Victory Worship leading worship
Generations—Home believes that “Family is the Answer” to the orphan crisis. Every day, the team fights for children to be brought into safe and loving homes.
On the 30th of November, the first Justice and Worship Night in the Philippines was hosted by Victory BGC (formerly Victory Fort Bonifacio), and led by Victory Worship.
There, over 300 like-minded people humbled themselves, and decided to believe — though the battle for the 7 million orphans and vulnerable children seems impossible, God is fighting the battle. I too rallied with them through worship, and as I did, I too was led back “home.”
Jonathan Henson explaining the heart behind Justice & Worship Night
"We live in the midst of injustice... Enough is enough. It's our duty. This is who we are as God's people." - Jonathan Henson, President of Generations—Home
Jonathan Henson, Co-Founder and President of Generations—Home, opened the meeting by sharing about the crisis at hand. He explained the purpose of the gathering, emphasizing how the church should fight for justice and respond in worship. He shared, "We live in the midst of injustice. Enough is enough. It's our duty. This is who we are as God's people."
Jonathan went on to share that it was through worship that God softened his heart for the vulnerable children six years ago, and as a result, he and his wife Chrina (Co-Founder and Executive Director of Generations Home) adopted their daughter and started this foundation.
After Jonathan spoke, we started our time of worship. We were fighting by faith through worship for vulnerable children, but what I did not expect was that God was going to come and fight my own personal and internal battles as well.
The Victory BGC community coming together in worship
I am no orphan. I came from a great family, and am 35 years old! Yet, I realized that I was still struggling to find that peace and sense of “home.” I needed the assurance that I was loved, accepted, being taken care of, provided for and fought for. Things always seemed so nice from the outside, but since I was an early teen, I always struggled within. I grew up in church, yet it was only very recently that God showed me that at my worst, He took delight in me. Then, as we worshiped that night, God came and showed me that it was only in His presence that I found “home.” I began to see the power of adoption personally — God fought to bring me into His family and adopt me to be His daughter. His sacrifice was to bring me home.
Pastor Sol Huang, Pastor Fidel Kakilala, and Pastor Edrei Canda
The time of worship brought me and many of us to tears. Then, Pastor Sol Huang from Kids with Purpose International came up to pray for orphaned and vulnerable children, followed by Pastor Fidel Kakilala, a pastor from Victory Parañaque and adoptive father, who came up and prayed for the Pregnant Women in Crisis. After that, Pastor Edrei Canda from Victory Las Piñas who is also an adoptive father, prayed for adoptive and foster families. We cried out to our Father together, believing that He listens.
Pastor Paolo Punzalan praying for the church to increase in compassion for the vulnerable
After a few more minutes pressing in to God’s presence through worship, Pastor Paolo Punzalan of Victory BGC came up and helped us to understand the beauty of what God was doing. He talked about “shalom,” which means “wholeness.” He explained that as God is in the process of making us whole, He wants to use us to bring this wholeness and peace to this world.
"Not everyone is called to adopt, but everyone is called to respond.” - Paolo Punzalan, Senior Pastor of Victory BGC
Pastor Paolo then said, “Not everyone is called to adopt, but everyone is called to respond.” That spoke to me, because I know I can’t adopt or foster anyone right now. Like me, maybe all you can do is pray and worship, or you might be in a position to adopt or foster. Whatever your response is, know that you will be impacting generations.
Chrina Henson and Jasmine Buen from Generations—Home
Jasmine Buen, the Director of Advocacy and Partnerships of Generations—Home then came up on stage with Chrina Cuna-Henson, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Generations—Home.
"We're now starting to see children brought into forever homes in this church. And not just in a family with a mom and dad, but also a spiritual family, in a forever home in God." - Jasmine Buen, Director of Partnerships and Advocacy of Generations—Home
They began by honoring the 7 families from the Victory BGC church community who officially started on their adoption journeys after attending forums and seminars hosted in partnership with the church. In Jasmine's words, "We're now starting to see children brought into forever homes in this church. And not just in a family with their mom and dad, but also a spiritual family, in a forever home in God. And this is through the prayer and work that has been sown here in the church of Victory BGC."
"The number 1.8 million orphaned children overwhelms us every day, but we rejoice every day when one is carried home in the shoulders of a family, because God would leave the 99 to go after even one." - Chrina Cuna-Henson, Executive Director of Generations—Home
More than their message of how bringing one person is the same as bringing generations home, their heart to go after the “one” (Just as Jesus in the Bible talked about going after the “one” and leaving the “ninety-nine”) touched our hearts. Chrina said, "The number 1.8 million orphaned children overwhelms us every day, but we rejoice every day when one is carried home in the shoulders of a family, because God would leave the 99 to go after even one."
Their heart for these children was just so evident. They didn’t have to do this. They could have chosen an easier and more comfortable life, but they decided to lean in to what was messy, dirty and hard, just as Jesus did, out of love for us.
Pastor Rodnel and Sienna Gascon, praying for the church to understand their role in the orphan crisis
"I have the privilege to do for my son what God has done for me. While learning how broken his background was, I just felt love for him. It was a picture of how God sees me." - Pastor Rodnel Gascon from Every Nation World Missions
I thought that was all for the night, but God wasn’t through. Pastor Rodnel and Sienna Gascon took the stage. After waiting for two years during their adoption process, they had just received a match with their son, who they could soon take home to adopt. The couple briefly shared their personal adoption journeys. Pastor Rodnel expressed, "I have the privilege to do for my son what God has done for me. While learning how broken his background was, I just felt love for him. It was a picture of how God sees me."
"It's not an easy journey. It's one heartbreak after another. The heartbreak brought us to our knees to pray and plea that [God] would give us the grace to do what He called us to do, to care and look after the fatherless. I pray we respond however God wants us to answer His call." - Sienna Gascon, mother through adoption
Sienna was not planning to speak, because of all the emotion, but she felt that she shouldn’t waste any opportunity to share God’s goodness. She shared, "We're so grateful for our church community who prayed with us and helped us process our desire [to adopt]. It's not an easy journey. It's one heartbreak after another. The heartbreak brought us to our knees to pray and plea that [God] would give us the grace to do what He called us to do, to care and look after the fatherless. I pray we respond however God wants us to answer His call. I pray that in our obedience, we experience God's miracle not just for our lives, but with the lives of the orphaned and vulnerable."
They shared that as they surrendered to God’s call, they experienced God’s miracle. This made me see, that truly, God answers prayers. And as we say “yes” to Him, He will be with us through it all. The couple then led a prayer, urging the church to collectively and individually respond to the orphan crisis.
Pastor Jojo Henson praying for Generations—Home, the government, and those at the forefront of orphan care
Finally, they called up the whole Generations—Home team. Pastor Jojo and Ida Henson of Every Nation Madrid were asked to pray for them. They spoke a blessing over the team, and said that although the team might feel like they are “chipping a mountain with a teaspoon” with what they’re doing, God is actually doing a big work through them; that just as God used just five loaves and two fish to feed thousands in the Bible. All they had to do was say “yes” to Him.
The Victory BGC community in prayer and worship
It was a very emotional night for me. I somehow thought at first that by attending the event, I was “doing a favor” for either the Generations—Home, the children, the church, or even God. But no, God orchestrated it all for me to find my inner home—that Shalom. It made me realize that we are all “orphans” looking for our “home” within.
I realized through this event that really, “home” is found in Jesus Christ alone. If you somehow feel that you want to find that inner peace— that “home,” please don’t hesitate to connect with our Victory BGC family.
As of the release date of this article, their adoption agency has placed 8 children from institutions into safe and loving homes, simultanesouly rescuing at least 250 children from potential abandonment and human trafficking through their Pregnant Women in Crisis Program. We celebrate these stories, but the fight is far from over.
If you want to respond to help orphaned and vulnerable children in any way, join our impact and fuel the mission. Together, let's bring generations home.
Photos by Aaron Bagang, Sam Derigla, and Ian Cruz from Victory BGC