One Filipino church’s rough start in their new community turned out to be a perfect blessing for opening people’s hearts to God’s truth.

World Challenge partners’ work in the Philippines has sought to show people how they can have godly community through education and relationships.

A huge part of this has been helping people see how salvation should affect not only their own lives but also their families and neighborhoods.

The people of one village were motivated by the idea of God’s care for them to take on a major project and improve their home.

The tiny village Sitio Gulod literally means “hilltop.” The ivy-covered, stone walls around the town overlook lush fields and dense jungle which hum with the constant symphony of insects and birds. The dirt roads are muddy more often than not and sometimes are even below standing water.

A rough life ended up becoming one couple’s key to growing into their community’s leaders and agents of change.

Dennis grew up in Olongapo City, in the Philippines, and took up selling vegetables and fruits for a living at the marketplaces.

An ex-Muslim helped one woman see the truth of God’s Word, which sparked her passion to do the same for others.

Carmelita absolutely could not stand these filthy evangelicals.

She could’ve sworn they’d put some kind of Bible study near her house just to drive her half crazy. People would walk past her house holding Bibles all the time, and it was unbearable. Then there came the knock on her door.

In the Philippines, church workers are helping educate pregnant women about how to keep themselves and their babies healthy.

Pregnancy usually means extra doctor visits to make sure the mother and baby stay healthy.

Some women, however, don’t have this option because either they live in a remote village or it’s not traditional practice. They often don’t realize the many health benefits that preventative care can offer both them and their child.

God gave Maria a task most would have rejected, but she obeyed and has seen great rewards for her faithfulness.

If God asked you to leave your job right now, would you do it?

For many who are their family’s primary breadwinner or barely making ends meet for themselves, this would be an extremely hard question.

In a fairytale life gone wrong, one young Filipino woman finds a true rescuing hero in her heavenly Father.

Krystal’s parents came to her and explained that she could finish high school, but that was all. She needed to find work to help support the family.

In the Philippines, this scenario was nothing strange, particularly for low-income families. At age 18, Krystal dutifully started work in Quezon, one of many poor, young women toiling in minimum wage jobs.

God restored one man’s heart and give him the strength to not only dream again for his community but also take action.

As the Philippines prepare for their elections, their police forces are also gearing up to deal with riots and gun violence that have erupted during the last two elections.