Never abandoning the true faith

Never abandoning
the true faith

COMMEMORATION OF MILESTONE ANNIVERSARIES
BINANGONAN, RIZAL, PHILIPPINES
MAY 13, 2022

In this world full of adversities, God expects His servants to never abandon their faith. They ought to live in a way that shows that they are really His chosen people. To do so, they are expected by God to obey His commandments as taught by the Church Administration. Such is what the faithful members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) today strive to do as they sojourn in this world.

This was one of the essential points that was emphasized by the Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, during the worship service he officiated at in the Local Congregation of Binangonan, Ecclesiastical District of Rizal East on May 13, 2022.

After the hymn-singing at the beginning of the worship service, Brother Arnel A. Agorilla, the district supervising minister, led the congregation in prayer. Brother Romer D. Galang led the prayer after the preaching, and Brother Eduardo Manalo said the benediction.

Having drawn inspiration from the preaching of the Executive Minister, some brethren shared their life stories regarding how God strengthens them as they live in responsive obedience and redouble their efforts in upholding their faith.

Binangonan, Rizal
By Sister Klaudine Joyce Amoroso

Having a positive outlook in life, Brother Marvin Daos never loses hope as he faces trials despite his young age. When he was 18, he already learned to support himself, working while studying. “My father was already old and was suffering from an illness. So, he could no longer work to provide for our needs. My older siblings helped me, but they already had families of their own. So, I decided to be self-supporting,” Brother Marvin said. Sadly, too, his mother passed away when he was 20 years old.

Brother Marvin firmly holds that by staying obedient to God, He will guide and help him come what may. “It is important that I’m close to God because I cannot live alone without Him. We need Him in our life. I truly need the help and mercy of our Almighty God because I cannot overcome the problems I’m facing on my own,” he stated.

For Brother Marvin, “God’s guidance to us is so important. That is why the Executive Minister exhorts us to remain in obedience to God’s commandments. In doing so, we’ll be able to uphold our services to Him.” He is a choir member, member of the Technical Support for Videostreaming, member of Rizal East Multimedia, and a Children’s Worship Service teacher. He holds his Church duties in high regard. He averred, “I firmly believe that my Church duties bring me great blessings. These blessings are not just material things, but, most importantly, the spiritual grace that empowers me.”

At 21 years old, Brother Marvin works hard to earn a living, while at the same time, continuing his studies. However, despite his hectic schedule, he knows full well what is the most important. He said, “I know what my top priority is, that is to fulfill my duties to God. That is the reason I am striving to earn, not just to support my studies and personal needs, but most of all, so I will have something to use in my services to Him.”

Although still in his youth, the trials that he faced already gave him a deep understanding of the value of his divine election. Brother Marvin stated, “Being a member of the Church Of Christ is vital for me because only through the true Church can I receive the everlasting life God has promised. In this Church, the true Church, I feel at peace. I am assured that in every hardship I go through in life, God will always accompany me.”

Calumpang, Marikina, Metro Manila
By Charlene Santos

Aspiring to prepare a bright future for their children, parents strive to provide not only their daily needs but a good education. More than that, parents in the Church Of Christ do their best to raise their children to become faithful and active servants of God.

Brother Angel Nepomuceno, the second head deacon in the Local Congregation of Calumpang, Ecclesiastical District of Metro Manila East, shared, “My wife and I were blessed with four children—two sons and two daughters. I encouraged them to participate in the activities of the Christian Family Organizations and accept Church duties.”

Having accepted various Church duties himself through the years, he understands the great benefit of training his children in fulfilling responsibilities in the Church. “My children became very active in the KADIWA organization. My daughters were also convinced to become choir members.”

Brother Angel’s children now have their respective families and a sustainable livelihood. He finds it delightful to see his children having a harmonious relationship. He said, “They also experience problems. However, you can see them supporting one another. And most importantly, they remain active in the local congregations they belong to.”

Brother Angel’s eldest is the head secretary of the Light of Salvation in the Local Congregation of Calumpang. Meanwhile, his second son is part of the local leadership in the congregation he belongs to. His two daughters, on the other hand, are active choir members. He proudly added that “All of my grandchildren are choir members in the Children’s Worship Service.”

His heart is filled with joy as he remembers how his children were trained to be obedient to God, especially now that Christ’s Second Advent is near. Brother Angel remarked, “I feel true happiness to know that my children are in the right path in life. And I firmly believe that God will constantly guide them wherever they will be.”

San Fernando-Cabiao, Nueva Ecija
Sinulat ni Francine Miranda

Hulyo 21, 2018 nang isugod sa pagamutan ang ama ni Kapatid na Vincent Lloyd Carpio. Pagkalipas ng tatlong araw, pumanaw ang kaniyang ama dahil sa brain aneurysm. Ang kanilang ama ay pangalawang pangulong diakono noon sa kanilang lokal. Si Kapatid na Vincent ay 19 na taong gulang noon. Naunang pumanaw ang kaniyang ina noong 2014.

Lubha mang masakit ang mawalan ng magulang, para kay Kapatid na Vincent at sa kaniyang mga kapatid, hindi iyon naging dahilan upang sila ay sumuko sa buhay at mawalan ng pag-asa. Ito ay sapagkat maliwanag sa kanila ang dapat nilang gawin, gaya ng itinuro ng kanilang ama sa kanila noong ito ay nabubuhay pa: “Sinasabi niya sa amin na patuloy kaming maging mananampalataya at positibo sa pagharap sa mga pagsubok sa buhay.” Kaya, kahit ulilang lubos na sila, namamalagi silang matatag at nanghahawak sa magagawa ng Panginoong Diyos sa kanilang buhay.

“Nahirapan kami noong una. Pero hindi iyon naging dahilan para mapabayaan namin ang aming tungkulin at pagsamba sa Diyos. Bilang kaanib ng Iglesia Ni Cristo, ako ay patuloy na nagtitiwala sa Panginoong Diyos na sasamahan at tutulungan Niya kaming malampasan ang lahat ng pagsubok na mararanasan pa namin,” pahayag ni Kapatid na Vincent.

Sa kasalukuyan, si Kapatid na Vincent ay pangulo ng KADIWA, mang-aawit, kabilang sa Technical Support for Videostreaming (TSV), at guro sa Pagsamba ng Kabataan sa Lokal ng San Fernando Cabiao, Distrito Eklesiastiko ng Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija. Maytungkulin din ang kaniyang mga kapatid.

Inspirasyon ni Kapatid na Vincent ang mga aral ng Diyos na tinatanggap niya sa mga pagsamba, lalo na ang mga naririnig niyang pagtuturo mula sa Kapatid na Eduardo Manalo, ang Tagapamahalang Pangkalahatan: “Itinuro ng Namamahala na dapat maging tapat tayo sa kabila ng bagabag at gawin ang pinakamabuting magagawa natin upang mamuhay bilang bayang hinirang ng Diyos. Kung gagawin natin ang lahat ng iyon, hindi tayo kailanman mabubuwal.”

Sa kabila ng mga pagsubok na dumating sa kaniyang buhay, desidido siyang patuloy na maninindigan at magpakatibay sa kaniyang tungkulin. Pahayag niya, “Sumasampalataya ako na kung kami ay maninindigan sa pagka-Iglesia Ni Cristo sa kabila ng mga nararanasan namin ay hindi kami pababayaan ng Ama.”

Albay
Sinulat ni Narel Abejuela

Paglaom—salitang Bicolano na ang kahulugan ay pag-asa. Ito ang pamagat ng awiting nilikha ni Kapatid na Vince Catli para sa film entry ng kanilang distrito na “Paglaom” na nagwagi sa kategoryang Best Original Theme Song at Best Musical Score sa naganap na INCinema Regional Awards sa Bicol Region noong 2021. “Salamat sa Pamamahala dahil may mga aktibidad na pwede kong salihan kung saan mas magagamit ko pa ang talento na ipinagkaloob sa akin ng Panginoong Diyos,” pahayag ni Kapatid na Vince, isang writer at composer ng District Music Team ng Distrito Eklesiastiko ng Albay at mang-aawit sa Lokal ng Donsol.

Bakas man kay Kapatid na Vince ang pag-asa at pagiging positibo sa buhay, hindi madali ang kaniyang mga pinagdaraanan. Bukod sa kahirapan ng buhay, nararanasan din niya ang pag-uusig at pagkutya ng mga hindi kaanib sa Iglesia. Ang isa sa mga dahilan nito, bukod sa kaniyang pananampalataya, ay ang kaniyang kapansanan. Mayroon siyang congenital cataract, isang uri ng depekto sa mata na nagdudulot ng problema sa paningin o, ang higit na malala, ay pagkabulag.

Ngunit, gaya ng awiting isinulat ni Kapatid na Vince, lagi siyang may “paglaom,” pangunahin na sa magagawa ng Panginoong Diyos. “Dahil sa mga pagsubok na aking nararanasan, lalo akong umaasa at nagtitiwala sa magagawa ng Ama sa langit,” sabi niya. Panatag siya anuman ang dumating sa kaniyang buhay. Dagdag pa niya, “Alam kong sa mga darating pang mga pagsubok ay hindi ako pababayaan ng Diyos.”

Kung paano niya naitataguyod ang paglilingkod sa Diyos kahit pa mabibigat ang mga pagsubok na pinagdaraanan, ganito ang ibinahagi ni Kapatid na Vince: “Dahil sa mga aral ng Diyos na itinuturo sa pagsamba, nakababangon ako sa pagkakalugmok. Dahil sa pagtuturo ng Kapatid na Eduardo Manalo, nagkakaroon akong muli ng inspirasyon at lakas ng loob.”

Lubos siyang sumasampalataya na ang lahat ng tagumpay niya ay kaloob ng Ama sa kaniya at hindi dahil sa kaniyang sariling kakayahan. Dahil sa kaniyang lubos na pananampalataya sa Diyos, ang sabi niya, “Hindi hadlang ang kapansanan sa pagtupad ng mga pangarap sa buhay at sa pagkamit ng mga tagumpay.”

Ginagamit niya ang kaniyang talento sa pagsusulat ng awitin upang maibuhos niya ang kaniyang damdamin para luwalhatiin ang Diyos. Sa abot ng kaniyang makakaya, itinataguyod niya ang pagtupad ng kaniyang mga tungkulin. Ito ay nagdudulot sa kaniya ng ibayong ligaya at lalo niyang pinanghahawakan nang lubos ang kaniyang banal na kahalalan. Wika niya, “Malabo man ang paningin ko, ngunit hindi kailanman magiging malabo ang pananampalataya ko.”