This Muslim Man Stoned a Pastor Then Embraced Christianity: Now He's Been Martyred for His Faith

Leah Marieann Klett : Jan 18, 2017
Gospel Herald

A true modern-day Apostle Paul story.

(The Philippines)—[Gospel Herald] A Muslim leader who once violently persecuted Christians embraced Christ after hearing the Gospel at his daughter's wedding—and was martyred for his faith. Christian Aid Mission shares the story of Datu, a devout Muslim man in the Philippines who harbored an overwhelming sense of hatred against Christians. In fact, after discovering his daughter was courting Efren, the son of a local Christian leader, Pastor Bagwis, he hurled stones at the pastor, his church building and his home and told his fellow Muslims he wished to kill the young man and his family. (Photo: Asia News/via Gospel Herald)

Over time, Datu acknowledged that Efren was a good man, and accepted a hefty dowry from Pastor Bagwis. Eventually, the date of the wedding was set, with Pastor Bagwis stating they had to be married in a church because his son was Christian.

"During the marriage ceremony, Pastor Bagwis preached Jesus Christ crucified," a ministry director told CAM. "To God be the glory, Datu and his family repented, confessed Christ, believed and accepted Jesus Christ."

Datu and his oldest son were baptized a month later, and Muslim relatives began to threaten and harass them. His son was so bold in proclaiming Christ in the predominantly Muslim area that Pastor Bagwis obtained permission from Datu and the director to relocate him for his safety to a ministry center in a distant city, where he received further discipleship training.

As he learned more about Christ, Datu became increasingly bold in sharing the Gospel, angering Muslim relatives, who began persecuting him. However, Datu said he didn't mind the threats; he felt he deserved them for having previously persecuted the church, the director said.

"He suffered the same things that he had done to Pastor Bagwis," the director said. "If before he was the one who stoned the church and Pastor Bagwis, now he also suffered the same things after...

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