ICC Note:
Christian Aid Mission has reported that a man in the Philippines who had once thrown stones at Christians has now been martyred for his faith in Christ. The Muslim man had once thrown stones at a local pastor and his church. Later, when his daughter married the son of the pastor, he heard the gospel during the wedding ceremony and was struck by what he heard. He converted to Christianity and traveled to another town to avoid persecution and study the Bible. When he returned home to visit his family in December 15, he was found dead, martyred by local Muslims for his faith.
1/20/2017 Philippines (Christian Aid Mission) – A little over two years ago, a Muslim in the Philippines named Datu* found himself at a Christian wedding – his daughter was marrying the son of a Christian pastor Datu had stoned for sharing Christ with his family members.
The pastor was now preaching at the wedding in a town (undisclosed) on the western peninsula of the island of Mindanao. Throughout the courtship, Datu was one of several area Muslims who had hurled stones at the pastor, his church building and his home. Some of the Muslims had issued threats, with Datu saying he wished to kill the pastor’s son for courting his daughter.
Pastor Bagwis* had shared the gospel with Datu’s family members in the first place because his son, Efren*, loved Datu’s daughter. When Datu saw that she returned Efren’s love, the Muslim father objected, but over time he acknowledged that Efren was a good man, said the director of an indigenous ministry that discipled the pastor.
Datu consented to the marriage after exacting a high dowry – a carabao (water buffalo), cow, goat and chicken. The ministry director said God miraculously helped Pastor Bagwis to provide the dowry. The date of the wedding was set, with Pastor Bagwis stating they had to be married in a church because his son was Christian.
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