Ruth grew up in the Philippines between two kinds of faith. Her father was Roman Catholic. Her mother was an animist who believed fire and water were her gods. Ruth herself did not know what she believed — until, as a teenager, she heard the gospel and prayed to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior.
She was glad. But gladness was not the end of the road. “When I received the Lord, it was hard because my old ways were difficult to change and surrender,” she said. Following Jesus took time to learn. Slowly, something steadier came: “As years passed, I feel that there is peace. Whenever I have problems in life, God will give me a solution.”
As she kept reading the Bible, she came to passages like Matthew 28:18–20, where Jesus sends His followers to make disciples of all nations. The words landed close to home. There were people in her own family, and people she knew, who had not believed in Jesus.
That was the hard part. Ruth calls herself “a very introverted person.” And she admits something many believers will recognize: “Before joining Nehemiah Teams, I was too embarrassed to share the gospel with my mother.”
In 2025 Ruth joined Nehemiah Teams, a short-term mission opportunity for students ages 17 to 29, started by International Mission Board missionaries in 2004 to train and send out Americans and Filipinos alike. She was trained by IMB missionaries and Filipino believers, then went with her team to a remote area of the Philippines to share the good news. “The training was a big help,” she said, “and it developed my confidence in sharing the gospel.”
Alma, a Nehemiah Teams national partner, explained why speaking to family is often hardest for new Filipino believers: “It requires time, effort, and consistent witness. In Filipino culture, actions often speak louder than words, so living out one’s faith daily becomes a powerful testimony. Patience and perseverance are essential in this process.”
When her first year ended, Ruth went home and told her family about Jesus. Her mother believed in May 2025. Her sister asked Jesus to be her Lord that November.
“I feel very happy because they have already heard and accepted the gospel,” Ruth said. “Before, my mom was a drunkard and my sister too. But when they received the Lord, there was a massive turning point in their lives.” Both have quit drinking. They go to church every week and help lead the children’s program there.
The girl who was too shy to speak to her mother returned to Nehemiah Teams in 2026 as a student leader. Alma says she was an obvious choice: responsible, consistent, diligent with what she is given.
And still Ruth carries an unfinished prayer. “My dad is dead, but I have two brothers,” she said. “They haven’t believed in Jesus yet. It’s hard, but I’m still trying and I’m still praying.”
If there is someone at your own table you have never quite found the words for — a mother, a brother, a friend — Ruth’s story is for you. Jesus does not need you to be bold by nature. He meets quiet people, gives them peace, and grows courage in them over time. Keep living it. Keep praying. Keep speaking when the door opens. “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31, WEB). And if Jesus has reached your family through someone’s patient witness, you are welcome to share your story.
Adapted from “The gospel changes lives in the Philippines” by Brett Highland, International Mission Board (25 June 2026). Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. Original article. Names in the original report were changed for security. Except where otherwise noted, IMB site content is CC BY-NC 4.0 (Legal Permissions).