Our Story
Jim and Laura Barbee went to live in the Philippines after Jim sensed God calling him to leave his role on executive staff at a large disaster relief organization to go and serve the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, one of the worst storms to ever make landfall. He was selected by the leadership of the organization to be the Country Director in the Philippines, tasked with leading the large, newly formed team and opening a new field office in Tacloban City. It was much more than a work assignment for Jim. He went to make a difference in the lives of the people affected by the typhoon; he did not realize at that time, however, the extent to which God would use the experience to change His life.
During their time on the storm-ravaged island of Leyte, in the midst of very difficult circumstances, God gave Jim and Laura the opportunity to build relationships with people from all walks of life, and He gave them a window in to see the realities of extreme poverty and the hopelessness that often accompanies it. By showing the Barbees how much He cares about the poor, God challenged them to care about the poor, as well – in deeper ways than they ever had before. They knew they could not return to the US after living in the Philippines and resume life as normal, simply putting the experience behind them and acting as though they had not seen through that window and did not know about the pain and suffering of so many.
After much prayer and study related to the issues and implications of extreme poverty, God opened doors for the Barbees to meet with government leaders, business owners, pastors, lay people, medical professionals, and missionaries in the Philippines and the United States as they sought to learn more about the ongoing needs of those trapped in the cycle of poverty. Side by Side Alliance is the culmination of those prayers, conversations, and years of (ongoing) study.
As a new faith-based nonprofit, Side by Side Alliance (SSA) is excited to share the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed in every community where our team serves. SSA also seeks to develop long-term relationships in these communities with the goal of empowering motivated people to be involved in every aspect of their journey from life-threatening poverty to a place of freedom. Being free from the cycle of extreme poverty means that men and women can earn and save money, feed their families, and be the decision-makers for their own futures. SSA is grateful for the opportunities to work alongside partner-communities, local churches, and Allies from the Philippines and the United States to help alleviate extreme poverty and encourage healthy and independent communities living with renewed hope for a brighter future.