You may have sponsored children in the region through Compassion International. Compassion's Kathy Redmond says, "It's an area where we have about 25 child development centers. It looks like Bacolod City was affected, but in our centers we have had no children affected so far."

We asked Redmond if that could change. "Our program facilitators are going through and trying to get tallies and assess the needs. So we say, 'So far, none of our children have been affected.'"

The poor in the Philippines are at risk during these kinds of disasters. "It's not like these areas are built with great infrastructure and safety codes and things like that," says Redmond. "So when an earthquake hits, it can really be devastating."

An earthquake compounds the need for people to sponsor children with Compassion International, who works through the local church. But in situations like an earthquake, Redmond says sponsored children aren't the only ones in need. "For those who are in need--though it might not be our own families and children of Compassion, but others in the community--they will go to the church to get their needs met."

That also provides opportunities to share the Gospel. "When people go in to receive some of their basic survival needs, they are given the Gospel also as a survival need. So it all happens in the church, and we can see the church transforming communities in that way."

If you'd like to sponsor a child or get involved in their complementary intervention services -- which provides for needs outside the sponsorship -- you can click here.

There's a thrill of an uprising, the rooting for progress and the inevitable triumph should the downtrodden succeed in changing anything as seemingly immovable as government.

Pictures of nearly nightly protests reveal something unique in Egypt's demand for change. Church pastor Fawzi Wahib explains, "65% of our population is under the age of 25. So, most of those you see them interviewing in the media--on TV and in the newspaper--are over 50. There is a huge gap and misunderstanding, IF there is any understanding between the two generations."

Wahib is a well-known face in the Revolution, even laboring under  the nickname, "Pastor of the Revolution," because of a message he gave in the early part of uprisings. He says that while the revolution is for Egypt, it's being led by the cream of the crop. "Those who consider themselves wise and try to make a plan for the future, are missing the point entirely. These people of 25 and less have seen the dream come close to their hand, but all of a sudden, somebody came and took it away from them. They are willing to die to get this dream back and not let anybody take it from their hands."

Anger and frustration over not being heard and demands not being met has led to more waves of young patriots trying to effect some kind of change for the future of a sustainable country. "I think no one is going to stand against these waves of young people seeking freedom."

Wahib goes on to say that the passion shared for a new Egypt is contagious. The young adults want a country that will live up to its own public relations. Those confronting the police lines this week doubt the direction of the leadership and promises of the government. They're now calling for early elections, and "next week, on February 11, there is a call for a civilian's strike on the whole nation."

Students leading this movement represent all eight universities in Cairo. "Now you get the best educated people that are connected with real life who are leading this movement, and it gives you a clue about who is leading and where we are heading."

Among the more obvious demands: a civilian government and a plan to tackle a 35% unemployment rate (for those under 25) and growing economic distress. It all boils down to hope. Wahib said that desire was palpable on the "Day of Rage" in 2011 when he was called up on the stage.

He knew one misspoken word could destroy not only him, but also the credibility of Christians in the society. Suddenly, Isaiah 61:1 came to mind.   

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
   because the LORD has anointed me
   to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
   to proclaim freedom for the captives
   and release from darkness for the prisoners.

The crowd responded enthusiastically when he explained the freedom of hope. "'You know why Jesus came? He came to set the captive free. How many Egyptians are still captive until today? Jesus is still with us in the Square, because He wants to set the captive free!' Now, if you are totally politically motivated, then you understand the message."

Moments like that opened a lot of opportunities for the Church body to engage the community. Wahib says the whole team of pastors knew what the potential was. While they didn't plan a specific outreach campaign, they were poised to respond. First, they opened their doors to those who needed respite. "The Church became like a refuge. Muslims love to come into the church and sit. They find peace. Over all this, we had hundreds of contacts where we shared the Gospel without telling them it was evangelism."

Then, they responded with a field hospital for the wounded who were protesting right outside the church compound on Tahrir Square. That has been the pattern for over a year. It's obvious the Holy Spirit is moving. Hundreds are receiving visions and dreams and coming to Christ that way. The biggest issue now is how to disciple the hundreds that are coming. 

Actually, the bigger "problem," says Wahib, is what they'll do with the thousands they're expecting to see before Revolution ends. Wahib says the church leadership is also part of the group that was getting a strong message that pointed to unity and revival.

Revival, Wahib says, begins in revolution.

(IMB Asia Stories photo)

India (MNN) -- Prostitution is a serious problem in India, especially among the poor. But there is a branch of the profession hidden deeper underground with an even darker side to it.

Temple prostitution was banned in India 30 years ago, but that doesn't mean it has gone away, reports the International Mission Board. The practice, called devadasi, continues to exploit women who were thrown away as infants.

Devadasi is mostly a last resort for desperate parents seeking the favor of the gods. Poor families will dedicate their daughters to the goddess Yellamma with the hope that she will bring favor to them. For starving families hindered by the financial burden of a newborn daughter, this may appear to be the best option.

Devadasi literally means "god's female servant." The women certainly are servants but typically know nothing of the One True God. When a girl is dedicated, she is considered to be married to the goddess and can never marry a man. When she reaches physical maturity, she is forced to live as a prostitute.

"From the very beginning, they're being exploited as babies," a humanitarian aid worker in India explained to IMB. "Then when they hit maturity, their bodies are exploited by men. Even when their bodies are no longer desirable to men, they are still exploited and abused because that stigma is on them. They can never escape from it. It's a trap that they're stuck in; it's a living hell that they're experiencing."

This has been practiced in the open for more than 5,000 years. Because devadasi has been forced underground now, however, women work mainly from their homes. Many are trafficked to the red light districts of major cities like Mumbai and Bangalore.

The effects are still the same: women are thrown away and they  know it.

"Our parents gave us birth and threw us on the street. Men come and use us, finish their job, and go," one former devadasis--now being supported by an NGO--told IMB.

Estimates range from tens to hundreds of thousands of devadasi in India. For most, it's a hopeless existence. But some faithful and persistent believers are dedicated to sharing with these daughters of God how precious they are in their Father's sight.

A devadasis who discovers a relationship with Christ becomes a powerful witness in her community, according to one Christian worker. These new lives in Christ become witnesses against the practice that enslaved them and for the Savior who set them free. The worker describes it like the woman at the well who, once she realizes she's talking to Jesus, goes out telling all other women about Him.

Many Christian workers are sharing the Gospel message with these victimized women, equipping them, empowering them, mentoring them, training them and discipling them. They are bringing light to souls that have known only darkness their entire lives.

India (MNN) -- The thirst for the Gospel is great across India, but resources are running dry. The work of Audio Scripture Ministries there over the last few months has been more than overwhelmed.

ASM has made great strides in recent months. They have completed the first recording of any kind for the Garasias, they have reached new tribes in Northeast India, and their work has even been acknowledged as a good thing by the unlikely vigilante group, the Naxalites.

The Gospel is breaking barriers as the power of God's Word reaches villages via audio player.

The desire for these Scripture units in places where few people read is so great that ASM can't possibly keep up. In a recent distribution to Mundari speakers, ASM was able to hand out 350 digital players--more players than had ever before gone to the group, says J.P. Sundararajan.

"When I was done with the distribution, the missionary looked at me and said, ‘No, we need 5,000 for this village.' For this village he needs 5,000! And for that area--roughly a few villages in that area, they want 9,000 units," says Sundararajan. "And I was pretty proud of myself for getting 350 units!"

It's not just the Mundari who are desperate for more of God's Word. ASM goes all over remote areas of India where people are begging for audio players of their own.

"Every time we go to a distribution, it is one of the more heart wrenching scenes you'll see. There are too many people who wait outside these distribution areas," explains Sundararajan. "As we walk out, they keep begging with us--pleading with us--for one Bible.... We have to tell them there's a three-month waiting period. And after three months, we'll try to come back."

The ministry leaves every distribution empty-handed, heading back to their Bangalore office where few other players remain. Thus, one of ASM's goals is to get the stock of players up to 1,000 at the office. Up until now, the extra stock has never surpassed 100.

There's good news amid the barrenness of resources, though. Apart from the exciting fact that people are ready for the Truth, Indians are ready to share it. During the Mundari distribution, says Sundararajan, "Half of these units were paid for by local, Indian Christians in Bangalore and cities in India."

Indian Christians are grasping hold of the vision that ASM has to get the Bible to people everywhere, regardless of their literacy. But the need is greater than the available funding. Others need to get involved.

Sundararajan says that no matter what resources come in, ASM is just glad to be a part of the Lord's work. So when people want to help, "I don't tell people, ‘This is how you can help God,'" says Sundararajan. "It's more of, ‘This is what God is already doing. And if you want to get involved, it's very easy.'"

God is using ASM to reach the remotest of tribes in India with Scriptures in their heart languages. It's only $40 to provide an audio player--a gift that will reach not just one family, but their friends, neighbors, and maybe entire village. Get involved with what God is doing by clicking here.

Join ASM in prayer for their Indian ministry as well. Pray for ASM as they make the difficult choices to prioritize which languages will be recorded when, and how many players will go to each distribution. Pray, too, for the hearts of eager listeners as they get the opportunity to hear God's Word for the first time.

FH to celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, 2012.

USA (MNN) -- On March 8, the world will celebrate International Women's Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the economic, political, and social achievements of women past, present and future.

What does this day mean for people like you?

Food for the Hungry (FH) believes there is untapped, God-given potential in the lives of poverty-stricken women around the world. This God-given, hidden potential has the power not only to eradicate poverty, but to promote a future inspired for change for upcoming generations of women.

From becoming an entrepreneur to overcoming gender-based violence, the women affiliated with FH have overcome many obstacles in their lifetime through the grace and power of God's love.

Although each story speaks volumes of hardship, transformation, and renewal, none are quite as simple as just being a mother and having the ability to feed your children every day.

Mukankusi Anathalia, a Rwandan woman stuck in poverty in the Bugesera District, lived day-to-day with her three adopted, malnourished children. They didn't know where their next meal would come from, and and they lived without any shelter.

Mukankusi has become a self-sustaining, single mother with three healthy children.

FH began a program called "Kitchen Gardens," or backyard gardening. It helped impoverished women to feed their families and sell produce for income. A kitchen garden is ideal for dry regions because they are filled with kitchen wastes, like vegetables and other compost materials. They require very little maintenance and remain humid with less watering.

The compost provides an abundance of nutrients. The produce grows vigorously.

Mukankusi successfully started a kitchen garden and began selling her vegetables in the market. With her profits, she applied for a small business loan and bought her own house.

Her three adopted children now have permanent shelter and are no longer malnourished.

Mukankusi has overcome a dire obstacle and is now an empowered businesswoman with the ability to provide for her family. Not only that, but because FH works through the local church, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is being shared. That calls for a worldwide celebration.

Make a difference in the lives of women around the world and join FH for the International Women's Day 5K Walk/Run. If you aren't able to participate in the walk hosted by Food for the Hungry in Phoenix, Arizona, consider hosting your own event. Ask a few friends to walk 5k (approximately 3 miles) with you. Together, you can set your own fundraising goal.

If you'd like to help, click here.