Manila, Philippines: What is your definition of riches? We bought them clothes, gave them a bath, fed them, educated them, endured the challenging task of locating financial partners and the long nights of thinking, praying, investing time, energy, and resources.
Where are the riches to that? More like exhausting riches. But for a team whose sole desire is to share the love of Christ, riches is defined by more than just what they receive but by what they are able to give!
Tobias Ferdinand (Student Body Vice President) shares about the holistic ministry to the street children.
Street children sleeping under the bridge.
It has been several months since the ministry to street children began at Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS). Led by Tobias Ferdinand (Associate Student Body Vice President), students and faculty at APNTS have joined their hearts together in order to minister to children who live on the streets around the seminary. It took only a short time for the students to realize that while these children had basic physical needs going unmet, what they really needed was Jesus. In spite of all of the best intentions, without the life transformation of Christ, the kids would just keep going back to their bad habits.
Praying with the children. What they really need is the life transformation of Christ.
“Only Jesus can change their hearts and transform them,” said Tobias. “Last month one of the children who accepted Jesus Christ said to me that she wanted to go to school along with her three siblings. She is 13 years old and only completed 1st grade. I asked the Lord to grant her desire. The Lord provided above and beyond this request. An anonymous donor provided funds for a school uniform and school supplies as well as housing for one year for her family of eight. As new believers in Christ they are experiencing God’s faithfulness. They are seeing God’s hand reaching out to them to save them from a life of poverty and using vessels like you and me to be a channel of blessing to them.”
The Lord’s grace and mercy has truly been demonstrated through the outstanding passion, commitment and dedication of the APNTS Team. The transforming hand of the Lord is evident in the lives of these children. More and more development is being seen in this dynamic ministry and it’s only a matter of time before these children begin to reach out to those who are like them.
A trip to Jollibee thanks to a gracious donor.
Since its beginning, the ministry has attracted partners both locally and abroad. Generous hearts have already sent several donations to sustain the needs of the ministry. Just recently a donor sent money to buy school supplies for those who will be going to school and another donor sent funds requesting that the team treat the children to Jollibee (a popular fast-food chain here in the Philippines).
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9
“These are the true riches, that as Christians, we witness Christ transforming the lives of these children and see our simple acts of kindness leaving an everlasting impact. May this inspire and challenge us to seek and help those who are greatly in need and to exercise our faith by placing compassion into action.” APNTS Student and WMC-AP Correspondent – Terence Davila Lustaña
APNTS Students organizing activities for the street children on the ball court.
Submission: Terence Davila Lustaña
APNTS Student / WMC-AP Correspondent
