“Hope in the Midst of Ruin”

This morning, our hearts remain heavy over the tragedy that unfolded in Cebu and neighboring Visayas provinces, struck by a powerful 6.9‑magnitude quake.

At least 70 lives have been lost, hundreds injured, and entire communities now face displaced nights in the dark, with crumbled homes and damaged infrastructure. Power remains cut, hospitals overwhelmed, aftershocks still shudder through the night.

Yet even here, in the broken places, dawn speaks again:

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
“He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

May these truths not ring hollow but anchor our trembling souls. Though rubble lies before us, hope still rises with the sun.