PHILIPPINES - Mother reaches out to Islamists following her son’s murder
03/08/2005 - Martyred son's mother learns to put her trust in God
Dividing her attention between her ailing husband and her guests, Purificacion Bagtasos exuded the warmth of a mother and the spirituality of a woman of God. One would not think she’d experienced every mother’s nightmare. Purificacion overflowed with peace as she shared how life has been since her precious son, Severino, or Junie as she lovingly calls him, was murdered nine years ago.
Severino was killed in his own church in Alat on Jolo island on a crisp January Sunday morning. Sitting in the front pew, he was listening to his sister conclude her sermon on heaven when suddenly a man barged into the chapel. Two loud bangs were heard. Before anyone could make sense of what happened, Severino lay lifeless in a pool of blood. The killer made his escape as the distraught church members gathered around their pastor, killed instantly by gunshots to his chest and cheek.
“I miss my son,” Purificacion gazed at the horizon. “Junie was the most caring of all my children. He would always offer help when I was cooking. He would often ask me and his father advice whenever he was beset with difficulties in the ministry because his church members were older than him. I was blessed by Junie’s sincerity and faithfulness in the ministry. Nothing could hinder him from going to his Bible studies. Heavy downpours and floods could not keep him from bringing the Word of God to those who needed to hear it. Even death threats could not stop him,” her motherly voice started to quiver.
After surviving the excruciating pain of burying her son, Purificacion says, “I’m very okay!” Her beautiful smile attests to that. She was given the nickname, “smiling manang” (older woman or sister). “You look as if you don’t have problems,” her neighbors tell her. She simply replies, “Well, we cannot run from our problems but we have a God to whom we can run.” People come to her seeking counsel and go away refreshed and encouraged. “Put your trust in the Lord,” Purificacion always says.
Opening Doors Long Shut
“I believe Junie’s death was part of God’s plan. It was His way of opening the doors that have long been shut.
“You see, before the death of my son, Chinese-Tausug believers were scattered all over Jolo [an island in southern Philippines]. Many of them stopped attending the worship services. When my son began the work in Alat [a predominantly Muslim town], little by little these believers started to gather again. Junie, their pastor, loved them dearly and was truly passionate for the ministry. One by one they started coming to church again. Before long, these believers were on fire once more and got involved in the work of God.”
“Through this tragedy, God paved the way for the distribution of the Kitab Injil [New Testament] in Jolo. A year after Junie’s death, I heard over the radio an Imam [Muslim religious leader] preaching using the Kitab Injil! What’s more amazing is that it is the Muslims themselves asking and distributing copies of the Kitab Injil, not the Christians!” In 1986, thousands of Gideon Bibles were burned to ashes in Jolo. Ten years later and after Severino’s death, a revived interest in the Bible grew among the Muslims in the whole island.
“I remember during the wake of our son, the church was filled with Muslims for the first time. We even had to put in additional benches to accommodate those who were still coming. We took that opportunity to preach and declare Christ to them. One way or another the seed of the gospel was planted in the hearts of all the Muslims gathered there. It will not return to the Lord void.” And so it was that Severino accomplished in death what he may not have accomplished in life -- to preach Jesus Christ to as many Muslims in Jolo as possible.
God Will Avenge Us
“We never filed a case because we know God will avenge us and that is where we stand. It also spared us from the long process and uncertainty of obtaining justice. God has seen what had happened and He knows my son’s murderer. I believe He will give us proper justice in His time.
“I feel compassion for them,” Purificacion said as she turned her thoughts to the Muslims they are reaching. Some Muslims believe that if you kill an enemy of Allah on the first day of Ramadan, the act will ensure your passage to paradise. Perhaps blinded by this belief, Junie’s killer chose to commit the crime on the very day Ramadan started that year.
There was not even a hint of bitterness as Purificacion spoke of that painful time. “During one of the services held at the wake of my son, my husband told the congregation, ‘We forgive the person who killed our son. If that person is here, I want you to know that we forgive you. If he is not here, and if anyone of you knows him, please tell him that we forgive him. The God we serve is the God of love and we want to show that love to you.’”
But there were those who didn’t share these convictions. “Some of my husband’s relatives who were also Muslims got angry at him for saying this. They were eager to avenge Junie’s death. It’s part of their culture. But my husband restrained them and told them that our God is a God who also forgives. We chose to forgive our son’s murderer.”
Comfort from Around the World
Purificacion never thought she’d outlive any of her children. She experienced dark and painful days. “The prayers and the letters of comfort sent by Christians around the world helped me and my family as we battled loneliness and depression over the loss of my son. Open Doors informed many Christians about what happened to Junie. Many of them, after reading our son’s story, wrote us letters of encouragement and sent us cards to tell us that they were praying for us. We even received cards from children from different countries. Those brought so much comfort to us. We felt all the more encouraged to continue in the ministry God has entrusted to us.”
Purificacion and her husband expanded their ministry after their son’s death. They took over the Bible studies Severino used to teach. They felt empowered. “I don’t remember feeling fear. Instead of fear, we were filled with courage.”
Purificacion tells parents, “Give prayer a very important place in the family. I believe prayer is the only weapon we have to counter attack our enemies and those who hate God and His people.”
‘Please Pray…’
“Please pray for us especially now that my husband is sick. He has been in and out of the hospital these past few months due to lung, kidney and heart problems. His diabetes also needs careful attention.”
More than this, Purificacion requests intercession for God’s people in southern Philippines. “Kindly pray for the desire of our family to go from one church to another to encourage the believers. I can see that a lot of churches right now are discouraged and are losing fire for missions. Our heart is still in the ministry despite my husband’s condition. Please pray that he’ll get well. As soon as he can travel, we will start visiting churches and encouraging the brethren.”
To find out more about Christians who are suffering for their faith, call Open Doors on 01993-885400, email info@opendoorsuk.org or go to the UK website at www.opendoorsuk.org.
Ends.
The following photos are available.
Photo Accompanying captions
Junie “I believe Junie’s death was part of God’s plan.” Says his mother, Purificacion Bagtasos
Bagtasos parents Junie’s parents – “Put your trust in the Lord” says Purificacion Bagtasos.
Mosque Junie’s death paved the way for the distribution of the New testament to Muslims.
Muslim_women “During the wake of our son, the church was filled with Muslims for the first time.”
Baptism New believers being baptized in the Philippines.
Training Open Doors sponsor training programmes to strengthen believers in their faith.
Houses Stilt houses in coastal areas of the Philippines
Literacy class Open Doors, adult literacy classes are like a priceless gem for many marginalised people and Muslim Background believers.
Lay_leaders lay leaders are being raised up to minister Christ’s love to the Filipino people.
Open Doors strengthens persecuted Christians in over 45 countries across the world by
1. Training Church leaders and Christian workers
2. Supplying Bibles, hymnals, Sunday School materials and other Christian literature
3. Providing livelihood training and self-help opportunities
4. Visiting, comforting and encouraging those who are suffering
5. Raising awareness of the difficulties persecuted Christians face and mobilising prayer for them throughout the western world.
For other articles/press releases on the Persecuted Church, go to:
http://www.opendoorsuk.org.uk/press/articles/
http://www.opendoorsuk.org.uk/press/releases/
http://www.opendoorsuk.org/media_photos/world_watch_list_pics/html/index.htm