By Barbara Joy Hansen
Lifelong Alliance family member Barbara Joy Hansen recently spent two months in the Philippines among Alliance national churches and outreaches. The Alliance began work in the country in 1902. Today it is a vibrant, autonomous, missionary-sending movement known as CAMACOP (Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches of the Philippines). Hansen, an overcomer of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of persons in positions of trust, tells her story in Listen to the Cry of the Child. She also facilitates Beauty Out of Ashes, a sexual abuse support group curriculum.
I’ll never forget the urgency in Paul’s voice when I told him about my ministry of healing and restoration for abuse victims. “Barb, we need you to come! Bring your book and the Beauty Out of Ashes materials for support groups. There are no resources in the Philippines for pastors or laypeople to address abuse.”
I had met Dr. Paul Barner years ago, at Delta Lake (Alliance) Bible Conference Center in Rome, New York. During a more recent trip there, I reconnected with him and his wife, Elvie, after they spoke about their work in the Philippines.
Paul, an Alliance pastor, oversees multiple Alliance outreaches in and around Davao City, Mindanao, the Philippines. Along with Elvie, he runs Barner Christian Academy and Father’s House Orphanage. The couple also planted 25 Alliance churches in remote mountainous jungles.
Culture Shock
At Paul’s invitation, I went as a humanitarian aid worker to minister to the Filipino population under his charge, along with my husband, Wayne, and book promoter, Bernice McNeaney. We ventured into a country in which housing conditions and infrastructure are outdated by 60 years. Electricity and hot water are limited, and eating healthy is a daily challenge. Cultural obstacles and financial challenges slowed the process of every project we tried to tackle, but God was present in each endeavor.
The term “culture shock” comes to mind. Most Filipinos live in poverty and have few conveniences that we North Americans take for granted. Churches, homes, most malls, and grocery stores have no toilet seats or toilet paper, so we brought our own. I was approached at the mall by a woman asking for mine.
With the ongoing threat of religious extremists, security guards were everywhere, even at McDonald’s. We heard that the terrorists killed two people during our time in the jungle. Thankfully, God kept us safe!
Offering Hope
Bernice and I spoke six days a week in 23 Alliance churches in remote jungles, mountains, and villages. Warmly welcomed in each gathering, I told my story, focusing on how healing comes only from Jesus. Amid every difficulty, He was with us. One Sunday, our Jeep broke down, and we walked the muddy road through the rain to the jungle church.
I sensed one young woman, a worship leader, also was an abuse victim and gave her my book. She had never told anyone about the relative who had abused her and asked how I knew. Many of the adults in each place where we spoke had said nothing of their abuse because of fear. I felt privileged to offer hope and healing through Jesus and pray for all who dared to speak up about their private suffering.
Open Hearts
Opportunities for ministry came every place we visited, including the largest government hospital in Davao City. There we shared our testimonies of deliverance and restoration with 250 nurses, doctors, social workers, and police, using my PowerPoint presentation, “Rescuing the Prisoner When the Prisoner Is You.” The need was great, and everyone was open to the gospel message.
Rev. Jun Sorongon, a prison chaplain, brought us to the Ma-a Jail. In the women’s facility, those from the majority religion wore colorful head scarves and danced for us before we spoke. We were moved by their willingness to allow us to anoint and pray for them. Afterward they asked us to anoint each of their small cottages, where many are locked away.
In the men’s prison, one young man knelt down by my knees, weeping after hearing about his need for salvation and learning that Jesus heals the brokenhearted and sets captives free.
The Father’s Children
Thirteen orphans reside at the Father’s House Orphanage; most have been victimized by violence or human trafficking. Seeing how little they have, we bought them essentials such as new sneakers, flip flops, pillows, blankets, and dressers as well as games for their social development. We also role-played a story about abuse and gave them Scripture T-shirts and my book.
I was allowed several other opportunities to share my message of healing and restoration, including on a local Christian television broadcast and at the church of the pastor who operates the TV station. My message, entitled “Abuse in the First Family: Adam and Eve, Shame, Blame, and Restoration,” inspired the pastor’s daughter, who is director of Philippines Youth Violence Prevention, to give my book to the country’s President Duterte.
Plentiful Harvest
We became attached to all the beautiful people we had met, especially the children at the orphanage. When it was time to leave, we all cried.
Alliance ministry through the selfless efforts of the Barners, their staff, and laypeople covers a broad area of Mindinao. Hurting people in fragile environments are hungry for hope, and our Alliance family on this island is a shining light pointing in the direction of our Heavenly Provider.
Pray for your Alliance family in the Philippines and for God to raise up Filipino men and women to proclaim His message of love. The harvest is great, but the workers are few!