Preacher-blogger also a tweeter

Despite his busy schedule, preacher-blogger Bro. Eli Soriano reaches out to people in the World Wide Web through all ways possible: from video-supported sites like YouTube to blog sites as WordPress.com to social networking sites like Twitter. Yes, the 63-year old televangelist tweets to impart his biblical wisdom to the billion cyber users.

“These medium has inspired me to sow thoughts of goodness to intelligent minds,” Bro. Eli tweeted.

His daily tweets inspire and educate thousands of his followers.  After only a few months of tweeting, BroEliSoriano is now one of the most popular usernames being followed in Twitter.com. As of January 16, 2010, 8:45 PM Philippine Time, 4,717 tweeters follow Bro. Eli’s tweets.

His six to ten tweets daily is now a collection of advices for couples, parents, children, friends, and even enemies. Some are reminders to always acknowledge God’s goodness. His collected tweets also include answers to inquiries and concerns about faith, health, and matters of general subjects.

To parents: show concern for your children, it’s more than money and allowances.

To children: a kiss for a dad or mom will boost their immune system, and will relieve them of the pains and heaviness of old age.

To husbands and wives, give your partners a hug and a sweet kiss and whisper “I love you more than ever.” It’s more than a blow out.

A new morning means a new hope, a new endeavor, a new struggle, but with the Lord by our side it’s a new day of goodness for his people.

Water is very important for health. It helps maintain proper metabolism and eliminates toxins in the body. Avoid giving softdrinks to kids.

Bro. Eli started his missionary works in the Internet in 2000 through Angdatingdaan.org.  The site webcasts his television program Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path), the award-winning and the longest-running religious program in the Philippines. In April 2007, Bro. Eli opened his blog site www.esoriano.wordpress.com which was awarded the Most Educational to Follow in Mashable’s 3^rd Annual Open Web Awards.  He joined the Twitter community in the last quarter of 2009.

Aside from the Church’s official websites, YouTube and Justin.tv also host several official channels of Bro. Eli and the Members Church of God International.

Filed under: Religion, Technology , Ang Dating Daan, angdatingdaan.org, Bro. Eli Soriano, esoriano.wordpress.com, Justin.tv, Mashable 3rd Annual Open Web Awards, MCGI, Members Church of God International, Most Educational to Follow, preacher-blogger, The Old Path, tweet, Twitter.com, Youtube

MCGI to evangelize American continents with TV Verdade; next is India

Thousands of e-mails coming from the American and African races await schedules of Bible studies and expositions in their places.  More requests are expected to come from the Dravidian ancestry as MCGI targets India to be next in line.

The worldwide missionary works of Members Church of God International has now reached 48 out of 50 states of America.  Through MCGI websites and various channels in the Internet, along with the broadcast of the television program The Old Path, people from this region have heard the Good News.

“Our effort to preach the Gospel worldwide has now reached almost the whole of the US.  Forty-eight out of 50 states has already responded,” MCGI Vice-Presiding Minister Bro. Daniel Razon announced during the 4^th Quarter International Thanksgiving of the group.

This December 2009, MCGI took another leap to be heard in all 50 states.  With the all-out effort of the Church Presiding Minister Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel,  the group launched the satellite broadcast of The Old Path in all of Central and South America and in some parts of Europe through the television network TV Verdade (Verdade means truth).  TV Verdade airs the program 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The airing started this third week of the month.

From the US, MCGI is now eyeing another country in Asia.  After Mashable declared Bro. Eli’s truth blog esoriano.wordpress.com as the Most Educational to Follow in its 3^rd Annual Open Web Awards, Bro. Eli is pushing through the introduction of the Christian belief to the world’s second most populous country.  Bro. Eli has brought this idea to the Congregation many months ago; and the group is now taking steps to start the mission right away.

“India ranks third among those countries that view my blog the most.  Many are poor in this country and I want them to hear the truth,” says Bro. Eli.

Out of the blog’s total views, the Philippines shares 26%, 22% comes from the US, and 20% from India.

Filed under: Events, Religion, history , 3rd Annual Open Web Awards, African, America, American, Asia, Bible Exposition, Bible Study, Bro. Daniel Razon, Bro. Eli, Bro. Eli Soriano, broadcast, Central America, Christian, Congregation, December, Dravidian, esoriano.wordpress.com, evangelization, Good News, Gospel, India, International Thanksgiving, Internet, Kuya Daniel, Mashable, MCGI, Members Church of God International, Minister, missionary work, Most Educational to Follow, North America, Philippines, populous, satellite, South America, Thanksgiving, The Old Path, TOP, Truth blog, TV Verdade, United States

International Thanksgiving starts earlier than scheduled?

The 4^th Quarter International Thanksgiving of Members Church of God International (MCGI) is set on December 25-27, but it seems to have started days earlier than scheduled.

Photo by Kaanib.net

Congregants from different regions in the Philippines and abroad flock to ADD Convention Center in Apalit, Pampanga as early as Sunday morning, December 20 to prepare for the quarter’s big event.  Brethren are coming with pieces of outsized luggage, geared up to stay for more than three days.  First comers ready their locale’s designated area and prepared seats for those who are still coming.  Everywhere in the Pasalamatan, the main Thanksgiving venue in the Convention Center, is a string of straw formed in squares or rectangles that indicate the boundaries of the assigned areas. Sleeping mats are sprawled inside each square and rectangle where brethren can lie down and sleep or take some rest.

More than any one else, the Church Administrators prepare everything to accommodate hundred thousands attendees at the ADD Convention Center alone, and hundred thousands more at the monitoring centers worldwide.  MCGI Presiding Minister Bro. Eli Soriano and Vice-Presiding Minister Bro. Daniel Razon led the preparation as they always do.  Some facilities in the Convention Center are reconstructed to provide more space for walkways; additional comfort rooms are built to cut the long lines of those taking a bath.  Sleeping mats, blankets, pillows, and tents are provided for those without sleeping gears.  Free meals are to serve for them who do not have money to buy food.

“We are thinking and doing all ways to make the brethren feel comfortable while they stay at the Convention Center,” says Bro. Eli.

But as proven, brethren are too occupied with the overwhelming joy of having to partake in the Feast of God to feel even the slightest discomfort.  They are those people who willingly take sacrifices for their love for God.  Nothing is there that can stop them from offering thanksgiving and praises to the Creator.

Filed under: Celebration, Events, Religion, Thanksgiving , ADD Convention Center, Apalit, brethren, Bro. Daniel Razon, Bro. Eli Soriano, Church, December 25, Feast of God, free meal, International Thanksgiving, MCGI, Members Church of God International, Minister, Pampanga, Pasalamatan, Philippines, Presiding Minister, Quarter, Sunday, Thanksgiving, Vice Presiding Minister

Bro. Eli’s blog makes history: two highest web awards in a year

Bro. Eli Soriano’s Truth blog, channeled through Esoriano.wordpress.com, tops over all web logs in the World Wide Web after it received two highest web awards from two prestigious local and international web award-giving bodies.

In Mashable’s 3^rd Annual Open Web Awards: Social Media Edition, Bro. Eli’s blog was awarded Most Educational to Follow, leaving behind hundred thousands of blogs in its category.

“Having won the ‘Most Educational to Follow’ category in the Open Web Awards 2009, esoriano.wordpress.com takes its place among the top 50 websites and services of the year.  Web users cast thousands of votes for the site, selecting it as the very best in its field.” — Pete Cashmore, CEO, Mashable.com

This year, Mashable received over 440,000 nominations worldwide with over 70,000 nominees and over 780,000 final votes. Readers voted in 50 categories including new themes to reflect the evolution of web culture since 2008.

Last February, the Truth blog also received the People’s Choice Award in Blog category and awarded the 2009 Most Popular Website in the 11^th Philippine Web Awards.  PWA is an award-giving body that annually recognizes the best Filipino-created web sites and honors the teams and individuals behind them.  Sites of renowned media networks, celebrities, businesses, individuals, and organizations in the country compete for the Best Website and People’s Choice awards in their categories and for the Most Popular Website of the Year.  Winner of the Most Popular Website Award is being selected among all finalists in all categories.

Esoriano.wordpress.com is one of the sites and channels maintained by the Members Church of God International (MCGI) where Bro. Eli presides. Other Church award-winning sites include Angdatingdaan.org, Kaanib.net, and Danielrazon.com.

Filed under: Celebration, Events, Religion , 2009 Most Popular Website, Ang Dating Daan, angdatingdaan.org, Best Website, blog, blog category, Bro. Eli, Bro. Eli Soriano, business, celebrities, danielrazon.com, esoriano.wordpress.com, February, kaanib.net, Mashable, Mashable Open Web Awards 2009, MCGI, media networks, Members Church of God International, Most Educational to Follow, organization, People's Choice Award, Pete Cashmore, Philippine Web Award, Social Media, Truth, Truth blog, votes, web award-giving body, web culture, web log, Wordpress, World Wide Web

December 25: In the mind of a child

A few children were asked what is to celebrate this coming December 25^th.

“It’s Jesus’ birthday,” a child of a Catholic answered.

An 8-year old kid, raised in a Born Again Christian family, happily sang, “We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year” as her response.

“Exchange gifts! I receive a lot of gifts on that day from my Mom and Dad, my brothers and sisters, my grandma and grandpa, and my friends,” exclaimed a 10-year old girl whose parents are Baptists.

All others born of parents from Adventist, Church of Christ, and even from religions that do not believe in Christmas, expressed one common answer – it’s Christmas Day.  They all believe it is Jesus’ birthday.  But an 11-year old Sam knows no idea about Christmas on December 25, rather a more festive celebration.

“It’s our International Thanksgiving to God.  It is the most joyful and worthy celebration one should celebrate. Our family will be in Apalit for three days to thank God for His kindness and for keeping us safe always. I am excited to sing our song of praise to God with the other kids in the Church,” Sam excitedly announced as she brought in mind the events to happen on December 25-27. Sam is a member of the Kawan ng Cordero (KNC), the children’s organization of the Members Church of God International (MCGI).

“I will invite my friends to come and celebrate with us,” she added.

Filed under: Celebration, Events, Religion , Adventist, Ang Dating Daan, Apalit, Baptist, birthday, Born Again Christian, Catholic, Celebration, Christmas, Christmas Day, Church, Church of Christ, December 25, Feast of God, gifts, International Thanksgiving, Jesus, Kawan ng Cordero, KNC, MCGI, Members Church of God International, Merry Christmas, New Year, Religion, Thanksgiving

MCGI Treats Couples Worldwide

“A couple does not have the right to separate ways because no one forced them to live together,” says Bro. Eli Soriano, MCGI Presiding Minister.

This wisdom reverberates each time the Church holds couples conventions.

Photo by Kaanib.net

Members Church of God International gathers couples in the Church for the 11th Annual Couples International Convention (CIC) this Sunday, November 8 at ADD Convention Center in Apalit, Pampanga.

CIC started in 1998 and was then held nationally.  Originally called Couples National Convention, the event’s name was changed to CIC in 2007 after couple members grew worldwide.

In the same way that MCGI holds youth conventions to strengthen the faith of the young people in the Church, it supports couples conventions to fortify the relationship of husband and wife and their family.

This annual event focuses mainly on spiritual consultation with Bro. Eli, medical consultation with the Church’s doctors, sports competition, and the yearly mass wedding.

Consultation with Bro. Eli excites the members all the time.  It’s the way out for spiritual problems and queries and even misunderstandings of the couples.  Medical consultation gives couples useful insights about reproductive health and responsible parenting.  Sports events encourage them to be physically active.  Mass wedding highlights the event which gives married and unmarried couples an opportunity to get wed in the true Church.

Filed under: Events, Religion , ADD Convention Center, annual, Bro. Eli Soriano, Church, CIC, convention, couples, Couples International Convention, event, husband and wife, mass wedding, MCGI, medical consultation, Members Church of God International, Presiding Minister, reproductive health, responsible parenting, spiritual consultation, sports competition, youth

ADD hits 29th year

Photo by Kaanib.net

It seems it was only yesterday, but 29 years had passed.

We have missed the actions in its inception in 1980.  We have missed the drama when it rose to popularity in 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.  Can we anymore afford to miss another moment of excitement come October 31?

Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path) celebrates 29th year of bringing the truth in the air lanes this Saturday at 7am with worldwide coverage emanating from ADD Convention Center in Pampanga, Philippines to different monitoring centers worldwide.

ADD program host Bro. Eli Soriano with his brethren from Members Church of God International (MCGI) spearheads the event.  Bulk of attendees is expected to jam-pack the ADD Convention Center and the Araneta Coliseum in Metro Manila.  Major locales and venues in many regions in Asia, United States, Canada, South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and Middle East will host attendees abroad and will take part thorugh live video streaming.  The ADD Anniversary celebration will follow right after MCGI’s regular thanksgiving gathering.

ADD might have the humblest beginning among all radio and television productions.  Only three persons started it all – one as host, one as program and technical director, and one as scriptwriter and set designer.  After only a few months of airing, the ADD became popular nationwide and now known to be the longest running religious program in the Philippine broadcast history.  Today, ADD is aired in many parts of the globe known internationally as The Old Path (TOP).

Filed under: Celebration, Religion , 29, ADD, ADD Convention Center, Ang Dating Daan, Anniversary, Araneta Coliseum, Bro. Eli Soriano, broadcast, Chronicler, Hazel, history, host, MCGI, Members Church of God International, Philippines, production, program director, radio, scriptwriter, set designer, technical director, television, Thanksgiving, The Old Path, Tipsterbox, video streaming, worldwide

The Greek Inscription

At Athens, Greece, Bro. Eli visited a place and saw an inscription written in Greek. His tour guide was puzzled because he does not know the language but was able to read the texts. If the tour guide only reads the Bible, he would ave known that Bro. Eli simply recited a verse from the Book of The Acts of the Apostles.

Bro. Eli Soriano is the Presiding Minister of Members Church of God International (MCGI).

- Told last October 2, 2009 -

Filed under: Amazing Story , Acts of the Apostles, Athens, Bible, Bro. Eli, Greece, Greek