UPDATE: DEC 1, 2013

Dear Friends,

 

Thank you again to all of you who have done so much for the Lord and given to the relief in the Philippines!

 

Pastor Amos, pastor Jun and 4 NHP team members flew from Manila to Cebu a few days ago. They went on faith as we had been working hard to find a truck to load up, but could not find one�Some did not want their truck going to the devastated area. Amos called and was overwhelmed at how God provided a truck that is twice as big as ours, and it came with a driver, fuel, and 2 helpers! The team loaded it with food packs, extra food to cook, and all kinds of construction type materials including tin, plywood, cleaning supplies, and even some basketball goals. Its true, Filipinos cannot get on with their lives until they can play basketball!

 

Next the team boarded a ferry with the truck and made their way to the devastated island of Leyte. I just got off the phone with Amos and he was overwhelmed at the sites he has seen as they make their way to Tacloban. He said there is so much destruction as they make their way up the coast. People are still in great need. The team was literally throwing crackers out the window to begging people. Signs in the windows read, �We need Food!� It is hard for the team to see this and stay focused on the mission of getting to the church folks in the hardest hit areas.

 

When the team arrives in Tacloban, they will hold evangelistic feeding for 3 churches with Amos preaching. They will then visit other churches and determine the needs. They will help by distributing the materials they are bringing, cleaning, and setting up basketball goals. We also want to help each church with a financial gift to help with repairs and the needs of their people.

 

Please continue to pray! Thank you!

 

UPDATE: November 20, 2013, 3:12pm


Dear Friends,

 

Thank you so much to all who have done something financially whether it was large or small! God is using you in a powerful way to help his dear people in the Philippines.

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given, he will pay him again�

We are happy to be able to update you on what you are a part of:

 

1.       Daanbatayan Relief Work�Pastor Frank just finished his second trip up from Cebu City last night. He wrote me a short email that said �tired, but blessed� These trips are focusing on taking food and other supplies to the needy. We are working through several Baptist Churches including Baptist Bible Church. Please see the pictures below of Pastor Frank and another group connecting with Pastor Tito and his folks.

2.       Tacloban Relief and Evangelism---I spoke with a missionary who is in Tacloban this week via his cell phone and he told me that the relief is coming and doing better but that people really want to rebuild their houses, but do not have the supplies. They do not have cooking materials and clothes� He also gave me a list of things to bring that others are forgetting about. There is still no electricity there. He also said that, believe it or not, it would help if we could bring some basketball goals to set up�He said Filipinos cannot get on with their lives unless they can play basketball�I just purchased the tickets for Pastor Amos, pastor Jun and 3 NHP team members to fly to Cebu on Tuesday. They will then load a truck up with food, construction materials, and other items to take on a Ferry to Ormoc City�Once in Ormoc, they will station at Bible Baptist Church and then take trips into Tacloban area�Our plan is to deliver food goods through the churches there and help the members rebuild their homes. We hope to bring many construction materials. The team will also help the unsaved needy with their homes and invite them to a meal each night prepared by ladies we will pay to cook. As supplies last, the team will have meals nightly and Pastor Amos will preach to these who come. Please pray for their safety as it is still risky to be in this area. God has given many different contacts in and around this area that have been a huge help in planning. Please also pray that we can secure a truck in Cebu as well as the needed security.

 

UPDATE: November 14, 2013 11:25am


Dear Friends,

 

Thank you to all who have helped us spread the word about this great need via sharing, tweeting, texting, emailing, announcing to your church or any other way you helped spread the word! There is still much to do and so we appreciate all who take the time to spread the news.

 

Thanks also to those who have sacrificed and given financially. You are showing your love for God: 1 John 3: 17 But whoso hath this worlds good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

 

Here is the detailed update so far:

 

Phase One�Immediate Relief for those in need of food, water, and shelter.

 

We praise the Lord for a partnership with Operation Renewed Hope to provide quick assistance. We are working with Pastor Frank Dinisi, Gospel of Christ Baptist Church in Cebu City to reach out to an area that has been somewhat neglected by the media but has great needs. This area is the city of Daanbatayan, Cebu. Pastor Frank just returned and had the joy of reporting that our contact in the area is ok�Pastor Tito of Baptist Bible Church�But his church is need of repair and the people are still in need. (see pictures) The report is that there will be no electricity there for 3-6 months. Currently, we have people buying food and assembling into packs to feed 2000 people. Please pray because there is a rice shortage and prices are going up.

 

For this project we have $2500 and it will all be used for providing basic needs of food and water and delivered through Pastor Frank and the local churches in Daanbatayan this Tuesday.

 

Phase Two�Rebuilding/Evangelism in Tacloban

 

Currently, we have around $1300 for this project but much more is needed. Pastor Rayos and his family are finally out of Tacloban via a military plane and are safe. Their church is destroyed. We plan to wait until it is safe and then purchase building materials to help this Pastor and other churches to rebuild. We have been offered transportation from Maasin City for the materials or we can use our vehicle from Manila. We would like to have enough money to not only help the church people, but to have money to help the unsaved during the days we are there and then invite families we help to the church for a meal each night along with the Gospel message led by Pastor Amos and the NHP team. Please pray for more funds to come in to allow this.

 

Thanks for your burden and sacrifice!

 

 

Mike Washer

National Hoops Ministries


 

Update: November 11, 2013


Dear Friends,

 

In Tacloban City, it is feared that there are over 3000 dead according to news reports. Homes, churches and building are destroyed. Many of the dead are still in the streets. We cannot even imagine the lives that have been filled with pain and fear. We are burdened to help. God has given our NHP team the privilege of working with churches in Tacloban conducting 2 evangelistic tournament the past 2 years. Over 120 folks received Christ at those events and I could not help but wonder how many of those are now with their Lord. Amos and I were just in the city this past summer and flew into the airport that was destroyed.

 

There are many good agencies and Christian organizations that are conducting relief efforts at this very moment, but we also want to be obedient to the Lord and do all we can to help using the contacts and recourses that God has given us. Our burden is to raise funds and work directly with the local churches there to distribute food and materials while at the same time using this as an opportunity to give out the Gospel. Already we have found out that the local church that has hosted us this September has been destroyed along with the Pastor�s house. We want to help this church meet the needs of their community as well as rebuild God�s house. There is also a Province in northern Cebu that has not been in the news much, but much of the province was destroyed. We have a contact from that area and are working to establish communication in order to help there as well.

 

Our plan is first of all raise as much money as possible for this relief. Then we will work though the local churches to provide them the recourses to meet the needs of their community, share the Gospel, and rebuild. The churches are New Life Baptist Church and Utap Community Bible Church in Tacloban City and Bible Baptist Church in northern Cebu. We will then make our National Hoops vehicle available if needed to transport needs when it is safe.

 

If you are burdened for the people of the Philippines and these local churches, please pray about giving to this relief project.

 

Again, there are other organizations doing great work and if you are already connected to one of these and giving through them, please continue to do so.

 

You can give right here....or gifts can be mailed to: National Hoops Ministries, PO Box 170896, Spartanburg, SC 29301.

All gifts are tax deductible and updates will be sent out on the details of how the money is used.

 

Thank you!

 

Mike Washer

National Hoops Ministries


UPDATE: November 14, 2013 11:25am


Dear Friends,

 

Thank you to all who have helped us spread the word about this great need via sharing, tweeting, texting, emailing, announcing to your church or any other way you helped spread the word! There is still much to do and so we appreciate all who take the time to spread the news.

 

Thanks also to those who have sacrificed and given financially. You are showing your love for God: 1 John 3: 17 But whoso hath this worlds good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

 

Here is the detailed update so far:

 

Phase One�Immediate Relief for those in need of food, water, and shelter.

 

We praise the Lord for a partnership with Operation Renewed Hope to provide quick assistance. We are working with Pastor Frank Dinisi, Gospel of Christ Baptist Church in Cebu City to reach out to an area that has been somewhat neglected by the media but has great needs. This area is the city of Daanbatayan, Cebu. Pastor Frank just returned and had the joy of reporting that our contact in the area is ok�Pastor Tito of Baptist Bible Church�But his church is need of repair and the people are still in need. (see pictures) The report is that there will be no electricity there for 3-6 months. Currently, we have people buying food and assembling into packs to feed 2000 people. Please pray because there is a rice shortage and prices are going up.

 

For this project we have $2500 and it will all be used for providing basic needs of food and water and delivered through Pastor Frank and the local churches in Daanbatayan this Tuesday.

 

Phase Two�Rebuilding/Evangelism in Tacloban

 

Currently, we have around $1300 for this project but much more is needed. Pastor Rayos and his family are finally out of Tacloban via a military plane and are safe. Their church is destroyed. We plan to wait until it is safe and then purchase building materials to help this Pastor and other churches to rebuild. We have been offered transportation from Maasin City for the materials or we can use our vehicle from Manila. We would like to have enough money to not only help the church people, but to have money to help the unsaved during the days we are there and then invite families we help to the church for a meal each night along with the Gospel message led by Pastor Amos and the NHP team. Please pray for more funds to come in to allow this.

 

Thanks for your burden and sacrifice!

 

 

Mike Washer

National Hoops Ministries