Your Penny Crusade dollars help support Christian Academy in Davao Oriental (CANDORTCI) in the Philippines, where a new outreach to senior high school students is changing lives.
In recent months, more than 130 students from three different schools have participated in the Joint Delivery Voucher Program (JDVP) hosted at CANDORTCI. Through the program, students spend two months at the academy receiving computer training and practical instruction. Each day also includes devotional times led by the trainers, giving students regular opportunities to hear God’s Word.
The training also includes a Moral Recovery Program (MRP), which encourages students to reflect on values, life’s purpose and faith. Before the end of the two-month training, the gospel is clearly presented to each group.
By the grace of God, most of the students who have attended have committed their lives to Jesus. Several who heard the message also come from Muslim backgrounds, making the opportunity especially meaningful.
Read these powerful student testimonies:
From Pain to Purpose – Bryan
“I grew up carrying anxiety and pain. When my mother passed away, my father and I moved to the province to live with my grandmother. She cared for me well, but there were nights when the voices in my mind were too loud and I would just cry. Later I discovered that my father already had another son and they were happy together. That brought deep pain, and sometimes I even wanted to end my life.
“Now that I have heard about Jesus – how He saved me from sin and loves me unconditionally – I feel free. Because of JDVP here at CANDORTCI and the MRP, I have learned the truth about the purpose of my life. I am not an accident. God loves me so much and I am thankful.”
Jesus is My Strength – Yessa
“My friends say that I am strong and that I can fight anyone, but they did not know that I needed to be strong. My parents died in a car accident when I was still young. I felt hopeless, but I had my big brother. Then … he died in a landslide. My whole world collapsed and I became an orphan.
“Now I am staying with relatives who love me like their own daughter. Through MRP in JDVP at CANDORTCI, I have learned that God is good and that He loves me. Even though I still have pain, He is my strength. Jesus is my partner and my Savior, and I can come to Him anytime because He is my friend.”
God Has a Plan – Layla
“I am just a quiet girl, the kind people rarely notice. At school I often sat alone, watching other students laugh together and wondering why I never seemed to belong. Being poor made me feel even smaller. My heart was heavy and I felt very lonely.
“When I joined MRP–JDVP at CANDORTCI, I was afraid it would be the same. But the people welcomed me, listened to me and treated me kindly. I learned that Jesus is a friend to everyone – not just the popular or confident, but especially those who feel forgotten. He knows my struggles and my silent prayers, and He has a great plan for my life.”
The outreach is not finished yet. Many more students will participate in the program in the coming months and will also hear the gospel. Please pray that God will prepare their hearts to receive his Word.
