministry partner (Care Channels Philippines) to fund various sustainable livelihood projects so that these poor communities can earn an income to support their families.

Mask sewing livelihood project – training in progress

In 2020, the two churches embarked on a mask sewing livelihood project. Sewing machines were donated for this project. Many mothers who would normally be home makers have come forward for mask-sewing training. In between sewing masks, these sewing machines were put to good use in other livelihood projects, such as foot rugs and rag cleaners, which were made from sewing together strips of leftover cloth.

 Several members and alumni of a small group in ORPC have previously raised funds to sponsor a Farmers Market livelihood project proposed by Fishport Church. Unfortunately, the crops were decimated by the typhoon before the project could get started, resulting in astronomical prices for fruits and vegetables in the aftermath. The funds have since been channeled towards a micro- financing ministry for various small projects undertaken by various church members, accordingly to certain guidelines set forth.

Ladies were taught to weave foot rugs and sew rag cleaners to supplement their family income. A small team from each church were taught how to make environmentally friendly dishwashing liquid as a livelihood project

In the second half of 2021, additional livelihood projects include making dishwashing liquid for sale to the local community, growing flowers and making pressed flower cards (and eventually pressed flower calendars) that can be sold online and in the CCI website.

We thank God for our ministry partner on the ground in the Philippines, CCI, with whom we collaborate in administering these livelihood projects. We will continue to support these livelihood projects through the funding of the material costs, training, micro-financing where possible, and educating them on financial management so that these projects can be sustainable for the long term.

Our hope and prayers are for these communities at Fishport and Sunrise churches to engage in more sustainable livelihood projects, be self-sufficient, able to support their families and their local churches, send their children to school, progressively move out of the poverty cycle and be a good testimony for Christ to the unchurched in their midst.

As we reflect on the words of Jesus in Matthew 25: v35-36, and v40, we seek your partnership in prayer support for Fishport and Sunrise churches, that the believers will reach out to share the gospel to their community, walk closely with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and grow in faith and knowledge of Him. Please also prayerfully consider participating in our Philippines outreach through your financial support to English-Missions.

Please contact Samuel or Poey Leng by using this form  if you have any queries or should you/your small group wish to adopt a community group/livelihood project. Thank you.