GUIUAN, PHILIPPINES (APRIL 28, 2014) — Alfred Gayoso, the pastor of a house church named Bread from Heaven, says the money contributed by Covenant World Relief to reconstruct the congregation’s building, which also is his home, was about more than having a new place to meet and live.

It was knowing that people in other parts of the world cared about them, he says. The funding also enabled the people to care for themselves.

After receiving the money, which was distributed through World Relief, the church members and local pastors worked together to rebuild the structure that Typhoon Haiyan had ripped apart on November 8, 2013.

Haiyan was the most severe typhoon to make landfall. More than 6,200 people were killed, and nearly 1,800 remain officially listed as missing. More than four million people were displaced.

Covenant churches and individuals have donated more than $190,000 to relief and reconstruction work, says Dave Husby, CWR director. It has been distributed through several organizations, including World Relief, which has so far provided 140 kits for rebuilding homes through the Covenant’s ministry.

The kits were provided to families still in the devastated area who have little access to alternative housing.

Since the typhoon struck, Covenant World Relief has provided funding that has enabled health care services to be offered via clinics in 300 villages through Medical Teams International, supplied emergency food and relief packages, temporary shelters, and support for on-the-ground coordination efforts through Jesus Covenant Church and PHILRADS (Philippines Relief and Development Services).

“Because of the generosity of so many, CWR will be able to continue to work with partners in the Philippines in the long-term recovery phase for months and hopefully years to come,” Husby says.

Donations still can be made to the special Philippines Disaster Response Fund.