Please Pray for Dave and Regine

by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan

This morning, I opened my email and immediately found myself looking at the world differently. Several years ago, our family began sponsoring children through Compassion International. What started as a monthly donation quickly became something much more personal. Through letters, photographs, birthday celebrations, and prayers, names on a sponsorship page became real children with real families, real dreams, and real lives.

Today, those children are Dave and Regine. Dave recently celebrated his third birthday, and Regine is fourteen years old. Although we live thousands of miles apart, they have become part of our family’s story. We pray for them regularly, celebrate their milestones, and look forward to every update we receive from the Philippines.

This week, a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the island of Mindanao, where both children live. According to Compassion International, buildings, stores, churches, and homes suffered extensive damage. Airports closed, transportation became nearly impossible, and communities were left without electricity and water. Schools suspended classes while families and local leaders began assessing the destruction around them.

As I continued reading the update, I felt both relief and heartbreak at the same time. Immediately following the earthquake and several aftershocks, local church partners, ministry leaders, and Compassion staff members began searching for the sponsored children in the affected communities. Thankfully, every sponsored child was accounted for, including Dave and Regine. There have been no reports of injuries among the children, and for that I am deeply grateful.

The news, however, was not without sorrow. Hundreds of homes have been damaged or completely destroyed, and many church buildings have suffered significant structural damage. Families are facing uncertainty as they begin the difficult process of recovery, and entire communities are trying to determine what comes next. While Dave and Regine are safe, many of their neighbors are now walking through a season of tremendous hardship.

As Christians, it is easy to feel helpless when tragedy occurs on the other side of the world. I cannot rebuild a damaged home in Mindanao from my tiny house office in Georgia. I cannot restore electricity, reopen schools, or repair a church roof. Yet God continually reminds me that distance does not limit the power of prayer, and sometimes the most meaningful thing we can offer is faithful intercession.

Compassion International ended their email with a statement that stayed with me long after I finished reading. They wrote, “Know that your sponsorship is a powerful expression of God’s love for Dave and Regine during this time.” I sat quietly for a few moments and thought about those words. The truth is that I often feel far removed from their daily lives, yet God has a remarkable way of connecting His people across oceans, languages, and cultures.

Over the years, Dave and Regine have become more than sponsored children to our family. We have watched Dave grow from a toddler into a little boy, and we have watched Regine mature into a young woman. Through letters, photographs, drawings, and updates, they have become a meaningful part of our lives, and we care deeply about what happens to them. While we may never meet on this side of heaven, I am grateful that God allows His children to carry one another’s burdens through prayer.

As a mother, it is impossible for me not to think about their families tonight. Dave is only three years old. Regine is fourteen and standing at the threshold between childhood and adulthood. Somewhere in the Philippines, two families are processing an earthquake that changed their communities in a matter of moments, and they are trying to determine what tomorrow will look like.

Today, I am asking my readers, friends, and prayer warriors to join me in praying for Dave, Regine, their families, and their communities. Please pray for those who have lost homes, for children who may be frightened by the earthquake and aftershocks, and for families struggling to meet basic needs. Pray for pastors, church leaders, and Compassion staff who are serving on the front lines of recovery and ministering to hurting people. Most importantly, pray that the people of Mindanao will experience the comfort, peace, and provision of Jesus Christ during this difficult season.

Scripture reminds us that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1, ESV). Those words feel especially meaningful today. When circumstances seem uncertain and the future feels fragile, we can rest in the confidence that God remains faithful. He sees every family, every child, every need, and every prayer lifted in faith.

A Prayer for Dave and Regine

Heavenly Father,

Today I lift up Dave, Regine, their families, and the communities affected by the earthquake in the Philippines. Thank You for protecting these precious children and for allowing church leaders and Compassion staff to account for them so quickly. Even in the midst of destruction, Your hand of protection has been evident.

Lord, I pray for those who have lost homes, possessions, and places of worship. Provide shelter for families who have nowhere to go, and send clean water, food, medical care, and every resource needed for recovery. Strengthen the pastors, church workers, and volunteers who are serving their communities during this difficult time.

I pray especially for Dave and Regine. Calm any fear they may be experiencing, and let them feel Your presence and Your peace. Protect their families, provide for their needs, and remind them that they are loved, remembered, and being prayed for by believers around the world.

Your Word says that You are our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Be their refuge today. Be their strength. Be near to every family affected by this disaster and reveal Your faithfulness in the days ahead.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

As updates become available, I will gladly share them with you. Until then, please remember Dave, Regine, and the people of Mindanao in your prayers. The world can feel very large at times, but the family of God is wonderfully connected, and I am grateful for the opportunity to stand with them in prayer.

#AgingEnglishMajor #PrayForThePhilippines #CompassionInternational #PrayerChangesThings #GodOurRefuge #Psalm461 #FaithInAction #PrayerWarriors #HopeInChrist #GodIsFaithful