Campuses

One Ministry, Two Campuses

Christians’ Haven is a ministry that spans two campuses. The original campus (CH South) is a beautiful mountain retreat in the village of Tuod, outside the town of Manticao on the island of Mindanao. Here, children rescued from the streets can be given respite and escape from the harsh life in the city.

The other campus, located on the island of Luzon, was originally an orphanage that is now known as the North Campus of Christians’ Haven (CH North). Here younger children are raised and cared for under loving, Christian leadership. The original orphanage was in financial distress and faced closure before Christians’ Haven stepped in to rescue the home and its 98 children in October 2003.

Christians’ Haven is very focused on making disciples, modeling their discipleship efforts after the life of our Lord Jesus. The children and teachers study together, put on programs at jails and hospitals, feed children who are still on the street, and share their personal testimony. The children learn to give as they have received.

Christians’ Haven – South Campus

CH South is a 5-acre campus located in the mountain village Tuod, just outside the town Manticao on the southern island of Mindanao in the Philippines. CH South currently provides many street children and orphans with food, clothing, shelter, and the teaching of the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Construction at the CH South campus began in 1999. The first building, a barn, was completed in early January 2000. The building was critical to the campus as it securely stored construction materials as additional buildings and facilities were built. During the early years, a well was dug, producing clean drinking water. In addition, a retaining wall for the riverbank was completed. Workers and masons erected a 6-foot stone boundary wall around the perimeter of the campus. Workers carried the stones, one by one, from the river that runs through the campus.

In 2000, campus construction began on the first residential building for children, house parents, and helpers. While the house was under construction, Christians' Haven operated out of a rented house in nearby Iligan City. This rented house was secured in order to relocate the feeding program from a church at the center of the city. The distance from the center of the city provided the children a better chance for a new start, as they struggled to break away from their old way of life.

In late 2001, construction was completed on the first building. The building is two stories with each level designed to accommodate 16 children, house parents, and helpers. The Christians' Haven family occupied their new home in November 2001.

Additional construction completed includes a basketball court and pump house. In September 2002, a short-term mission team, headed by Tom Hixson from the Norwin Christian Church in Pennsylvania, built a septic drain field which addressed the campus sanitation needs.

Future development includes facilities to house a total of 150 children on the campus, a high-school, buildings to provide vocational training, a water tower, and other buildings as needed.

CH South currently holds church services in a very small, dilapidated building in the village. The building is often packed from wall to wall. Plans are in the works to construct an open-air building (large roof with no walls) where church services will be held and area youth rallies can be conducted.

Christians’ Haven – North Campus

The North Campus of Christians’ Haven, or CH North, located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, was originally a Christian orphanage that helped thousands of homeless and orphaned children to find a better life.

The orphanage was founded in 1977. Early in 1979 construction began on a 2-story concrete building for the children on a prime site, sitting on a hill overlooking the main road and the big Cagayan River in the distance.

By 2000, however, some problems had arisen that made it necessary for the directors of the orphanage to return to the U.S., leaving the management of the orphanage in the hands of unprepared leaders. After their departure, much of their regular financial support was dropped. The orphanage needed help, and fast.

As requested by the staff, founders, and directors, Christians' Haven assumed the operation of the orphanage, making it an integrated part of Christians’ Haven and their parent mission. To help with the new undertaking, the staff of Christians’ Haven agreed to take a pay cut to help the 98 orphans.

Now successfully integrated, the two homes, CH South and CH North, operate as one ministry with two locations under the Christians’ Haven banner.