Pray with the Philippines, June 7, 2026

Lectionary Selection: Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Prayers for the Philippines

Gracious and healing God,

We lift in prayer the National Heroes Institute and all the schools of CREATE. Sustain the teachers who labor faithfully, often with quiet sacrifice. Strengthen administrators and staff in their daily work of care, stewardship, and leadership. Bless the students entrusted to them, that they may grow in wisdom, dignity, courage, and hope, and become a blessing to their communities.

We also pray for the ministry of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines and for our partnership in mission. Knit us more deeply in bonds of faith, mutual encouragement, and shared witness, that we may walk together in service to your people, especially those who long for healing and hope, for meaningful work and a secure home.

Holy Teacher, you show us how to have hope when the situation appears hopeless, and how to show mercy, especially for those seeking to do right.

When resources are scarce, we pray that you provide enough. When burdens are heavy, it leads us to give thanks for those who help us bear them. When dreams seem distant, breathe new possibility into our lives.

Teach us to recognize your presence not only in grand works, but in every faithful touch, every generous gift, and every life restored in hope.

In your mercy and abiding love, hear our prayer. Amen.

Mission Moment from the Philippines

At National Heroes Institute, a primary school in Leyte in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines, a small cooperative loan helped make possible what one teacher described as “a dream fulfilled.” Ms. Dobert Moriles, former Administrator at National Heroes Institute, tells the story of teacher Mylene, who, with a loan of Php 90,000 from the school cooperative, was able to start construction of her house—something she had long hoped for, but never imagined possible.

“She said it was her long-time dream to have a house, since growing up, they had no proper dwelling. Their house was very small, with a leaking roof. As one of her co-teachers described it when they visited her, it was as small as a pig pen. She used to go to school without slippers, and do odd jobs and errands for her teacher so she could eat lunch. She was in the top 1% since elementary school and worked while in college. She is the first professional in their barangay.”

Her life has also been marked by sacrifice for family.

“When she was still single, she actually approached me if she could borrow money so she could buy a parcel of land in their barrio that her brother could till to help support their daily needs. But her brother got sick, and she had to finance his medication. When she planned to get married sometime in 2019, her nephew died, and she financed his coffin, which led her to postpone her wedding. Now she has brought her aged mother to live with her in her new house, so she can take care of her.”

A 90,000-peso loan is not a large amount—about $1,500 USD—but because her husband’s family had land available and trees they could harvest, they did not need to buy many materials. Initially, it was enough to build a house with two small bedrooms, a small sala, and a dining area. They still had to go to her parents-in-law’s house to use the toilet. In the middle of her loan payments, she applied for an additional loan to construct a toilet and a small kitchen.

Sustainability is a big challenge for some UCCP-related schools and school projects, especially among the Basic Education schools. CREATE, the association of 19 educational institutions related to Global Ministries partner the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, supports schools in rural and urban communities across the Philippines.

One CREATE effort that has really helped is Project Sustain, an initiative aimed at forming and strengthening cooperatives, supported in part by grants from Week of Compassion and Global Ministries. Except for a few schools with chronic difficulties, the amount distributed to various schools for cooperative lending has already doubled. Teachers have been encouraged by the program and have contributed part of their salaries to expand services.

CREATE continues to think creatively about how institutions can become more self-reliant, through cooperative lending, community funds, rural and agricultural development grants, and low-interest credit facilities that help schools launch projects and strengthen their ministries. In one case, support from these funds helped reinforce a school building originally built by missionaries in 1927, which had become so dilapidated that the Department of Education recommended its closure.

Through efforts like these, schools are not only sustained but also become sources of transformation, helping communities and the families that support them build dignity, stability, and hope. “I felt emotional seeing this house,” Ms. Moriles reflected. “Imagine how a small amount can mean heaven to a family.”

Written by Ms. Edna Orteza, Executive Director, CREATE-UCCP

Mission Partners in the Philippines

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