Himamaylan , Philippines

The Children

The work began around 2013, in the Negros foothills where many communities are remote and easily overlooked.

At first, the focus was simple and necessary: children.

A children’s ministry was started, and Carmen Community Church was built as a place of gathering and care. Food programs became central, because hunger was a daily reality. The goal was not only to feed children, but to create consistency, safety, and presence in their lives.

As the children grew, so did the ministry.

The Dreamers

When the kids became teenagers, a youth group naturally formed. They call themselves The Dreamers.

These young people are now becoming adults. For many of them, this is the first time they have been allowed to imagine a future beyond survival. They are beginning to dream of education, meaningful work, and lives shaped by purpose rather than limitation.

In Negros, public college tuition is free. But access is still difficult.

Students cannot work many hours while attending school, yet they are often expected to help support their families. Colleges are often far from their home communities, which means paying for transportation, room and board - an impossible cost for many.

Shiloh is committed to sponsoring students who desires to attend college. We partner with individual sponsors who help carry the financial burden so these young adults can pursue education and a future with real options.

Meet the students behind the Dreamers program and learn more about what they are studying, the futures they are working toward, and the stories that have shaped them.

Meet the Students

Mary’s Place

Mary’s Place was built near a local college to remove one of the biggest barriers to education: housing.

It is a shared home for college students from Carmen - a place of safety, stability, and belonging while they attend school. At present, Mary’s Place is a one-story home that can house up to 12 students. As more students seek education, Shiloh hopes to build a second story so that more Dreamers can live and study together.

The Pig Ministry

Another vital part of the work in Carmen is the Pig Ministry, created to address food insecurity and economic vulnerability.

Pigs are bred and piglets are gifted directly to families. Each family decides how best to use the gift. Some raise the pig for food, some breed it, and others sell it to meet urgent needs.

This ministry is intentionally flexible, honoring the dignity and wisdom of each household.

Many people in Carmen are accustomed to living in survival mode. Hope can feel risky. Through this ministry, families are given a tangible opportunity to choose faith over fear - to believe that tomorrow can be different. Ultimately, it is a reminder that they are seen, valued, and loved by God.

The Kahirup Community

The Kahirup is a small Aeta community in Himamaylan made up of families who have settled on land they do not own because they do not have other options. The land is low-lying and waterlogged, remaining muddy for much of the year and flooding regularly during the rainy season. Because the families have no legal claim to the land, they also have no long-term housing security.

Frequent flooding damages their makeshift homes, makes it difficult to move safely through the community, and leaves standing water that increases mosquitoes and contributes to recurring skin conditions and other health concerns.

Shiloh’s relationship with the Kahirup began through regular visits to share food, scripture, and time together. As we came to know the families and better understand their living conditions, we began exploring practical ways to help. Current priorities include elevated walkways, safer washing and sanitation areas, and other improvements that can reduce the everyday effects of flooding.

The challenges are complex and cannot be solved through a single project. Our goal is to maintain a long-term relationship with the community and work alongside its families on practical improvements that make daily life safer and healthier.

Why We Stay

This work is not fast, and it is not flashy.

It is rooted in long-term presence, shared life, and quiet faithfulness. From children’s meals to college housing, from piglets to weekly outreach, each part of the ministry is connected by simple belief that:

Hope is worth nurturing.
People are more than their circumstances.
And that God is already at work in Carmen - we are simply choosing to join Him.

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