Mar 12, 2025 Unexpected Transformations

In the mission field one thing we can always count on is the power of the gospel.  

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes”. Romans 1:16  

Sometimes, the most unexpected individuals experience the deepest transformations—individuals whose lives, from an outward perspective, may not seem like they would be the ones to respond to the call of Christ. Yet, time and time again, we see the power of God’s word at work in ways that defy our expectations.  

Here are three stories from the Philippines that show just how powerful the gospel is.  

At one of the meeting sites, there was a security guard for the venue where the event was taking place. On the surface, he might have seemed like just another person carrying out his job, with no outward indication that he was seeking anything more. But night after night, as he listened to the sermons, God began to stir his heart in ways that neither he nor we anticipated. Through the simple act of listening, his life was transformed, and what started as a passive observation turned into a powerful personal conviction. He not only embraced the gospel and got baptized, but he also brought his family along with him, and together, they experienced a new life in Christ.   

Similarly, the driver who transported participants to the meetings was not someone we initially thought of as someone interested in the gospel. Throughout the series, he became one of the most attentive listeners, absorbing the teachings and allowing them to shape his actions. Before even committing to follow Christ through baptism, he began living out the principles he was learning. His story reminds us that God doesn’t always wait for the perfect moment or the perfect person; He simply waits for a willing heart.  

Perhaps the most striking example of God’s unexpected work was in the life of a man who had been struggling with addiction. From the outside, it might have seemed like he was trapped in cycles he wasn’t able to get out of himself. But as he sat under the powerful preaching of God’s word, something shifted. The truth of the gospel reached his heart, and he decided to make a bold turn in his life. Once trapped by his struggles and mistakes, this man became a new creation in Christ. In fact, his transformation was so profound that he felt the need to become a gospel worker, so that he could help others trapped in addiction find the same freedom he had discovered.   

These stories remind us that God’s plan doesn’t always align with our expectations. We often think of ministry as reaching out to those who appear to be “ready” for a change—those who seem open and show interest. However, the gospel has a way of reaching people we might not expect—God sees the heart and knows exactly who needs to hear the message of His love.  

The mission field in the Philippines has reminded us that every soul matters to God—whether they are a security guard, a driver, an addict, or anyone else who crosses our path.  

As we continue to share the gospel in this corner of the world, we are reminded that God’s reach is limitless, and His ability to change lives is far beyond anything we can imagine. The lesson is clear: we must be open to the fact that God’s work will often surprise us, and we must trust that He is at work in ways we may not always understand. The gospel truly is for everyone; often, it is the lives we least expect that experience the most radical transformations.