Shekinah
Home /sheh
kee neh/ (Hebrew: shekhinah 1663): the presence of God in the world
“Let the little children come to Me, and
do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say
to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by
no means enter it.” Mark 10: 14-16
What is
Shekinah Home ?
Shekinah Home is a Christian home orphanage ministry in the
Philippines, serving street children and abandoned babies who are victims of
neglect, poverty, and exploitation. The Home is located on 1.2 hectares
of rural land near the small farming town of Dingras in the province of Ilocos
Norte, which is about 500 kilometers North of Manila. Shekinah Home
currently has four cell homes with a total capacity of 25 children. The
property has plenty of room with a large play field for soccer and other
sports, and many large mango trees around the perimeter, in which our children
like to climb and play. The first child was admitted in March of 2005,
and over the last six years Shekinah Home has ministered to a total of 43
children. At this time there are 17 children in the Home, as many of our
children over the years have been officially placed to adoptive families both
in the Philippines and overseas. Shekinah Home is registered and fully
licensed as a care giving institution with the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (Region 1) of the Philippines, and is also fully “accredited” with
the same government agency for operation throughout the Philippines as we see
the need, and have the necessary resources available. Shekinah Home
aspires to provide a Christian home atmosphere, and to raise our children
according to the teachings of the Bible. It seeks to raise the children
with the ultimate goal of developing community leaders and responsible
citizens, who love the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the goal of Shekinah
Home to prepare the minds, hearts, and hands of our children for a lifetime of
service to God and their community.
The Founders and Directors
Brian and JoAnne Whittle (American citizens) began the on-site work
of Shekinah Home in the fall of 2004, after more than two years of administrative
work and preparation. The vision for a home serving the younger street
children of the Philippines began with the personal calling of Brian and
JoAnne. They lived in Hong Kong for many years, with Brian working as a
teacher in a Christian school and ministering in a Filipino church, while
learning about the street children of the Philippines from their many research
visits to the country. With a UN estimated 1.6 million street children in
the Philippines, and the on-going problem of abandoned babies, and neglected
children, it was determined that urgent help was needed. Brian retired
from his vocation of teaching after 23 years to begin the on-site work of
building and establishing the ministry. The Whittle’s are
“commissioned” to do the specific work of Shekinah Home by Causeway Bay Baptist
Church of Hong Kong. The Whittle’s are not associated with a private
“sending agency”, but are working independently as employees of Shekinah Home.
The Call to Action
All of the children in Shekinah Home have at least one thing in
common. They have all been abandoned. With the huge proportions of
the overall problem of street children, abandoned babies, and neglected
children in the Philippines, many like-minded and concerned people must put
their hands to work, with the ultimate goal of restoring these little children
in all aspects of their lives. Shekinah Home provides an environment
where our children have the love and care of a mother and a father, in the
context of a Christian home. The Home provides proper nutrition and
health care through balanced diets, and regular visits to doctors and
dentists. Education is provided through the nearby Dingras Faith Academy
Christian School, along with on-site individual tutoring. The local
churches provide spiritual guidance for the children through Sunday school
training, worship services, and frequent contact with individuals in the
churches. In the home environment, the children are taught the spiritual
principles of the Bible through group devotions, and individual time with each
child and their house parents.
Who Are The Children ?
Since the problem of street children and abandoned babies is so
immense, the ministry of Shekinah Home has strategically decided to minister to
specific target groups. All of our children are admitted to the Home
being no older than the age of five upon their arrival, unless they are older,
and part of a sibling group with younger children. The reason for this is
that there are many thousands of small children between the ages of two and
five wandering the streets across the country, and that the smaller children
are the most vulnerable to the syndicates and criminal activity, along with
disease and starvation. In addition, the smaller children are more easily
integrated into classroom educational settings without the need of many years
of special tutorial preparation. The abandoned babies come to us either
being left physically, or have been signed over to the government by a very
poor mother who cannot in any way raise a child, being homeless, having no
money, and being cared for themselves by other government programs to help such
girls and women.
What Can I Do ?
There are many avenues of opportunity to help with this ministry
ranging from consistent and active prayer to actual on-site visits to Shekinah
Home for the purpose of helping with needs. Given the cost of shipping,
it is not cost effective to ship needed material items to the Philippines
unless the contributor either lives in the Philippines, or in the neighboring
region of Southeast Asia. We have ongoing needs for basic items such as
clothes for babies and diapers, along with shoes and books. The
most cost effective way of helping the ministry is through monetary
contributions from which we can purchase locally all of the needs of our
children. You may contact us for information on how to help at the
following email address. shekinahhome@yahoo.com Our web site is: www.shekinahhome.org Please send
us an email if you would like to receive our regular newsletter that is sent
out each month. Information is provided below for contributions of US
dollars in North America, of Hong Kong dollars in Hong Kong, and Philippine
pesos in the Philippines:
All contributions for Shekinah Home in North America should be sent to:
Olive Branch Ministries (Please make checks payable to “Olive Branch Ministries”,
not Shekinah Home)
PO Box 5835
Maryville, Tennessee 37801
Contact person: Kelli Ray - okray94@charter.net (Please specifically designate
that your contribution is for Shekinah Home.)
All contributions for Shekinah Home in Hong Kong should be sent to:
· Contributions can be made through the
“Fellowship Of Joyful Giving, Limited” Christian Foundation located in the
Crocodile House in Central, Hong Kong. Please contact Stephen at the
following email & telephone for specific information. email: fjg.hongkong@gmail.com telephone: 852
2877-3283 Fellowship of Joyful Giving Limited, Room 1303, 13/F,
· Contributions can also be made through Causeway Bay Baptist Church
Attn: Lorna Gabinera
Flat B, 1/F Triumph Court, 37 Electric Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Telephone: 852 6221-4725 (Lorna), or 852 2571-4579 (church office)
Email: info@cbbc.org.hk
·
Contributions can also be
made directly to Shekinah Home through Banco de Oro on Connaught Road in
Central. If you wish to do so, please contact me via email for the
necessary information.
·
Contributions can also be
made directly to Shekinah Home through the Philippine National Bank also
located in Central. If you wish to do so, please contact me via email for
the necessary information.
Physical Address of Shekinah Home:
Shekinah Home
Cali, Dingras 2913
Ilocos Norte, Philippines
Contact Information:
Telephone: (63) 784-0467
Email: shekinahhome@yahoo.com
Web site: www.shekinahhome.org