The pain in Jerry's side was so unbearable that he had to sell his only water buffalo to afford surgery. Find out how God worked to turn Jerry's life around!
“I work as a farmer here in Lake Sebu, but only up until 2 or 3 o'clock in the afternoon. After that, I prepare myself to give Bible studies to my neighbors.”
Bible workers like Jerry serve the people in this beautiful region of the Philippines. Lake Sebu is known for fruit and vegetable farming, but most people associate this area with its abundance of fish in the lake.
The region is home to the T'boli tribe. This tribe has a unique language, dance, clothing, and culture. Jerry and his friends have special opportunities to share the Adventist message with this group.
Jerry was trained as a Bible worker by the pastor who baptized him more than twenty years ago. He continues to work as a farmer to support his family, but Jerry’s real passion is sharing the gospel.
“The T’boli tribe feel so happy when we share the truth, the Bible truth, that we learned from our Bible training.”
Before he became an Adventist, Jerry struggled for years with a sharp pain in his side. It kept getting worse until the pain was unbearable. He went to the doctor who told him he needed treatment. Unfortunately, he couldn’t afford the surgery or the medication he needed.
Jerry had one option. To afford the treatment, he needed to sell his only water buffalo. The buffalo was extremely valuable to him. It helped labor in the fields to earn money for his family. Without it, he didn’t know how he could feed his family. This saddened Jerry, but it was the only way he could overcome the pain and regain his health.
He had been studying with a Seventh-day Adventist pastor and decided to turn the situation over to God. When the pastor came to visit him later, Jerry asked to be baptized.
“After that day, when I came up from the water after baptism, I realized my pain was gone. I haven’t had any trouble or pain since that time! It was God.”
Jerry didn’t need to sell the buffalo! He was able to continue farming and providing for his family.
Since that day, Jerry has been a dedicated Bible worker, working side by side with others who are just as eager to share the Adventist message with the T’boli people. As their team of passionate workers grows, the group prays for a training center where they can gather together to train new workers and share their experiences. Please consider how you can support them through your mission giving!
As Jerry and his friends continue working in this region, there are, unfortunately, many challenges. Although people are open to hearing the gospel message, having enough trained workers is difficult. Please pray for the Lake Sebu area. Pray that people like Jerry will continue to reach those around them.
