I went seeking for Bro. Eli’s kind of Bible that makes him easily flip for a verse

With my father, I did not ask permission for my change of faith because I could guess how he was going to react. So now, he was saying, “You live under my roof; why did you change your religion without asking permission from me? You have no respect! You can only make decisions like that if you are on your own!”

By Mark Jay Dulap

I was not a drunkard, nor a bad boy nor astig (tough guy), not even a drug user. I was part of a religious group that I used to believe was a true church – the Roman Catholic Church. The only difference is that it is a false church, a false religion. This, I came to find out later.

I am a former religion catechist and was an active member of the Roman Catholic Church in San Antonio Maria Claret Parish, a missionary organization in Zamboanga City. I was still studying that time, a high school student then.

I had entered three organizations in this church: the CYM or “Claret Youth Movers,” the Charismatic group Music Ministry, and then the catechists’ group. I was active for 7 years with the Roman Catholic Church.

Our house was just near the Parish. Every Sunday I attended mass and helped our priest in propagating the catholic doctrines in public schools. The same thing happened when I had vacant times after class.

Every month of May, we are assigned tasks in “Flores De Mayo,” the so-called Virgin Mary’s Month, to teach little children on how to pray “Our Father.” I had also a girlfriend that time whom I met at Flores De Mayo.

As I went along the way, I learned to love reading the Bible and I also loved to preach to the young ones. Then, I heard Bro. Eli Soriano’s Bible expositions on TV. Every night at 9pm I would watch this preacher on TV at IBC 13. I remember him warning: “Niloloko lamang kayo ng mga pastor niyo! Mag-ingat kayo sa mga bulaan propheta!” (You are just being fooled by your pastors. Beware of false preachers!”). It did not take long for me to realize that his teachings were very far different from what I was teaching the children as a catechist. These were simple canned question-and-answer lessons that children are asked to memorize. I cringed, learning that those I had been asked to teach were not true!

To my mind, this man is being guided by the Spirit of God because of his bravery in speaking out the truth. I recommended then to my fellow catechists and charismatic members to watch Bro. Eli on TV. But they mocked me saying, “Nagmumura yun!” (But he cusses!). I still continued my duty as an active catechist in the Catholic Church; at the same time, however, I watched Bro. Eli regularly.

As a member of the Roman Catholic Church, I was not completely convinced of my faith. Although I did not voice this out to my fellow catechists, seminarians, and priests, I was beginning to feel that the RC is not the real church. Since I loved reading the Bible that time, I found out that there are doctrines and practices that are not part of the teachings of Christ.

Ever since I watched Bro. Eli on TV, I became more and more convinced that the church or organization that I belonged to is not the real church established by our Lord Jesus Christ. I had been defending the catholic doctrines against pastors and Muslim critics, and now I had to stop.

Reading the Catholic Bible made me find out that not even a single doctrine or practice of the Catholics came from God. I didn’t believe that God is made of stone and wood or even plastic!

When I asked a question to my coordinator and fellow catechists about the Catholic teachings, they became irritated for lack of a rightful answer to me. They said I will only become a fool if I follow the whole Bible because no man can follow the entire teachings of the Bible perfectly.

As the priests appear in white clothes at the altar during mass to be seen by everyone, I felt that they are like apostles or men of God. But, after the mass they smoked outside the parish church. Smoking is not for those sanctified; I was to learn that from Bro. Eli.

Some of the brothers (those who are to progress as priests later on) even brought girls to their office homes. My cousin, a former sacristan, can testify to these things. He sees what they do in these places.

In the Roman Catholic Church, the sign of the cross that I used to do, I became more afraid of it! I learned it is a sign of the Anti-Christ, sealed in the hand and forehead. The waters that they used to bless people are simply waters that came from faucet; they just prayed on it so that, according to them, it can now devour bad spirit. But we were taught it is really blessed water! Those images I used to respect, I now see them as mere manikins!

I knew that their so-called Holy Communion every Sunday consisted of eating bread that merely came from the bakery. Every “holy week” of March they made penitence or sacrifices for a Jesus that dies every year, but then they repeat the cycle of a sinful life afterwards. They also prayed to a Mama Mary for the souls in purgatory to be saved while there is no purgatory mentioned in the Bible! What weird teachings!

After some four months, I decided to go and look for a locale of the Church where Bro. Eli preached. I got so curious of him and made up my mind to ask for a Bible. Perhaps there is a difference in their Bible that made Bro. Eli easily flip for a verse.

Thank God, I found one Church locale by just asking the tricycle driver to bring me to a locale of Ang Dating Daan. This group is known by this name in the country. Lucky for me, one was just nearby in the side of the street.

I was invited to an impending mass indoctrination as they had no stock of Bibles that time. These are usually being given away during Bible expositions. So I went home empty-handed. I also wondered why every time I asked a tricycle driver to bring me to the Church locale they only agreed for a fare of 10pesos!

God may be really calling me now! Why are things getting difficult? I attended every night the indoctrination sessions without the knowledge of my active friends in the Parish. I was feeling that this is the true church that God had established. God is now calling me to be part of the church!

Before the end of May came, I was already thinking many times about my shift of belief. This was on how to explain to my friends and loved ones that I will be leaving the Catholic Church and its beliefs. I was thinking of what could be their reactions if they found out.

Later, I decided to get baptized. During that day, a shining light from the sun scattered all over the water! I was so happy that day. I was baptized on the river of Upper Pasonanca on July 24, 2002 by Bro. Rodel Mangiliman. I was in fourth year college that time.

Earlier on, my parents would resent seeing me watch Bro. Eli teach on TV. Now that my father came to know I got baptized in the Church, he got really angry with me.

I did not ask permission for my change of faith because I could guess how he was going to react. So now, he was saying, “You live under my roof; why did you change your religion without asking permission from me? You have no respect! You can only make decisions like that if you are on your own!” My father is a “Serado Kandado Katoliko” which means: “I was born a Catholic, I will die a Catholic.” I could only do nothing that time but cry.

Rumors spread about my whole family in the whole Basilan Province in my father’s side. It would make another round of a story of hatred because of my new-found faith.

We still eat together as a family. The only problem was that my father would often remind me that I made a wrong decision in joining the Ang Dating Daan. I could not watch anymore TV programs of Bro. Eli if my father was in the house. Bawal na! (Forbidden!).

I did not say anything to the priests nor to the brothers as a sign of goodbye. I didn’t sleep in the parish church and make it as part of my home anyway. We have our own house that is a walking distance to our parish. I didn’t know what the priests were saying about me. I am sure, however, that they got the idea that I left them because our neighbor family reports to the parish.

I remember my last day before I left the Catholic Church. I was then totally convinced that it is a fake church! It happened on the last day of May 2002, an ending day of Flores de Mayo. I kept on staring at my students in Flores de Mayo and even looked up the ceiling of the parish. I said to the children without talking to them, “You will have to be on your own now, because at the end of this day I will pack my bags and leave behind all the abominable teachings of the Catholic Church.”

My girlfriend left me eventually, and I felt that the world was so unfair. Why is this thing happening to me? Being downhearted, I kept to myself. I stayed at home reading the bible.

When my fellow catechists, charismatic and youth members found out that I became a member of the Ang Dating Daan, they reacted as expected. All of them, including those who were supposed to be brothers in the church maintained a distance from me. They showed me faces of hatred and displeasure.

My friends in catechism and coordinator said: “Sayang ka Mark bakit ka pa nagpalit ng religion, isa ka pa naman sa magaling na catechists.” (It’s such a waste! Why did you shift religion? You were one of the best catechists we had!).

They didn’t smile at me anymore unlike before when I was with them. The other former friends of mine in the parish said: “Hindi ka magiging masaya sa buhay mo dahil nagpalit ka ng religion.” (You will never be happy in your life because you shifted faith!)

I can only say I found the real church; this is my home this is where I belong. I pray to God that he will open the minds of these people like what he did to me.

Later, I met some of my students in catechism. They had become Church workers! (Mangagawa). Thank God, we met in the true church!

I am so happy because I am now a member of the true church established by Jesus Christ. Bro. Eli is the only one who had enlightened my path, who opened my eyes, who opened my heart to know the truth, and that is why I am here now in the true church. I now understand why Bro. Eli can easily flip the Bible pages for a verse!

Whatever people may say, I have learned and am still learning many things when I joined the true church. It is miles and miles away from the Catholic faith which I used to profess.

I couldn’t understand why Bro. Eli should be stopped from preaching

Just like this man asking questions, my life had become complicated at the age of seventeen. I did not know whom to cling to. I didn’t know where to go.

By Jennifer Copo

Just about the time Prince Charming was about to propose to his princess in a romantic drama series I was watching, my cousin suddenly switched the channel which pissed me off. I kindly confronted him wanting him to realize his disrespectful attitude. He was just quiet and never said anything. Since he was older than I was and I was aware of his ill-temper, not to mention that I was also scared of him, I had no choice. I would have to watch whatever he would be watching.

It was a Soriano guy he was watching most of the time. The same Soriano that annoyed me most of the time too. And so I had had to patiently watch TV with him, my Prince Charming story had to wait.

My cousin eventually got baptized in the Church of this preacher. I had sensed that eventually it would have to be that way. One time, I was at home alone reading when he came handling his Bible. He taught me Biblical things, seemingly indoctrinating me. After that we seldom saw him staying at home. Our neighbors said he was always at a Church locale in a particular place. Few months after that, he had to move to the province because of his work. My cousin was gone, but of course my life continued.

I was 13 years old then. Very young.

It was during my Senior High school that I realized I wanted again to listen to that man’s voice that I got disgusted with four years ago. I never knew this preacher’s full name until such a time that I realized his importance in my life.

There was something in him that made me long for the things he discussed in his teachings. I’ve tried searching for him, for his voice. I knew I would be able recognize his voice the moment I would hear it again.

“Pray to God and ask for His help to guide you in knowing the true church and it will lead you in knowing the true meaning of your existence and purpose in life. God will never put you down. Just always ask for his guidance.”

These were the words I’ve first heard from the preacher that my cousin usually watched. They were his answers to a man who asked why humans were created by God. He had asked advice on how to make his worthless life meaningful.

Just like this man asking questions, I had my life become complicated at the age of seventeen. I had no parents to support my teenage life. I was living with my relatives then but I became rebellious to them. My situation that I could not detail here was at its worst. What does a teenage life usually deal with? Matters of the heart? My needs at this point needed some answers but I did not know whom to cling to. I did not know where to go.

I distrusted everybody because nobody understood me. This was a time I felt so, so low. In my feelings of emptiness, the words of that preacher would ring in my ears, soothing me, providing me a way out. “Pray to GOD and ask for His help to guide you in knowing the true Church. It will lead you to know the true meaning of your existence and purpose of life.”

How I longed to hear that man’s voice again. I decided to listen to him attentively the moment I could find him. I realized that he was different from other preachers. There were new truths I was learning from him that I have not heard before. I noticed that he gets everything he says from the Bible.

In my search, I failed to find him, however. Later, I was to understand that, that was Bro. Eliseo Soriano and that he was not allowed to broadcast in national television. I couldn’t understand why a preacher like Bro. Eli should be stopped from preaching. They said he was having problems with a rival church group that was influential with the censors.

My cousin came back to our house fortunately. Since he was a member of the Church, I had a longer opportunity to listen to Bro. Eli’s Bible expositions and debates. These were neatly entered in compact discs so that even if we could not access him on TV, we could continue learning. I felt that I didn’t want to stop listening since then. Bro. Eli’s teachings gave me inner peace and happiness and I was ever hungry for more.

Finally, my life took a turn. I was in better control. I no longer felt empty and misunderstood. I wasn’t homeless and without a family. From Bro. Eli, I learned that God is sufficient from all points – that he could both be mother and father to those without parents. Most of all, I learned the purpose of life and how it could be meaningful.

On July 4, 2003, I was baptized in the Church of God. It was my most special day because since then my life had taken on a Biblical meaning. I started to live as a true Christian. I began shunning away evil and living clean. I left whatever was an ugly past.

Up to this moment, I am learning with God’s help to feel the joy of being a member of the Church, and being with Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel that I consider to be the true preachers of God.

Through them, I am able to understand God’s Word unknown to many great and respected people. Blessed indeed are those whose minds were opened, and I am one of them. I could never explain the effect, as well as the influence, they have made in my life and to many people I’ve known.

Sometimes I would sit back and think of what my life could have been, had I had not known the truth. Perhaps I would have been a battered wife, desperate and needy at a young age, unable to handle my family’s needs.

Or perhaps a career woman, self-centered, selfish and having a lust for fame and money. I might have been someone uncaring, with no concern for others but myself.

Or perhaps I would have been dead by now, for I might have committed suicide because of hopelessness.

Perhaps one of these misfortunes could have happened to me, had I not known the truth. Because of God’s kindness, however, He had mercifully called me to His Church.

God led me to a life according to His Will that is teaching me the very purpose of my existence.

[Bro. Daniel is Daniel Razon, Vice Presiding Minister to the Members, Church of God, International or MCGI. He is next in rank to Bro. Eli.]

What was this preacher doing to my husband?

I prevented him from watching the show and that was the one thing in common between me and his family. We did not want him to be attached to this Soriano thing in any way. But like a real rebel, he continued watching. He would only shift to another channel when he saw me coming.

By Alma R. Evardo

It was in 2003 when I and my husband decided to live together, but we were married in civil rites the year before. We were leaving with his parents that time as husband and wife. However, between the two of us, we have so many things uncommon. We often fought in so many ways and almost every night. It came to a point that his whole family became an enemy to me.

Because of that, I felt that my life was so much ruined. I found myself deciding that I was wrong in marrying him. And oh! He had promised me a grand wedding that would be remarkable among our families and friends! But where was it?

As days past, I noticed my husband watching over a television program titled Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path) and Itanong mo Kay Soriano, Biblia ang sasagot (Ask Soriano, the Bible will answer). I understood that these were about biblical matters but that they were so much foreign to my own. In the Roman Catholic Church, watching programs like these is not expected. You get your instruction about religion from the priest. And so I started persecuting him.

I threatened to leave him. I kept warning him that if he entertained joining that group, our relationship will not work out. Above everything else, I dreaded a husband with a different faith and belief as mine. But as days passed, his eyes were still glued to that Ang Dating Daan TV program. “Better tell your parents that there will be no Catholic Church wedding coming because you are joining another religion,” I nagged him.

My husband simply smiled and said nothing. Nevertheless, I prevented him from watching the show and that was the one thing I had in common with his family. We did not want him to be attached to this Soriano thing in any way. But like a real rebel, he continued watching. He would only shift to another channel when he saw me coming.

My husband eventually started getting cold to me. He would sleep with his back turned to my face. He refused to do the sign of the cross. He had also stopped bringing the rosary with him like he used to do before leaving home for work. And that made me think, what was happening to my husband? What did this man (Bro. Eli Soriano) do to him? To the extent that the picture of this preacher was now appearing as wallpaper in my husband’s cell phone! But presto I deleted it! I hated it!

Later, we decided to move in to another house owned by his parents and settled on our own, but it was just a wall away from them. Over here, it remained a pre-occupation yet for my husband to keep watching the Ang Dating Daan show. The difference was that I realized I did not prevent him anymore. Instead, I found myself also watching Bro. Eli Soriano.

Oh, my! This preacher is telling the truth! And he reads direct from the Bible to prove his point! There were many things he said that opened my eyes. From then on I started loving to watch the program. I saw myself believing in everything Bro. Eli was saying. Eventually, I told my husband that he could now join that church where Bro. Eli is, and forget about his promised grand wedding for me.

With the help of Bro. Romanito “Tom” Maunahan, who was my co-worker at California Pizza Kitchen ATC branch, we were able to access the address of a Church locale situated at Signal. Right then, I helped my husband find the locale because he was in a hurry. He only had a month left before he would move to Taiwan to work for Eva Airways.

And so, one afternoon we tried to find the nearest Ang Dating Daan Coordinating Center. I could still imagine the mocking of the tricycle drivers from whom we inquired about the exact location of the Center. No tricycle driver was willing to bring us there. Instead they laughed and mocked us. And so my husband told me to stop asking because he noticed that most of the tricycles had the three-colored sign of the Iglesia ni Cristo.

We decided then to just walk and find it on our own, but we had gone so far already and still didn’t know our way. I got irritated and told him to ask again for some help, but he refused. I shouted, “Look, I have work at 4pm and it is almost 3pm. If you really believe that what we are going to do is God’s will, can’t He touch someone’s heart among the people here to bring us to this Ang Dating Daan Coordinating Center?” In not less than three minutes after I had said that, there appeared our high school classmate with his motor cycle and helped us get there.

My husband started attending special indoctrination sessions, finished it in just a week, and left to Taiwan for work. He got baptized on April 22, 2005.

I could say I became a believer also, but at that time, I was not yet fully decided to join the group. It was because of so many things. For example, I didn’t like wearing skirts; I wanted to shape and shave my eye brows. In short, I was very much vain.

Alone at home, my life changed. I stopped watching the Ang Dating Daan show because it was suspended. I understood later that it had problems with the Movie Television and Radio Classification Board (MTRCB). The camp of the Iglesia ni Cristo had filed a case against it and the MTRCB gave them way. I started to smoke and spent money extravagantly. This lasted for some five months.

One day I realized that I was no longer happy with my life. But why? I had money that ordinary people cannot have. My husband was giving me monthly allowance, and I also had my salary. However, I was not happy. I felt like there was something missing.

I decided then to resign and look for God. I went to the Ang Dating Daan Coordinating Center of Bagumbayan, Taguig and inquired for indoctrination. Someone from there approached me and told me to come back on a Mass Indoctrination scheduled on a November 16 of that year. And so I did. On my first day of indoctrination, I started to recall the past days of my life. They played instrumental music. I can’t remember what song that was, but I started crying. I cried a lot and asked myself why just now these things came to me.

I could not explain my emotions at that time. It was just that I was contented sitting there and listening to the lectures on Church doctrines. The days went on and I kept attending the indoctrination sessions.

I enjoyed them immensely and I found out on my own what Bro. Eli Soriano did to my husband during his calling time. God had changed him! God had changed me too. Through Bro. Eli Soriano, we were able to hear God’s words.

Finally, I finished my indoctrination and got baptized on December 9, 2005. I thank God for giving us Bro. Eli Soriano and Kuya Daniel Razon. Later, my youngest brother and my parents had joined the church also.

Thanks be to God! To God be the Glory!