A Life of Hardship
In May 1953, Clarita Villanueva, a 17-year-old orphan from Bacolod, found herself arrested for vagrancy and imprisoned in Manila City Jail. Her life had been marked by hardship, having lost her mother, a fortune-teller, at a young age, and turning to prostitution for survival. But her troubles deepened when she began experiencing terrifying attacks by unseen entities in her cell. Witnessed by prison guards and medics, these entities left bite marks on her body, leaving everyone baffled.
A Missionary's Bold Response
News of Clarita's plight reached Lester Sumrall, an American pastor and missionary building a church in Manila. Compelled to help, Sumrall sought permission from Mayor Arsenio Lacson to visit her. Upon their first meeting, Clarita screamed, 'I hate you!' Sumrall, unfazed, replied, 'I know you hate me. I have come to cast you out.'
Three Days of Prayer
For three days, Sumrall prayed with Clarita, commanding the demons to leave in the name of Jesus Christ. During this period, Clarita cursed and blasphemed, speaking in English despite her usual Tagalog. On the third day, a change occurred. Clarita relaxed, smiled, and declared, 'He's gone.' When asked where the entity went, she simply pointed and said, 'He went out that way.'
A New Life
This moment marked a profound transformation in Clarita's life. Described as a 'perfectly normal Filipino girl' after her deliverance, she was granted parole and went to live with a Christian family. Eventually, she married and started a family of her own. The story of her deliverance spread far and wide, leading countless individuals to faith in Jesus. Sumrall continued to share this testimony, giving all glory to Jesus for the miraculous intervention that set Clarita free.
