March 31, 2015
Newly Baptized Testimonials: March 13, 2015
Read short testimonials of faith from some of MCGI’s youngest brethren baptized on March 13, 2015 at the ADD Convention Center in Apalit, Pampanga.
Bro. Cesar Suva, 50, Former Freelancer, Manila
On Joining the Church of God
For me this is the true Church. This is where I found the true teachings of Christ, not the tradition of men, not the knowledge of men, and Bro. Eli Soriano is an instrument to share it with those who wish to know God.
It was through his Bible Expositions on TV [that I got to listen], since last year only, about July. Since I was a freelancer, I also listened to other religions, but didn’t get baptized. I just listened to them, to their teachings, and what they preach stroke me as something that digresses from the Bible.
On Being Baptized
Of course, I feel great joy not only in my heart but in my whole being. This, after all, is the doctrine of Christ that one should get baptized. And it happened to me, so thanks be to God that He willed for me to be baptized.
On Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon
Bro. Eli, first of all, thanks be to God that He used you as an instrument in persevering for many to be saved. You have been a part of me, of my life.
~o~
Bro. Benjamin Martin Jr., 33, Former Catholic, Manila
On Joining the Church of God
I joined because I was able to watch Bro. Eli on TV wherein I found the answer that I was looking for, and that we need the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s where I knew Christ.
I heard about Him in church, but you wouldn’t really know Him like that. When I heard Bro. Eli, that’s when I knew that God is the Savior of our lives.
On Being Baptized
I’m so happy. In my heart is a treasure unlike any other here on earth. It’s like this: When you gamble, you’re happy. But here, it’s unparalleled.
On Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon
I’m thankful that he was an instrument in my life for me to receive the true religion that I can share to my family and relatives.
~o~
Sis. Vivian Wico, 48, Former Born Again, Manila
On Joining the Church of God
It’s here that I saw the group that believes in God.
Honestly, my husband and I have been listening since 2001. But for some reason, we didn’t… perhaps, because we were devoted to being Born Again members. I was enticed to being a Born Again even before we got married.
But then, when we got to listen, we gradually discontinued worshipping there. We continued listening and watching [Bro. Eli], and perhaps the calling of the Lord had arrived, but my husband got baptized first.
Last year, I got operated in the ovary. So, the Lord gave me a new life. I promised to Him that I will dedicate my life, my second life to Him. That’s why I am here now.
On Being Baptized
Well, relieved — relieved of everything, of the worries, of the emotional cargo. I felt cleansed.
I feel much comfortable now in doing things, unlike before when I always felt fear. Ever since I got operated, I always felt fear in doing things; I felt stressed. But now, I feel relieved in that whatever I will do in the future, I know God is there.
On Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon
I’m very thankful. I’m always thankful that they are there to guide people like us who have lost our ways and are now returning unto God with their help.
I should say, [the preaching] is really truthful. It’s really based on the Bible. I didn’t see anything that was invented. I didn’t hear anything that seemed to be only their opinion as preachers.
I saw that it was true. Since I believe in the Bible, so of course I will believe what they say. But perhaps if it were only based on their opinion, I wouldn’t be here.
~o~
Sis. Gianne Ericka Espino, 20, Former Catholic, Pampanga Province
On Joining the Church of God
Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel’s teachings are good. I was able to listen to them for about four months until I decided to become a member here, because I believe that the doctrines are true. It was my first time to [hear Bro. Eli] then. But in those four months, I attended without fail; I had no absent.
November 17 marked my friend’s spiritual birthday and he invited me to the Church. That’s when it started, until I liked attending. He works in Manila. But even if he wasn’t around, I would attend by myself. I didn’t even know Ang Dating Daan [The Old Path] before.
On Being Baptized
I feel so elated inside. It’s like, “Wow!” I’ve been cleansed, my heart has been cleansed. I’m really very happy.
On Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon
I’m overly thankful for the teachings that they teach us. May they always be guided by God.
~o~
Bro. Solomon Burgess PhD, 63, Former Baptist, Rizal Province
On Joining the Church of God
The reason I joined the Church of God is because of its message, and what it stands for, its principles. That’s why I joined the Church of God.
I grew up in the [Baptist] church. I taught Sunday school in the church. So being here, its teaching coincides with what I learned in my childhood, what I was teaching. So the message coming from Bro. Eli is what I learned and what I was teaching. So that was one of the main reasons why I joined. When I heard the message, the message was the same.
I saw him a few times on TV, and then one of the members of the Church who invited me by the name of Bro. Felilx spoke to me about watching about this particular program on TV.
So I tuned into this channel; I think it was in ’93. And I said, “Oh, wow! I’ve seen him before.” And so I watched it. The teaching, the scriptures, and the interpretation are coming from the Bible, not man’s interpretation.
Some time lapsed, he mentioned it to me again so I started to follow it, and now I’m tuning into it. So I decided, “Oh, okay.” I think this one is probably, well not probably, the correct teachings that I have been exposed to since childhood.
On Being Baptized
Oh, it was something special; it was different. I was baptized three times before. This one is really different.
I heard that majority of the people who have been baptized, their feet remain at the bottom of the pool. And likewise, my feet remained at the bottom of the people; [they] were dipped in the water.
So, when [I was] told to put my hands over my nose [and got immersed], I went back and just levelled horizontally in the water. According to [the brother], that was never done before.
But the significance of that [for me] was, while in the water… Of course, I was looking upward, vertically. Sometimes when you close your eyes you see darkness, [but] when I closed my eyes and I was looking up through the water, I could see these bright colors: Light pink, light red, but it was pinkish. It was like a rainbow, but all of them together.
Then, just before I have been brought up, everything was clear; it was white. So I said, “Okay, this is different.” This was really different. But [even when] I was just walking to get out of the pool, it was like I was walking on air. “Wow! What’s happening?”
And until now, I’m having that feeling; it’s just like I’m floating [laughs]. So that was the feeling of that.
On Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon
Keep doing what they are doing. Keep feeding the people the bread of the Scriptures, and hopefully… They’re already making a big difference. Just continue to do what they’re doing, continue to bring the people from the worldly world into the world of salvation.
That’s about it. That’s the reason why I’m here in the first place. So he’s making a difference. Just keep on going; just keep on driving. So hopefully, maybe I can join him, because part of my mission was helping people in the first place since I’ve been here in 1992.
But even before 1992 I have been helping people. We had a bread line where people who didn’t have food to eat [could go to]. So when I got here that was what I was doing [for] those who hadn’t had food to eat; those who couldn’t even buy dextrose at the government hospital, we provide medicine.
I am delighted to be part of this organization, of this mission, this ministry. Hopefully, I can also be part of that team that’s making a difference.
Keep it up. We just have to keep going. The more souls, the more people we can bring into the Church, the better this world will be.
