“Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the Word of the Lord and see how they are doing” (Acts 15:36, New International Version).
These were the words that spurred the MGC New Life Christian Academy (MGCNLCA) team to push through with the 2020 Christmas Outreach, themed “Log-in,” last November 28 to December 12, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The Outreach Team was able to minister to 355 families from various institutes and organizations across the Philippines.
According to Outreach Team head Mrs. Evelyn Joy A. Cawaon, the term “Log-In” signifies a return to somewhere one has previously been. For the Outreach Team, they wanted to return to the organizations they had aided to help them cope with the pandemic. MGC New Life Christian Academy principal, Mrs. Helen K. Villanueva, created an acronym to better encapsulate its definition:
Listen intently. Obey wholeheartedly. Go immediately.
Inspire.
Nurture.
Not wanting to breach social distancing guidelines, the Outreach Team decided to go digital and host Online webinars through Zoom for pastors and teachers last November 28, 2020. Mrs. Imee Go first shared a short devotion. A plenary session was then held by Pastor Jeanette Chua, who gave tips to the 218 attendees to help them cope with the expectations brought by this “new normal.” The pastors and teachers then broke into workshops headed by Mrs. Cristina Goson, Mrs. Helen K. Villanueva, and Mrs. Evangeline Co. The attendees received checks distributed by the Outreach Team from December 4, 2020, to December 11, 2020.
The Outreach Team also facilitated a get-together for the 50 former MGCNLCA ates, kuyas, and guards to share the blessings of the Lord. A short Praise and Worship segment was held thereafter, followed by a message from Mrs. Stephanie Axibal. To add to the program, some kuyas were chosen to share about their present situations. Wanting the ates, kuyas, and guards to have the privilege of celebrating the Noche Buena despite the financial barriers imposed by the pandemic, noche buena packages were also distributed. Social distancing was strictly implemented throughout the event.
Cawaon shared that God pushed them to reach out to others and see how they were doing amidst the pandemic. “We realized that we can still push through with the outreach and that God has given us new opportunities with new channels of connections so that we can get in touch with people isolated by the pandemic,” she said.
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