Currently, FDC focuses on two major projects a year:  Kawayan Camp from January through March of every year, and Dollar-A-Day for IV Staff Pay throughout the year. Kawayan Camp is usually held in April-May so fund-raising starts as early as November of the prior year.  Some local fellowship groups host Christmas banquets or caroling at the end of the year, and have these funds available as early as January. Recently, there were extra funds used for matching such that donations were doubled as an incentive for donors. With Kawayan Camp’s 60th anniversary this year, many alumni generously gave and even exceeded the needed subsidies. Once the holidays start, FDC tries to remind everyone to start to consider giving towards Kawayan Camp and other summer camps.

Dollar-A-Day is a Balikatan-initiated fund-raising project for the staff salary. 17 of the 40 staff workers receive support through Dollar-A-Day, mostly beginning staff serving on their first year of student work. Others are junior staff working for a few years now with IVCFP.  Another salary fund-raising project is Philippian Connection, initiated by the staff member themselves, particularly the senior staff who are already quite established in their ministry and their relationship with their donors. More specifically, Dollar-A-Day is raising 15 donors per staff, giving at least $35.00 a month for the whole year, hopefully on an ongoing basis thereafter. This amount covers their monthly salary and a portion of their benefits and transportation allowance. So far since the launching of Dollar-A-Day in 2016, we have raised support for 9 of our staff on the list of 17 staff to be supported. We still need donors for 8 of them.  Giving online is available to all via our website. Checks may be sent to the Balikatan Treasurer if you prefer to do this instead. Details are available on the section on our website that says “Give Online”.

IVCFP is God’s work. The harvest continues to be plentiful as many of us have experienced in our student days. Yet the laborers remain to be few. We can co-labor with IVCFP in reaching out to thousands of students in the Philippines. May you continue to be faithful partners in building God’s kingdom. “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).