🇵🇭🎄 CHRISTMAS 2026 IN THE PHILIPPINES — UPDATE #3
THE CLOCK IS TICKING—SOON WE WILL BE THERE
Something happens when a date you've been talking about for months suddenly isn't very far away anymore.
It becomes real.
The suitcases will soon have to be packed.
Plans that have lived on paper must become action.
People we've been communicating with from thousands of miles away will soon be standing in front of us.
And for Pilgrim Outreach Ministries International, Christmas 2026 in the Philippines is moving from:
“We're preparing...”
to:
“WE'RE ALMOST THERE.”
Cecilia and I are preparing to return to the Philippines as the next phase of our missionary work begins.
And Christmas will not be far behind.
So today, this Update #3 comes with a simple message:
THE TIME TO PREPARE IS NOW.
🎄 CHRISTMAS IS ALREADY IN THE AIR
If you've never experienced Christmas in the Philippines, you may not completely understand just how early the season begins.
September arrives—and Christmas begins appearing.
Music.
Decorations.
Lights.
Planning.
Family conversations.
Church preparations.
Christmas is woven deeply into Filipino family and community life.
But as we shared in Update #2, Christmas 2026 is different.
Some families aren't primarily wondering what presents they'll buy.
They're wondering how they'll continue recovering from a difficult year.
Some are dealing with financial hardship.
Some have experienced losses.
Some are trying to rebuild.
Some are simply trying to make everyday life work.
That is why our Christmas outreach isn't merely about handing out presents.
Our desire remains to combine practical compassion with Gospel ministry—helping people where we can while making sure Jesus Christ remains at the center of everything we do.
❤️ THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS AND BRINGING CHRISTMAS
Think about that for a moment.
Most of us know how to celebrate Christmas.
We decorate.
We shop.
We cook.
We gather with family.
We exchange presents.
We sing Christmas songs.
But what does it mean to bring Christmas to someone?
Maybe it means showing up at a home where the family thought nobody remembered them.
Maybe it's putting food on a table.
Maybe it's giving something to a child who wasn't expecting anything.
Maybe it's sitting beside someone and listening.
Maybe it's helping a family recover from circumstances they never expected.
Maybe it's opening a Bible.
Maybe it's praying.
Maybe it's wrapping your arms around somebody and saying:
“YOU HAVE NOT BEEN FORGOTTEN.”
And then telling them why.
Because there is a God in Heaven who sees them.
A Savior who loves them.
And a Jesus who came into this world for them.
✝️ DON'T GIVE THEM CHRISTMAS WITHOUT GIVING THEM CHRIST
This is important to me.
We can distribute every package.
Feed every family we're able to feed.
Take beautiful photographs.
Make children smile.
And return home feeling wonderful about what we've accomplished.
But if we leave Jesus Christ out of Christmas—
we missed the greatest opportunity.
Our message remains:
✝️ JESUS SAVES.
❤️ JESUS HEALS.
🔥 JESUS FILLS.
👑 JESUS CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN.
Christmas is not primarily about what was underneath a tree.
It is about the One who eventually hung upon one.
Jesus came.
Jesus lived.
Jesus died.
Jesus rose again.
And Jesus still saves.
THAT IS THE GIFT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LEAVE BEHIND.
👧 SOMEWHERE THERE IS A CHILD WE HAVEN'T MET YET
This thought stays with me.
Somewhere in the Philippines right now is a child whose name I do not know.
I don't know what that child looks like.
I don't know where he or she lives.
I don't know their family's circumstances.
I don't know what kind of year they've had.
I don't know what Christmas normally looks like inside their home.
But God knows.
Perhaps there is a mother praying tonight.
Perhaps there is a father wondering how he'll provide.
Perhaps grandparents are doing everything they can.
Perhaps someone has already decided:
“There simply won't be much Christmas this year.”
And perhaps—
just perhaps—
God is preparing to bring our paths together.
That possibility is enough to keep us preparing.
🌎 THIS IS WHAT MISSIONS LOOKS LIKE
Missionary work isn't always standing behind a pulpit.
Sometimes missions looks like a bag of rice.
Sometimes it looks like school supplies.
Sometimes it's medicine.
Sometimes it's repairing something that broke.
Sometimes it's sitting beneath a tree talking with a family.
Sometimes it's children laughing.
Sometimes it's holding the hand of somebody who is crying.
Sometimes it's opening Scripture with someone.
Sometimes it's praying with a person who has almost stopped believing anybody cares.
And sometimes it's simply showing up.
LOVE MUST EVENTUALLY GROW FEET.
The Apostle John wrote:
“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” — 1 John 3:18
That's what we're trying to do.
Put some feet to our faith.
🙏 AND THAT IS WHERE YOU COME IN
You may be thousands of miles away from the Philippines this Christmas.
But distance does not prevent partnership.
You can be part of this.
Not everybody can go.
Not everybody can give the same amount.
Not everybody has the same resources.
But everybody can ask God:
“LORD, HOW CAN I HELP?”
Maybe the answer is:
PRAY.
Maybe:
SHARE.
Maybe:
GIVE.
Maybe:
TELL YOUR CHURCH.
Maybe:
TELL YOUR PASTOR.
Maybe God puts something completely different on your heart.
The amount isn't the first question.
As we said in our previous update:
THE FIRST QUESTION IS OBEDIENCE.
💵 “PASTOR, DOES A SMALL DONATION REALLY MATTER?”
Absolutely.
Please don't ever think:
“I only have $5. What difference could that possibly make?”
The problem is that we evaluate the $5 by itself.
God can see what happens when hundreds of people decide to participate.
One gives $5.
Another gives $10.
Another gives $25.
Someone else gives $100.
Someone shares the message with their church.
Another person begins praying.
Someone purchases a book—and the royalties support the mission.
Somebody who cannot give anything financially shares the post with someone who can.
And suddenly—
SMALL ACTS OF OBEDIENCE BECOME A LARGE ACT OF COMPASSION.
Our previous update said it this way:
What one person could not do, many people can make possible.
That's partnership.
🧳 SOON, THE DISTANCE DISAPPEARS
Right now, I'm writing from America about people thousands of miles away.
Soon that changes.
Soon Cecilia and I will once again be standing on Philippine soil.
Soon the conversations won't be happening through a telephone.
Soon we'll be looking people in the eyes.
Soon we'll be listening to their stories.
Soon we'll be seeing needs firsthand.
Soon ministry won't be something we're planning from across the Pacific.
WE'LL BE THERE.
And when we go, we carry more than our suitcases.
We carry your prayers.
We carry the faith of those who stand with us.
We carry the generosity of those who give.
We carry the encouragement of those who have told us:
“Keep going.”
And most importantly—
WE CARRY THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
🎁 WHAT ARE WE PREPARING TO DO?
Our Christmas outreach continues to be built around helping the whole person.
Mind.
Body.
Soul.
Spirit.
Where resources permit, that may include:
Food and essential items for families.
Christmas assistance for children.
Help for families experiencing hardship.
Bible distribution.
Prayer and personal ministry.
Evangelism and Gospel outreach.
Encouragement to people who feel forgotten.
Practical assistance where genuine needs are identified.
We cannot promise to help everybody.
We cannot meet every need.
We will not pretend otherwise.
BUT WE CAN HELP SOMEBODY.
And after somebody—
we'll look for somebody else.
❤️ ONE IS STILL ENOUGH TO MATTER
Sometimes enormous need can paralyze us.
If 1,000 people need help and we can only reach 50, we may begin thinking:
“What's the point?”
The point is those 50 people.
If 100 children need help and we can only help 20—
ask those 20 whether it mattered.
If ten families need assistance and we can help one—
ASK THAT ONE FAMILY WHETHER ONE MATTERS.
Jesus taught us something about the value of one.
One lost sheep mattered.
One lost coin mattered.
One prodigal son mattered.
One woman at the well mattered.
One thief on a cross mattered.
ONE SOUL STILL MATTERS TO GOD.
Therefore one must still matter to us.
🙏 OUR FIRST REQUEST IS STILL PRAYER
Before anything else—
please pray.
Our previous update asked people to pray for the families, children, resources, transportation, workers, protection, open doors, wise distribution, and above everything, that Jesus remain the center of the outreach.
We're asking again.
Please pray for Cecilia and me as we prepare.
Pray for safe travel.
Pray for health and strength.
Pray for wisdom.
Pray for our ministry workers and partners.
Pray for the communities we'll enter.
Pray for resources.
Pray for discernment concerning genuine needs.
Pray that every dollar entrusted to the ministry is used wisely.
Pray that God directs us to the right people.
And pray that somewhere during this Christmas outreach—
SOMEBODY MEETS JESUS CHRIST.
If that happens, everything was worth it.
🤝 WOULD YOU CONSIDER PARTNERING WITH US?
We're not asking anyone to neglect their family.
We're not asking you to give money needed for rent, food, medicine, utilities, or essential responsibilities.
We're not trying to manipulate anyone emotionally.
We want you to do something much simpler:
ASK GOD.
If He says pray—
pray.
If He says share—
share.
If He says give—
give.
And if He says do nothing financially—
then don't allow anyone to pressure you into doing otherwise.
Christian generosity should come from a willing heart.
❤️ WAYS TO HELP
🙏 PRAY
Please begin now. Don't wait until December.
📣 SHARE
Share this update with your family, church, pastor, Bible study, friends, and social-media community.
🤝 PARTNER
Stand with us in faith as we prepare for the work ahead.
❤️ GIVE AS GOD ENABLES YOU
Our current GoFundMe campaign:
Other ministry support channels:
Cash App: $joybells49
X/Twitter Tips: @joybells49
PayPal Business
GiveButter
And remember:
100% of our book royalties support our missionary and outreach efforts.
🎄 WE ARE GETTING CLOSER
Update #1 introduced the vision.
Update #2 told you the preparations were moving forward.
Now comes Update #3.
And the message is simple:
WE ARE GETTING CLOSER.
Closer to departure.
Closer to the Philippines.
Closer to Christmas.
Closer to the communities.
Closer to the families.
Closer to children whose names we don't yet know.
And perhaps—
closer to one divine appointment that God has been arranging all along.
🙏 LET US PRAY
Heavenly Father,
Christmas 2026 is drawing closer.
Before we make another plan, purchase another item, pack another suitcase, or enter another community, we place this outreach into Your hands.
Lead us.
Provide for us.
Protect us.
Correct us when necessary.
Give us wisdom.
Help us recognize genuine needs.
Keep our motives pure.
Never allow this ministry to become more interested in photographs, statistics, recognition, or appearances than in people.
Let every gift represent love.
Let every meal represent compassion.
Let every Bible represent truth.
Let every prayer represent faith.
And let everything point toward Jesus Christ.
Bless every person who prays.
Bless every person who shares.
Bless every person who gives.
Bless every person who quietly stands with us.
And somewhere in the Philippines this Christmas, bring us across the path of someone who desperately needs to know:
YOU HAVE NOT BEEN FORGOTTEN.
Then give us the privilege of telling them why.
Because Jesus loves them.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
🇵🇭🎄 CHRISTMAS 2026 — UPDATE #3
The countdown continues.
The preparations continue.
The prayers continue.
And soon—
WE GO.
One prayer.
One gift.
One family.
One child.
One opportunity.
ONE MORE SOUL.
Will you help us remind someone this Christmas:
YOU HAVE NOT BEEN FORGOTTEN?
And even more importantly:
JESUS CHRIST LOVES YOU.
PREVIOUS CHRISTMAS 2026 UPDATES
Earlier Christmas Outreach Message:
https://tinyurl.com/yeck362s
Update #2 reminded us that this outreach isn't merely about gifts—it is about bringing practical compassion and the Gospel together.
❤️ SUPPORT THE MISSION
GoFundMe: https://tinyurl.com/3nbpswsp
Cash App: $joybells49
X/Twitter Tips: @joybells49
PayPal Business
GiveButter
HELP US HELP THEM—ONE SOUL AT A TIME.
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