Colorado Springs,—Three Christian schools in the Philippines were significantly damaged during Typhoon Sendong last month. Flash flooding in the southern Philippines caused more than 1,200 casualties; over 1,000 people are still missing.
Dr. Tabitha T. Bullecer, country director for the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) in the Philippines, recently visited ACSI member schools in the affected area.
“In Cagayan de Oro, Pilgrim Christian College—located in the lower level of a building—was under 10 feet of water during the flood,” she said. “The flood damaged their fence and instructional equipment.”
Bullecer reported that computers, books, and furniture at another member school, Oro Christian Grace, were damaged. A third school, Calvary Chapel Bible College in Dumaguete City, sustained more than $30,000 USD in damage. Water and mud destroyed perimeter walls, dislodged water supply tanks and damaged appliances and other school equipment.
Multiple teachers and staff at all three schools lost homes and/or belongings.
“I prayed with them, listened to them and gave them some aid—most of which was contributed from ACSI member schools in Luzon and Cebu,” Bullecer said.
ACSI is collecting disaster relief funds to help affected schools.
“Schools seeing great progress in equipping their students and blessing their communities sometimes experience real suffering,” said Dr. David Wilcox, ACSI assistant vice president for Asia. “Such is the case with several Christian schools on the island of Mindanao and on the islands of the Visayas, Philippines. ACSI member Christian schools are already responding, and we invite others to join in this response through the ACSI Disaster Relief Fund.”
ACSI, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., is comprised of well over 23,000 member Christian schools in 100 nations worldwide. ACSI is recognized in the missions community as the leader in equipping Christian schools and educators worldwide, providing services through a network of 29 regional offices. The organization is a leader in accrediting Protestant pre-K–12 schools worldwide.
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