Debate: Bro. Eli Soriano to Church of Christ pastor: Stand firm on what you said, fight like a man!

By Jeffrey Eugenio

It was a debate of more than four hours. But the longer it lasted, the starker the contrast of the pair's knack in the Bible appeared, aside from the obvious disparity of each one's demeanor - Eliseo Soriano or Bro. Eli of Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path) remained incisive and valiant the whole time; while Eusebio Catarinen, representative of a Visayan-based Church of Christ, resorted to dirty tactics and gross slurs.

Distance is not a hindrance. Bro. Eli Soriano, presiding minister to the MCGI, (left) debates with Eusebio Catarinen, a Church of Christ representative, through the help of satellite services. More than 50,000 spectators from 1,281 satellite locations spread over the globe witnessed the face-off (Screen grabbed from debate's live streaming)

The pair argued over the proposition "Resolve, that Jesus Christ is the founder and the owner of the church according to the Bible." Bro. Eli, presiding minister to the Members Church of God International (MCGI), stood on the negative side while Catarinen on the negative.

The debate took place on February 7, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. replacing the supposed-to-be scheduled Worldwide Bible Exposition of The Old Path program, a question and answer symposium whose main host is Bro. Eli.

Satellite services bridged the clash; whereas Bro. Eli was in South America while debunking the case of challenger Catarinen, who, on that time, was at The Old Path Chapter in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental, Philippines. More than 50,000 spectators from 1,281 satellite points across the Philippines and the globe witnessed the face-off aside from the unrecorded number of internet viewers.

That same night, the hashtag #DebateBroEli became an overnight Twitter trending topic.

The discussion started at around 7:00 p.m. (PHT). The two agreed on a cross examination type of debate where each had three sets of 20-minute stand and 15-minute interpellation. Guihulngan City ex-mayor Simplicio Villegas Mijarez, a Catholic, served as the moderator while Ms. Janice B. Bulandres of New Apostolic Church and Ms. Roejen M. Tejamo, a Born Again, helped as timekeepers.

As expected, Bro. Eli was able to dispose the case proposed by Catarinen. After the debate, Catarinen's unnamed colleague asked Bro. Eli for a round two but details are yet to arrange.

Some of the highlights of the said debate can be read below from the first affirmative to the last negative speech and closing:

First affirmative

In his first "constructive" speech, instead of building his case, Catarinen started a "straw man" argument by attacking statements Bro. Eli didn't raise. The challenger addressed Bro. Eli's videos on YouTube as his reference but without further disclosing or showing the source to the audience. While refuting Bro. Eli, he also accused the MCGI of not providing him the equipments he needed (i.e. whiteboard, marker). The moderator then warned Catarinen for his unlikely opening for Catarinen was like a soldier making a fuss while demanding weapons from his opponent.

Mr. Simplicio Mijarez (left) serves as the moderator while Eusebio Catarinen of Church of Christ (standing), together with his unnamed colleagues (right), argues that Christ owns the church. Catarinen goes to The Old Path chapter in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental for a debate with Bro. Eli Soriano last Friday. (Photo credit: Bro. Jessie Asong)

Later, Catarinen argued that Christ owns the church through the notion that Christ spoke His own words or did things (i.e. building the church) apart from what God had instructed. He claimed that Moses had spoken what God told him to say to the Israelites but in his own words as an example.

Interpellation time came and Bro. Eli shook down Catarinen's case despite the latter spending more than four minutes of scanning his Bible, checking his cellphone once in a while, and asking help from an unnamed colleague.

Citing John 12:49, Bro. Eli asked, "Christ said, 'For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.' Does He speak of His own?"

"Not at all times," Catarinen replied. "There are times that what comes out of the Lord Jesus Christ's mouth is not from the Father."

When asked for Christ's statement supporting his claim, Catarinen again wasted more than four minutes of time searching the Bible until he read Luke 22:42 aloud, and the time ran out.

First negative

In his rebuttal speech, Bro. Eli answered the cases raised by Catarinen. He exposed the so-called non sequitur (it doesn't follow) fallacy Catarinen committed saying, "In the principle he knows, whoever built (e.g. church, edifices etc.) is also the owner. That is wrong."

The international preacher then expounded that God should be credited as the absolute owner of the church; that Christ was appointed by God as the president unto the whole household of God which God built (Hebrew 10:21; 3:1-4).

"The honor of owning the house (church) belongs to God," Bro. Eli said and cited I Timothy 3:15. "That is why [the church] is called the church of the living God."

Bro. Eli read John 5:19 and emphasized that though Christ built the Church on earth, He was only following the instruction of the Father in heaven.

"The Son was acting at the pleasure of the Father. Even in teaching, Christ spoke what only God told," said Bro. Eli.

Later, he addressed the falsity of Catarinen's usage of Luke 22:42 in which Catarinen inserted irrelevant arguments. In Luke 22:41-42, Bro. Eli said that the scenario was a prayer. "Of course, it will come from His own words. However, even in prayer, what Christ wants to happen is the Father's will and not His own."

Aware of the scope, Bro. Eli reminded Catarinen that the topic was about the building and ownership of the church and not prayer.

"When you pray, do you speak the doctrines to God or what you ask Him for?" said Bro. Eli while using as an example a person suffering from rheumatism. "Whenever that person prays, he prays based on the pain he feels, not from what God had dictated him to say."

Bro. Eli pointed out that in preaching, the case is different. "A preacher sent by God must speak his words, and must not diminish a word from it nor add unto the words (John 3:34; Jeremiah 26:2; Proverbs 30:5-6; Numbers 24:13)."

Afterwards, Catarinen cross examined Bro. Eli's speech but Bro. Eli easily defused every question Catarinen threw. During that time, the moderator dinged Catarinen not to confide with others when answering. Besides, the debate is only between Bro. Eli and Catarinen, not Bro. Eli versus a panel according to the signed agreement.

Second affirmative

Contrary to his proposition, Catarinen made an underhanded shift of claim during his second affirmative speech - from Christ being the owner of the church to Christ being an owner and co-owner of the church." Bro. Eli later exposed the "departure trick" of Catarinen during the cross examination.

Aside from devious tactic, Catarinen resorted to insulting when he accused and turned to MCGI audience saying The Old Path is where evil people walked in.

"Will you keep to the old path that the wicked have trod?" Catarinen quoted the content of Job 22:15 without mentioning the book, chapter nor verse. He claimed that what's written in Job 22:15 were statements from God. Incidentally, The Old Path is also the title of the longest-running religious program in the Philippines hosted by Bro. Eli.

Bro. Eli contested Catarinen's accusation in a showdown during the cross examination, "If I read that what's written in Job 22:15 is not God's word, will you admit that you are defeated?"

"That is out of the theme. If you like, we'll change our topic," a nervous Catarinen uttered.

"That is part of the theme. You're the one who brought it yo during your speaking time. That includes in your stand that's why you are held liable in this cross examination. Do you understand (the mechanics) of a discussion? In my case, I'm not yet delivering my speech but you already attacked me early on your first stand," Bro. Eli pointed out. "Stand firm on what you said. Fight like a man!"

Upon noticing he was caught off-guard, Catarinen became evasive to Bro. Eli's cross examination. The moderator said to Bro. Eli, "He doesn't want to answer. You can change your question."

Second negative

It was Bro. Eli's turn for his second rebuttal speech. He pointed out Catarinen's audacity in using the Job 22:15 where he attributed to God the words of a foolish Elipaz (Job 22:1).

"Who is Elipaz?" Bro. Eli asked. "According to God, the accusations told by Elipaz to Job were wrong (Job 42:7). Therefore, if you accused those who are walking in the old path as wicked, then you are like Elipaz!"

Bro. Eli then elaborated the absolute truth regarding the ownership of the church. "The Church is an entity that Christ heads. He is the rock upon which it was founded." He also explained that Christ was made head of all in the Church that God owns (Ephesians 1:21-22; Colossians 1:18). The Absolute Owner of the Church is God.

"In the end, Christ will give His power over the Church to God, that God may be all in all (I Corinthians 15:24-28)," Bro. Eli emphasized. "Join the body and the head together (Colossians 1:18), and the Absolute Owner of the Church is the Father."

Bro. Eli said that, truly, God is "The Architect" and "The Engineer" of the Church of God (I Cor. 12:28, 18; Heb. 3:1) and God appointed Christ as well (Heb. 5:4-5).

"The real Owner of the Church, from its planning to its establishment to its redemption is God," said Bro. Eli closing his second rebuttal speech.

Catarinen then started asking leading questions. He asked Bro. Eli who is the Lord referred in Acts 20:28, whose blood was it, God or Christ's, and what did Christ buy. Bro. Eli quickly answered each questions making it clear that the Lord in Acts 20:28, according to original manuscripts, is God the Father, that the blood used to purchased the church was, of course, Christ's own blood, and that only the sins of the men who are in the church is what Christ particularly bought with His blood (I Corinthians 6:20). In its absolute sense, it is not the whole church that was purchased, but sins of the men inside the church, Bro. Eli answered.

"Christ is the head of the Church, and cannot buy the Church of which He is a part of," he said.

Last affirmative

Catarinen took his last 20-minute constructive speech. During his time, he sticked to circular argument claiming that Christ owns the church when He said, "my church"; and that Christ bought the church with His blood.

However, Catarinen's arguments were not able to withstand Bro. Eli's onslaught. Bro. Eli asked, "If the statement says 'my' it means the speaker is the owner, do you confirm?"

"Yes," Catarinen replied.

"When St. Paul said 'my gospel,' does it mean that it was St. Paul's (Romans 16:25)?"

Catarinen ducked the question so Bro. Eli referred to Christ's statement. "When Christ said 'my doctrine,' does it mean it's His?"

"Yes," Catarinen answered.

"What if I can read that Christ's doctrine is not His, will you accept that you are defeated, Mr. Catarinen?"

Catarinen refused Bro. Eli's point despite reading it from the Bible.

"What if I will read that Christ was already the Son of God before the earth was, will you admit defeat?" Earlier, Catarinen claimed that Christ became the Son of God only when He came to earth 2,000 years ago.

Catarinen respond, "Read it."

Bro. Eli read Proverbs 30:4 and John 17:5 disproving Catarinen's belief and exposing his ignorance in the Bible. Bro. Eli resumed his cross examination, "What I read that Christ did not redeem the Church, but the sins of men, do you accept defeat?"

Catarinen didn't answer. Bro. Eli revised his question, "Part of the church are angels, and the teachings as well, if Christ bought the Church, did he buy its angels and the teachings?"

Still, no answer from Catarinen. "Do you believe that the teachings are part of the church?" Bro. Eli asked until the time ran out.

Last negative

Bro. Eli questioned the credibility of Catarinen. "If you're the true Church, then why are you only in Negros now? The commandment is to preach the gospel unto all nations. If you are of God, why did He not give you the power to acquire even the equipments needed for your propagation?"

Bro. Eli later explained the whole composition of the true church citing statements written in I Corinthians 12:28 and Romans 12:6-8. He also said that the gospel is part of the church (Romans 12:8) and if the gospel is false, then the Church is false.

"Angels are also part of the Church in the Bible (Revelations 2:1; 22:9; Psalms 34:7)," Bro. Eli noted. "When Mr. Catarinen said that Christ bought the Church (Acts 20:28), did he buy the angels and gospel as well?"

Bro. Eli read in the Bible that the sins of men, and not the Church itself, is what the blood of Christ truly redeemed (Revelations 1:5; Ephesians 1:7).

"Instead of us, He was the one who suffered on the cross (II Cor. 5:21)," Bro. Eli said.

Bro. Eli then emphasized his case, "The true owner of the Church is God (Galatians 1:22; I Thes. 2:14:1). Christ is part of the Church."

Closing

Though in the debate he has the upper hand in reasonings, Bro. Eli gave the credit to God, "Even when we haven't yet begun, God has already triumphed. Don't insist what is wrong.... The intent of this debate is not to show that one has lost and the other triumphed, because glory belongs to God."

Also, despite the insults thrown by Catarinen to MCGI and to him, Bro. Eli chose to forgive Catarinen. He was even the one who asked for apology. "Whatever word I have said that may have offended anybody, forgive me. We are all prone to sin. Good night," said Bro. Eli.#

Kevin Trudeau to Jail for Weight Loss Book. Is he a Journalist?

The consumer activist of Natural Cures, Kevin Trudeau, may be going to prison for saying weight loss is easy.

According to his email sent to subscribers of his website, authorities are after his head for his weight loss book that says weight loss is easy and that he needs financial support for his defense. November 4 this year will be his trial.

Trudeau has lined up a series of fund-raising activities that includes seminars, a private dinner, one-hour personal coaching, and energy-work sessions with payment ranging from $500 to $25,000 in an effort to pool resources for the KT Legal Defense as shown in the email. The announcement says the seminar and dinner respectively may take place tentatively on October 20 and October 21, this year, but both are subject to change or cancellation.

Trudeau wrote Natural Cures "They" Don’t want You to Know About, published by Alliance Publishing Group, Inc in 2004.  Already his flap cover carries accusations posed into questions: " Did you know that the medical profession, in partnership with the chemical industry, has a huge interest in keeping you sick rather than healing you? Do you realize that the Federal Government is doing everything in its power - and some things well beyond its stated power - to keep all of this a secret?" These accusations remain thematic throughout the 273 pages book.

In 2006, emboldened by his first book, published by the same company Trudeau wrote a thicker book of 358 pages, More Natural "Cures" Revealed. This time the flap cover announces that the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has censored his first book. "That book still saved lives," he wrote.

In the second book, More Natural Cures Revealed, Trudeau claimed for the first time that he had been a "secret covert operative for almost 20 years" which is why from personal experience, " Kevin knows how big business and government try to debunk individuals who promote products that could hurt the profits of the giant multi- national corporations."

What about the weight loss issue that the email claimed may send Kevin Trudeau to jail? The first book, Natural Cures, carries a Chapter 8, titled, How to Lose Weight Effortlessly and Keep it Off Forever. In 10 pages, Trudeau suggested 30 ways like drinking a glass of water upon rising in the morning, eating a big breakfast, drinking distilled water each day, walking for at least one hour a day, not eating after six p.m.;

- Doing a Candida cleanse, a colon cleanse; eating organic grapefruits all day, taking no aspartame or any artificial sweeteners, shunning away from monosodium glutamate (MSG),  taking digestive enzymes, taking no diet sodas or diet food;

- Not eating in fast food or chain restaurants, taking no high fructose corn syrup, white sugar or white flour.

The other half of Trudeau's recommendations include eating organic apples all day, eating only organic poultry and fish, limiting dairy products, doing a liver cleanse, eating a huge salad at lunch and dinner, doing rebounds, adding hot peppers to meals, using organic apple cider vinegar;

- Breathing enough, wearing magnetic finger rings, getting colonics in 15 days, adding muscle, fasting, cheating whenever you want; and reducing or eliminating the uncontrollable urge to eat when not hungry.

The second book contains Chapter 9 titled, Weight Loss Secrets, and is only 7 pages long. He recommended eating organic beef, lamb, and chicken. Of fish, wild salmon, sardines, tuna. Of fruits, organic grapefruit, apples, pears, strawberries, blueberries, plume, peaches, apricots.

Then he said, Stay away from bananas, they have a tendency to make you gain weight.  He then gave his common breakfast: scrambled eggs, smoked salmon or lamb chop, or sardines, or a small steak.

In two fat paragraphs, Trudeau wrote about Organic, Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil. "All you do is take one tablespoon in the morning and one tablespoon in the late afternoon." He followed it up with assurance. “If you do this every day for 30 days, here is what you could find.  High blood pressure can be a thing of the past. Circulation problems vanish. Mood swings, gone. Depression, lifted. Constipation, cured. Arthritis pain, reduced or eliminated. Cancer, in remission. Cholesterol normalized. Acid reflux and heartburn, diminished and gone forever."

"Oh, and here is a major side effect: If you are overweight, you will probably lose ten pounds!"  Describing organic, unrefined virgin coconut oil as having a "dramatic, positive effect on the body for its overwhelming health- giving properties," he said his pants were falling off after three days of taking this oil.

Other things Trudeau recommended in passing were digestive enzymes, salsa, raw organic apple cider vinegar, Yerba Mata tea.

Kevin Trudeau claimed he is "just a journalist" doing some reporting. From the two books he wrote, is Trudeau a journalist, considered a journalist? By being such, he is covered by some rights protection as in freedom to expose information for the protection of the public. But in being journalist, there are expectations in as simple as awareness of audience needs.

What he had written, Trudeau said, are only medical opinions because "there are no medical facts" (Natural Cures, p. 8).

What reporting Trudeau actually did is about the musical chairs made by FTC honchos in order to prove tie-ups between them and Big Pharma and point to himself as victim. But his title is about Natural Cures although he prints cures with quotation marks. Naturally, he is bound to, as a "journalist," back up his cures with enough information, and information that is tightly bound to research. Due to the nature of the subject matter, Trudeau can safely be concluded as doing a tourist approach to it while making money on the side. Throughout his books, he would write, "Go to my site at naturalcures.com. I can't tell you everything here." But when you go there, you cannot read everything. You got to pay.

The danger in Kevin Trudeau's work is not in exposing fraud or whatever he thinks is fraud for the benefit of the public. It is the practice of something that requires many years of study against his cavalier confidence of an absolute truth. And writing his prescriptions or recommendations as cures or "cures," the way he does it does not help his audience in the long run. To him, it is like there are no limitations, no scope, no exemptions, no buts, and no ifs in his sweeping prescriptions and his promises of cure sounding like absolutes with no single research to boot.

Did he have the needs of his audience in mind? His Chapter 1 of his very first book talks about himself. "I Could Have Been Dead" is the title. Beginning with himself, true to its colors the whole book shows him running to his audience for protection now and then because authorities are after him.

His chapter on "How to Never Get Sick Again" is fairly advice but is mixed with funny prescriptions and proscriptions like, Don't read the Newspaper, Don't Watch the News. "My personal studies show that a person's pH can go from a healthy alkaline state, to the cancer-prone acidic taste just after 30 minutes of watching news broadcast,” Trudeau wrote.

The probable tie- up of the FTC and Big Pharma is not new revelation. As early as half-a-century ago, that had been feeder for the minds of readers. At the very least, Trudeau's task could have been substantially backing up his reporting (Read: Prescriptions) with facts. Then and there, he could have a world of journalists behind him.

The Virgin Coconut Oil that he named in his second book for weight loss for example, merely had him saying his pants were falling off after three days of taking the oil once in the morning and once in the late afternoon. Why? How? What is in this oil that made it so? Did he look into what research is saying about this commodity?

Others are better at mentioning the medium-chain fatty acids in VCO that explains why although it is saturated oil, it has certain overwhelming properties. Trudeau should have done research because a reader could mistake his cure as endless prescription. As oil is oil and has no fiber, what can happen to the body then?

From 2006 onwards, could Kevin Trudeau have written a whole book on weight loss? From his usual way of touch-and -go writing, Trudeau could not have pinned down the subject more than his perfunctory ways of writing prescriptions or recommendations. But suddenly and suddenly, not even a year after his second book, he wrote, The Weight Loss Cure "They" Don't Want You to Know About by the same publishing house. He had stumbled on something – a giant leap from his prescriptions of virgin coconut oil and salsa and apple cider vinegar and Yerba Mata Tea.

 

Now, it is having to do with direct interventions with the body, particularly the hypothalamus. Now, it is use of herbal supplements and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) injections that the FTC claims are fraudulent measures. Wikipedia writes “The controversial book describes a plan to change activity in the hypothalamus gland, linked to the pituitary gland, with the intention to control hunger and regulation of fat cells, by using herbal supplements and repeated use of the hCG hormone.”

Where did Trudeau learn all of this in such a short span of time and write a book that made millions for himself?

Tradeau’s weight loss procedure is being compared to a 1950’s diet plan of British endocrinologist, Dr. A.T.W. Simeons according book reviews. If Dr. Simeons Diet has been highly criticized as dangerous to health, more so Kevin Trudeau’s weight loss cure – he who has no medical background.

From the time involved alone, with less than a year jump from one perspective on weight loss to another, one can see Kevin Trudeau is not personally into this thing even as a researcher. What is surer is that he is involved because of the money side of it – but never with some social responsibility to his audience needs. He is not a journalist.

 

Bro. Eli Soriano to Launch ASOP Music Festival - International

By Gauden Joe O. Sumayod

Quezon City, Philippines – The recently concluded ASOP Music Festival Year 2 was a huge success. Stunning performances were shown by each performer before tens of thousands at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. The conceptualizers of this event, Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon expressed gratitude for its success and have announced their plan to launch an International ASOP Music Festival competition in the near future. This will open the door to people around the world to join this song-writing competition, regardless of language and races.

           

Overwhelmed ... blessed ... thankful. These are what the ASOP interpreters felt as they were singing their piece. The audience was moved by their performances. Loud cheers and applause filled the Big Dome on the night of September 09, 2013.

The chairman and CEO of Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International (BMPI) Inc., Daniel Razon spearheaded the ASOP Music Festival Grand Finals night. Razon said that the main goal of ASOP Music Festival is to encourage everyone to come up with a composition intended in praising God:

“I don’t know how to fully express this, but I know, within your hearts, there’s a singer in you, there is a composer, but it would be great if the songs that we were going to compose and to sing is for the One that had given us the voice  and the reason of our existence.” expressed by  Razon in the vernacular.

ASOP Music Festival, according to Razon, was being held inside the Church of God International long before they started ASOP TV on UNTV through Bro. Eli Soriano’s idea, the main proponent of the program.

Bro. Eli Soriano, the Presiding Minister of the Members Church of God International (MCGI) as the advocate behind this peculiar program shared some important details about the history on how the ASOP Music Festival started. Bro. Eli said that although other religious groups forbid their songs to be sung by other denominations, it was not supposed to be that way. This paved the idea of having a program for original composition of songs of praises. At first it was only held inside the church and eventually in television via ASOP TV wherein everybody is welcome to join, both professional and amateur song writers regardless of their religious orientation. Bro.Eli believes that songs of praise are something worth sharing to the world.

In his speech, Bro. Eli also announced that ASOP Music Festival will be going international.

 “And this is truly an International organization (MCGI), that’s why Bro. Daniel and I thought of launching an International ‘A Song Of Praise Music Festival.’” Bro. Eli said about the church organization.

Although the place and date is indefinite as to when this much bigger project will start, absolutely it would be another history in Philippine television, for it will be the first song writing competition in the world that are mainly songs of praises to God, another milestone for the Members Church of God International.

“I am hoping that professional and amateur song writers would continue to join -- let us come together. Let us praise the Maker of our soul, and the Creator of our being. And to Him be the glory and the honor forever and ever.” Bro. Eli said as he encouraged composers to continue joining ASOP Music Festival.

During the final night, twelve entries had vied for the coveted place. The song “Ikaw” composed by Boy Christopher Ramon Jr. was awarded as the “Song of the Year,” received P500, 000.  And Jonalyn Viray, a well known and multi-awarded singer who interpreted the song “Ikaw” won as the “Best Interpreter” received P50, 000.

Here are the lists of runner ups:
First place: “I am Grateful” composed by RJ Jimenez, received P250, 000.
Second place: “Lagi Kang Nariyan” composed by Christian Obar, which received P150, 000.
Third place: “You’ll See Miracles” composed by Paul Hildawa, which received P100, 000.

Joey De Leon, TV host, and well known comedian was among the board of judges together with Raul Sunico, the President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines; Audie Gemora  a world renowned musical actor and director; and Anabelle Regalado-Borja, the CEO and Talent Manager of E-Talent Productions.

Kathleen Dy-Go, the General Manager of the Universal Records; Snaffu Rigor, a multi awarded composer and singer; and Dr. Mon Del Rosario, the President and Managing Director of Talent Asia Entertainment Studio, completing the board of judges.

In the near future, we will be singing and hearing new songs of praises in different languages composed by non-Filipino composers and singers.

God Knows our Human Rights

By Gauden Joe O. Sumayod

August 05, 2011 – In a recent Ang Dating Daan World Wide Bible Exposition, a man asked Bro. Eli Soriano this question: “Does God violate our human rights?” He gave Joseph, the husband of Mary, who is the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ in the flesh as his example. He said that the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ is Mary while the father is the God the father. He said Joseph has the right to be the father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Bro. Eli Soriano directly answered the question that had been asked, with a big “NO!” God did not violate Joseph’s human rights, simply because it is God who made Joseph, so God did not violate Joseph’s human rights.

Bro. Eli said that the reason He created Joseph is a “binding factor” between Christ and Mary. In fact, it is a privilege to Joseph. There are people who are blind, deaf, dumb, lame, but did God violate their human rights? No! Actually it is God who created them also. Bro. Eli cited Exodo 4:11“And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? Or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have I not I the LORD?” Bro. Eli reiterated that God created them for us to appreciate the importance of our eyes, feet, ears, mouth. Disabled people are a binding factor between men.

Disabled people afford opportunities for the normal to be the eyes, the feet, or the mouth for the former. We can serve as feet for the lame. Also to the blind, we can serve as their eyes; to the dumb, to the deaf, we can serve as their mouth and ears, like what Job did in his time. Bro. Eli Soriano cited Job 29:15-16 “I was the eyes to the blind, and feet was I to lame. I was a father to the father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.” Job filled the defects or lack of other people. Job served as the feet to the lame, eyes to the blind. Not only that, he also served as a father to the poor. The importance of the disabled person is that God created him to show His loving kindness to all men.

Similarly in our time Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel Razon are doing more than the same things as Job had done. Like Job, Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon serve not only as feet to the lame, eyes to the blind, a father to the poor and provide our fellowmen a shelter like “Transient Home” all over the Country, to accommodate homeless people and to have a temporary shelter. Here are more:

The “Clinic ni Kuya” which serves a free medical, dental services and the like to our fellowmen who cannot afford expensive medicines, hospital bills, and doctor bills.

The “Free Legal Service ni Kuya” which serves free Legal services to our fellowmen who cannot afford fees for lawyers. Just like Job who searched out the cause of others which he knew not, Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel are doing the same thing too.

They also provide “Libreng Sakay,” a free ride that saves people from transportation fees in buses, jeepney, tricycle, boat and a lot of more.

They also put up a Project for Free Education by providing poor students of “Free College” which serves students’ needs, from tuition fees, uniforms, and books to even their transportation allowances and meals. They are also continuously helping other government agencies like DepEd by launching a Project called “Dunong Gulong” which goals are to extend the Education of our fellowmen at the places unreached by the modern way of learning and education.

These are only part of the advocacy of Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon to promote good bindings to all men even to their enemy, according to what was written in the Bible Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. This is preached by Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel Razon.

These are the evidence of the sayings, “We Walk our Talk” and “We Walk by faith not by Sight.”