Yesterday, we received news from the Philippines that Joseph, our friend and brother in Christ passed away. He was recently discharged from the hospital, and we thought he was recovering. But in the final hours, his body couldn’t overcome the infection.
Back in 2002, we surveyed the village of San Nicolas and moved in among Agutaynens in the Philippines. Within days, we met a man named Joseph and he became our first language helper. In those early years, Stephen went wherever Joseph went: fishing out in the ocean, harvesting rice in their fields, spending many hours at Joseph’s house learning his language and culture. In doing so, Stephen gradually learned the language and a relationship was built.
Years later, Joseph was one of the first Agutaynens to believe the Good News. At that time, Joseph said to Stephen, “We thought you came to find gold, but now we know you came to give us God’s gold.” In the years to come, Joseph himself was involved in teaching evangelistic lessons, along with his wife and daughters who worked with Ginger in Kids’ Bible Club.
Please pray for Joseph’s family during this difficult time. Please continue to pray for the salvation of those in the village. And please pray for Faith Bible Church. Men were already a rarity in the church and losing Joseph will affect the church. May Joseph’s death spur on the believers anew to reach their families and neighbors for Christ.
