Chinese Indonesian Pastor Philip Mantofa is still reeling from the loss of 46 members of his church in the devastating AirAsia crash.
Mantofa is pastor of Mawar Sharon church in Surabaya, Indonesia. The members of the church who died in the crash made up one third of the 155 passengers on board the ill-fated flight to Singapore last month, that also killed seven crew members.
Pastor Mantofa and the grieving congregation are staying in faith after the crash.
"We don't attempt to answer the big 'WHY' question. However, the Holy Spirit has been real in our church as the Comforter. As their pastor, I must say that I couldn't be prouder of my members as they carried each other's burden without second thoughts," he told The Gospel Herald.
"The most glorious moment was when I witnessed how one bereaved family encouraged and prayed for another out of their own initiative. I could say that I almost saw heaven in that situation. Yes, we are moving forward!"
He adds that their faith in God only grew after the tragedy.
"Faith is the only thing I got," he added. "Though I can't quite make sense of it all, my faith in God has not been shaken. God is not evil, and surely this accident is not His fault.
"Could He not have prevented this? Of course, He can! But if He has not, He is greater than my thoughts. God has not promised us a smooth life in this imperfect world; but He has promised to be with us through it all."
The AirAsia Flight QZ8501 was en route to Singapore from Surabaya last December 28 claimed the lives 162 passengers as it crashed into the Java Sea.
The plane was presumed missing until days later when authorities found the wreckage and bodies floating on the water. Most of the passengers and the main debris are still trapped underwater, the BBC reports.
