PHILIPPINES — As students across the Philippines returned to school in June, Agape House Ministries (AHMPI) made sure they didn’t do it empty-handed. Nearly 200 children in and around Mati received school supplies through the ministry’s back-to-school outreach, with plans to serve 100 more in the weeks ahead.
In addition to distributing notebooks and pencils, AHMPI extended its reach through its Sunday School Extension (SSE) program, especially in areas like Maitum, where the usual meeting space is currently unusable. With classes taking place along the roadside, volunteers brought spiritual encouragement, educational support and practical care directly to the children each Sunday.
Each week featured a rotation of hands-on ministry:
- Home Visits and Prayer
Volunteers visited the homes of children in the program, checking in with families about school progress and character development. They prayed with the families and offered small food packages as a gesture of care. - Bible Study and Literacy Support
Children gathered for worship, Bible lessons and simple literacy activities to help strengthen their learning. Food was also shared during these sessions. - Community Service and Play
Volunteer teachers spent time bonding with the children through games and activities, while also teaching responsibility through gardening and trash clean-up around their neighborhoods. - Feeding Programs and Life Skills
On designated weeks, children were served a meal and participated in creative activities like crafts, as well as basic lessons on hygiene and literacy. - Volunteer Fellowship
When the month allowed for a fifth Sunday, the team set aside time for their own fellowship and spiritual refreshment — an important rhythm for those pouring into others.
Throughout these activities, volunteers also measured the children’s height, weight and foot size in preparation for a future distribution of shoes and slippers.
The impact of AHMPI’s ministry is perhaps best seen in the lives of its volunteers. One young man, once a child at the ministry’s orphanage facility, now serves faithfully while completing his senior high school education. Another young woman, who grew up in this program herself, is now one of the program’s lead teachers.
The work is ongoing but so is the evidence of God’s hand. From school supplies to spiritual growth, Agape House continues to plant seeds of hope in the hearts of children across Mati. Your Penny Crusade dollars help make this ministry possible!
