Help A Neighbor began in 2007 in the spirit of Matthew 22:39, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” and Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  This is an avenue for individuals (not churches) to help those who help themselves.  Our main focus is the Philippine Islands. Resources may be used to build church buildings, to extend medical aid, to build or repair domiciles, or to give other forms of humanitarian and charitable aid.  Funds given to H.A.N. are tax deductible under the IRS code. 

My 36^th trip to the Philippines will be October 30-November 22, concentrating on meetings with denominational preachers.  I will make a six-day side trip to Auckland, New Zealand to help a Filipino family start a new congregation.  No sound churches exist in that land, but Ronnie Salunga will gather his family and other contacts to make a start.  This adds expenses to my trip but the urgent need justifies it.

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Our Savior’s life perfectly exemplifies his wonderful words, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).  In learning to be unselfish like our Lord we become a greater blessing to the world and we experience greater meaning, fulfillment, and satisfaction in life.  There are many ways for us to experience this blessing and Help A Neighbor is just one avenue by which individuals can extend a helping hand to our fellowman.  Donations are tax deductible because the I.R.S. classifies H.A.N. as a charitable organization for tax purposes.  We do not solicit or accept donations from churches.

I am thankful to report that generous giving has greatly increased our ability to help those who help themselves.  When I visited General Santos City in southern Mindanao in the Philippines last August, I learned that the Lanton church was in danger of losing its building.  An agency sponsored by the government had granted land to Jolly Julom for the building in the 1990’s, but now the courts recognize a deed held by a woman claiming the land as her property.  Our brethren were served an eviction notice.

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July 31-August 22 marks my 31^st preaching trip to the Philippines.  This is harvest time there as occurred in the book of Acts and in the U.S. in the 1800’s.  In addition to proclaiming the gospel with Filipino preachers, I am spending much time teaching classes to upgrade preachers’ knowledge and skills.  The gospel can thrive in poverty as in prosperity, but our prosperity equips us to aid the saints in poverty in their work.  We do not want to create dependence, but we want to help those who help themselves.  This we do in the spirit of Matthew 22:39, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” and Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Help A Neighbor provides an opportunity for individual efforts not for local church action.  Individuals giving $500 or more may legally claim a tax deduction because Help A Neighbor functions for charitable purposes as defined by the IRS.

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I am often amazed at the providence of God.  I am very surprised to be able to report that the response of brethren wanting to participate in Help A Neighbor has been overwhelming!  This new effort began in July as one means of providing for others what they are unable to provide for themselves in the spirit of Matthew 22:39: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Individual Christians who are friends of Philippine saints and work have trusted us to act as a source of reliable information and to deliver needed resources.

Help A Neighbor facilitates efforts to provide resources desperately needed in the Philippines by brethren wishing to give $500 or more.  Resources may be used to build church buildings, to extend medical aid, or to meet such needs as building or repairing domiciles.  Help A Neighbor exists exclusively for charitable purposes as defined and approved by section 501 (C) 3 of the IRS Code.  Funds given for this purpose are tax deductible.  To satisfy legal requirements, family members joined me in this endeavor: Donna, Jonathan, and David.

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I am happy to announce Help A Neighbor is a new avenue to aid struggling saints in the Philippine Islands!  The key is to provide for others what they are not able to provide for themselves in the spirit of Matthew 22:39: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Friends of Philippine saints and work seek reliable information and reliable messengers to deliver the resources which are lacking.  Help A Neighbor is designed to aid individual Christians by providing one source of reliable information and messengers.

Help A Neighbor will facilitate efforts to provide resources desperately needed in the Philippines by brethren wishing to give $500 or more.  Resources may be used to build church buildings, to extend medical aid, or to meet such needs as building or repairing domiciles.  Help A Neighbor exists exclusively for charitable purposes as defined and approved by section 501 (C) 3 of the IRS Code.  Funds given for this purpose are tax deductible.  To satisfy legal requirements, family members joined me in this endeavor: Donna, Jonathan, and David.

Help A Neighbor functions in the realm of individual action and not church action. Churches of Christ are fully equipped by God to perform their own work and it would not be scriptural for churches to donate to Help A Neighbor.  We neither seek nor accept such donations.

When David and I travel and preach in the Philippines, we see firsthand the sacrifices and suffering of our brethren, and we are in constant communication with them.  The pressing need for church buildings is largely neglected.  We hope to make U.S. brethren more aware of such disadvantages by sharing information about specific places where church buildings are direly needed.  Critical medical services requiring large sums of money are also needed at times.

Church Building for Kapitbahayan Church of Christ in Manila.  The saints meeting at the Kapitbahayan Church of Christ, Navotas,  Metro Manila need our help.  For years the brethren have met in a community chapel used by denominations.  The attendance on Sundays 7:00-9:00 A.M. runs over 120.  Some visitors arrive during denominational services thinking they are meeting with our brethren.

After worship, Bible classes are held in the homes of brethren Ben Cruz and Jerry Toreja. Some study in an open porch area subject to the hot sun and rain.  An elderly sister climbing the steep, narrow stairs going to class fell and died.  Others do not attend for fear of falling.

A poor sister sold the brethren a lot at a bargain price near the chapel.  Land and construction costs are high in the city.  The total will be about $40,000.  By sacrificing, these poor brethren raised some $4,000 and began the construction.  I saw the building August 22 when a second floor for classes and a roof were being added to the concrete walls.  The floor was still dirt and there were no windows or doors. $20,000-25,000 will finish this new building.  Who can help these saints?

Linma and Hannie Lynn Carpentero. Cipriano Carpentero was a mature preacher who died December 29, 2005 at 58 years.  His wife Linma lives in Manila on a thread and is selling her few possessions to help their daughter Hannie Lynn finish nursing school by next summer.  Honeylyn wants to help support her mother but needs $5,000 to finish school so she can find a job.  Who can help her?

Let me hear from you if you would like to give $500 or $5,000 or more for these needs, or other needs you know about.  “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).