These Peculiar People of God Challenged me to Search for Truth

We always closed the shop on Saturdays, which I thought was the only time not appropriate for the business to close. It is the only day the business is good. When I asked them why, they simply answered “We go to Church! Okay!??”

By Joseph Gil Custodio

When I was growing up I studied in a school run by “born-again Christians” from nursery to high school. We were taught by the same in other private schools, except that we were obliged to attend Sunday schools, Christian living classes, chapel days. We were taught to memorize verses, read the Bible, and other stuff. I found these things seemingly religious but very confusing.

I wasn’t new to the whole Bible-Christian-living thing, when I was growing up. My mom was too persuasive when it came to going to church on Sundays, but I wasn’t into it. I was lazy waking up on Sundays.

So back in college, I still attended a church of the born-again but not with the intention of really worshipping. The church had a service which catered to younger people like me, and in this case, some local celebs or kids of actors and actresses were attending the service. Their so-called “praise and worship” felt like a rock concert, I found myself amused with it and thought to myself it was cool attending. But still, the hunger for truth kept bugging me.

I was a very hard-headed person, a happy-go-lucky, careless individual who only thought of himself and did lots of stupidity back then. I did not concentrate on my studies as a fine arts student so I wasn’t able to finish. I was drunk almost every day and night, partying or just doing something to feed my hunger for some gimmick. I numbed myself of frustrations in life by smoking much marijuana.

I still remember an event one night, because there were not many programs to choose from on late night programming. While browsing the channels, I came across two guys. They seemed to be mocking at each other at first, but as I watched, I realized they were on a very intense debate. This guy, who seemed to be the fans’ favorite, smashed his opponent with verses after verses from the Bible of clear evidences of what he was trying to prove. At that point I realized this guy is the real deal! I recognized him to be Bro. Eliseo Soriano or Bro. Eli of Ang Dating Daan.

Well, at first I wasn’t a big fan of his, though I had this guilty pleasure of listening and watching him every once in awhile. I was very much entertained with how he knows the Scriptures from cover to cover. However, I was still a prisoner of my wicked deeds and didn’t take time examining the doctrines he was preaching.

At the age of 20, something big struck me in the head, bulls-eye. My girlfriend, also as young as I was, got pregnant and as a product of my stupidity, we tried doing some stuffs to abort the baby. Moreover, due to some unfortunate events, I wasn’t able to defend my thesis, which meant I could not finish my degree. I was a student then facing a problem of how to sustain my wife with my own money. We were so afraid to reveal things to our parents, so then, I felt like the whole world dropped on my back and I was very miserable.

After some 5 months I learned to accept that this was my fate, that the baby doesn’t have anything to do with my problems. I learned to be happy and be excited about her birth, but it wasn’t God’s will for me to be a father that time. My baby got miscarried! The feeling of emptiness came like a huge blanket covering me, suffocating me till I felt like I didn’t want to live anymore. I was so dumb.

When the doctor gave the baby to me, I was stupified to find that she was stuffed in a huge empty bottle of mayonnaise! Perhaps that was so because I told him I will bury the baby later. With the baby on my hands I felt like sinking; I felt like I was hanging atop a building with only my aching finger to keep me from falling. It was as though the rush of blood in my head wanted to burst out from my ears. I thought that dying was my only way of escape. I felt worthless, and all I did was cry.

My wife suffered stress due to my selfish actions. Her water bag broke, and she lost a lot of amniotic fluids. We were hiding her pregnancy so I wasn’t able to take her to the hospital on a weekend until we could see each other on a Monday. So basically she would have died with my baby if I were not able to rush her to the hospital. She was bleeding for almost a day, and the baby died inside her.

I said sorry to my wife while she was lying there staring blank at the hospital ceiling. I was a coward! I was afraid to recognize that there is God ready to answer my fears. I was afraid to lose the freedom I had: the never-ending nights of sex, drugs and rock-and -roll. But I really felt sorry, really felt guilty. While feeling so all alone, I forgot there is God – the God I needed to turn to – to change my miserable life.

After going through this ordeal, with the help and mercy of God, everything went back to normal again. I decided to take my life seriously to the point of seeking God.

I met 3 guys, one of whom was my sister’s high-school classmate. They were big like the guys you see as metal rockstars. Big muscled, poker-faced, long-bearded, and quite frankly, they seemed like some people you won’t want to mess with. The other guy was thin but was mischievous looking. So then, I had a deal with them to establish some sort of a business venture.

We had a small advertising shop, because they were into arts, and I was also into it. We hanged out together, did all our stuff together, made friends, and eventually we all got ourselves comfortably with each other.

But at some point I found them interestingly unusual. First, my family owned a small restaurant. I used to bring some food for us to eat so that we can save money while manning the shop. But then they would always ask every detail about the food’s history. Whatever it is, they needed to find out before munching the grub, as if they were monkeys trying to check the food first before eating, and that looked weird to me.

Second, we always closed the shop on Saturdays, which I thought was the only time not appropriate for the business to close. It is the only day the business is good. When I asked them why, they simply answered “We go to Church! Okay!??”

Third, one event happened, so I asked them that if they wanted to chill out, I will take charge and buy some booze and we’ll relax. Right, after saying that, I saw their faces as if I said something offending that they instantly wanted to rush outside to puke or whatever. I was really confused yet still interested, to hang out with them.

One time I was cleaning the shop, I saw a CD under the office table, saying DEBATE. Immediately I felt excited, because I had started getting fond of watching Bro. Eli debating with people. However, I wasn’t expecting to get that stuff from them. Actually they didn’t tell me about those kinds of stuffs until I and my wife got really interested with their faith and started asking some questions.

While all my questions were answered by them clearly, when they asked me questions, those questions really bothered me, not for days but months. It was because I couldn’t answer or even justify my answers to them. For them, I just stared in amazement that those questions would come from those guys who looked as if it would never cross their minds to read the bible or even be interested with religion.

I was looking at their outer being, not inside, so I wasn’t really expecting those things from them at all. As days passed, my venture with them got really deep and every time we got together we always talked about the Bible, and yeah, they kept on asking me questions. When I asked, all their answers were, “Ask your pastor,” so sometimes I would get pissed off. At the back of my mind the pastor I know would go nuts if he’ll try to answer just one question they gave like, “Where was God living when he didn’t yet create the Heavens and the Earth?”

I spent half of my life living in confusion, so there; at that point I decided to end it. I think I found the Truth a long time ago. I’ve been wanting to know, to answer all the questions about religion. At that point I only knew one person to turn to, to answer all those mysteries, all those unanswered discussions regarding faith and religion, and most of all, about God. That person is Bro Eli.

After being invited to a “Grand Pulong” at that time or “Bible expo,” I felt very welcome. Upon entering the venue, I felt people were expecting me to come as if they knew me. Every time I turned to those guys whose smiles were a way of communicating that they are happy to have me as their guest, I felt really at home. I felt refreshed; I felt this is it!

And then after that, our Business partners never saw us for a month or so. They thought we were not even interested or that we despised their faith. Little did they know we’ve been undergoing indoctrination sessions. And when we saw each other again, we were now equally all brethren in the Church! We all cried for joy, realizing this.

For those things that intrigued me, I was to find out that members of the Church of God International, where Bro. Eli preached, do not eat blood, the strangled, the double-dead, and food offered to idols. That is the reason they do not simply eat any food without knowing the source. As to Saturdays, this is the day they spend for weekly Thanksgiving and in the evening, the Worship Service. Profits on these days do not mean anything to them because God is their priority. They remain in Church. Finally, members of this Church do not drink liquor. Suggestions for drinking do not appeal to them.

Six years have passed but I still remember every detail of the events that led me from darkness to light- events that had changed me with God’s help. I don’t regret those things. They have somehow made me realize how lucky I am to have found the answers that for a long time I had been waiting for. I had wanted to live a life with reason, to have wonderful preachers like Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel. These are the preachers who give their lives selflessly for people like me to have another chance, to live according to the will of God and truth written in the Bible. Thanks be to God!

[Joseph Gil Custodio is a Church member from the Locale of Qatar.]

Behold! Bro. Eli is telling the truth about Catholic Church Idols!

The TV program that night ended, but I could not explain the feeling inside of me. I got very angry with Bro. Eli! I hated him! It was maddening! And yet it was the truth! I was contented with what I heard, but I did not entertain it.

By Jocelyn Cervania

I clearly remembered my days when I was still a member of the Catholic Church. At primary years, it was a school requirement to attend Sunday Mass and ask the parochial priest to affix his signature to our index card as proof of our attendance.

I was also then a member of the Legion of Mary, where we study the life about Mary, mother of Jesus. My interest to serve God increased and in my own understanding of how to show it, I started joining some church groups introduced that time. I went to nearby churches that celebrated their saint’s day. I always made myself present in every traditional practice of the Catholic Church. For that, in my own assessment, I was an active church goer and religious person. In all those days I had spent, we studied the Bible very minimal.

At my collegiate years, I felt a hunger deep inside of me. Despite continuing the church services every Sunday and the usual practices, I still had the feeling of discontentment. And such feeling of discontentment drove me to look for another religion.

I attended once the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) worship, and after learning that Jesus is not God in their doctrine, I discontinued attending. Many times, too, I had attended Born-Again Movement groups, and I thought I found already what I was searching for. My enthusiasm, however, began to wane every time they preached about contributions. I knew it was in the Bible, but I had the feeling that there was something wrong.

I first heard the televised preaching of Bro. Eliseo Soriano in my friend’s house when I visited her. Her mother was an inactive member of the Members Church of God International (MCGI) that Bro. Eli preached. I clearly remembered that it was due to the “gayak” doctrine (Christian Dressing) that she discontinued attending. I didn’t understand her explanation then. Also, I wasn’t interested much; neither did I clearly understand Bro. Eli’s preaching at that moment. I had other interests, and so I never heard Bro. Eli again.

Later, my life turned sour; I had emotional problems, but my newly-found religion (the Born-Again) did nothing to comfort me. I found myself wanting my desperate life to end as I was so depressed that time. My depression turned to frustrations. My frustrations turned to sins. And those sins turned me into another human being – alive but with a life so meaningless.

Having had acquired insomnia, I stayed late watching TV. And that was the second time I heard Bro. Eli at SBN 21, when there was no other channel airing that late night.

Bro. Eli preached with much boldness and bravery, and each time he read Bible verses to prove what he was saying. This time the topic was about the practices of the Roman Catholic Church regarding idols. I ran to fetch my Bible and hurriedly looked for the verses for myself. I had doubts then that he was telling the truth.

Behold! Bro. Eli is telling the truth about Roman Catholic Church idols! Lo! The Bible verses are written very clearly, he is telling no lies! God is much displeased with idol worship! For many years, I had believed the opposite.

The TV program that night ended, but I could not explain the feeling inside of me. I got very angry with Bro. Eli! I hated him! It was maddening! And yet it was the truth! I was contented with what I heard, but I did not entertain it.

The next night, something was telling me to watch again the program”Ang Dating Daan,” and I did. At the same time, there was also something pushing me to change the channel and stop listening to Bro. Eli. I prayed so hard to God with tears, asking Him for His guidance. Deep within me, I knew that I had found the true religion! It was the one I had been searching for a very long time!

I have no words to explain my feelings every time I hear Bro. Eli’s preaching. I find myself contented. This preacher was sent by God, for he is telling no lies. He is just reading the Bible to explain and to answer everyone. I have my Bible on me, and I can verify everything he is saying.

I never went to the Catholic Church again: neither to the Born-Again groups.

On June 8, 2007, together with my husband, I got baptized. We are very fortunate to be members of the Church of God International!

[Jocelyn Cervania is a member of the Locale of Amaya, South District, Cavite.]

My Girlfriend asked me to Choose between Her and my Faith

I think the same thing happened to me because I am not evil and all I knew was that in life there is God. But I didn’t know what He was for. After I was able to listen to Bro. Eli, it was like magnet that I could not stop listening to him anymore. I was never like that before; spiritual things were not my interest.

By Onyx Rivera

I am a former Catholic. My mom is a Catholic through and through, while my father is a former member of the Iglesia ni Cristo ni Manalo (INCM). But that had been a long time ago back in Laguna. My father left that because at first he thought it was the true church.

His siblings were fighting and so he left home for Manila and there got married. Almost all my relatives from my father’s side are members of the INCM. You might be curious about me, but I hope there will be a time that I can convince them to be with me in the true service of God.

I had classmates in High School who were from the INCM but we never did discuss differences in our faith. Neither did they invite me to visit their chapel. I was still a catholic then.

In August 2001, two of my childhood friends introduced to me the Ang Dating Daan. One of them was a Catholic and the other, a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. I refused to listen and watch that TV program which they zealously did. I ignored my friends and said, that’s okay; we can have different faiths. And as long as we remain friends, I will respect your faith.

That was my belief then, until it was my turn to listen to Bro. Eli without noticing that I was getting addicted to it. This was between August up to September 2001. I learned Bro. Eli is Bro. Eliseo Soriano, also a preacher.

I went to a Grand Meeting, the same one being held by Bro. Eli in many places. It was held near our place, in Rasak Sports Complex. I thought I needed a Bible and so I went to SBN 21 in Strata.

It was on August 21, 2001. I saw my classmates there; I even greeted them before I would ask a question to Bro. Eli. I was one of those lined up to ask questions regarding anything in the Bible and he would answer – direct from the Bible.

On my way home, I was riding on a jeepney by Gabby’s, and I thought to myself, Wow! I was able to do that! Because, you see, I am very shy. Later did I realize that I was seen on TV, on the Internet, in the studio, and heard on the radio! So that is how it is when it is God who moves you! This is something!

I was alone in the jeep reflecting. One night when I was yet a Catholic, I was in bed wishing I would find the true religion if this one (RC) is not it. I asked God to show me. But I was surprised why I asked that. Wasn’t I in the true faith?

I like Bro. Eli because he has mastered the Bible and because he tells the truth. I would write and write in my notebooks the new truths he was saying. That was the reason I asked for a Bible from him.

My indoctrination sessions lasted to about a month. It was a worker then who administered them live. I was very happy whenever I watched Ang Dating Daan. My feelings were so light that I gave priority to the indoctrination sessions to the extent that I and my girlfriend parted ways. She had asked me to choose between me and my church.

I told her, Sorry, but I would have to choose this Church! It was so painful but because of my newly-found joy I stood my ground. She asked me, “Is it me or your Church?”

How good indeed is our Lord! I and my girl friend resumed talking to each other after I got baptized on October 12, 2001. On November 30, 2001, or a few weeks later, my girlfriend also got baptized. I could not ask for more.

God has been so good to us. My girl friend is now my wife and we are blessed with a child who reminds us of many things in our service to The Almighty.

Later on, my classmates also became members of the Church, now registered as Members Church of God International (MCGI). This is where Bro. Eli preached, the TV host of Ang Dating Daan. I got baptized ahead of them, however, on October 12, 2001 by Bro. Rodel Mangiliman in Apalit, Pampanga.

Do you remember what happened to Bro. Eli about getting and buying the ADD Convention Center in Pampanga? Didn’t he tell us that at that time he did not know why he had to buy a fishpond? What was he going to do with a big, big fishpond? Including those big tracts of land around, what were they for? Why were people selling those to him? Later on, he realized that it was for a Convention Center to be built!

I think the same thing happened to me because I am not evil and all I knew was that in life there is God. But I didn’t know what He was for. After I was able to listen to Bro. Eli, it was like magnet that I could not stop listening to him anymore. I was never like that before; spiritual things were not my interest.

Whenever it was Bro. Eli preaching, it felt so good listening to him. My parents wondered why I had to hide in my room the radio because my papa was using it. So there was a Bro. Eli to listen to; there were my classmates to invite me and challenge me to listen to Bro. Eli; there was the radio so I could listen. So I dumped my girl friend for the indoctrination sessions because faith was more important. These were all the events that led me to my request to God to show me the true church. He will supply the right thing at the right time anyway –just like my wife now who is also my sister-in-faith.

Those were the days. What is important is that I got affiliated in the true church. I hope to be able to continue in God’s service.

The Message of Christ is Written in my Reformed Brother

I then talked to my mother, telling her that I wanted to change, so what could do? I felt like crying because this sounded like the song of Freddie Aguilar titled, Anak. I begged her to please accompany me to my brother’s house. I must join his religion, I told mother.

By Joseph Jejun Mendoza

I was not in the Catholic Church but I grew up worshipping idols.

I was not a shabu user but I was spending 500-2500 pesos with drugs almost every day.

This was to give pleasure to my lusts until I did not know then that I was deep into drugs. I also could not sleep unless I drank wine.

Every night I prayed to the idols that my life be changed. But of course, I could not change because every time a drug addict was around and showed me shabu, I could not help but use shabu also.

I did not know about a Bro. Eli; neither have I heard his voice, but I remembered my older brother who was even worse than I was, but he had changed.

I learned that it had been 5 years then that my brother stopped touching shabu on account of his religion. (We don’t talk to each other because I hated him.)

I then talked to my mother, telling her that I wanted to change, so what could do? I felt like crying because this sounded like the song of Freddie Aguilar titled, Anak.

My mother asked me what I wanted her to do. I begged her to please accompany me to my brother’s house. I must join his religion, I told her.

Although I was too shy, I approached my brother. My brother was so happy; he had advised me that as soon as I go home, I listen to Channel 29 in the program of Ang Dating Daan.

My brother had me have a Bible study with one Church worker. While I was having Bible study, drug pushers were surrounding me and showing me shabu. But with the help and mercy of God, ever since I talked to my brother about stopping the habit, I did not anymore touch shabu.

There was even a time that I was taking my indoctrination sessions that someone was kneeling before me, pleading that I accompany him to the source.

I had so many friends before who used to call me “Alien” because before, Alien in the TV program, Bubble Gang, was so popular before.

I was not yet a member then, but I was with the Bible Studies of the Church workers in Pampanga. In all the Bible Expositions of Bro. Eli, I was there. From there, I believed that this is the truth; I could really feel the spiritual unity of the members. The teachings are so pure.

At last on February 18, 2000, I was baptized. I was deep into the activities until I became a worker in the October batch of those with Bro. King.

After a time, my mother also became a member before she died in 2003.

We lived in Pampanga then although we are from Batangas because my brother was hiding from his case that time. I resented much my brother. You see, we are only two brothers. He used to hurt my older sisters and he would often get drunk every day and night.

He loved trouble, and even answered back mother. Almost every night, he was into brawls and that included his brothers-in-law as punching bags.

My brother loved to read the Bible although he was that bad. He became a member of the Born-Again Movement but that had not changed him.

I was trying to earn money to establish myself a business before my habit got the better of me. My mother took me in so we could stay separate from my brother and stay away from him.

Our business with mother became successful until I could easily buy what I wanted, as far even as feeding my worldly pleasures. I had not seen my brother for a long time, and then I heard that he was not drinking anymore and was staying out of trouble.

He came to us one time to visit mother. He was silent this time and I also did not talk to him. One time he came to us with what I understood to be a pastor from his religion. While we were taking drugs inside a room with my friends, I heard the pastor reading the Bible to my older sister who was said to be interested in that religion. I was mocking that preacher teaching my sister because the topic was about drugs.

We all laughed – all of us inside the room. Later, that sister of mine had kidney trouble and became quite sick. It was just by dialysis that she was able to survive. One time, my sister asked a question to my brother. I knew then that the answer was correct, but because I hated my brother, I did not mind. One more thing, the Bible was not one of my interests before.

My sister was not able to reach baptism as she died earlier, but she was being indoctrinated that time and was soon to be finished.

Yes, that is it! As the Bible says, it is not written in letters but written in you. This was what I saw in my brother, and that is why I got affiliated with his religion, the Members Church of God International (MCGI) or Ang Dating Daan as local people know it. This is the group where Bro. Eliseo Soriano is preaching. Bro. Eli is known to exemplify what he teaches.

The message of Christ is written on my brother and I was able to read it. Thanks be to God! Even my sisters who formerly resented my brother now admire him for his change. My uncles in Batangas who never thought my brother would be reformed were surprised! With myself, among my friends in Pampanga, I am called “Pastor.” [Haha!] Praise God for sending his faithful messenger!

My wife persecuted me for my faith but now we’re together in it

I prayed to the Almighty God hoping that someday, my wife would also be called to the Church of God. I stood my ground and followed the doctrines. One of that was being good to my wife, loving her, and cherishing her as my own self. I was no longer smoking and I was a changed man.

By Thommy Dagoc

We were just the opposite poles: me and my wife in terms of religion. If she was quite hot for it, to me it did not mean anything. This explained the war we had for each of our beliefs.

I was born a Roman Catholic and I don’t recall hearing explanations about the word of God such as what we are hearing now from Bro. Eliseo Soriano. I first came upon Bro. Eli in February 2002.

One time I was tuning on my television set. I saw a TV program of ANG DATING DAAN in SBN Cebu and that was the first time I watched Bro. Eli on TV preaching the Word of God.

There was nobody convincing me to view this program but I had had a feeling very different. I felt happy while watching Bro. Eli discussing the Word of God. I never felt bored nor felt sleepy with the whole program.

I was soooooo, soooooo interested watching even if the program lasted to almost 2 am. But while I was watching Bro. Eli, I was still hooked on to my habit of smoking cigarettes.

My wife started getting mad at me after a couple of weeks watching the program. My time at night was focused on Bro. Eli. As my wife’s world started crumbling down due to my shift of attention, tension came between us.

From my new interest, I decided to visit a Church locale after I saw an invitation flagged on TV. It was about indoctrination and I wanted to go just to observe what indoctrination was.

I got so enlightened with the teachings but there was a time I had to miss one session. My wife was trying to hold me back. She did not want me to get affiliated with the Members Church of God International (MCGI). This is the registered name of the Church that Bro. Eli is Presiding Minister to. I and my wife went to the extent of fighting each other.

I had to undergo a second round of indoctrinations just to finish. My wife threatened that she will leave me with our two kids if I continued joining the Church of God.

However, I was not daunted with all that threat. I was never scared of what people said. By God’s help I successfully joined the Church of God. On May 4, 2002, I got baptized.

After my baptism I saw my wife getting wild. She got drunk and while I was sleeping she poured on me a glass of beer. She condemned me for joining the Church of God. She spoke bad words just to embarrass me to my friends and to my family. Our quarrels went on: she, defending her Catholic faith while I gripped on to the one I newly found.

I prayed to the Almighty God hoping that someday, my wife would also be called to the Church of God. I stood my ground and followed the doctrines. One of that was being good to my wife, loving her, and cherishing her as my own self. I was no longer smoking and I was a changed man.

I took her with me to Church gatherings although I knew that she was against my new-found faith. From there, she could observe more than what she could see in me or what I could tell her. I only guided her where she needed help, taking care to internalize the teachings that I have received and exemplify them in all my actions.

The teachings took effect on her as she listened to God’s words. Bro. Eli’s way of preaching was and is different from the Roman Catholic’s where we came from. I tried my best to be the good husband to her as taught by Bro. Eli to couples. On August 23, 2002, my wife also got baptized.

Amazingly, God had answered my prayer! After months of contention and tension, my wife also became a member in this Church of God. She didn’t just become a member. She went active and by God’s help and mercy, Vicenta C. Dagoc is currently our deaconess in our locale. We belong to the Locale of Danao, Cebu District II, Central Visayas Division.

Thanks be to God for all His unspeakable gift to us! A sensible preacher was sent to open our mind into God’s way!

I got a new conscience that tells me what not to do!

The moment they sang the Doxology, my eyes were not closed; I was curiously observing everyone. Again, I asked myself: Why is it like this? I was having at that moment goose bumps all over my body. It seemed like they only have one voice that has one route: heaven. I didn’t know what I should do.

By Ruperto Movilla Jr.

I didn’t know anything about Bro. Eliseo Soriano before. He was just a byword to me. The one who was affiliated with the Members Church of God International (MCGI) or Ang Dating Daan (ADD) as it is locally known, was my eldest brother. I only got affiliated when I was 21. At that time we were residing at Quezon or Lagro in particular. Our landlady was not yet a member also in the church. I think that was the reason why she was exactly kind to my brother.

I had heard mocks against Bro. Eli and about the organization being a cult. There were also inquiries that question the doctrines of the church, which was obviously intended for the church’s infamy. In my desire to know the real state of my brother’s church, I planned to go with him in a gathering. What I didn’t know was that he really wanted me to go with him.

Twice then, I had been to Apalit, Pampanga where the Convention Center was based. The first time was when the impending New Year of the catholic calendar was approaching. We were supposed to be with our relatives as is the practice of most Filipinos. Instead of going to our relatives we spent the New Year in the thanksgiving of the whole congregation of MCGI.

In one of the gatherings that I had attended before, I heard some words from Bro. Eli which until now rings in my mind. He said that according to the Bible, “when it rains, the heaven opens.” This is the idea that made me get interested in the Bible.

I kept on attending gatherings, even up to the time that I was in our town, Olongapo. I went to Church locales just to hear the teachings of the Bible.

Affiliating with the Church, however, was not in my mind at that time, until one very memorable prayer meeting. This was the second gathering that I had attended. Everyone closed their eyes, praying: The church worker on duty, a man in old age, prayed. I felt a really strong emotion or some kind of unexplainable spirit that was present in that gathering. Even though it was not my intention to cry, I automatically bursted into tears that I just couldn’t control. I cried in that prayer meeting thoroughly.

Through that, I developed faith. I told myself, this congregation is different from the others – this church that my brother is affiliated with. Starting that moment, it seemed like the word of God had penetrated within me. I just couldn’t stop attending the gatherings.

Again, my brother took me to Apalit. In the gathering, when the congregation would sing, Bro. Eli was the one initiating the singing of songs of the Himnario. Then, the congregation followed. Everyone within the congregation was following what Bro. Eli was doing. I am wondering how they all memorized these songs: are they practicing together? I kept thinking about it.

Another thing was when the congregation sang the Doxology. The moment they sang the Doxology, my eyes were not closed; I was curiously observing everyone. Again, I asked myself: Why is it like this? I was having at that moment goose bumps all over my body. It seemed like they only have one voice that has one route: heaven. I didn’t know what I should do. What happened was that I was motivated to continue attending gatherings. The sad thing was that I was not yet affiliated with the church that time.

Things changed when I went home. I left Quezon and went back to Olongapo City (our real home). I can say that, there, my affiliation with the church was truly hindered. I was being persecuted for my new-found faith. My elder brother knew about my situation. He immediately negotiated with a church worker to visit me in our home.

Bro. Gary Galvan, was the worker assigned for me. He conducted Bible Studies in our house. Then, afterwards Bro. Ricky Lugto was with him. He was the one who taught me about the doctrines, live. Luckily, with the mercy and help of God, I had finished the indoctrination sessions. I am now affiliated with the church.

I did not regret having affiliated with this church. I felt the real guidance of God in MCGI. Through Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel I fully understand what the Bible says. I can now say that this is the true church here in the face of the Earth, teaching the incomparable truths of the Bible.

Here, there are preachers who are always ready to help, even though they did not know a person personally. If I recall how I was before, I would say that I have really changed. Before, it was my habit to curse every time I spoke. Even with just simple tete-a-tete my expressions contained curses. Surprisingly, that was gone. Sometimes I sort of let out a curse, but there is some kind of this conscience that I have never felt before. It reminds me that I shouldn’t do cursing.

Truly, there is a spirit guiding these people, and there is the spirit of God guiding Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel. Perhaps, if I didn’t have the opportunity to hear them nor know anything about them, I would still be in the darkness of this world.

[Ruperto Movilla Jr is a regular church worker of Pampanga Division and is now 9 years with the Church.]