A Bright and Shining Light

Village in Mindoro

Written by Julie Mesa

On the island of Mindoro in a small Mangyan village, our JFA Bible Workers have a church and school. Christianity has made some headway, but many are resistant to giving God a chance because they are afraid of making the spirits angry. For five years our church and school has lacked the support of two influential village elders. One even warned, “Don’t let your children attend that school of the rebels!” But after an unforgettable incident, things changed.

Rainy season that year hit hard. For two straight weeks it rained, causing heavy flooding. Farms were destroyed and it was only through God’s protection that the homes of our JFA Bible Workers were kept intact. After one night of particularly heavy rain, a woman in the village came over to the house of the Bible Workers and said, “Last night we saw the building, your house, as if it burned. There was a very strong light shining over your home last night. And yet it was raining hard! Do you have a strong light in your home?” she questioned.

"Then where was that very bright light shining over your roof coming from?" asked the woman.

Puzzled, the Bible Worker replied, “No, we do not have a strong light.”

“Then where was that very bright light shining over your roof coming from?” asked the woman.

“We don’t know,” the Bible Workers answered, wondering what this woman meant.

She was not the only one who had seen the light. Many of the villagers had seen it and everyone was talking about it. What had caused that bright light? The two village elders who strongly opposed our church and school were convinced that a supernatural power had lit that light. They reasoned it must be a power stronger than fire and rain, one that could protect its followers from harm. After some thought, the JFA Bible Workers believed God had sent that light. But why?

Around this time one of these elders got very sick. When it became evident that his end was near, he called the members of his family together and said, “I know that after my death you will attend church. And I’m telling you, don’t attend the other Christian church! Attend the church where the light burned over the house.” Soon after he passed away, the second village elder became ill. The JFA Bible Workers invited his family to bring him to their place. Hesitant, they brought their father/grandfather only after they saw that he was dying. The Bible Workers ministered to his needs as best they could. Before he passed away this elder also gathered his family together and counseled, “I know that after I die that you will attend church. Don’t go to the other Christian church. Go to the Adventists.”

Today, because of the light God sent on that stormy night, both families of these two elders attend the Seventh-day Adventist church. Pray that God will continue to work through our Bible Workers as they share the Truth, the LIGHT, and the Way with those in darkness. (John 14:6)