By Mrs. Angeles A. Robles and Dr. Teodoro C. Robles
Students in their student life at CPU are the main benefactors of the ministry. CPU Church and CPU alumni from all over the world, especially those who had been work students in their student life at CPU.
The ministry was started during the time of Vice President Walden Rio in 2005 and Rev. Melvin Mangana, the University Church Senior Pastor. Rev. Mangana learned that there were many work students who went to their work and then their classes without breakfast. Some just fainted during their class hours.
The feeding program was started at the University Church with the seed money of 10,000 pesos and the support of the congregation but was later discontinued due to a lack of funds. By the grace of God and with the work of the Holy Spirit, three people—Dr. Generoso Duremdes, his wife, Dr. Janelle Bermejo Duremdes, and Mrs. Nellie Bermejo Obligacion—provided the funds for the University Church to restart the feeding program for the needy work students. Some God’s Grace Program recipients had to find outside work in order to continue with their studies. This school year (2023-2024), 83 students were accepted to the program. After the pandemic, many students needed help to augment what their parents can provide. The students are required to submit their application, expressing in no more than 150 words why they need assistance. In 2009, when I started as a member of the committee, the meal subsidy was 20 pesos per day, and this year it was increased to 50 pesos per day.
They are required to attend the Saturday morning devotional, and through their interaction with each other, they developed self-confidence. Many developed admirable character and are proud to tell others that they are God’s Grace Program recipients, although in some previous testimonies, other students looked down on them. Now they can stand up and declare that “labor is honor, regardless of the kind of work. The subsidy is given through their hard work and sacrifices, not just a grant because they applied for it. Prov 22:4 states, “By humility and fear of the Lord are riches, honors, and life.”
The God’s Grace Program recipients developed personal discipline, gave up Saturday morning rest to attend the 7:00 am devotional and listening to the words of God from the Bible. It reminds the student that sacrifices are just a temporary thing in life that all of us must experience. Ecclesiastes 7:12: “For wisdom is a defense and money is a defense, but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom giveth life to those that have it.
Before the pandemic, each recipient was given 1 to 2 kilos of rice by a generous donor, and during the Christmas season, they received gifts from some committee members. Also, depending on the availability of funds, God’s Grace Recipients are treated to a fine dining experience once a year. The 2nd Sunday of February is designated as God’s Grace Sunday by the church. The committee serves breakfast to the students after the 9:30 worship service. Every year, we try to raise funds from the church congregation and CPU alumni who have generous heart for the needy work students of CPU.