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(The
DCBC Helpers’ Fellowship started off with its first
Bible study session in January 2002. Grace Rocha has
been mother hen to this fellowship from the first, faithfully
maintaining its schedule of activities through the years.
Its composition has experienced changes with every turnover
in household help, but so long as there are DCBC members
with helpers, there will be the Helpers’ Fellowship.
Many
DCBC members have assisted in this ministry as Bible
study session leaders and snack providers since the
beginning. The Quiwa covered porch has become home to
the every-other-Saturday afternoon Bible study. Adel
Santos, who trained as a Christian counselor and occasionally
ministers (as volunteer) to women in crisis with an
NGO, recently developed a group-psychotherapy activity
in support of the Helpers’ Discipleship Program.
–Ed.)
“Salamin,
Salamin, Nagsasabi Ka Ba ng Totoo?” (“Mirror,
Mirror, Are You Telling the Truth?”) is a basic
learning activity using skills in group-psychotherapy,
designed and handled by Adel Santos for the household
employees of DCBC members. It is an eight-session program
that uses an educational-therapeutic (learning-healing)
approach to personal growth and group relations. This
activity took two Saturdays a month for a group of eleven
DCBC helpers, beginning February and ending May.
The
purpose of this activity was to encourage the helpers
to gain a deeper understanding and awareness of themselves
and others through reflective and interactive work.
The desire for them in so doing was to have them better
grasp proper interpersonal skills (e.g., listening to
oneself and others) and to equip them to better apply
God’s teachings from their study of Scripture to
Christian living. In the process, may they realize the
importance of strengthening community among themselves.
The
earlier part of the activity built their knowledge of
the biblical roots of poverty. This served to draw them
out into expressing some experiences from their own
family backgrounds, while learning basic listening skills.
Among the more specific goals of this group activity
were to teach them empathic skills and increase their
awareness of God’s love and sovereign choices in
their lives. (Although entirely a new — and difficult
— skill for them to learn, they were able to appreciate
the benefits of being listened to, compared to the frustrations
of not properly being listened to.)
The
program also provided a milieu for resolving, on first
attempt, a lingering conflict among some of the members,
a common “scenario” in group situations. The
concluding sessions were aimed at a) leaving them in
an upbeat mode as they are given an opportunity to acknowledge
their own and each other’s God-given gifts and
talents; and b) giving them a message of hope even amidst
continuing poverty in this world and in their lives.
Given
the rather high attendance for an introductory activity,
this becomes the first of many steps to encourage among
the helpers a Christian lifestyle obedient to God and
His commands. These helpers, yet very young in their
faith have been made aware of the importance of likewise
growing emotionally and spiritually. It is hoped that
future discussions from the Bible become more meaningful
as they learn to be more open and committed to each
other. As they continue to face the realities of living
in Christ, may they learn to take the path of making
wiser choices in personal relationships within or outside
of their Bible study group.
The
feedback is positive. When asked what they have learned
from the group dynamics and lectures, the following
were some responses: “Natutunan kong (I
learned to)…
…subukang
ibukas ang sarili sa iba pero di ipipilit sa iba kung
hindi sila handa —
respeto sa iba (try to be more open to others,
but not insist if they aren’t ready — respect
others)
…ibukas sa iba ang nasa puso at kalooban ko
(opening up to others about how I feel and think)
…makinig sa aking sarili at ang tamang pakikisalamuha
sa ibang tao (listen to myself and interact properly
with others)
…respetuhin ang taong nagsasalita at pakinggan
siya, huwag pagtawanan kung hindi nakakatawa ang sinasabi,
matutong maghintay sa oras ng pagsasalita (listen
while it’s someone else’s turn to speak, don’t
ridicule her or what she’s saying, wait for my
turn to speak)
…huwag mangtsismis o mang intriga, lalo na pag
wala yung taong pinag-uusapan (don’t gossip
about or create intrigue against someone, especially
if she’s not around to speak for herself)
…huwag basta maghusga sa ibang tao (don’t
judge others)
…ang kahalagahan ng pagkakaibigan (value
friendship)
…huwag kalimutang manalangin at magbasa ng Bibliya
(don’t forget to pray and read the Bible)…”
Most
of these helpers have already committed their lives
to the saving knowledge of the Gospel. They have benefited
from guidance as they searched out the meaning of Scriptures
for some years now. This pioneering activity was useful
in their attempt to search their hearts and discover
themselves and others at a more personal level. They
also learned about their common roots in biblical history.
An option that some may take in future is to seek further
counseling individually as they might identify other
deeper emotional needs.
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