Tabari and his nets
Tabari*, a fisherman from Mindanao, comes from a tribal community where fishing is the primary livelihood. He spends his days spearfishing at sea and sometimes works as a tricycle driver to supplement his income. When visiting people, having fellowship, or simply going for walks, many can distinguish Tabari and his companions as believers by their actions and behavior.
He also mentioned, “Sometimes there’s a storm, and sometimes the weather is calm. Sometimes we catch fish, and sometimes we don’t. But we still go out to sea because our livelihood depends on providing food for our household. When a storm approaches, we must take shelter—whether by finding refuge on an island or waiting it out—to ensure our safety and avoid accidents.” Even in unfavorable weather, Tabari ventures out to sea because fishing is his family's sole means of sustenance.
In addition to fishing, Tabari also works as a laborer on ships. However, he faces discrimination from some co-workers who belong to different religious groups. Despite this, he endures patiently, focusing on his work to provide for his family's needs. Like many fishermen, Tabari often struggles with the financial burden of fishing, frequently borrowing money to cover expenses before heading out to sea. “There are times we struggle with expenses when we go to sea, sometimes we borrow money just to cover the expenses” Tabari explained.
Experiencing turbulence and serenity
Tabari’s life took a transformative turn when his cousin introduced him to Christ. He recalled, “My cousin invited me to become a follower of Christ, but at that time, I was hesitant. However, in 2015, I felt the love of Jesus Christ, and I became a Christian. My life changed that year.”
Embracing his newfound faith, Tabari experienced significant changes in his perspective and priorities. Despite the hardships of being a Christian, including rejection and disapproval from others— he remains steadfast in his belief. “Even though many people dislike me because I follower Christ, I continue to fellowship because I trust that the Lord will guide us,” he shared.
He faces numerous struggles, both in his family relationships and livelihood, but continually thanks God for His faithfulness. Tabari expressed, “I continue to thank the Lord despite the hardships I face as a Christian, and I won’t give up.”
As the only Christian among his siblings for a time, Tabari encountered additional challenges. He reflected, “When I was the only Christian among my siblings, we had already lost our parents, but despite the struggles, I remained grateful.” However, his faith inspired him to share the gospel with his family.
Recalling his experience, he said, “Whenever one of my siblings fell ill, I encouraged them to turn to Jesus Christ, for He is the healer of sickness. I am thankful to the Lord and I always pray to Him. I show my love to my family, a love that comes from Jesus Christ.”
Guided by his faith, Tabari remained committed to leading his family to Christ. “There was a time when I invited one of my siblings to pray to Jesus Christ, and I prayed that one day they would join me. Eventually, some did, and I was overjoyed to fellowship with them. At first, there were just three of us who followed Christ —my two younger siblings and me.”
His unwavering faith and acts of love eventually led his brother to accept Jesus, and over time, more of his siblings followed. He shared joyfully, “As the years passed, more of my siblings accepted Christ in their lives."
Despite growing up without parents, Tabari is deeply grateful that he and some of his siblings have found purpose and direction in Christ.
The cost of following Jesus
Tabari shoulders the responsibility of supporting his siblings, taking on the role of a parent. “We are seven siblings, and we don’t have parents. For him providing for his family is difficult. “There are things I want for myself, like a cellphone, but they are hard to attain because our livelihood is unstable. Food is scarce, and my brothers do not contribute to meeting our family’s needs. So, I continue working because I feel responsible for my siblings,” he continued.
He often questions how long he can continue to provide for them, especially with limited resources. Despite these challenges, he remains faithful to God.
“My hardships are overwhelming,” he admitted. “There are times when my body weakens, but I try not to dwell on it because I don’t want others to see my struggles. I trust that the Lord will help me, but there are jobs I can no longer manage. As a single man, I have been forced to take on the role of a parent, and carrying this burden alone is incredibly hard.”
One of Tabari’s most difficult trials involves his strained relationship with his brothers. They often pressure him to work on Sundays, preventing him from attending church. “There was even a time when I lost consciousness due to my brother’s violence,” he shared.
He continued, “At first, I worked alongside my brothers, but they were not Christians yet. We would work together, but when I came home on Sundays, my brother would be furious because he wanted me to work all the time. He forbade me from worshiping Jesus at our house church.”
“That was his expectation for me,” he explained. “When I refused to join him in working on Sundays, he would beat me—punching and kicking me. Once, the violence was so severe that I lost consciousness.”
Despite their abuse, Tabari remained steadfast in his faith. His brothers urged him to abandon Christianity, but he refused, choosing instead to respond with Christ-like love and perseverance. “Even with the way they treated me, I did not give up on following Jesus Christ,” he declared.
He continued, “Since becoming a Christian, there have been times when we have not been at peace as siblings. We struggle to communicate, and something always seems to stand in the way of our conversations.”
“However, as a follower of Christ, I am committed to showing them love and sharing how Jesus has transformed my life,” he said. “I want them to see how much Jesus cares for people, allowing us to experience His love.”
“This is why I will continue to love them—because Jesus is present in my life.”
Training that transforms
Through the Joshua Training rogram by Open Doors, Tabari gained valuable knowledge and spiritual growth. This leadership development program is designed for young Muslim Background Believer (MBB) leaders who are already serving in their communities or house churches. It equips them with deeper biblical knowledge, advanced leadership skills, and the resilience to persevere in the face of persecution. The program focuses on strengthening their identity in Christ, empowering them to share the gospel, and enabling them to serve others effectively in challenging environments. By further equipping these young leaders, Joshua Training helps them grow in their faith and positively impact their communities.
For Tabari, this training was life-changing. It prepared him to serve as a leader among his peers and taught him to practice humility, patience, and love—even toward those who oppose or mistreat him. “I was part of the Joshua Training, and I am thankful to Open Doors for providing this kind of training that equips us with knowledge. I’m especially grateful for the opportunity to serve as a leader among the camp members. That is something I truly thank the Lord for,” he shared with joy.
Reflecting on the experience, Tabari said, “The camp greatly helped me learn how to love others, be friendly even with those we don’t know and practice humility, even when faced with annoyance or anger. Ultimately, what I learned at the camp is that we need to love them. That’s what the Lord teaches—that we should love them as we love ourselves.”
As Tabari experienced, education had always been out of reach. Losing his parents at a young age meant he was unable to continue his studies. Yet, he remained hopeful, believing that God would make a way. “I am one of those who have not had the opportunity to study, as our parents are gone and I could not continue my education. However, I thank the Lord that there is a way forward, and He has used resources like the literacy programs from Open Doors to support such efforts.”
Open Doors as a steady anchor
He acknowledges that without Open Doors, his faith journey—and that of many others—might have taken a different path. “If Open Doors hadn’t helped us, we might not have known how to participate in God’s work. Our commitment to serving the Lord could have stumbled, and we may have stopped following Jesus Christ.”
“That’s why I’m thankful for the support from Open Doors. We have nothing to give them in return, but we hold on to the hope that Jesus Christ will repay them.” Because of the training and support, Tabari and many others in his community have been empowered to actively participate in God’s work, spreading the message of love and hope.
Despite the struggles he faces within his own family, Tabari remains unwavering in his faith and commitment to love them as Christ loves. “Now that I am a follower of Jesus Christ, even though we cannot unite as a family, I will not give up showing my love for them. I believe the love of the Lord is with me, helping me express my love for them.”
Tabari is deeply grateful for the support he and his community have received. “The Lord will take care of what you have done for us,” he said with gratitude. “I am still thankful to the people who help us and support us, especially Open Doors, which provides the strongest support for us,” he added.
