It started as your typical fundraising and mobilization project: a way to raise the necessary resources to send missionaries in all the world in order to bring the good news of salvation through Christ.

As originally planned, coin banks are to be distributed throughout schools, where children can contribute to the missions by dropping coins. After a month, they would be gathered up again, and the proceeds distributed to the ministries. But God had better plans.

Dolly Santos, project officer for “Piso-Piso Para Sa Misyon,” talks about how God gave a revelation that would change the thrust of the whole project. “God reminded us that His heart is for the salvation of the lost. Whatever resources we have, if we use them for what He wants, He will do the rest.”

According to Elsie Reyes, Philippine director of the Asian Center for Missions (ACM), the original plan was to talk to children in Christian schools and give them a way to take part in bringing the lost to Christ.

“But did you know that many children in Christianschools are not even Christians? To those involved with the planning, this meant new opportunities to share the Gospel right on our doorstep,” she says.

Adds Elsie: “God’s passion is for us to seek the lost. And if we invest on what God is passionate about, everything will fall into place.”

Despite its name, the project is primarily a soul-winning endeavor. As ACM staff members do the rounds to drumbeat “Piso Piso Para sa Misyon” in various schools, souls are being won for Christ. Only then are the students challenged to give to missions.

And the response has been overwhelming. Even before the coin banks arrived, Dolly, who is tasked to tap schools to join the project, says that more children are coming to a saving knowledge of Christ. And they are giving, not just generously but sacrificially, to send more laborers to the harvest field.

“I praise and thank God that many doors have been opened, and we are getting across to Filipino children,” she says.

Piso-piso para sa Misyon is a fundraising project of the ACM National office to fund its local and international operations.