February 23, 2015

MCGI ARTICLE

Newly Baptized Testimonials: February 6, 2015


Read short testimonials of faith from some of MCGI’s youngest brethren baptized on February 6, 2015 at the ADD Convention Center in Apalit, Pampanga.

Bro. Jose Mariano Roa Jr., 73, Former Catholic, Pampanga Province

On Joining the Church of God

Bro. Eli was still on Channel 13 then. Whenever I watched on TV, I would turn the dial and pass by Channel 13. I’d stop to listen for a few seconds or minutes; then, change the channel.

Actually, I was still quite irritated with Bro. Eli back then because he attacks all the religions I hear about. I was Catholic, of course; I didn’t know the truth, so I became angry.

Still, that went on. Everyday, I would pass by the channel, and stop for a few moments to listen. I didn’t know that what I was listening to was going straight to my heart.

Even on radio, I would stay up late in listening. I would come home early. His time was at 9 o’ clock, so before 9 p.m. I would be home already. It was on radio then, and not on the television. I would fall asleep to his preaching, until His words sprang in my heart.

I have attended many gatherings before, but I didn’t feel any blessing from Him. I still felt the same; the vices were there in other religions.

I would be invited by my friends, by my fellow Catholics and they would share the word of God. I would attend, but then my attitude was unchanged.

Until the time came, to cut it short, that I was searching – as it was the wish of my heart – for a true church that I would join. Until I found this guy [points to a brother-in-faith].

He visited our house, exchanged regards, until he invited me here. When I did, I had… I felt blessed. Even though I wasn’t a member yet then, I already felt blessed.

On Being Baptized

I saw the brethren here; I saw the love. Also, I heard the words of God that are in the Bible. So I hope that on this day I became baptized, may the Lord have mercy on me, that I may continue in this.

On Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon

I am thankful that God used Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel. Thank you.

~o~

Bro. Vergilio Ognita, 44, Former Catholic, Nueva Ecija Province

On Joining the Church of God

I’ve heard almost everyone who preaches. What Bro. Eli says, I can also read in the Bible.

With other preachers, I’ve heard them all. Almost all of them are [the same]. But with him, you will really read everything [in the Bible]. That’s what encouraged me, so I got encouraged.

On Being Baptized

I felt somehow light, as if a thorn has been pulled from my chest.

On Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon

I’m thankful to them. Because of their help, I’m here and a member of ADD [the Church of God International].

~o~

Bro. Verlito Agustin, 39, Former Muslim, Cavite Province

On Joining the Church of God

I got converted to Muslim when I was in the Middle East. I worked there from 2005 to 2013; that’s how long…

Actually, with Bro. Eli, I was still studying then. As early as 1997 I was already listening to him on radio. The line of questioning [of people] back then were more on the personal issues or personal problems, and Bro. Eli would read the answer in the Bible.

Those were very enlightening explanations. He would explain about how we could face life through the word of God. That’s when I started.

I’ve already been staying here [in the Philippines] for two years before I got to listen [again]. But this January he had an invitation on TV, and it’s like I couldn’t say no to it. It’s like something was urging me. “I’ll visit it,” I told myself.

“Since I’ve been watching Bro. Eli for a long time, and I’m amazed by him,” I said. I have a testament that encouraged me: What he exposed on TV that’s like a rock [the Moabite Stone], where the name of God was found. I think it was since 3,000 years ago. And that’s where the name of God was really written.

On Being Baptized

What Bro. Eli said was right that when you get immersed in the water… it’s like you were immersed in darkness; it’s like you were from nothingness, and suddenly emerged again in truth.

Also, there’s that feeling, as what Bro. Eli said, that the Holy Spirit will be sent you. Because like what he told, we cannot do it on our own as we are weak. We need something that we cannot see; something spiritual. Even if we don’t believe it, we will feel that it’s there, and ready to help.

The feeling I felt earlier was different. I haven’t experienced it before. I was baptized in Catholicism. But now I’m baptized as a brother in the Church of God. The difference is great.

On Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon

I hope that Bro. Eli will [continue to be healthy], because he will be able to help many more people. Help, not in the medical sense, like those who are sick. The necessities of the body are easy to attend to. What’s hard are the needs of the soul. Bro. Eli responds to the needs of the soul, which is worth unlike any other.

What he went through was heavy, difficult. Actually when I was still listening on radio, those belonging in other religions have done him all sorts of malice. And I was a witness to that.

Like in the Bible, it’s like they were trying to stop him. But he continued in fighting. And I believe that he is being accompanied by the Holy Spirit that he may be able to go on.

In fact, he’s already old now. And one of those who used to challenge him before is now passed away. It means, in my humble opinion only, that his life is being extended that many more may be enlightened.

The problem of people is that they need someone to explain things. If they will be able to hear the explanations, they’ll be enlightened. That’s just what I see.

I hope that Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel, God willing, will be able to continue the works that they do.

~o~

Bro. Juan Pascual, 54 Former Catholic, Cavite Province

On Joining the Church of God

I have long been listening to various religious programs on TV. As I listened, I was able to compare them from what they said to what their members are doing.

Another thing that [convinced] me was what Bro. [Eli] said, that we’re like inside a well, and all we see are the walls within. “Get out of the well, that you may see how wide the world or the sky is.” That’s when I concentrated on listening to him.

Then, I saw that what he says really has sense and good meaning that isn’t in other religions, like us before in Catholicism. When I hadn’t heard him before, I told myself, “Here is where my relatives, my loved ones are, so here’s where we’ll stay.”

But I realized that it’s not supposed to be like that. Of course, in myself, I already heard the good examples and I want to bring them here, that I’ll be the one to initiate it.

I know however that it’ll be really difficult to [make them leave] Catholicism. But as was said, though I may not be able to persuade them by words, then I’ll be a good example. They need to see in me that, “Oh, he’s like this already.” Though, I wasn’t a drunkard nor smoked, nor was in vices even then. Only, I was hot-headed.

Actually, I should’ve been a member before, but I told myself, “I should fix myself up first, so that it won’t be embarrassing. If I’ll be there and my attitude is still the same, they’ll see no change in me, as if nothing happened.” But I couldn’t do it on my own.

On Being Baptized

I was ready. I already knew what happened, so I just felt calm really. No hesitations. That was all that I was thinking. My mind was already in what’s going to happen.

On Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon

I hope that… I heard [of news] that he was old already. I told myself, “I need to become a member during his time.” So when I came home, as I was an OFW [Overseas Filipino Worker], I told my wife that I’ll… as my wife knows.

My wife wants me to become a member as well because of adultery. That’s the first concern my wife had. Of course, though I can say that I won’t commit that, it’s like she will feel more at ease if I will become a member here, because she knows [that people change here]. Perhaps before, her trust [in me] ranges from 60% to 70%. Now it’s about 90% to 95%.

I hope that he will have a longer life that he may be able to lead many more like me, like my family. I also want for them to hear or to know the truth. The same with Bro. Razon.

I hope that this organization will become stronger. For us, I hope we will be able to do our part.

To God be the glory

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