June 13, 2015
Newly Baptized Testimonials: May 29, 2015
Read short testimonials of faith from some of MCGI’s youngest brethren baptized on May 29, 2015 at the ADD Convention Center in Apalit, Pampanga.
Bro. Felix Castillo, 62, Former Catholic, Rizal Province
On Joining the Church of God
Ever since I came home from Korea, I have watched Bro. Eli’s program day and night, as there’s no other good program to watch on television except Bro. Eli’s.
At least I [found that] his explanations about the Bible are good, which in reality, are not taught by Catholic priests; they don’t explain the Bible.
What happens is that since people do not know anything about the Bible, they don’t know the Bible’s interpretation. We are at a loss actually.
We are lost, because even if you look in the Bible, you don’t know how to explain it, how things became like this and like that.
—-
Of course, you need to find the answers from other writers like Mark, Luke, St. James, St. John, St. Peter, from Paul as what they say jive with each other.
Going back also to Genesis, and to Ezekiel to Job, it’s like those prophets foretold that this is going to happen in the future. And those explanations are absent in Catholicism.
And the truth of the matter is, we don’t really [need] to kneel or bow down to those images.
I was really just trying to look for a good television program. What I saw was just dancing and drama where people were just crying, and it was irritating.
However, when I tuned in to Bro. Eli, my continual watching went on straight from then on. It was my first time to hear him.
On Being Baptized
I have long been asking the Lord for the forgiveness of my sins; I was a sinner. [Despite] we confessed to priests, I wasn’t certain whether my sins had really been forgiven or not.
[With my baptism today] I believe that I was forgiven of my sins, according to the explanation of Bro. Eli from the Bible of course. Of course I believed it.
I just told myself that I needed to be baptized that I may be [cleansed] of my sins. And I had to get rid of all my vices as I smoked a lot; of course, with the help of the Holy Spirit. I felt that I was cleansed and I felt light.
On Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon
We pray to our dear Lord that they can continue their mission, and I hope that the Lord will provide them good health and good finances also [laughs].
For this mission to continue, they will really need a lot of money for this one. This is not a joke. It really is a big challenge for Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel.
It’s a big responsibility, and I hope that the Lord will give them strength to continue.
I hope that other members of the Church of God abroad will [continue to] help them. I’m going back to Korea. We have a community there, and I’ll explain to them that Bro. Eli really needs support.
He cannot do it alone, to propagate the faith to the whole world.
~o~
Sis. Jacelle Rose Omania, 26, Former Born Again, Manila
On Joining the Church of God
That I may know the true doctrines. My husband’s uncle is also a member at The Old Path [the Church of God International], and he conducts Bible studies for us.
He was the one who invited us to attend the indoctrination. He’s abroad, and we talk through Skype.
On Being Baptized
I couldn’t explain what I was feeling a while ago. I felt nervous and was crying. I felt like I was floating as I was being immersed. I just cried out of the joy I felt.
On Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon
I hope that they will continue preaching about the words of God. I hope that they will be able to help and save many more people.
~o~
Bro. Lauro Hernandez, 57, Former Crame Bible Church Member, Manila
On Joining the Church of God
I’ve long been listening to The Old Path. [Even] at the onset, I saw that the teaching was good; it’s in the Bible.
At the end [of my investigation], I saw that it was right. I [compared it to] the evangelical group I formerly belonged to and it’s different. There, you just need to accept Christ as your savior and you’re already saved.
But I learned that it’s not like that. From what I got in The Old Path program, as I have long been a listener, it’s not only accepting Christ, but Christ has to accept you also.
The Bible says, according to the Lord Jesus Christ, many will say, “Lord, Lord, we healed the sick; we preached.” And the Lord will say to them, “Depart from me. I do not know you.”
—-
There are many other things. Bro. Eli also teaches that the prophecy states that salvation will come from the east, not from the west.
The Crame Bible Church is from the west, so that’s when I saw that there was something wrong there. Of course, we have to investigate.
I was formerly a Catholic, and then became an evangelical. It doesn’t automatically mean that the religion you found yourself in is the right one.
Truth is, my siblings are Born Again members. So now that I’m here in The Old Path, I hope that this will be a way for them to know the true Church of God.
That’s all I can say. I’m just happy that I found the truth in The Old Path, in the Church of God International.
On Being Baptized
Of course, very well! Actually, I felt like crying a while ago even with just the songs.
It’s because I was lost. I used to believe that just repent and you’re still going to be saved. But it’s not like that, and that’s a dangerous [belief].
I felt sorry for my mistakes, and I’m thankful to our Lord God that I have finally found the truth.
I told myself that, “This is it.” And I believe that I will not return to my former ways [with God’s help and mercy].
On Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon
My only message to them is that Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel may continue preaching with the help of God.
It’s really a great thing for them to preach, especially on TV, on radio, because it’s there where I got to hear good doctrines.
~o~
Sis. Judith Saballa, 50, Former Foursquare Gospel Church Pastor, Laguna Province
On Joining the Church of God
[At first] I didn’t want to join as I didn’t like the Church. But since he [points to husband] watches it in the morning, noon, and night, I couldn’t hear anything else but Bro. Eli’s voice even as I arrive home from work.
“Can you change that to another channel?” I told him. Until time came that I listened and listened. He then brought me to the indoctrination sessions.
I spent two [indoctrination] days in Cavite, and then finished the rest of the seven sessions in Laguna.
Then I saw that it’s really different. I really felt it, especially in prayer; it touched me. You know that it’s really from the heart, as if you’re really talking to the Lord.
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We had many errors in other religions. I learned a lot, the truth, and it’s not about money.
Also, I look at Bro. Eli’s face. I can see the Lord, and that he strives to save souls, to save all men. It’s not about money. I really saw his intention, and that is to save all. It’s not, “We have to lead many so that our Church will have much money,” as I have been to many religions before. Here, life is just simple.
For us, it’s hard to obey at first because we were used to the ways of the world. We did anything we wanted; nobody cared. And yet we were called Christians.
—-
Before I used to be mad. “Why do we need to dress [modestly]? Is that included in the [law]? So what if we serve? Our apparel is just fine.”
But I saw that if you really serve God, it is the holiness, the will of God for you that you should follow. So I’m really thankful to God that we’re here now.
Wherever should we go, should we go back to Mindanao or something, we feel okay.
I have a sibling now who has been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. He’s also a pastor. I always tell him to listen as well even just via television.
In the end, we’ll all [die]. But right now, we’re [the only members of our family] who are members of the Church. Hopefully, we will be used [by God] for the salvation of our whole family.
On Being Baptized
It’s my fourth time to get baptized, so I didn’t want to be baptized at first.
But when Bro. Eli explained about the true baptism, and the teachings, and true change… In times past, I already got baptized, but afterwards everything would be back to the way they were.
Now, I really feel that my heart is happy; I’m crying because of joy even while during prayer.
Another thing, it’s the word of God that enlightened me. Imagine, I have taught people for so many years, but it was wrong. I studied theology, but it was nothing.
—-
I told myself, “I don’t need to be baptized; I will just join.” But it’s not supposed to be so. You need to be baptized so that all your sins will be washed away, because sins are repeatedly done.
In the true baptism however, you will feel afraid to commit sin. When I pray now, [I realize] the many years that we have wasted our lives.
We’re thankful that the Lord did not take us yet, and we reached this point in our lives wherein we had a chance to tell others how good God is to us.
On Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon
Bro. Eli, many thanks to the Lord who have used you for us, your children in the spirit. Many thanks. We believe in you. Thank you very much.
