Mea migrant ministry

The United Methodist Church Manila Episcopal Area Migrant Ministry

The Philippines has a population of more than 77 million people, with more than 70% living under the poverty line. This widespread poverty and the very high level of unemployment compel many Filipinos to leave the country and look for jobs in foreign lands. An estimate 8.1 million Filipinos are presently employed as overseas contract workers, not counting thousands who work illegally, thus without job security and benefits. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) suffer many kinds of abuses. Women are most vulnerable to sexual and physical abuse as in the case of domestic helpers in Hong Kong, and others become victims of white slavery, as in the case of entertainers in Japan. Filipino men, who number among the highest in the maritime industry worldwide, have been subjected to oppressive working conditions and job contracts, harassments, and illegal dismissal. In many cases, receiving countries cannot accord OFWs due process. The painful realities that confront OFWs also affect the families they left behind - psychologically, and sadly, in several cases, the breakdown of relationships.

On the other hand, many OFWs make it good and big abroad and therefore send substantial amounts to their families back in the Philippines. An issue of great concern among OFWs is how long a time away from home must one invest in order to be able to meet present and future needs of the family. It is common among homecoming OFWs to have big savings, but due to lack of foresight these earnings are immediately consumed by the family, prompting the OFW to seek another employment abroad.

The United Methodist Church in the Philippines hopes to address these problems by embarking on a new and special ministry that would effectively address the plight of migrant workers and their families. OFW Desks will be established in each Episcopal area to serve as coordinating centers, to be managed by an OFW Task Force.

Program Components:

1. Education, Information, and Research
Seminars and other public discussions on issues and problems of OFWs shall be conducted in UMC districts and annual conferences. The OFW Desks will disseminate information materials such as primers, guides, and updates on various issues affecting migrants and their families. A research program will be launched that shall focus on developing a database of statistics on OFWs worldwide and documentation of particular working conditions and cases of OFWs in various countries.

2. Organizing, Networking, and Advocacy Campaign
Organizing migrant workers is important and crucial. Two kinds of group will be organized: first, among the OFWs themselves in the various countries and places of work and, second, among the OFWs families in their home localities. The OFW Desks will establish working relations, build network and linkages with existing Filipino organizations engaged in migrant work. This network will engage in lobbying and campaign to advocate for policy changes and legislation that would give maximum protection to OFWs. Furthermore, OFWs may be helped to form labor unions where possible. Also, concerned human rights lawyers, especially Methodists, shall form a network to offer legal counseling services to migrants and families in difficulty.

3. Spiritual Formation and Evangelization Training
OFWs need to be formed, strengthened , and nurtured in the Christian faith as they are subject to tremendous strain and stress of working alone in a different culture and environment. This program aims to evangelize and nurture OFWs through Bible study and support cell groups. Additionally, the more spiritually mature OFWs will be trained and equipped as “tentmakersï¿½?, to engage in cross-cultural evangelism and witness while fully employed in their jobs, thus becoming volunteer missioners bringing people to Christian commitment.

4. Pastoral Care and Nurture of OFW Families
OFW families are most vulnerable, especially in the case of young children where the OFW is one or both parents. Church workers and concerned members will be trained for this specialized ministry of caring, counseling, and nurturing. Local churches shall be encouraged to organize family support groups that provide Bible study and other helpful activities.

5. Training Seminars for Financial Management, Entrepreneurship, and Vocational Skills
OFW families need assistance in stewardship, to wisely and carefully plan for the future. Training will be provided to homecoming OFWs and families on financial management in order to maximize the benefits of hard-earned money: budgeting, saving, and planned investments. Further, OFWs will be equipped to pursue business opportunities and other vocations, before and after termination of overseas job contract.

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