On 27 May an impoverished shantytown community in the Philippines was destroyed by fire. The destruction left 1,500 people homeless and two children dead. The cause of the fire is unknown.

‘The landscape changed overnight,’ says Grace, a ministry partner. ‘What used to be a crowded [shantytown] is now a massive rubble of ember, charred galvanized sheets, and smoking cement slabs. The narrow alleys have become wide open spaces. The shoreline that was once lined with stilt houses is now just a sandy beach, save for a few concrete structures like the mosque that survived.’

In partnership with OMF, SIM missionaries work in a learning centre and a drug rehab project in the neighbourhood. The learning centre was completely destroyed, including a newly-renovated counselling room.

James Wilby, a short-term associate, says, ‘I feel such a loss, not for the material things that were destroyed, but for the centre itself. It's been my second home in the Philippines. It's also a safe and fun place for our guys in the drug rehab project to come.’

Now the ministry partners are turning to meet the most urgent needs of the community during the time of crisis. They have established a feeding programme to provide meals for the homeless and are working to provide other emergency relief.

If you’d like to help, please send your gift to SIM-UK marked for project PH 98197. Alternatively, you can give online by clicking on the link below.

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Please pray for:
• God to strengthen those who are giving relief.
• The ministry of relief to draw people to Christ.
• Protection for the members of the drug rehab project and that God will continue the transformation in their lives.
• Believers to be comforted and strengthened as they rebuild their lives.