Victory in the Village: New Congregations Growing in the Southwestern Philippines

Deep in the mountains of the island of Mindanao in the southwestern Philippines, a group of JFA Bible Workers are sharing the Gospel with a tribe of animist natives. These natives worship rocks, trees, and the spirit gods of the forest.

When the Bible Workers first started to serve there, they faced strong opposition, because the evil spirits indicated to the people that the Adventists are not good people, so they should reject them. The Bible Workers had to work hard and pray much for God to open the people’s hearts. They cared for the sick, gave massages, and used natural remedies to ease pain and treat illness. They also taught people how to raise bountiful gardens with a variety of fruits and vegetables.

Through these methods, the villagers started to realize that the Bible Workers were concerned for their wellbeing.

Eventually they were able to hold public evangelistic series in several villages (which we shared about briefly in this article). Bible Worker Jehiel shared that in his village, each night's message was coupled with a health lecture to teach the people how to use natural remedies at home. These health lectures began to open opportunities for the Bible Workers to visit homes that were previously closed to them. These people started to share their health concerns and ask for the Bible Workers' help.

These Bible Workers were happy to see God opening doors, and to see that many people were attending the meetings in each village. At the end of the meetings, many people accepted the call for baptism, but this was not the end of the battle.

Bible Worker Paul shared that hostile villagers along with the spirits continued their assault on the Bible Workers and the pastors who were helping with evangelism efforts. Before the scheduled date for the baptism, a spirit medium threatened that the spirits would soon take the life of one of the pastors.

Not long after, two of the visiting pastors were unexpectedly thrown off their motorcycles. The roads to the mountain village were often muddy and dangerous, but on that day, in the spot where the pastors were driving, the road was clear and dry. The pastors could see no reason why they should have slipped, but they praised the Lord for His protection and walked away without injury.

Finally, after much prayer, the attacks and tensions caused by the spirits abated. The power of the Living God reigned supreme, and over 100 people were baptized from several villages.

Some of the new church members after their baptism. What a joy-filled day!

Now the Bible Workers continue to serve in these villages, nurturing new believers in their growing faith and ministering to those who have not yet accepted or heard the Gospel message.

Because they do not yet have churches, they are meeting in a home of one of the new members. They are praying and hoping for a formal place of worship.

Through the work of our JFA Bible Workers and other volunteers, small groups of believers are forming across the southwestern Philippines. Right now there is a need for 13 churches in this area and others for these new congregations. We will share more about these new churches soon.

Please pray for these Bible Workers serving in the Southwestern Philippines and for these new churches to soon be established. Please also pray for these new congregations to grow both in faith and number.

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