Remember the Poor in the Philippines
Dear brethren,
When early leaders among Christians met in Jerusalem, they stood shoulder to shoulder in upholding the truth of the gospel and they agreed it was imperative to remember the poor. “James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do” (Gal. 2:9-10, NIV). I need to provide an update on the situation among the poor saints in the Philippines and our efforts to help them.
Toward the end of my February preaching trip in the Philippines, coronavirus was becoming a national concern and President Rodrigo Duterte forbad flights from the infected area of China to land in the Philippines. By mid-March the rising danger of a pandemic led to a government enforced lockdown. Citizens were given a pass to leave their homes once a week to get food and other essentials. This has been most consistently and forcefully enforced in more populated areas such as larger cities, and it has been partially relaxed in some areas which have made progress in the battle against covid, but a more recent rise of cases in some areas has resulted in renewed restrictions. Many of our brethren have been battling hunger in these conditions.
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