- Watch as an entire pagan village converts to Adventism.
Hi I'm Cami and and this is AWR360°.
(triumphant music)
With its stunning natural beauty and incredible wildlife,
the Philippines is a travelers paradise.
These islands have one of the highest
rates of new animal species.
This is mainly due to virgin jungle areas
scattered in the more than 7,000 islands
that comprise the Philippines.
Many of these areas are inhabited only by indigenous people
who live off the land and lead simple lives.
Surrounded by lush vegetation and thick rainforests,
the people on this island
live steeped in superstition and spiritualism.
But in some of these villages a privileged few own a radio.
And that is how AWR is reaching them.
In 2017 AWR began broadcasting the Adventist message
on the Island of Mindoro, Philippines.
Many doubted this would work.
But God's Spirit entered the hearts of the people
and they listened earnestly.
They were hungry to know more about a God who loved them
and they eagerly listened to the programs.
We are now on our way to a remote village
at the top of the mountain.
After many hours of driving we finally arrive.
I am greeted by Perfecto, the village Chief.
Then we head to a villager's house for a Sabbath Service.
Everyone joins in for the songs and Bible lessons.
Then Perfecto shows me the future site for their church.
He personally donated this land
and construction has already started.
But how did this former pagan chief hear about Jesus?
- Spiritualism and local lore was my way of life.
- [Cami] Others would visit the village
and try to convert him to Christianity.
But what they said was always different
from what they practiced, and the confusion annoyed him.
He would tell them to "Go away".
Then he would find comfort
in his prized possession, his radio.
Even though he could pick up a few stations
he only listened to one.
It always played the music he liked.
But one day after his favorite song ended,
a new program came on.
It began with trumpet music that caught his attention.
Then a speaker talked about the Sabbath
being the true day of rest.
As Perfecto listened, he became very happy.
Now he had a way to annoy the Sunday keepers
in his village and show them they were wrong.
Then they would stop bothering him once and for all.
But he was surprised when they showed
a real interest in what they heard.
So he called the whole village
to listen to the presentation.
To his surprise, everyone loved the program,
but when it was over they weren't sure if it would return.
So they waited anxiously the next day.
And sure enough, they cheered
when they heard the trumpets again.
Perfecto was satisfied that he had proven
the villagers wrong on their day of rest.
But what he hadn't counted on was a change in his own heart.
God's Spirit had impressed him.
And he was convinced that what he was hearing was the truth.
He decided he must meet with the speaker of the program.
Our broadcasting team was surprised
by this man and his words.
He declared, "My whole village wants to be baptized."
Bible workers were immediately sent.
But the villagers had a need:
A need the Lord had already made provision for.
Meanwhile, in the town of Nampa, Idaho,
a children's Sabbath School Class
became inspired to choose an AWR Project,
- I did a project to help raise money for Bibles.
- I gave almost all of my birthday money.
- I did a bake sale at the Pacific Press with my friends.
- And we sold cookies.
- Chicken eggs.
- Otter Pops at a yard sale.
- My sister mowed the lawn and me,
and she gave the money to Adventist World Radio.
- And one man he just came
and gave us a $100 bill for the donation.
- [Cami] The money for the Bibles was raised,
and there was exactly enough for the entire village!
What a mighty God we serve!
Soon, the entire village headed down the mountain.
All 77 people from Perfecto's village
had made the decision to accept Jesus and be baptized.
And on that beautiful Sabbath day,
I had the privilege of watching Perfecto
being baptized by AWR's own president Duane McKey.
Many others followed him into the ocean
to join him in baptism.
- I praise God for AWR and how they are broadcasting
the truth to the World.
- [Cami] Back in Idaho we were able
to meet the children face to face.
We also had a question for them.
Did God at the same time that this whole village
was coming to Jesus, orchestrate, put together,
some precious children across the other side of the world
to raise money for Bibles at the same time?
What do you think?
- [Children] Yeah.
- [Cami] Yeah, he did.
Amen.
- [Sue] This is that God thing.
This is that God thing.
- [Cami] Amen, and there is the picture
of the Bibles arriving,
there's your Bibles arriving at the village.
These children now have a Bible because of you.
- When I saw the kids getting the Bibles I felt really good
that I did something for someone else.
- I felt really happy.
- I felt really proud.
- We should give Bibles because we want everyone
to go to heaven with us.
- That Jesus is coming soon
and I hope you all are getting ready.
- Please, do what we did and maybe you'll see someone
in heaven and they'll say I am in heaven because of you.