Written by: FEBA Radio
Article source: JOY! Magazine
On Valentine’s Day 2019, a group of women gathered around a table in Davao City – not in a church or conference hall, but at a quiet dinner arranged just for them. Each one worked in prostitution. Each one was given a rose, a Bible, and a seat of honour. They listened to the story of Rahab – the courageous woman from Jericho who hid two Hebrew spies and became part of Jesus’ family line. That night marked the beginning of Blessing Rahab, a ministry of DXFE Good News Radio, FEBA’s station in Davao. For station manager Magnolia Yrasuegui, the inspiration was deeply personal. “The Lord placed them in my heart,” she recalls. “He impressed it upon me that these prostituted women must feel so excluded, especially on Valentine’s Day.” What began as a single act of love has grown into an ongoing outreach of dignity, healing, and Gospel hope.
One of the Philippines’ darkest streets
Davao City, on the southern island of Mindanao, is one of the top five prostitution hubs in the Philippines. Over 4000 women are registered as sex workers – even though prostitution is technically illegal. In practice, the law targets women, not clients. Arrests are often for vagrancy, and the system itself seems contradictory, with registration and occupational permits quietly regulating what is otherwise criminalised.
More than just statistics
An article in Davao Today titled, “Tales of prostitution and survival in Davao City” sheds light on the reality: wives and mothers doing their best to support their children, often lying about their work. Young girls are sold by relatives to make ends meet, or they sell themselves to pay school fees, while their parents believe they’re waitressing. Online exploitation has also surged in recent years.
These women are not statistics. They are daughters, sisters, and mothers. Many are trapped by circumstances they didn’t choose.
Meeting spiritual and practical needs
Where poverty is the driving force behind desperate choices, spiritual encouragement alone may not be enough. That’s why Blessing Rahab combines Gospel care with practical help. Due to limited resources, the team focuses on one street in Davao. They invite 20 to 30 women at a time to attend skills training seminars – teaching income-generating skills such as meat processing and the making of herbal oils and liniments. This year, in partnership with the Davao City Social Welfare and Development Office, DXFE began offering financial literacy workshops as well. These sessions open doors to possibility – and restore something even deeper: hope.
Jesus’ love is inclusive
But skills alone won’t heal a heart. Magnolia and the team are intentional about offering more than just training. “We distribute Bibles and share the love of Jesus with them in tangible ways,” she says. “We pray with them and encourage them to share their burdens and problems with us. We don’t give them any assurance that we can help them solve their problems, but we offer a shoulder to cry on and a listening ear. More importantly, we point them back to Jesus … We make it a point to make them realise that Jesus’ love is inclusive.” Each woman is seen, heard, and reminded of her worth.
Changing the hearts of those who serve
Blessing Rahab doesn’t yet have its own dedicated radio programme, but its impact is regularly shared on air. Listeners are encouraged to donate, pray, or join special events where they can meet the women and support the work first-hand. In June, one listener donated several pairs of gently-used running shoes for Blessing Rahab women and other outreach beneficiaries.
Shaping volunteers
The project has shaped the volunteers just as much as the women. Magnolia admits, “In the beginning, we were so scandalised when we heard the words they spoke and the vulgarity of their actions and clothes, but we have learnt to love them and embrace them (literally). We cry with them and we hold their hands like sisters.” One woman involved in the project said simply: “To them, we are people, not trash. They also pray for me to be a good person, as well as my companions.”
More than one ministry
The Blessing Rahab initiative is one of many ways DXFE reaches the overlooked. They partner with the Philippines Army’s 27th Infantry “Action” Battalion and the city’s social development office to bring aid to the poorest areas of Davao. They distribute food packs, provide free medical care, offer career counselling, and always bring along Bibles and radios. When severe flooding struck Davao de Oro in June, displacing 285 families, DXFE was asked to help. They rallied support on air and collected 1000 tins of sardines in response – just one example of how their listeners regularly partner in meeting urgent needs.
You can be part of this
The women of Blessing Rahab don’t need pity. They need partners – people who are willing to pray, give, and remember them. As one woman said, “They help you, they give you advice, check on you to see how you’re doing or if you have any problems, and they give assistance. Thank you very much to DXFE for providing for us and thank you for helping me.”
PARTNER WITH FEBA
If you would like to make a donation towards this life-changing project, please visit our website febaradio.co.za or call 012 335 5708
This article is featured in the September issue of JOY! Magazine. Read a digital version of this magazine here: joygifts.co.za
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Date published: 29/08/2025
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only. Artwork adapted from www.freepik.com
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