Restoring Hope: From Poverty to Purpose

If they hadn’t come, I wouldn’t understand my purpose.

Sitting outside the ruins of his childhood home, destroyed by a typhoon, Arjun Blaza reflects on what his life might have become if the church hadn’t reached out to him during his early years.

“Maybe I’d just be idle,” he went on, “doing nothing because of poverty. But thank God that even in poverty, He used the church staff. They shared the Word, and I saw how important life is. It encouraged me and made a big impact.”

Arjun and his family live on the island of Negros near Bacolod City in the Philippines. When Arjun was just thirteen, members of the church visited his family, bringing much-needed Food Paks and holding Bible studies. During this time, Arjun discovered that what was missing from his life went far beyond material needs.

“That’s when I realized how much we need Jesus in our lives,” he shared. After accepting Christ, the trajectory of his life changed dramatically.

While Arjun’s mother, Arlyn, always described him as a good, kind, and hard-working child, even she noticed a remarkable difference in him. Especially once he began attending seminary.

The church members who visited Arjun during his youth left a deep impression on him. Their influence was so profound that Arjun felt called to pursue ministry himself. “I saw the great impact of the church,” Arjun shared. “I thought, maybe I could be like them. I saw many young people like me who didn’t know Jesus yet. So, I asked if I could join the Bible seminary. By God’s grace, I graduated this year.”

Once a boy wondering if life had meaning, Arjun is now a seminary graduate delivering hope to families in need. He is committed to sharing the hope he has in Christ with others who are experiencing the same poverty he once faced.

For the past two years, Loida Canlas has received Food Paks from Arjun. She describes him as more than just someone from the church; he is like family. “He is a big part of our family,” Loida shares. Arjun connects well with her children, who know him personally, and he faithfully teaches Bible lessons to them every Saturday.

“Looking back,” Arjun shares, “I was once the one receiving. Now I’m the one giving, and I see the joy in people’s faces. Not just because of the Food Paks, but because of the Salvation that comes through Jesus Christ.”

Arjun’s journey from poverty to purpose is a powerful testament to the enduring impact of the work of our local church partners in the Philippines. These churches offer more than food; they offer the life-changing opportunity to come to a saving knowledge of Christ Jesus.

As our church partners continue reaching unreached families with the light of Christ, and as the Children’s Hunger Fund team builds new relationships and partnerships, we celebrate stories like Arjun’s. The heart of this ministry is not just measured by the number of Food Paks delivered, but by the lives being transformed by the gospel.

When we reflect on the 35 years of Children’s Hunger Fund ministry and the unwavering dedication of our church partners around the world, it becomes clear that food is only part of our mission.

As you read these stories of transformation, consider other children like Arjun—children affected by poverty who, without the presence of the local church, might never discover their true purpose or hope.

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