Roselyn Beniga is a literature evangelist in the Philippines with a natural gift for storytelling, which has made her a leader in the children’s division of her church.
One night, God gave Roselyn a dream. In the dream, she and her husband were staying in a small house. While she was cleaning, two girls arrived and greeted her as if they knew her. Soon after, other children gathered around, begging her to tell them stories. Roselyn stopped sweeping and looked at the boys and girls—most of them barefoot, dirty and without underwear.
Feeling uncomfortable with the smelly, unkempt children, Roselyn told them to leave so she could continue her work. But the more she asked them to go away, the closer they came, pleading for a story. Growing frustrated, she lightly swatted at them with her broom, hoping they would disperse, but they clung to her even more. Some held her hand, others tugged at her skirt, and a few even hugged her. In desperation, she called out to her husband and awoke from the dream, shaken.
In search of the children
She realized it was a message from God and that she needed to act on it. After searching for an area with many children, another Bible worker, Mercy, suggested the small village of Maong, which was about 4 kilometers away.
When the two women reached the village, they found a few children playing. Roselyn called them over. “Children, gather your friends, and I’ll tell you a story.”
Soon children were running toward her from every direction. Seeing the children, some without underwear and with dirty faces, tears filled Roselyn’s eyes. It was exactly like her dream. She began telling Bible stories and teaching them action songs. This delighted the children.
Over the months Roselyn and Mercy returned numerous times and built friendships with the children’s parents too.
Also led to Maong
In 2020, I was transferred to the Cabadbaran area, which consists of 32 barangays (villages or districts). After days of prayer, I felt the Holy Spirit guiding me to select Maong as the place to focus my work. At that time, I didn’t know about Roselyn’s dream. In the village, I offered free music lessons, teaching the children to sing and play the ukulele and guitar. Weeks later, I learned about Roselyn and Mercy’s ministry in Maong and encouraged Roselyn to assist with our work.
After a year of music training and medical outreach in Maong, I decided to conduct a 10-day healthy lifestyle and moral recovery seminar. Eleven people were baptized after the seminar, and we began holding services every Sabbath. A few months later, I envisioned building a church in Maong; however, none of the newly baptized members felt prepared to lead the church.
I looked for help from nearby churches and also asked Roselyn if she would consider leading the new church.
Facing many trials while building the church, I often questioned if I had made the right decision. One day, I asked Roselyn how she first started the children’s ministry in Maong. She shared her dream of the children, which moved me deeply. With tears, I told her, “It was God who commissioned you to begin the ministry in Maong. Now you must continue what you started.”
Called to reach others
Hearing her story, I felt assured that God had guided me to choose Maong among the 31 other barangays. Now that we have a church and baptized members, we are called to unite in spreading the gospel message. Through a dream, God commissioned Roselyn to minister to this village, and my wife and I are called to support her. Let us pray for God’s help as we seek His lost sheep in this village, preparing them for His second coming.