THE MISSION
ABOUT RIVER OF LIFE MISSION
River of Life Mission is a Christian organisation based in Dolores, Eastern Samar, Philippines which began in 2002 and was founded by Fely Kooistra. ROLM is dedicated to spreading the Gospel of Christ in poverty stricken third world villages of the Philippines and battling against poverty and oppression, giving people hope for a better future and a new life in Christ.
Our Mission is to preach to gospel to all creatures, teaching the uncut Word of God, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. As we go we heal the sick and deliver those who are oppressed. Many have benefitted and continue to benefit from the very work of this life changing ministry.
Our ministry involves:
9 churches along the Dolores River
3 prison ministries
2 orphanages homing around 50 children
Weekly Feeding Program for hungry children
Weekly Outreach missions to surrounding villages
Sponsoring Children's Education & Young Adult Qualifications
Our team consists of a number of passionate and available adult and youth leaders local to Eastern Samar. They willingly serve God and help the needy as they carry out the mission on a daily basis. We are also very fortunate to have visiting missionaries from around the world who join us to carry out the great commission here in Eastern Samar of the Philippines.
Resources are valuable. We use our best efforts to be as self sufficient as we can. We achieve this by growing our own rice plantations and vegetable crops which we consume and also sell. We also raise our own livestock such as chicken, pigs, carabao and fish farm. Our current projects include starting our own brick manufacturing business where we can use and sell the bricks to help with our running costs as well as provide some employment.
Our Founder
Fely Kooistra is the founder of River of Life Mission and orphanages. She is a called apostle of God and missionary in the Philippines as well as a loving mother to many.
Fely who was widowed for most of her life is dedicated to sharing The Gospel and helping the poor. She was born and raised in the village of San Isidro, situated along the Dolores River of the Philippines. At the early age of 13 Fely was sent off to be a maid in Manila and lived a hard life and was faced with much violence and physical abuse. She then later moved to Australia to raise her own beautiful family of two boys and a baby girl all on her own.
After raising her own family, Fely chose to follow her heart and God's calling for her to seek and save the lost and to help the poor. Selling her family home in Perth, Australia, she headed back in the rural and poverty stricken villages of the Philippines. She embarked on a journey to spread God's word and build a solid foundation for the people. She now spends all of her time and energy for the betterment of others, building a community through education, leadership, faith and hope.
The energy and inspiration Fely brings to the people of the Philippines is truly amazing. She is a leader who helps people overcome everyday struggles and hardships, build homes, implement an education system and integrate food and water systems and provide employment opportunities. But the most remarkable product of her work is the strong foundation, the community growing together in God's Love.
“Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother; to thy poor; and to thy needy.”
Deuteronomy 15:11