Philippines FAQs
A. Your sponsorship commitment provides a Christian relationship outside of their immediate environment. You can provide a prayer covering and be their encouragement while the child lives in uncertainty and instability. As these relationships grow and deepen, we have seen children, youth, and entire families change for the better. With your consistent love a child is able to experience a sense of belonging to a family through sponsorship that otherwise they may never know.
Q. How much is the monthly commitment and should I send it at a specific time?
A. Your monthly commitment is $23. There is no set time of the month to send it. Some sponsors like to pay in half-year or full-year increments. Others use their credit cards on a monthly or annual basis. Every time you make a donation you?ll receive a receipt for that specific amount. Please see the address below for monthly donations. Make Your Child Sponsor Payment Online.
Q. How is my support invested?
A. Your support is invested in three major ways: Visitation, Sunday School, Pen Pal Relationship:
1. Weekly visitation helps the Metro Philippines team to keep current with your child and their situation. Often emergency needs arise and we help when we can or bring in another agency that is more suited to deal with the problem.
2. Sidewalk Sunday School brings your child under the gospel.
3. The Pen Pal program helps your child feel special and loved.
A. Many of these children do not know what it is to have a special personal gift for birthday or Christmas, adequate school supplies and uniforms, Christmas dinner or complete nutritious meals. You can help us to provide these things for them by sending extra financial gifts for your child. It?s these extras that many take for granted in the West which can make a huge difference in their lives. Note: In the Philippines, school begins in June and ends in March. Their break is April and May.
Q. How long does the sponsorship relationship last?
A. The age of sponsored children ranges from 4 years old to 12. Sometimes the children become Sunday School volunteers. If the child continues to attend Sunday School or church, we will keep them sponsored until the age of 15, should the sponsor desire to continue their sponsorship.
Q. Can I write and send gifts to my child?
A. You are more than welcome to write to your child. We encourage you to be in contact with your child as much as your time and resources allow. We find this to be a powerful tool of acceptance into the family that helps open doors that would otherwise be closed to us. You can send them your picture and tell them about yourself. Let them know that you love them, and are praying for them. DO NOT SEND GIFTS as we cannot guarantee packages arriving ? they can easily get lost in transit, or become held up at customs. Please know you can send an extra amount, designated towards a specific list of items you would like for your sponsored child to receive. Or you can let the Metro Ministries staff person make the decision, since they know the immediate needs of your child. In return, you will receive a picture of your child with the items purchased. We feel this would be the most efficient way for your child to receive a gift.
A. Yes, you may visit your child. We would be honored to have you visit us in the Philippines. Please contact us, let us know the dates you are interested in coming, and we will make sure you meet with your child.
Q. May I write directly to my child?
A. Not directly, as all communication is handled through our Philippines office. Our policy is to protect you and your sponsored child. Therefore, all communication is handled with the site pastor as the liaison. In order to maintain this order of protection, we ask that you do not give them your personal email, phone number or address. Please do not send any correspondence directly to the Philippines.
Q. Does everything I send my child go directly to them?
A. Yes. The site pastor has specific instructions to hand deliver to the sponsored child what was sent to him/her. There may be rare exceptions when a parent is entrusted to pass along the correspondence to the child.
Q. Why do my child?s letters seem short, poorly written and sometimes not in the handwriting of my child?
A. Some of these children are unable to attend school consistently due to circumstances in their lives. In these cases, the site pastor will assist and write the thank you letters for the child until the child learns how to write. The note is then translated into English by our office staff in the Philippines.
Q. Who decides which child goes on sponsorship?A. Our site pastors decide which children should be sponsored. They are the ones who personally make the weekly home visits to follow up with the children and their families. Our responsibility to the sponsor is to have the child under Biblical teaching, so only those children who faithfully come to Sunday School are put on sponsorship.Q. How long will it take to receive a response from correspondence that I?ve sent?
A. Please expect up to 8 weeks before receiving a response from the child. All of the correspondence goes first to Metro Ministries New York and is then sent to the office in the Philippines. Once it is received in the Philippines, it is logged and then processed for the Team Leader to deliver to the child. Once the child has written a note, it is translated into English, and then sent from the Philippines to Metro Ministries New York. If you have any questions about certain correspondence, please contact the NY International Won-by-One office.
A. Yes, extra donations would be most welcome as it helps to fund the entire work, therefore furthering the spread of the gospel in the Philippines. Please see the New York address below for donations.
Q. What happens when a sponsor misses their monthly support commitment?
A. We understand that sometimes circumstances arise that may make it difficult to keep a monthly commitment. Please realize that your involvement with sponsorship is a very vital commitment to the children. After not hearing from you for several months however, we will send you a letter so that we can have a clear understanding of your situation.
Q. Am I my child?s only sponsor?
A. In some cases, a child is assigned both a United States as well as an International sponsor. We do this to keep sponsorship affordable for each sponsor. The cost of serving a child well exceeds the monthly amount received from one sponsor when you factor in general administrative costs, transportation, and Sunday School needs. By assigning two sponsors, we increase the chance for each of our children to have that life-changing relationship! Can you imagine the power of two people praying in agreement for one child?
Q. What happens when a sponsored child stops attending Sunday School?
A. This does occur. The living conditions are poor and unstable and many families move from place to place in search of a better life. We will notify you and give you the opportunity to sponsor another child. The need is always great and never-ending.
Q. What is the best way to contact the International Won-by-One program?
A. Email: philippineskids@metroministries.org
Phone: 718.453.3352
Fax: 718.453.7177
To send letters, pictures, cards, etc., to your child or the ministry:
Metro Ministries
Won By One — Philippines, Child's Number
P.O. Box 409, Brooklyn, NY 11237
To send your donations only:
Metro Ministries
Won By One — Philippines, Child's Number
P.O. Box 695, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Please Note: Any Correspondence sent to P.O. BOX 695 would greatly delay any return response.
