By Stan Scroggins

“Joab” was born into a poor Filipino family and soon became an orphan. His father was involved in the Philippines’ underground government conflict, so while Junmar was just a young boy, he was pressured to join. 

Eventually he became a hit man.  

During the annual Kalilangan Festival in the town of General Santos on Mindanao Island, local pastor Santos Lumang and his church (Fundamental Christian Baptist Church) were handing out tracts to festival-goers. Joab was there as well, waiting in the shadows for his next hit. But before the target arrived, Joab was given a tract that changed his life.

Later something drove Joab to find the pastor from the festival, Pastor Santos, who took him to a hiding place immediately for protection. Although putting himself at great risk, for ten days he worked diligently to get Joab to safety on another island.  

Finally permission was given for Joab to come to Negros Island and take refuge at the BMA Bible College (BMABC). After his arrival, another pastor, former Bible College employee Richie Pugoy, housed and fed Joab. 

The first priority, however, was to lead Joab to Christ, and so he did, surrounded by his new friends

To avoid suspicion, Joab enrolled as a student at BMABC, but with no education and no English-language ability, a couple began teaching him English so he could pass the high school equivalency exam. The result? Joab became a star college pupil and graduated five years later.  

Now married with two children, his wife is the cook at BMABC and Joab is a church planting missionary for Karis Baptist Church where there are currently two active missions. He borrows my truck every Saturday to go to the river for sacks of sand to mix cement (because he can save 10 centavos a bag) for the mission building. 

He is truly my missionary partner and best friend. He was a broken, crushed man, hiding for his life. Then, using a pastor in Mindanao, our missionary God sought him. Now he is the most dedicated man of God I’ve ever known, seeking out broken people just like himself.  There is no such thing as suffering for Jesus, and for Joab, everything is a joy.Pastor Santos Lumang’s kindness and love still affects Joab today, and because his heart was broken for an enemy soldier, many lives will be changed as well.