Hugh raises funds for disadvantaged in Manila

17 Oct 2006

Autumn has been a busy time for Hugh Boorman and the congregation of the Ladygrove Church who rallied together to organise some fundraising activities to support disadvantaged people in the Philippines.

Hugh Boorman, a Church Army evangelist and the minister of the Ladygrove Church, has been supporting the Della Rosa Baptist Church in Manila which works with disadvantaged people. Hugh explains, "We've been working with Della Rosa as it works with people who live in a shantytown on the perimeter of a huge dump. Many of them survive by scavenging from the rubbish."

The Della Rosa Baptist Church started by a young local pastor is providing support, helping to create community and friendship for vulnerable people. With no communal buildings where they congregate, the church wants to buy a plot of land so they can build themselves a church.

Hugh and the Ladygrove Church raised nearly £500 in August for Della Rosa by participating in the 2006 Didcot Art Exhibition. Hugh explains, "The council was kind enough to let us have a display about the community at the exhibition. They also let us run a children's art competition on the theme of regeneration and write to the artists about our project. The artists and council were fantastic. Several of them donated a percentage of the profits from their sales to the church in the Philippines and the council followed suit by donating their usual commission."

The team continued their fundraising ventures with a curry evening in September which raised over £300. Hugh states, " The aim was to provide an event where people could invite friends which was non-threatening, could break down barriers and also raise money for the church in the Philippines. Anyone who wanted could bring along a curry and then we would all tuck in. We wouldn't charge for the evening but would invite people to donate what people would usually spend on an Indian take-away. The curry evening drew in 59 people."

And there's no stopping the team, they plan to use the trick-or-treat Halloween tradition on October 31, to raise more funds for Della Rosa and help the church to build a community in the midst of rubbish dumps.

So how does these fundraising activities tie in with the Christian faith? Hugh says, "Our aim was to get involved with the community, to make a difference and to help others make a positive difference too whether they are Christians or not. I hope that by rubbing shoulders with people we are showing that we are normal. We're like them. But we're different in one major aspect - we have found the true source of love. It might, in time, encourage them to think that perhaps they can find this source in the same place too."