It was a regular Tuesday night when the ground shook beneath McDonald’s in Bogo City.  Ronnel Cabatingan, a 22-year-old working student and church volunteer, was cleaning tables when the 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit.  Within seconds, the building began to collapse.  The power went out. In the darkness and chaos, Ronnel dove under a table—just in time.

When the tremors stopped, he heard voices and saw the beam of a flashlight.  Following it, he found his way out of the rubble—alive.

“I know God gave me a second chance,” Ronnel said. “He still has a purpose for my life.”

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Ronnel lives in Bogo, Cebu with his younger sibling while his parents live on another island.  Life hasn't  been easy, but he finds strength through his church family at the local Baptist church.  There, Ronnel serves joyfully as the lead guitarist and volunteer in the church’s children’s feeding program—often biking 7 miles just to be part of it.

This year, Ronnel took a brave step toward his dream of becoming a teacher by enrolling at in the local college.  To support himself, he worked nights at McDonald’s—until the earthquake changed everything.

Now, with the restaurant closed and the next nearest McDonald's being 2 hours away, Ronnel faces another challenge: how to continue his studies without income.  Yet his faith remains unshaken.

“I will keep serving and studying.  God didn’t save me for nothing,”  he says.

Your support can help Ronnel continue the education that the Lord has placed in his heart—and build a brighter future for the children he already loves serving.

🙏 Will you help Ronnel rise again?

Your gift today will help cover his tuition, daily needs, and transportation as he continues both his studies and ministry.

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