Heart of A Servant by: Marlene Natividad Suarez

In the UCCP Cosmopolitan Church service today, we celebrated Missions Month by highlighting TEND MY SHEEP, a feeding and gospel sharing ministry for the street dwellers and homeless in Manila during this pandemic lockdown.

What started as a response of our pastors to share what they had to the hungry outside the church walls a few months ago, is now a thriving program for 50 to 100 street dweller beneficiaries, twice a week. The beneficiaries are temporarily lodged in DSWD managed areas in Del Pan and Canonigo Streets in Manila.

Notwithstanding the danger of exposure to corona virus, one member of the Ministerial team goes early morning to buy food and supplies in the Paco wet market. They altogether cook, pack, and distribute the food. More importantly, the team prays for and shares the Gospel to the street dwellers. Church members and the Board of Evangelism and Mission also lend their hand and provide financial support in the implementation of the project.

This July, TEND MY SHEEP received funding from Make Me A Blessing Foundation and Operation Blessing Foundation (www.obphil.com) enabling us to feed up to 300 to 350 street dwellers per day, bi-weekly! Bibles were also distributed through the help of The Philippine Bible Society. Thank you so much dear ministry partners. Truly, our Lord Jesus Christ has blessed, is blessing and will continue to bless this project. Jesus hears our cry, He knows our plight, and He sends help thru His willing servants.

I especially thank our Ministerial Team, Rev. Callum Tabada, Rev. Fritz Mata, Rev. Grace Fe Inocentes-Magan, Rev. Veronica Tio Estayo, DM Jeffrey Ramirez Jr., Kenan Magan, Alicia Mata, Elder Sefamar Espina, Elder Rowena Fontanos Soria who are the moving forces behind this outreach program. God bless you all mightily for your genuine compassion to serve the least, the lost and the needy.

This is the time when Christians should step up and step out to concretely help the needy in big and small ways during this perilous season of fear, loss and lack.

Matthew 25:35, 40 (Excerpts)

35 ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink..
40…..‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Below is the music video shown in today’s service featuring photos of TEND MY SHEEP with the offertory song, Heart of A Servant.

May we truly become salt and light in a darkened world. May we all try our best and strive to live our lives following Jesus in all of our ways.

 

Posted by Marlene Natividad Suarez on Sunday, August 2, 2020