The CCT Kaibigan Ministry, Inc. (CCT KMI) is a member of the CCT Group of Ministries, committed to creating lasting wholistic change among the poorest of the poor focusing on the street dwelling individuals and families. This ministry was conceptualized by Ms. Ruth S. Callanta, founder and President of the CCT Group of Ministries. CCT KMI was inspired by the passage from Ezekiel 37:1-6, which speaks of dry bones being brought to life by the Lord. Just like the dry bones in this passage, the street dwellers have lost their hope and were cut off from the rest of society. Just as the Lord asked Ezekiel to prophesy, He made breath enter these bones and they came to life.
The Kaibigan Ministry takes the street dwellers off the streets to give them the chance to get back to life. Its pilot project was in November 2005 as a response to the increasing number of pavement dwellers in Metro Manila. The ministry reaches out to the street dwellers that are deprived of the basic amenities for daily survival and are most prone to disease, natural disasters and accidents. The desire is to understand individual situations for appropriate interventions and services. The ministry brings hope by sharing God’s Word with street dwellers.
The basic intervention of CCT KMI starts with the formation of “street fellowship” or on-site street support fellowship with Bible studies and provision of supplementary feeding. This is utilized as a strategy to develop a trusting relationship with the target groups, provide grassroots counseling, medical assistance and other services which respond to pavement dweller’s immediate needs for survival. Programs gradually expanded to include skills training, livelihood options, functional literacy, family reunification, job placement, job contracting and networking with government and institution partners. Value formation is embedded in all programs. The ministry brings hope by sharing God’s Word with street dwellers.
