🇵🇭🎄 CHRISTMAS 2026 IN THE PHILIPPINES — UPDATE #6
LAST YEAR WE PREPARED FOR 100 FAMILIES. NEARLY 200 CAME. THIS YEAR, WE'RE BELIEVING GOD FOR 500!
Friday, October 9, 2026 | Pilgrim Outreach Ministries International
77 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” — Matthew 25:40 (KJV)
There are some things you simply cannot forget.
The smiles on children's faces.
The sound of laughter.
Families gathered together.
Songs being sung.
Prayers being offered.
The excitement of a child receiving a Christmas present.
And the unmistakable joy that comes when people discover that someone cares enough to remember them.
Those are some of the memories we carried away from our Christmas 2025 outreach program in the Philippines.
But there is something else I remember.
WE PREPARED FOR 100 FAMILIES.
NEARLY 200 FAMILIES SHOWED UP!
Think about that for a moment.
We had asked our friends, supporters, prayer partners, and readers to help us provide Christmas assistance for 100 families.
Our plans included:
Bibles for distribution.
Christmas toys for children.
School sponsorship assistance.
A Christmas dinner meal.
School uniforms for children who needed them.
We had a vision.
We had a plan.
And we had a heart to help.
But when the day arrived, the number of families who came was almost twice what we had anticipated.
That experience taught us something important.
THE NEED WAS GREATER THAN OUR ORIGINAL PLANS.
And as we prepare for Christmas 2026, I haven't forgotten that lesson.
❤️ CHRISTMAS 2025 WAS MORE THAN A DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM
I don't want you to imagine last year's Christmas outreach as simply a group of people standing in line waiting to receive something.
It was much more than that.
There was singing.
There was teaching.
There was prayer.
There was fellowship.
There was laughter.
There was a wonderful spirit of celebration and togetherness.
Families had an opportunity to gather, enjoy themselves, and participate in a Christmas program centered on love, compassion, and the message of Jesus Christ.
For a little while, the ordinary struggles of life were set aside.
Children could be children.
Parents could enjoy watching their children.
People could sing together.
We could pray together.
And we could share the wonderful news that Christmas is about far more than gifts, decorations, or a holiday meal.
CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT JESUS CHRIST.
It is about the Savior who came into this world.
It is about the love of God.
It is about the hope available to every person, regardless of their circumstances.
And it is about taking that message beyond the walls of a church building.
That is what we want to do again.
Only this time, we're believing God for something considerably larger.
🎯 OUR CHRISTMAS 2026 GOAL: 500 FAMILIES
Yes, you read that correctly.
FIVE HUNDRED FAMILIES.
Not 50.
Not 100.
Not 200.
500!
That's our goal for this year's Christmas outreach in the Philippines.
And with the prayers, generosity, encouragement, and partnership of our readers and supporters, I believe we can make tremendous progress toward accomplishing it.
But let me clarify something.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT NUMBERS.
It's not about bragging rights.
It's not about producing impressive photographs.
It's not about announcing that we helped more people than we did last year.
And it certainly isn't about making a name for ourselves.
It's about souls.
ONE CHILD.
ONE MOTHER.
ONE FATHER.
ONE GRANDPARENT.
ONE FAMILY.
ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE JESUS CHRIST.
Every family represents people with names, needs, hopes, fears, and circumstances that may be completely different from our own.
Some may be struggling financially.
Some may be recovering from storm damage.
Some may need assistance keeping their children in school.
Some may have never experienced a Christmas celebration like the one we hope to provide.
And some may be hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ clearly for the very first time.
We don't want to count families merely to announce a number. We want to reach families because every soul matters to God.
⏰ 77 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS—BUT WE CANNOT WAIT 77 DAYS TO PREPARE!
Today is October 9, 2026.
Christmas Day is December 25.
That gives us 77 days.
Sounds like plenty of time, doesn't it?
It isn't.
Not when you consider what must happen between now and Christmas.
Supplies must be located.
Bibles must be obtained.
Toys must be purchased.
School uniforms must be arranged.
Food must be sourced.
School sponsorship needs must be considered.
Transportation must be organized.
Families and communities must be identified.
Volunteers and helpers must be coordinated.
And everything must be done with careful stewardship of the resources entrusted to us.
Remember, Cecilia and I are preparing to depart for the Philippines in just a few short weeks.
Once we arrive, there will be additional work to accomplish before the Christmas program takes place.
We cannot afford to wait until December to begin collecting what we need in October.
The time to prepare is now.
The time to pray is now.
The time to gather resources is now.
And the time to become involved is now.
🌧️ THE TYPHOONS HAVE MADE THIS YEAR DIFFERENT
There is another factor we must consider.
The heavy rains, flooding, and typhoon-related disruptions experienced in the Philippines this year.
Many communities have endured difficult weather conditions.
Flooding can disrupt transportation, damage homes, interrupt schooling, affect livelihoods, and make ordinary necessities harder to obtain.
For our outreach planning, this creates additional concerns.
Supplies are not as plentiful or readily accessible as they were during our 2025 preparations.
Some items may take longer to locate.
Transportation may become more complicated.
Availability and costs may vary from one community to another.
And families already struggling financially may have even less flexibility following weather-related hardships.
This is why we need to begin gathering supplies and financial resources immediately.
A Christmas program for 500 families cannot be assembled responsibly at the last minute.
We must plan ahead.
We must remain flexible.
And we must be prepared to adjust to conditions on the ground.
Our desire is not merely to arrive with good intentions.
We want to arrive prepared to help.
🎁 WHAT WILL OUR CHRISTMAS 2026 PROGRAM INCLUDE?
Building upon our 2025 outreach, we hope to provide assistance in several important areas.
📖 1. BIBLES AND THE GOSPEL MESSAGE
This remains our highest priority.
We want families to have access to the Word of God.
We want children and adults to hear about Jesus Christ.
We want to provide opportunities for prayer, biblical teaching, and spiritual encouragement.
And we want to introduce people to the Savior whose birth we celebrate at Christmas.
A toy may bring happiness for a season. The gospel offers hope for eternity.
🧸 2. CHRISTMAS TOYS FOR CHILDREN
There is something wonderful about watching a child's face light up when receiving a present.
For some children, Christmas gifts may be limited or beyond their family's financial reach.
We want to help make Christmas a joyful occasion for as many children as our resources allow.
The gift does not have to be expensive.
It needs to be appropriate, safe, and given with love.
🍽️ 3. A CHRISTMAS DINNER AND FAMILY FELLOWSHIP
One of the memorable parts of last year's program was the opportunity for families to gather and enjoy time together.
We want to continue that tradition.
A Christmas meal.
Singing.
Fellowship.
Encouragement.
Prayer.
A time when families can gather without feeling overlooked or forgotten.
Sometimes sitting down together and sharing a meal opens the door to relationships that continue long after the Christmas celebration ends.
🎒 4. SCHOOL SPONSORSHIP AND EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
Our ministry believes that helping children continue their education is an important investment in their future.
We have already witnessed the difference educational sponsorship can make.
School-related expenses can become a serious burden for families with limited resources.
Where possible, we want to use this Christmas outreach to identify children who may benefit from continuing educational assistance.
A Christmas gift can brighten a day. Educational support can help shape a future.
👕 5. SCHOOL UNIFORMS AND PRACTICAL NECESSITIES
School uniforms are not simply another item of clothing.
For families struggling financially, providing the required uniforms can become a significant challenge.
We want to help address those needs wherever possible.
And as we assess local circumstances, we may discover other practical necessities that deserve attention.
We will remain sensitive to the needs we encounter and responsible with the resources we receive.
✝️ BUT PLEASE DON'T MISS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART
We could provide 500 Christmas meals.
We could distribute hundreds of toys.
We could give away Bibles and school uniforms.
We could take photographs and write wonderful reports.
But if we forgot why Pilgrim Outreach Ministries International exists, we would have missed the heart of our mission.
WE ARE GOING TO SHARE JESUS CHRIST.
Mark 16:15 records the command:
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
That command did not come with an exemption for difficult circumstances.
It did not say to go only when transportation was convenient.
It did not say to preach only when financial resources were abundant.
It did not say to reach only those who already believed.
It said GO.
And that's what we're preparing to do.
We want to demonstrate the love of Christ through our actions while sharing His message through our words.
We will help people because they have genuine needs—not because they agree to attend a service or make a profession of faith.
The gospel is an invitation, not a condition for receiving compassion.
We want every family to leave knowing that they were treated with dignity, kindness, and respect.
And we pray that many will come to know Jesus Christ personally.
🤝 WHAT IF 500 PEOPLE DECIDED TO HELP ONE FAMILY EACH?
Think about the possibilities.
What if 500 individuals, families, churches, businesses, or organizations decided to participate?
What if one church helped provide Bibles?
Another helped with school uniforms?
A business helped with transportation?
A Sunday school class helped with toys?
A family helped provide Christmas meals?
A group of friends pooled their resources?
A reader shared this message with someone who had never heard of our ministry?
No single person would have to carry the entire responsibility.
MANY HANDS. ONE MISSION.
And even if we don't reach all 500 families, every family we can responsibly help will matter.
We are not asking anyone to place their own household in financial difficulty to support this effort.
Please take care of your family's essential needs.
But if God has blessed you with the ability to help, would you prayerfully consider becoming a partner?
A gift of $5, $10, $25, $50, $100, or whatever you can responsibly afford can become part of our collective effort.
We haven't assigned a fixed sponsorship cost per family because needs, supplies, and local conditions may vary.
Our commitment is to use the resources available responsibly and to help as many families as possible.
The goal is 500 families. The mission is reaching souls.
🌎 YOU MAY NEVER VISIT THE PHILIPPINES—BUT YOUR LOVE CAN
You may never board an airplane bound for Manila.
You may never walk through the communities we visit.
You may never personally hand a Bible to a child.
You may never sit beside a family during our Christmas celebration.
But your prayers can go.
Your generosity can go.
Your encouragement can go.
And through Pilgrim Outreach Ministries International, your partnership can help carry the gospel and practical assistance to people thousands of miles away.
That's why we say:
WE ARE YOUR EYES, EARS, MOUTHS, AND FEET IN ASIA.
We are not asking you to do everything.
We are asking you to consider doing something.
And together, those individual acts of generosity can become something wonderful.
❤️ HOW YOU CAN HELP RIGHT NOW
Our ministry website contains information about the various ways you can support this Christmas outreach.
🌎 Visit: pomitaly.homestead.com
Available support channels include:
PayPal Business
GiveButter
GoFundMe
Twitter/X Tips — @joybells49
Facebook Messenger
Cash App — $joybells49
Please visit the ministry website for the donation links and additional information.
You can also support our missionary and outreach efforts by purchasing one of our books.
📚 Ministry Bookstore: thewilltosucceed.homestead.com
100% of our book royalties support our missionary and outreach efforts.
And if you cannot contribute financially, there are other meaningful ways to participate.
Pray for the families.
Share this post.
Tell your pastor.
Speak with your church's missions department.
Ask your Sunday school class or Bible study group to pray.
Introduce our ministry to someone who may want to help.
Please don't underestimate what God can accomplish through one willing person.
🙏 OUR SPECIFIC PRAYER REQUESTS FOR CHRISTMAS 2026
Please join us in praying for the following needs:
Resources to help us reach our goal of 500 families.
Sufficient Bibles and gospel materials.
Safe and appropriate Christmas toys.
Food and supplies for our Christmas dinner program.
School uniforms and educational assistance.
Reliable transportation and distribution arrangements.
Improved weather and safe travel conditions.
Availability of supplies despite typhoon-related disruptions.
Volunteers, churches, and ministry partners.
Wisdom in identifying families with genuine needs.
Protection and good health for everyone involved.
Cecilia and me as we prepare for our upcoming journey.
Opportunities to share the gospel clearly and compassionately.
And above everything else:
PRAY THAT SOULS WILL COME TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST.
🙏 LET US PRAY
Heavenly Father,
As we look toward Christmas 2026, we thank You for everything You accomplished through our outreach program in 2025.
We remember the children.
We remember the families.
We remember the singing, the teaching, the prayers, and the wonderful fellowship.
We remember preparing for 100 families and seeing nearly 200 arrive.
And we thank You for every person who helped make that outreach possible.
Now, Father, we are looking ahead.
Our vision is to reach 500 families this Christmas.
We know that this is a considerable undertaking.
We know that time is short.
We know that supplies may be more difficult to obtain because of the rains, flooding, and typhoon-related disruptions.
But we also know that You are able to provide wisdom, open doors, and bring people together for a common purpose.
Raise up willing hearts.
Provide the necessary resources.
Help us find the supplies we need.
Protect the families and communities still recovering from difficult circumstances.
Give us wisdom in our preparations.
Help us remain faithful stewards of every gift entrusted to this ministry.
And when the Christmas program begins, may it be filled with joy, laughter, fellowship, prayer, and the unmistakable love of Jesus Christ.
Let children experience happiness.
Let parents find encouragement.
Let families know they have not been forgotten.
And above everything else, may the gospel of Jesus Christ be proclaimed with clarity, humility, and compassion.
Lord, we are not asking for 500 families so that we can boast about what we accomplished.
We are asking for the opportunity to touch lives for Your glory.
ONE FAMILY AT A TIME.
ONE CHILD AT A TIME.
ONE SOUL AT A TIME.
In Jesus' precious name,
Amen.
🇵🇭🎄 77 DAYS. 500 FAMILIES. ONE MISSION.
Last year, we prepared for 100 families.
Nearly 200 came.
This year, we want to prepare for 500.
But those numbers tell only a small part of the story.
What matters is the mother who receives encouragement.
The father who discovers that someone cares.
The child who receives a Bible.
The student who receives assistance.
The family that shares a Christmas meal.
The person who hears about Jesus Christ.
And the soul whose life may be changed forever.
CHRISTMAS IS COMING.
THE NEEDS ARE REAL.
THE PREPARATION MUST BEGIN NOW.
And with your help, we can work toward making Christmas 2026 a wonderful opportunity to share the love and gospel of Jesus Christ in the Philippines.
WILL YOU HELP US REACH 500 FAMILIES?
HELP US HELP THEM—ONE SOUL AT A TIME.
PUT SOME FEET TO YOUR FAITH!
❤️ SUPPORT CHRISTMAS 2026 IN THE PHILIPPINES
Pilgrim Outreach Ministries International — Your Feet to the Nations
We are your eyes, ears, mouths, and feet in Asia.
🌎 Ministry and Donation Links: pomitaly.homestead.com
📚 Ministry Bookstore: thewilltosucceed.homestead.com
📰 Ministry Blog: joybells49.blogspot.com
Donation Options: PayPal | GiveButter | GoFundMe | X/Twitter Tips | Facebook Messenger | Cash App
100% of our book royalties support our missionary and outreach efforts.
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