DISTINCTIVES THAT DRIVE OUR MISSION

• We believe that every person is created in the image of God, and, therefore, possesses inherent dignity and worth.
• We believe God cares about the poor in a special way as revealed in His Word. We believe He has called His followers to care for the material and spiritual needs of those affected by poverty (Matthew 25:40). Believers from the US and the Philippines have heeded this call, joining SSA to come alongside families living in vulnerable places.
• We believe every person (except in extreme circumstances) has the potential to use his or her God-given gifts and abilities to work and sustain life for self and family dependents. Through various partnerships, SSA seeks to come alongside people as they become economically productive and experience freedom and joy.
• We believe the people in our partner-communities are the true experts regarding poverty and its implications. Therefore, we respectfully listen and learn from them as we collaborate on strategies to address the many challenges they face every day.
• We believe it takes hard work over the long haul to bring about meaningful and sustainable change. By making deeper commitments to fewer communities, we are able to foster transformational development, resilience, independence, and spiritual growth in communities.
  
• We believe people in the Philippines are best served by people in the Philippines – those who know the culture, speak the language, and possess a keen understanding of the challenges facing impoverished communities. Our team in the field will be comprised of local Filipino staff.