God Used The “Bad” for Good

My son Mike, a missionary in the Philippines, wrote this amazing story that shows the truth that “all things work together for good.” God can take sad circumstances in our life that we might consider bad, and use that bad for His good. 

A couple of weeks ago on Wednesday, January 21, one of our Bible college young ladies named Daisy May Anasario learned that her former classmate, Crystyl Ann Batiller, had been diagnosed with leukemia and was not expected to live more than a week. The following morning, Daisy May and Jennifer, another Bible college lady, went to visit Crystyl in the hospital. When they arrived at the hospital, Crystyl’s boyfriend was also there by her bedside. Daisy was able to share the Gospel with both of them. A little while later, both Crystyl and her boyfriend bowed their heads and put their trust in Jesus Christ. In the meantime, Jennifer led the person in the next bed to Christ as well! Soul winning still works even in tragic situations!

In the following days, Crystyl surprised the doctors; she lived for another 2½ weeks, but on Sunday morning, February 8, Crystyl’s battle with leukemia ended when she went Home to be with her newfound Saviour. Praise the Lord for a committed soul winner named Daisy May! However, that was by no means the end of the story! The same day after the Sunday evening service, Daisy May’s father, Jun Anasario, was given the opportunity to preach the Gospel to many of Crystyl’s friends and family members at her home, where the body was interned. When he was finished, approximately 20 people bowed their heads and trusted Christ! However, that’s still not the end of the story.

The following day, more family members and many of Crystyl’s former classmates gathered at her home once again, and late in the evening, I was given the opportunity to preach to them. I preached the Gospel in Cebuano to the 20 or more people crowded into the living room of her home. Some of them had already been saved the previous evening, but many of them were not yet saved. When I was finished, I led them in a sinner’s prayer. As we began to pray, I was startled by the sounds of many voices praying with me. Not only were the people in the living room calling on the name of the Lord, but I was also hearing the voices of people praying outside the house. I didn’t even know that they were there! When I went outside a few minutes later, I saw at least another 15 people who had been quietly sitting outside listening to the entire message! I don’t know how many people got saved that night, but I do know that God showed up once again. Only our God can take such a tragic situation and use it to bring about the salvation of dozens of lost souls! The God of Romans 8:28 has not changed!

 

It blesses my heart as a mom to hear these stories of how God is using my son, and all the people that have come to know Him as their Savior through his ministry and work.