May 21, 2015
Newly Baptized Testimonials: May 8, 2015
Read short testimonials of faith from some of MCGI’s youngest brethren baptized on May 8, 2015 at the ADD Convention Center in Apalit, Pampanga.
Bro. Crispin Villegas, 39, Former Catholic, Bataan Province
On Joining the Church of God
I wish that my children’s names would also be written, even on the very last [page] of the Book of Life, so that when the Lord Jesus Christ appears, we won’t get left behind. I hope that what I ask from the Lord in Jesus’ name will come true.
We were invited by Bro. Tony through text message. He was asking us for a little time to listen [to God’s words]. I thought then, “Why is this person, who is very busy, being used by the Lord?”
He’s so preoccupied at work, but he dismisses it once it’s time for the work of the Lord. Despite we have many needs to attend to in this life, he leaves it all just to bring us unto the true God.
—-
We met near his shop, and we got to talk to each other. He told me that if I had time, I can listen to some doctrines in their group, in The Old Path [the Church of God International].
When he first texted me, I thought about it. But the second time around, I told him that my wife and I would try it. And that’s when it started, until we ended up here now.
I can’t say anything about [the doctrines]. No one [can] contest what he [Bro. Eliseo] says because he just reads from the books of the Scriptures. It’s not from his own.
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Everything he reads is there [in the Bible]. He has no self explanations, so I can’t contest him… How can I ask questions when he already answers them even before I ask him?
Before I ask a question, he already reads in the Scriptures the series of answers from every verse. The answers are in it.
It’s like a puzzle that was just rearranged, but the order is still there. It’s like a puzzle. Every verse of the Bible has meaning, parables…
On Being Baptized
The Holy Spirit brings a feeling of lightness to the body, and it’s in [the] Bible. The gift of baptism with the help of the Holy Spirit is that you may feel lightness because your heart has been cleansed and you have been newly born in the water and in the Spirit.
On Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon
May [they] be given a longer lives by God since no man can say if he’ll last until the morrow. It’s only God who knows.
All I can say is that may Lord continue to use him as a servant or a sent preacher tasked [by God]. Calling him a “sent preacher” is something that doesn’t place Bro. Eli upon a pedestal, but a creation of God who is tasked to preach the word of God.
~o~
Bro. Ruben Bautista, 51, Former Assembly of God Member, Rizal Province
On Joining the Church of God
I searched for the truth and the true teaching. I have attended other [groups] like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Mormons, and the Iglesia Ni Cristo.
I really often research about and talk with other denominations. But someone lead me here, Mr. Primo Ortega, who told me to just listen.
Though I admit that I was a bit hardheaded [at first] as I also know a little about the Bible. But I tried to listen. And in the eight days that I listened, I didn’t see anything wrong with Bro. Eli’s [teachings], until I decided to be baptized.
I saw the doctrines and I have no doubt, because all the answers and everything read to me were biblical.
—-
I have always listened to Bro. Eli. It started since about five or ten years ago, but I was really angry at him.
That’s what I’ve been telling Bro. Primo, that I was mad at Bro. Eli. And it’s because of the many defamations that I have heard from [others].
So then I decided to investigate, because it’s hard to judge a book that I have not yet read. I then told Bro. Primo that I would join here to find out whether the teaching is truthful.
Even before I was baptized, I haven’t heard anything amiss, and I can also read it from the Bible. I’ve been reading the Bible since 1997, and until now I haven’t seen anything wrong with [the teaching].
It’s because it’s read from the Bible, and it’s not just fables. And so I’m here now, a member in the Church of God.
On Being Baptized
Actually, I felt guilty. With the many sins I had, I felt ashamed, like I didn’t want to surrender my former self wherein I had a lot of text mates, and other things.
I have been separated from my wife for 11 years now. Though that’s understandable for men, but still, it’s [not an excuse] because God [gave] doctrines, [taught] righteousness.
I hope that with the power of the Holy Spirit, the water and with prayer… I also prayed in the water, “Lord, after I get out of this water, may I be a new Ruben Bautista, or a new Christian or a member of the [Body of] the Lord.”
Actually, even if it’s not immediate, not like magic, I hope that later on, gradually, my being will be changed.
On Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon
Thanks to Him for the teachings that I’ve heard from him. Also, my anger towards him somehow was gone.
I was angry at him, and I didn’t know why [at first]. And it’s because of what I heard on television, wherein [his footages] were spliced and different parts were joined together for him to appear faulted. They were being edited; the defamations made towards him were scripted. Thanks to him.
~o~
Bro. Rogelio Araneta, 32, Former Born Again, Aurora Province
When I was in the Born Again, I stopped worshipping. I felt embarrassed to return as it had been years that I was weak, like my faith had died.
Now, a brother in faith invited me to worship in The Old Path [the Church of God International]. I joined him, and told him that I would just try it. I found it to be good. I also felt blessed.
It’s really good because [what you hear] isn’t taken from the newspapers, but is read from the Bible. It’s good.
On Being Baptized
It’s good because I really felt it. I feel that I have been changed anew, like my tears fell again.
On Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon
I thank him because he let me hear once more the holy word of God.
~o~
Bro. Benjun Fabula, 31, Former Catholic, Rizal Province
On Joining the Church of God
I was searching for the truth. I was a Catholic before, but I didn’t understand the teachings of the priests.
So I really liked it when I heard Bro. Eli’s preaching because it’s right and it’s really in the Bible.
I would even look in the Catholic Bible, and the [verses that Bro. Eli read] were there… That’s why I joined Bro. Eli, why I had faith in his religion.
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It was my first time to listen [to Bro. Eli] in Concepcion through the doctrines. Before, I just saw him on TV, but I [listened] to Pastor Quiboloy as I had a childhood friend in Davao who is a member of Quiboloy.
I was really looking for the truth. When I saw Bro. Eli in the indoctrination, I thought that he was right. I really saw [the truth], because his words are from the Bible.
Bro. Ortega and his wife invited me. We’re guards at Manila Water and there was a canteen there. They invited me to listen. You’re not going to be forced [to be a member]; you’re just going to listen. I understood Bro. Eli’s words.
[The doctrines] are really right. In Visayan dialect it’s “tinamban”. They’re discussed one-by-one, from top to bottom.
On Being Baptized
I felt like I was freed from sin. After I got out of the water, I was walking happily, like a load has been lifted off my chest.
On Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon
Thanks Bro. Eli. I promise you that I will [abstain] from committing sin to the best of my ability [with God’s help and mercy].
~o~
Bro. Cedrick Lagum, 39, Former Iglesia Ni Cristo, Manila
On Joining the Church of God
This is where I found the true doctrine. In my former religion, I didn’t learn any teaching.
I learned from Bro. Eli that Jesus Christ is a God. But previously, I knew Him as a man.
This is also where I found the brotherhood that doesn’t discriminate. In the past organization I was in, when your clothes are different, you can’t go inside [the chapel].
Before, when I wasn’t wearing a barong, a deacon intercepted me so that I would enter through the backdoor. I was bewildered then, “Why was I kept from entering?”
I was in Grade 6 when I got baptized there. I got baptized but I didn’t learn any teaching, as I was also a child then.
—-
It was on SBN 21, in about the Year 2000 [when I heard Bro. Eli]. There was a brother who was watching [The Old Path].
Actually, there were times that I had seen Ang Dating Daan then. I asked, “What is that Ang Dating Daan?” Is it a new cult?”
But when I saw my friend watching it I even saw Zoren [Legaspi], “Wow! Bro. Eli preaches well!”
I just saw [how good it was]. I also saw it in his debates. It was like there was nobody that could match him; [he’s] far beyond compare.
On Being Baptized
I wept, because it’s here where I found the true teaching. Actually, I’ve long been… I’ve long wanted to be indoctrinated. Only, it didn’t push through.
Of course, there were many hindrances. Also, my wife is now a Seventh Day Adventist, so it has really been hard for me. But I can do it if the Lord will be with me.
I felt like all my problems vanished. I really wept because, of course, I became a member of the true religion. So I thank God that I have been baptized here.
On Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon
Bro. Eli, I hope you will continue preaching, that you will be able to lead many more souls. I am thankful that I am also one of those who have learned doctrines from you. Many thanks.
