 “Bilis…bilisan mo!” the young Filipina shouted to her friend Mary Rose as they ran down the muddy, garbage-strewn road toward the crumbling basketball court in their neighborhood. “Hurry, or the food will be gone.”
The girls were eager for the nourishing lunch being served by FEBC that day. Other residents from the community were lined up to receive free medical aid from doctors and nurses who volunteer their time on “Doctors on Line,” a radio program broadcast by DZAS, FEBC’s popular AM station in Manila. Tommy Walker and the C.A. Worship Band, partnering with FEBC, were also on hand to sing praise songs and minister to the people living in this garbage dumpsite. The Power of Food…and a SongMary Rose wasn’t a Christian when she received the free meal, but one of Tommy’s songs, “He Knows My Name,” made a strong impression on her. She learned that Jesus knows her personally and loves her. An FEBC volunteer assisting with the outreach noticed Mary Rose and took time to talk to her. You’re very special to God,” he explained. “He’ll help you if you ask Him.” The following Sunday Mary Rose visited the church that had partnered with FEBC in the outreach. While there, she received a snack, along with something far more valuable – the Good News about Jesus. Young Girl Becomes Light in Her CommunityToday, a year and a half later, Mary Rose has not only been baptized, she’s become a leader in her church and community. She and her friends encouraged more than 300 adolescents from their neighborhood to attend a purity seminar sponsored by FEBC. During the seminar the girls dedicated their lives to Christ, took vows of purity, and committed themselves to priorities that will help them break free from the cycle of poverty. In her brief walk with the Lord, Mary Rose has also become an evangelist. She brought 60 children to church one night, and she faithfully prays for her parents, who have recently committed their lives to Christ. They are now active members in their local house church.
Hands and Feet of Jesus
All of these changed lives happened as a result of God working through FEBC, Tommy Walker, and the local church, who cared enough to demonstrate Jesus’ love for the poor. Food, fresh water, medical care, job counseling, parenting and marriage seminars, radio broadcasts that offer practical advice and biblical teaching, worship concerts, and radio distribution are some of the ways FEBC reaches out to those in need. But much more needs to be done. This past spring Tommy Walker and FEBC hosted several worship concerts at churches throughout the U.S. to raise funds for the children from this Manila slum. When the school year started in June, 25 Filipino children who had not previously attended school were now enrolled, with tuition paid in full as a result of donations raised during those concerts. One day, as they walked home from school, backpacks bulging with books, a group of small children from an adjacent dumpsite ran over to them.
“Are you kids rich?” they asked, as they stared at their new school uniforms.
“Yes we are,” one of them answered. “We’re rich in Jesus.”
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