A Kariton family strolled by the church that
caught the eyes of Sierry Tendero. The scene stirred her heart and triggered the longing to minister
to the poor. That same compassion birthed KBCF Operation Paglingap Foundation in 1996. The following year,
the Board of Trustees was organized and the Foundation got their registration from the Securities and Exchange
Commission, October the same year.
KBCF Operation Paglingap Foundation is a non-stock, non-profit Christian organization doing holistic ministry
among the poor and needy. It was organized in June 1996 by the Kamuning Bible Christian Fellowship to meet the
different needs of the less privileged in our society to share God's love through Jesus Christ.
Why "Paglingap"
"Paglingap" is a Tagalog word which means to look after. This is motivated by compassion
or by a sense of duty and responsibility. Among Filipinos, it is commonly expected that members of the family and
relatives are to look after (lingapin) their own family. The society expects them to act on their duties and
responsibilities. As Christians belonging to the family of God, it is but fitting that needy members of the family
are taken cared of. The Council in Jerusalem reminds the Gentile Christians to "remember the poor"
(Gal. 2:10). Paul affirms the society's expectation from family members to look after their own needy relatives.
"...and whoever does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (1 Tim. 5:8).
As Christians, our motivation to help is out of compassion because we follow a compassionate Lord (Matt. 9:36) who gave us a new command to love our neighbor as ourselves (Luke 10:27, 28;
cf. Rom. 13:8-10).
It should be natural for Christians to look after the needy whether they are of our faith or not. There are other
biblical mandates that compel us to look after the poor and the needy, but in the end we need to see ourselves answering
God's question to Cain, "Where is your brother...?" And as people renewed by God, we should be able to say, "We are our brothers' keepers." This is why we have "KBCF OPERATION PAGLINGAP FOUNDATION".
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