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!

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.]