December 17, 2014

MCGI ARTICLE

Ang Dating Daan Has Come A Long Way, But Still Looks to Reach More Souls


“From the start of the program – though there have been many hindrances, we can say that with the help and mercy of God – Ang Dating Daan has come a long, long way.”

This was part of a presentation that Bro. Daniel Razon delivered before the guests who filled the Smart-Araneta Coliseum during the 34th anniversary of the Ang Dating Daan program last October this year.

According to Bro. Razon told that it was not all smooth-sailing running the program hosted by Bro. Eli Soriano. Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel are the Overall Servants of the Members Church of God International or MCGI.

Bro. Daniel Razon speaking at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum on the 34th Anniversary of Ang Dating Daan or The Old Path. (Photo courtesy of PVI)
Bro. Daniel Razon speaking at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum on the 34th Anniversary of Ang Dating Daan or The Old Path. (Photo courtesy of PVI)

Ang Dating Daan (which is named The Old Path for its English-speaking constituents) not only has a modest beginning. The award-winning show also experienced many financial hardships and challenges due to religious persecutions.

But in spite of the hindrances, Ang Dating Daan has achieved what its contemporaries has only dreamed of becoming – the longest-running religious program in the Philippines. More than this feat, it is also the only Filipino-produced religious show with the widest scope of international broadcast.

From a three-person team composed of the then still 17-year-old Bro. Daniel as its videographer and editor, Sis Luz Cruz as production assistant and researcher, and Bro. Eli as the host – Ang Dating Daan now has an international following, with the help and mercy of God.

Ang Dating Daan’s worldwide reach

Now posted on Ang Dating Daan’s Youtube channel, the keynote presentation delivered by Bro. Razon has observers commending the feat the religious program has gone in broadcasting the word of God through different forms of media and communication.

“Now, as we speak, we glorify the Almighty, that this program is being aired simultaneously in all the six populated continents of the world,” said Bro. Daniel, who is also known as Kuya Daniel in MCGI and among his constituents in the broadcast industry as a journalist and multimedia host.

One of its satellite providers, the SES-6, allows people in North America, as well several countries in the Central, South American and European countries to watch the Ang Dating Daan program.

During his keynote speech on The Old Path's 34th Anniversary on October 30, 2014, Bro. Daniel Razon told the jam-packed Smart-Araneta Coliseum of the various satellite services through which The Old Path is broadcast 24/7. (Photo courtesy of PVI)
During his keynote speech on The Old Path’s 34th Anniversary on October 30, 2014, Bro. Daniel Razon told the jam-packed Smart-Araneta Coliseum of the various satellite services through which The Old Path is broadcast 24/7. (Photo courtesy of PVI)

Meanwhile, the MEASAT 3A assists in extending MCGI’s broadcast efforts in majority of Asian, Middle Eastern, European, Eastern African, and Oceanic countries.

For South American audience, the Star One C2 satellite carries the religious program to Spanish and Portuguese-speaking audiences.

Apart from television, radio, and 24-hour broadcast on the Internet, audience with smartphones and tablet gadgets can access the broadcasts through the MCGI Broadcast App.

With worldwide reach, MCGI has started producing the program in different languages, such as The Old Path for English, and the Portuguese and Spanish versions of O Caminho Antigo and El Camino Antiguo, respectively.

“Besides these three languages, we are now translating the program Ang Dating Daan in different languages and dialects,” said Kuya Daniel, citing countries now served by the program in various language formats, such as Japan, China, Germany, Africa, Papua New Guinea, and others.”

The Fruits of Broadcast

Due to the intensified broadcasting of the program in different corners of the globe, more and more foreign listeners of the Ang Dating Daan have been baptized inside the Church.

“We continuously receive letters – from mails and emails, [as well as] chat and text messages, from different countries that the Ang Dating Daan broadcast reaches,” said Bro. Daniel during his presentation. “They are waiting for the doctrines of God and to be baptized in the Church of God.”

The Old Path Host and MCGI Presiding Minister Bro. Eli Soriano answering queries of faith via live video streaming. (Photo courtesy of PVI)
The Old Path Host and MCGI Overall Servant Bro. Eli Soriano answering queries of faith via live video streaming. (Photo courtesy of PVI)

With a great number of individuals wanting to get baptized from different countries, Church workers and Assistants to the Administration have to travel far distances to perform the baptisms.

The growing number of new brethren baptized in the Church also prompted the establishment of new coordinating centers in the Philippines and abroad.

“There have been many changed lives because of listening to and watching the program Ang Dating Daan. And these people have further cultivated their love for the Word of God and for their fellowmen,” stressed Bro. Daniel. “We give no credit to man – for it is all through God’s love, that this has become possible.”

(Written by Pauline Arellano)


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