Month five we partnered alongside an organization called Kids International Ministries. They are located in Manila which is the capital of the Philippines. Jeff Long and his family started this ministry in 1991. Now almost twenty years later their efforts continue in helping Filipinos see Jesus by offering orphans homes, community development: including working hand in hand with local churches, schools, sports camps, water projects, homes being built and community centers developed to reach a variety of needs for impoverished people. The focus of their ministry is pretty straightforward: to meet the needs of abandoned children and the poor by “showing” them the Gospel. They are guided by a simple principle: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…” – James 1:27
They chose to serve in the Philippines specifically in Manila because; Manila is home to more than 70,000 street kids. In addition, there is the growing concern for the 1.7 million children living in impoverished and crowded informal settlements springing up all across Metro Manila. Many of these children, rather than going to school, are taking to the streets to beg, work and play. Children come to them for a variety of reasons—some have been abused, others neglected or abandoned. To care for these children, Kids International Ministries supports several children’s homes. To address the needs of kids and their families in the nearby impoverished settlements, KIM supports a variety of community ministries: Christian education, medical and dental care, livelihood development programs, recreation activities and evangelical outreach ministries.
Below I listed some of the ministries that I worked with but they have several others that you can check out on their website at http://www.kidsim.org/. This is an awesome organization that I wouldn’t mind going back and serving beside for years to come.
New Faith Family Children’s Home
New Faith Family Children’s Home is located in the densely populated city of Manila, home to approximately 200,000 street kids. The home exists to provide food, shelter, and Gods love to the impoverished children of the Philippines. Their staff strives to promote an atmosphere of trust, health and safety for the children God brings their way. Their ultimate goal is to see children function normally in a home setting, educational setting and live long, fruitful lives, as they give their God-given talents and abilities back to Him for the further development of the Filipino people.
The J Salon and Spa
Josie Long (Jeff Longs oldest daughter) moved to the Philippines in February 2009 with the intention of training Filipina women to become cosmetologists. However, she had a vision beyond providing job training. Her goal was to disciple and encourages the women to make their clients not only outwardly beautiful, but also inwardly through the transforming power of the gospel message.
Josie started J Salon and Spa and now, two full years later, she employs six women who are fully trained as cosmetologists and massage therapists and are having an impact on their community. If you’re coming on a ministry team to Manila, one way you can help these women is to become a client of theirs while you are here. Enjoy a massage, pedicure or manicure, or get a haircut. You’ll feel great about it in more ways than one! It’s like enjoying life and feeding families at the same time.
JAZ Home
Seeing the need for young girls to have the positive influence of a “big sister,” Josie began getting to know and mentoring young girls, ages 8 to 16, in the community. God has increased her ministry too currently over 100 girls or “Angels” as the community calls them. She now has others who volunteer to help her do Bible studies and discipleship throughout the week, along with lots of hanging-out time with these girls.
Josie’s goal in taking these girls under her wing is to break the cycle that is typical for girls in this age bracket living in an impoverished community. To give hope and guidance for a better future, she tries to keep them in school. She also makes sure that they have not only physical food, but spiritual food each day. Many of them come from very rough and unstable homes, and Josie feels it a privilege to be a part of this key time in their lives.
Josie took the next step in helping these girls by opening a home for them to live in. Yes, they have homes already, but out of her 100+ girls, it was found that about half of them suffer abuse daily, whether it is physical, sexual, mental, verbal, or emotional. Those kids need a place to escape, and people to shepherd them away from the vicious cycle. Thus, the JAZ Home was started.
Thirty of the Angels live in the JAZ home and have made it their full time residence. It has become a sanctuary of peace and security for the girls, and a regular destination for our short term teams that wish to help disciple these girls.
