Source:         www.assistnews.net

Date:            October 28, 2007

By Jeremy Reynalds
Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

KIDIPAWAN CITY, PHILIPPINES (ANS) -- A pastor was stabbed to death in the southern Philippines.

According to a news release from Salem Voice Ministries News Service (SVM), Pastor Martin Ambong, 48, of Jesus is Lord Ministries was killed on Oct. 26 in Kidapawan City in North Cotabato province.

Ambong was murdered early Friday morning near his church and was found with 16 stab wounds on his body. His face was also hit with a hard object.

Police are investigating.

"Pastor Martin was murdered probably on Thursday after midnight," police told SVM. "Villagers have seen his body first lying near the church on Friday morning," police added.

When Ambong was murdered, his family was at their house in Barangay Poblacion. Ambong was staying at the mission house where he spent much of his time.

"Pastor Martin Ambong has no known enemies. (He was) such a good and humble man," villagers told SVM.

Salem Voice Ministries ministers the gospel and provides relief services in India and third world countries.

For more information go to www.salemvoice.org/about.html