Former Buddhist: Tomio Horie

"God has definitely touched my life" 

By Tomio Horie

 
THE ONLY RELIGION I had previously known was Buddhism.  I was raised by my parents believing that freeing oneself from material desires, a practicing Buddhist can attain nirvana or spiritual peace. Once a Buddhist has attained nirvana, he will then be able to use his time to improve the world. I had no idea about God then. My idea of divinity was the statue of Buddha with his arms folded on his lap and a beatific smile on his face. During summertime, I would typically attend some religious rituals and ceremonies held in Buddhist shrines or temples and participate in local festivals.
 

In 1978 I married Yasuko  Asai. We were blessed with two kids named Hitomi and Yasunori. During that time, my life was devoted to my job. I was focused on material gains, on earning much in order to let my family enjoy a comfortable life, yet I hardly spend time with my family. Until one day, something unexpected came up and my wife was diagnosed with lung cancer. I consulted different Doctors in a frantic effort to save my wife. 

Former Hindu: Amit Ranjan

"I was called and chosen" 

By Amit Ranjan



I CONSIDER MYSELF blessed to be one of those who were called and chosen to serve God. I am an Indian national. I was raised in India, the country known as the cradle of Hinduism, and never did it occur to me that one day I'll change my religion.

During my first visit to the Philippines in February 2001, I was invited to attend a worship service of the Iglesia ni Cristo in Tangub, Negros Occidental. The lesson was preached in the local dialect, while the hymns were sung and the prayers were rendered in Tagalog. This sounded strange to me, But it was an exhilarating experience, I should say, and I noticed right away not only the organized manner of worship but, most of all, the absence of statues, which has been in total contrast to the Hindu worship.

Again, on my return in August 2001, I was able to attend a worship service and the impression I had on my first visit was the same. These visits had exposed me to the Christian belief.

Former Catholic Priest: Beda Aboloc

Former Aglipayan Priest: Perpetuo Valerde

My Last Days towards Enlightenment
by Perpetuo Valerde
 

My name is Perpetuo Valerde and l come from the locale of Bucal, Cavite. I was an Aglipayan Priest for twenty six years. At the age of fifty seven, i am now secure of my enlightenment and of tracing the right path which i would like to relate to you, as well as my experiences during my childhood, priesthood, and my having been into this Church.

My father is Tiburcio Valverde, also an Aglipayan Priest for forty years and my mother is Josefa Blanco, from Botolan, Zambales. In an old big house in front of the Aglipayan Church in Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite, I was born on the 4th of August, 1925.

I grew up assisting my father in administering masses. I used to sing during the mass, ring the bells for which i received one centavo after pulling the ropes. I remember it was not easy to pull the ropes to ring the bells, for each ceremony required a different mode of bell-ringing. Thus, there was an unusual rhythm for a funeral mass, another distinct measure for marriage ceremony and another for baptism. My fees appeared insufficient so my father just trained me as his altar boy wherever he was assigned by the Superior Priests.

Former Catholic Nun: Erlinda Mirafuentes- Dela Cruz

I was born and baptized into the Catholic Church. My grandmother taught me how to pray the Angelus and the rosary daily. My early childhood was replete with different sizes of statues of all saints elaborately dressed like mediaval beings and arranged on the altar where we knelt before them as we recited long and repetitious prayers in their honor. My mother, Dominga Calderon, taught me to have a personal devotion to all souls in Purgatory. I became a prayer leader of the novena for the dead especially during All Souls’ Day in the cemetery. I devoutly observed different practices such as fasting and abstinence during holy week and the nine-day novena in preparation for the feast days of the honored patron.

Former Anglican Priest: Innocente E. Okekeh

Why I joined Iglesia Ni Cristo

by Innocente E. Okekeh, Ph.D., Th.D.

 
It was in the course of my studies in the Philippines from 1974-1984—during which I earned Bachelor of divinity from Union theological Seminary (1978); Master of Arts in education at the Philippine Christian University (1980); Doctor of philosophy in educational management in Centro Escolar Universiy (1983)—when I began attending worship services of the Iglesia ni Cristo in places like Sampaloc, Manila and Cavite. I did it on my own volition. Nobody in or outside the Philippines coerced, compelled or even introduced me to the Iglesia ni Cristo.

Former Catholic Priest: Theophilus Darku

The End of my Search for the Real and True Light
by Theophilus Darku

Among the classical pieces of the masters, Handel’s “Messiah” has always been food for thought for me. The part that engaged my attention the most, was one taken from Isaiah 9:2 "The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;...". I have come to love and play this piece very often without recognizing the impact it would have on my life in these last days. Another portion, from Isaiah 9:6, also got my attention. It reads, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." This verse eventually made me eager to seek the light diligently until I found it. But let me touch on this later on.

Right now let me introduce myself. The name is Theophilus William Darku, born in Cape Coast Ghana, West Africa on June 27, 1927. I come from a Catholic home with five other brothers who are all Catholics. My father died a Catholic, last February at the age of 73. My mother who is 74 years old is still living. I was a Catholic priest from 1953 to 1973. Let me interest you with a brief story about my first name. When I was born, my parents found out that I was sick. My mother told me I never cried even I was hungry; I never showed signs of something being wrong with me. I just lay there. This disturbed my parents very much; and as all parents would do, they tried everything and consulted doctors to get me well.

Former Catholic Priest: Teodoro Dizon

I was ordained as a CATHOLIC priest
by Teodoro Dizon

I am TEODORO G. DIZON from the Locale of Miami, Florida. I was born in Camiling Tarlac, Philippines, to a family of practising Catholics. At the age of 11, I became an altar boy, assisting priests on many Catholic activites like fiestas, masses and other religious celebrations. I observed the works and sacrifices of the priests in serving the people. Drawn to this kind of service of being close to people, I made up my mind to become a priest and, at the age of 14, entered the seminary in Pangasinan, Philippines.

It was in my fifth year in high school (equivalent to first year in college at that time) when I heard about Brother Felix Y. Manalo and the Igesia Ni Cristo(Church of Christ).