May 14, 2025 “You Messed Me Up!”—How Conviction Led to a New Life

We were in Palawan, Philippines for a Week of Prayer. Each morning we’d be in the local hospital and every evening we’d have evangelistic meetings. I met her one morning after the messages, she was about my age, 70s, and a lifelong Catholic. But for 30 years, she had been connected to the hospital and the Adventist church, always helping in many ways. 

They told me, “She has never been baptized, Pastor Dan.” 

The next morning, I caught a moment with her and said, “I believe God wants you to be baptized this week—and I will be the one to do it!”  

Through her already established connection with the Adventist church and her attending the evening evangelistic series, she already knew everything about the Adventist message. 

A couple days later, she found me. “You messed me up! My stomach’s been unsettled ever since you talked to me!” 

I told her, “That’s conviction—the Valley of Decision. Once you say yes to Jesus, it will go away. 

Friday night, we made the call for baptism. Hundreds came forward, but I couldn’t find her. I prayed she’d made her decision. 

Sabbath morning came and as soon as I arrived, they said, “She’s here!” Out of 1,000 baptismal candidates, marked with white string wristbands, I found her. I hugged her and said, “Get in my line this afternoon.” 

We drove past hundreds walking the muddy road to the ocean. The water is shallow around Palawan, so we had to walk 500 feet out before it was deep enough to baptize. 

Thirty pastors stood in the sea, each with 30 people in their line. And at the end of mine—was her. 

One by one 29 people gave their lives to Christ, and then it was her turn. The hospital president and vice president held her hands and walked her into the sea. 

It was my honor to guide her under the water—and lift her up, to see her face shining with joy. We hugged afterward, and from that point on her stomach was perfectly fine!