Proclaiming the Gospel in the Philippines

Church Farthest Out Project (CFO)

Eighty-five percent of the local churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Philippines (EDSP) are located in the mountains of Mindanao. They can be found in the remote towns of the Provinces of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Basilan, Bukidnon and Davao del Norte. Most of these places are only accessible by truck, horse or motorcycle. During the rainy season from June to September, travel must be done on foot as roads are bad or non-existent.

There are about 10,000 church members and 160 chapels scattered around the diocese. Due to the difficulty in reaching these areas, services are held mostly once a month, quarterly or by special request for occasions such as baptisms and weddings.

Travel is very expensive because church workers have to hire special motorcycles locally known as ‘Skylab’ or ‘Habal-habal’. The EDSP has 18 active clergy and 9 graduate seminarians, who are supported by volunteers. Only 13 of them have motorcycles. The rest have to either rely on public transport or walk to the communities.

ABM donations to this project will help purchase motorcycles, travel as well as some Bibles and Study materials. The EDSP will cover fuel and maintenance expenses.

By funding the CFO project, church workers (which include priests, catechists, evangelist and lay leaders) will be able to reach some of the remotest congregations on a more regular basis. This is essential to the growth of the Church, building up its pastoral ministries and carrying the Good News further out to people in the Southern Philippines.

This project needs $17,000 in 2010.

You can Donate Now to this project by selecting Proclaiming the Gospel in the Philippines from the full project list.

Download a PDF copy of the project information sheet for Proclaiming the Gospel in the Philippines.