HELP International

 

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were
harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Millions seeking hope

Metro Manila, the capital city of the Philippines officially has between 8 to 12 million inhabitant - plus the estimated number of unreported inhabitants. More than half of the population are children and youth of which an estimate of 80,000 are living on the street. Often they run away from home, because they are not wanted, or their parents cannot provide for them, or they were born on the street because their parents don't have any home. It is hard to break through this vicious circle of poverty, neglect and indicipline. Many get high on glue, beg, steal or go into prostitution in order to survive - without the least hope for change. Statistics say that within the past 15 years the number of children in prostitution has more than doubled.

Going through a metropolis

Just as Jesus walked through cities and villages so do we. We are going to the hi-ways and bi-ways, through streets and alleys - everyhwere the Holy Spirits leads us to. We are seeking the lost and broken-hearted, the hungry and thirsty ... all who want true life. Our hearts' desire is not only to make the kingdom of God known, but to demonstrate it in power by accompanying signs and miracles - in slums, in the busy streets, in shopping malls, parks, in overloaded jeepneys. Everywhere where the people are!

Home Visits

A special way to get to know a family in everyday life is by visiting their homes. Sometimes many children are all over the place, other times a door might be locked. Not everyone has showered and sometimes we will encounter an overwhelming mountain of problems. We can't solve everything, but we always take a moment to sit down and to listened, a cuddle the kids and usually we take a moment to pray. We share a bible story and connected its ocntent to daily life. It's not rare that we end in singing worship songs and lifting the whole situation to God. Mostly we leave smiles in these places, teary eyes and glimpses of new hope, that there is a Father in heaven who cares.

Street Worship

We regularly go through the city to worship Jesus. We want to see the presence of God manifest outside of any walls or indoor locations. We stand next to a market place or a busy traffic junction with many passenger passing by. Prayer really transformes! At times we approach people in small groups and see again and again how people surrender their lives to Jesus!

Tondo

Tondo - also known as ›Smokey Mountain‹ - is a place God is calling us to invest into. We believe for a transformation for a whole region which is one of the most populated places on earth. Whole family lines have lived for generations from sorting garbage. The harvest is ready and we sense God's heartbeat for these people. Currently we hve rented a simple unit in this huge slum area where we live for 3 to 5 days every months and from where we are doing outreaches.

Walking in Jesus' footsteps

The City Mission is the evangelistic branch of HELP Philippines. We are working among street kids, the poor and needy, in slums and in the streets; we evangelize among drug addicts as well as prostitutes in Manila. We go where Jesus would go today, too. We share the word of God with them and minister to them by the gifts of Spirit and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, we are cooperating with other NGOs and churches in the Philippines and understand our mission and ministries to be part of a spiritual network.

 

He who was seated on the throne said, »I am making everything new!«

God is on the move

Manila, Philippines … many are heavily addicted by drugs and alcohol; furthermore, gaming and gambling addiction are also on the rise. This created a desire in our hearts: These people shall be touched by the redeeming power of God and be set free from addictions and bondages. They shall hear about God’s love for them, experience it, get healed and restored. Their lives shall be transformed and they shall become reformers in society.

The way out

In 1991, we came to Manila with the commission to establish a drug rehabilitation center. Right there we were faced with 10 million drug addicts and this number is still growing. Once they get arrested, they are thrown into prison, where in some prison illegal drugs are still available. Some are able to admit themselves into government rehab centers which are run like military camps and which are overcrowded. Private rehab centers are available, however, they are unachievable for many addicts and their families as the expenses mount to 1,000 EUR per month.

Re-entering Life

Since the Set Free Center opened its doors in December 1992, over 500 drug addicts have enrolled into the program. We are a Christian rehabilitation center where we live together as a family. We desire for every rehab guest to experience healing and restoration. Many living testimonies give evidence that both is still happening today. However, it even goes beyond! Former rehab guests have become co-workers in the ministries of HELP Philippines and have become pillars of the work. Some have joined other ministries that we are cooperating with, many former drug addicts have found jobs, raised a family and live a drug-free lifestyle.

How we live

Admission

Here's a testimony

Alvin, 29 years old, is from Aroma, Tondo (Manila). He grew up in a place where people literally live in garbage. He did not finish school and was working as a scavenger (sorting out garbage to sell it to junkshops). He got hooked on drugs so badly that his family kicked him out of their house. Besides sorting out garbage, Alvin got involved into stealing and pushing drugs. With the help of a church (Kalayaan Church Ministry), he admitted himself into the Set Free Center and submitted himself freely with no reservations.

Right now, Alvin gets regular visits by his family and it’s amazing to see how God is restoring the family bonds. When seeing this young man, you would never see a trace of where he has originally came from. God has changed him inside out. And because of people like him, we have hope for Tondo. God is transforming Tondo and He is starting with individuals and goes to families, from families to communities …

How to connect with us

- Call us at (02) 86 58 48 95 or
- eMail us

Get involved

Working together in unity and harmony accomplishes the best for everyone. Yes, that's what we want.
For the past years, we have had volunteers from other countries as well as from the Philippines. Youth and adults, individuals and groups lived with us for months, days, weeks and some for only a few hours. They conducted workshops, helped with practical jobs and special projects, joined our outreaches and much more.



We welcome individuals or groups (locals and foreigners) who want to join or live and work with us. Get to know our community, join us in sports or teaching handicraft. Be part of our outreaches when worshipping Jesus in the city, sharing the gospel and bringing hope to prisons.

If you can't come here, you can still join us in other ways. Prayers are most welcome and deeply appreciated! You may also join us by giving. Connect with us. Please visit our website or you may email us and give us a call.

 

»A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.«

The Father's House

The name Father’s House explains itself and the vision behind: God, the Father, prepares a home for orphans and neglected, abused children. He heals and restores. He has a calling and a future for each child.



The home started in 2001 in a rented house in one of Manila's inner city districts. As the family expands and with God's guidance and provision, we moved to the outskirts of Metro Manila in 2007. Moving to a bigger house, we are able to receive more children into our home.



We are living like a big family, however, we take every effort to support a renewed relationship between the children and the parents. We are cooperation with official government offices, which also includes the support of families in crisis situations in order to facilitate the reintegration of a child into its family. In case, all efforts don’t bear fruit, children find a permanent home at the Father’s House.

School

Officially there is compulsory schooling in the Philippines, however, hardly any of the children living with us has ever seen a school from inside. When with us, each child shall be able to claim its right for education. Depending on the situation of a child, we are looking for an adequate school or learning methods. We support the children in their learning efforts, lead them into learn healthy independence and advise the youth when choosing their apprenticeship when entering the working world.

Family Life

The Father’s House is pounding with life. While some children help in the kitchen gutting fish to prepare lunch, others do laundry. They are also taking care of the garden, thus we all join hands and do the duties together, and while watering the plants, suddenly there is a water battle going on. Of course, breaks are always welcome – we call these Merienda and serve small snacks! After the daily romping about at playing basketball in the tropical heat – which is part of Asian life – everyone takes a shower. Of course, we also watch movies together, read stories or do creative designs. From time to time we are doing excursions, go to the pool or discover the forests.



In all activities and by living together, we get to know the gifts and talents of each child but also their inner struggles and needs. There are certainly challenges as well as misunderstandings – just as in every family. In talks, by giving advice and through encouragement, we are helping the children to handle these situations, to get whole and to mature.



In all things, we give thanks to God and worship him, for he is the source of life. We want to introduce the children to their heavenly Father – our Creator who is able to make everything new. In his presence we find perfect fulfillment, healing of wounds of the past and hope for our future.

You can join!

Do you teaching and want to tutor our kids? Do you love gardening, grow vegetables, and love to arrange the plants in a beautiful way? Are you willing to lend a hand wherever needed, and at the same time to invest into the children’s hearts and become part of our community for a while?



You may come alone, together with a group from any nation. Come for a few days, a couple of weeks or months. You are most welcome!

Of course, we are always grateful for prayer! We inform you by sending out newsletters, or you become part of a prayer chat or by investing finances. Get in touch with us - send us an eMail or give us a call!

Manila is a mega city with a population of approximately 20 million, terrible poverty and a huge drug problem. In the 1990s, friends from YWAM Philippines and a big Catholic Charismatic group asked us to come and set up a drug rehab ministry. A team of seven young Christians responded to the call of mission and were sent out from Luedenscheid, Germany in 1991.

Shock and Adventure

Coming from rural areas of Germany to Asia for the first time in their lives was both a shock and an exciting adventure for Jesus. They dove into preparations by learning the language - Tagalog, prayer walking through the hot, dusty city and getting to know the culture by taking turns living with local families in slum areas. Friends introduced them to other friends and churches and invited them to family gatherings and church services to share a message or their testimonies. Before they knew it, drug addicts were being brought to their doorstep; thus the HELP rehab, Set Free Center was born. They opened their home and shared their lives with these ›dangerous addicts‹ who they hardly knew. All they had to give was the love of God which they themselves had received – disciples making disciples. This touched the hearts of the Filipinos deeply and set them on the road to a new life in Jesus.

It's worth it

Since 1991, a minimum of 500 drug addicts have enrolled in the Set Free Center's program; majority of whom are men of ages from 16 to 55 from all walks of life. It is now more than 25 years of victories, challenges, tears and joy. But every single moment has been worth it because so many lives have been rescued and restored through the power and love of our faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. Of course, none of it would have happened if not for those first seven missionaries who came in faith to spearhead this very unique rehabilitation ministry.

Multiplication

Today, the Father’s House (a home for ex-street children) and The Rock (a drop-in center and evangelistic arm) have been added to the ministry. Many street children and youth have found a home and a family. Many families have been rescued from poverty, sickness and even death and have received a new life; one that’s worth living as they come to know the Father who loves them and sent his Son to die for them.