I Felt Insulted: They didn’t Accept Alms from Non-Brothers January 10, 2009

The ‘Accidental’ Truth

by Robin P. Wenceslao

To begin with, the truth came to my attention on a rather odd manner, in a drinking session.

I play tennis in a club and after playing we usually engage in drinking sessions and discussions on anything under the sun that would liven up the gathering. In one such session, a co-drinker opened up a topic regarding the predestination of men. Are we predestined to be somebody or are we ourselves masters of our own destiny? That sparked a very lively discussion without a clear direction of what really is the answer to the very intriguing question.

It was a few days or a week later that I found out that the person who raised that question was getting religious topics from the program, “Ang Dating Daan” (The Old Path). This immediately aroused my curiosity and I began searching for the TV program.

At first glance, Bro. Eli looked as if he was “Mr. Right,” all the other preachers are wrong or other religions are wrong and only he (Bro. Eli) is right. For me then, Bro. Eli was arrogant and without respect for the beliefs of others. Maybe that triggered my curiosity to watch the program more, even as “pulutan” while drinking liquor or as a tripping subject when smoking marijuana.

But the undeniable fact is that I am finding out little by little that what Bro Eli is saying was based on the Bible and he is the one telling the truth, that he is not arrogant but brave enough to expose the lies, false doctrines, rituals that are not based on the Bible being practiced by other religions.

My watching “Ang Dating Daan” regularly led me to seek for a locale near our place in Sta. Mesa, Manila. It was at the Quiapo Locale where I first saw Bro. Eli in a Bible Exposition or Bible Study.

However, I felt insulted when I saw a note on a wall, “III JN 7 – Hindi po kami tumatanggap ng tulong sa hindi pa kapatid…” (We do not accept alms from those not of our faith.)

Although I was not yet a member, I felt that I want to help. In retaliation to what I felt was an insult, I intentionally did not accept the “meriendas” offered to visitors of the program. Surprisingly, my interest in the program and Bro. Eli did not waver but grew to a point that I preferred watching the program than to engage in non-sense talk or to kill time unproductively.

After a year, my wife (who is also an “Ang Dating Daan” follower) and I decided to undergo indoctrination. The first hurdle to overcome was that we were staying with my in-laws and they were “saradong Catolico” (Catholics through and through), so we had to go to another place for indoctrination and underwent baptism without telling them.

Only months after we were baptized, my mother-in-law died while sleeping with no known symptoms or ailment. I believe early on, we both were put to the test. Because of the incident, relatives blamed us for having left the Catholic faith, causing shame and sorrow in the hearts of my in-laws.

It was nine years since we were baptized. The day I felt a miracle happened, the day I understood the meaning of my being.

Was that an accidental truth?

We Worshipped God through Different Images January 10, 2009

I didn’t understand the significance of those images in my growing years

By Marieta Gelva-David

I first saw the light in this world in the 27^th day of July 1962 at the mountainous area of Sitio Patag, San Francisco, Bulan Sorsogon – end part of Bicol Region.

I came from a family of upland farmers wherein we lead a very basic way of life. My father and my dear mother worked together in the upland farms which we call “Gasak” where they plant different kinds of crops including coconuts and abacas. They do not have daily earnings only but to wait for the crops to bear fruits until harvest time. Then that’s time that they could have money to buy all the basic needs for our daily living.

We were born with a Catholic faith, beginning from my great grandparents down to my generation. I could still remember when I was a kid, that during the Christmas or the Holy Week season I can go to town to enjoy and join the season’s celebration. But that was only what I know of my faith. The idea on what we are doing was not clear on my understanding. We worshipped God through different images even if it was no longer the image of God but those of the saints whom I did not know. I didn’t even know and understand the significance of those images in my growing years.

As I grew up and became mature, there were so many questions in my mind which remained unanswered especially when I was still in my teenage years up to my mid-twenties. That time, I was with my relatives in Pangasinan. I lived with them because they were sending me to college until I finished my course on BSE/Ed major in Library Science.

My uncle was an INC (Iglesia ni Cristo) convert. After a year of being a member of that sect, he tried to convince us to be indoctrinated even if we were unaware of what his beliefs were. So we obeyed because he was our guardian and we had to follow his rules.

Thereafter I became a member of the INC (Manalo) including my 3 brothers and sisters. But it lasted only for at least 8 years. I voluntarily left the congregation because of some personal reason. And I have noticed many wrong teachings and practices in that faith.

The ministers and workers of that church are using their youth to convince non-believers who wanted to join them. One thing more that I cannot accept is that for them, Jesus Christ is just an ordinary man. When they read verses from the Bible they could not even explain it clearly to the members.

In my case, I can say that I am a God-fearing person because I am always afraid of committing sins. In my mind, I was still looking for the truth; something that will answer my questions. When I left the INC, and joined the Born Again Christian, for me it was again another experience. But I did not stay long in this sect because I found their teachings had no depth. Their faith is very shallow, they just sing and dance and praise God in a very light manner.

I found out that they were just after the gain, the money that they collect from the members and even from their visitors which they called “love offering.” I also left that sect immediately.

I had no religious affiliation for almost a decade since I left all those religions that I joined. But I felt I was disconnected to God that time.

Until I’ve heard about a man name Bro Eli Soriano who was called the most sensible preacher of all time. I first saw him on television where he was a guest in that particular T.V. talk show, the title of which I cannot remember anymore. What I remembered was that he was asked different questions by the host and I admired him in his way of defending his ideas. He answers questions straightforward. He speaks the truth guided by the Holy Scriptures.

For me, this man wants to be heard by the whole world. He wanted to be questioned by his listeners because he is always prepared to answer whatever questions people would throw at him. He was the only preacher I know who preaches the truth about the existence of God, the importance of man to God and almost everything that has life including the things unseen made by God.

I started hearing his preaching on T.V. and on the radio. And very often I listen to him and even wrote what he says especially when he reads the verses from the Bible.

Thereafter, I realized that even if I don’t see him and directly talk to him, he suddenly convinced me with his teachings. I know it was his power of preaching ability that made me realize the truth about the true Church which he leads.

So after a few months of listening and joining the Bible study, I was indoctrinated and I decided to undergo baptism. I did not think twice. I told myself, “God is here and He is calling me to join this group. I must join them or else my soul would be at a loss forever.”

It was on the 30^th of December 2005 when I finally underwent baptism. Glory be to God that I am now a member of the true Church that the Bible teaches. I pray hard to Him that I may endure to the end and hold on to Him.

I Heard Shocking Statements from my Husband January 10, 2009

By Sis Nedie Español

I am a former member of the Iglesia ni Cristo ni Manalo.

Last October 15, 1999, I became a memberof the Church of God, International and after six months, my eldest daughter followed. My biological sister followed too, a few months after that. After a year, my husband, the late Bro. Romy Español who was an active and staunch minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo joined us in the Church.

Even before, I felt that the teachings and doctrines of my former religion were unbiblical. After the birth of our daughter, Monette, Bro. Romy told me to scrap off all time and effort in attending worship gatherings of the INC. For him, he said it would be better if we leave him alone in ‘tolerating’ his Church’s iniquities because we needed its ‘service’ to survive.

We actually lived together for twenty years. He was a well-known minister of the Iglesia and yet from his very mouth, I have learned that Jesus Christ was not man but God, and that the very Church adhering to that misleading belief was not of God. And the most beguiling but distinct of all was that Felix Manalo was never a Divine messenger.

I can still remember the time when we used to watch Bro. Eli Soriano’s program on Channel 13, around two-thirty ‘til three-thirty in the afternoon. I was well-informed because Bro. Romy himself was watching the program. One evening, he was visited by some suspended INC ministers. They were hanging out while singing their popular videoke songs when suddenly the machine malfunctioned. Bro. Romy switched the cannel to T.V. mode then to RJTV29 (The Ang Dating Daan (ADD) program was moved then to Channel 29).

I was listening to their conversation while they watched the program. Later on, I heard Bro. Romy talking about the Church of God being the TRUE Church and Bro. Eli being the authentic Divine messenger. I was so shocked hearing those statements from him and I was certainly puzzled the whole night. I then decided to locate for any Ang Dating Daan locale to immediately subject myself to indoctrination.

Gradually, my mind was cleared of all doubts and worries: The Church of God is the TRUE Church. No man can question or contest its existence and authenticity. I profess my fidelity to the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and guarantee my faith to the Church. Eventually, I underwent the Holy Baptism; the most precious moment in my life. My tears just flowed unceasingly. And I thought Romy would definitely get angry with me because he was still an INC minister, then my husband, but spiritual persecutor.

I just simply said to myself: “I love that man and I will love him more especially at this point in my life that I have known the genuine teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ…I will do that even though he had pointed a gun at me and risked my life after performing my divine obligations.”

Although I’m an active member of the Church of God, I would prepare everything for my husband before I leave the house. But there were times when he tried to stop me from attending the worship services. All I could do was cry and pray to God. Later on, he would comfort me saying: “Go ahead. Bring your son with you.”

I would leave the house in a hurry while crying and unburdening all my cares to God. I knew he was having an affair with a very young girl and that she was carrying his child. The only thing left in my mind was the truth that God is just. He would remember us when he was sick or sorrowful. I knew that he recognized my deep faith in the Church and the enormous respect I render to Brother Eli. And maybe he had been witness to my courage and strong belief in the Church.

Sometimes he would ask me if I was not getting tired of attending indoctrination sessions, Bible studies, and other activities. My mother even commented once while I was watching Bro Eli’s program: “Nedie, since you were not excommunicated [from the INC], why don’t you join us again?” My father was against my decision of leaving them. I just simply asked him as a response to his unutterable vexation, “Was that a lesson you have learned from your messenger?”

I knew them, my family, their religious service, and other matters regarding them. But did they change for good? Absolutely not! Everything was the same as if they have learned nothing. I talked seriously with my mother, telling her that this is the only happiness I would rather have in life and begged her to respect my decision. I also told my relatives that they can say all the evil things against me but never say anything against the Church and Bro Eli.

I and Monette were attending a Thanksgiving when Bro. Josel Mallari advised us that we had a visitor. To my surprise, it was Romy! He was observing the goings-on inside the convention center. And around one-thirty in the afternoon, my youngest son, Ramon informed me that his father was leaving. But I would discover later on that he never left the convention center. He just hid himself in the midst of the people seated in the bleacher and listened secretly to Brother Eli’s topic.

He used to do that several times until one time he said: “How will I be able to speak with Bro. Eli? I need to tell him certain things. I might be of help in exposing the INC’s unbiblical practices or to push the debate between them and the Church of God.”

Despite the hardships, trials and afflictions, I gave my utmost gratitude to God because last August 3, 2002, my husband was baptized. Before he passed away, he was able to partake, in his own little way, in the propagation of the Gospel especially in exposing the INC’s atrocities.

Bro. Romy once said: “The Holy Scriptures is right. There is a true religion and that is the Church of God written in the Bible.”