Return to the Faith of Ang Dating Daan [ADD] Preacher

Mr. Angeles Apin, former ADD preacher

Through the grace of the Holy Spirit my posting has finally resumed after four days of slumber due to failure of our internet server to provide service. Here in Sorsogon the company providing the service, Digitel, is still so antiquated; it still relies on wirings for connections. Unfortunately, thieves frequently cut those wire and in effect we are also frequently deprived of internet connections. Imagine, Digitel only has one line to rely on; once that line malfunctions then the entire city suffers. May the Lord grant them the grace to establish an alternative line so that in case of emergency they can switch to another as soon as possible.

Anyway, so much for that!

Last Saturday September 1, 2007 our religious program The Splendor of the Church has finally presented to the public the much expected convert or revert to the Catholic Faith. For several days his identity was kept top secret but now he courageously revealed himself. He is Mr. Angeles Apin, a Sorsoganon who left the Catholic Church way back the early 80’s to join the charismatic movements, then he was baptized to the Iglesia ni Cristo [INC] and later, in 1989 he converted to Iglesia ng Dios, Haligi at Suhay ng Katotohanan or more popularly known as Ang Dating Daan [ADD].

from left to right, Mr. Apin, Ms. Tess de Ramon [co-host] & Fr. Abe [host]

As a member of ADD, Mr. Apin stayed at Apalit, Pampanga and was personally trained by Mr. Eliseo Soriano together with other young men to be ADD preacher. Mr. Apin graduated with flying colors in that training and was sent to Bulacan, Rizal and the Bicol region to preach, teach, train new recruits and debates pastors of other faith for ADD.

The guy is highly educated and fluent in Bicol, Filipino and English. He served as radio host for several years, local radio and TV manager and now an instructor in Electronics Technology.

Mr. Apin or Kapatid na Obeth [Bro. Obeth] showing his ADD I.D. bearing the personal signature of Mr. Eliseo Soriano [ADD's head minister]

Bro. Obeth’s eloquence, oratorical skills, self-confidence and knowledge of the Word of God are living manifestation that his testimony is true. Even his intonation attests that the guy was truly a disciple of Soriano. He knows a lot of inside info about the group and knowledgeable in the who’s who of the organization. Moreover, he strengthened his credentials with documents and photos showing his close relations with the top echelons of ADD. Those documents and photos were shown on TV and were focused on camera. But, sadly they cannot be posted here yet at this point in time.

He also gave us a taste of his apologetic skills when he shared to the viewers how to refute the doctrines of the INC, the Born Again, the Baptists, Jehova Witnesses and Mormons by refuting their main doctrines the ADD way.

On the other hand, Bro. Obeth sincerely stated that at this point in time he is still not fully prepared to explain the Doctrines of the Catholic Faith and asked Fr. Abe to explain to him the doctrines of Necessity of Baptism, Original Sin, Infant Baptism and others. What is great is that he expressed his eagerness to know the Catholic Faith and to learn Catholic Apologetics. I assure you that I will personally handle his studies of the faith, not only on Biblical foundation of the Catholic Faith but also of the Catholic Morals and the History of the Church, with care.

Since he expressed already his willingness to share his time and talents for The Splendor of the Church we will still invite him from time to time especially when we are answering the attacks of other religions against the Catholic Faith and also to reveal to Catholics the defects of the teachings and doctrines of these sects.

Yesteday’s program was only the opening salvo. In fact, it was a mere interview about his journey of faith from charismatic, Jesus is Lord of Eddie Villanueva, INC and ADD to the Roman Catholic Church. More will be coming from him.

I requested Bro. Obeth to write a summary of his conversion story by request of my good friend Bro. Henry Siy, owner of the best Catholic bookstore in Metro Manila TOTUS BOOKSTORE and head of DEFENSORES FIDEI FOUNDATION [DFF], the most active Catholic apologetic group in the Philippines. With joy in my heart I am blessed to say that I am an associate member of DFF and one of its seminar speakers – a great honor for me since among the members of its stable of apologists, I am the least qualified. The DFF site can be visited in this blog’s apologetic website links but for a shortcut, here it is http://www.defensoresfidei.com/ .

Once Bro. Obeth finished his short biography I will post the general information here. Also, at the end of this month, he will be back in the program in order to explain in detail the doctrinal reasons why he abandoned the ADD. Abangan!

It is really a great blessing from the Lord to hear him give his personal testimony. Actually, for the past 2 years I have met people, either in the confessionary or during personal encounters, telling that they are former members of other sects who returned to the Catholic Church. But, Mr. Apin is the only one among many who had the courage to approach me personally to testify for his Journey Home. Those that I had invited declined but this one personally came to offer himself. God loves a cheerful giver!

At this point in time, Bro. Obeth and his wife are asking me to prepare their Church wedding and the Baptism of their children. His decision to go open was not easy. The guy was teary eyed most of the time in the 2 hour long duration of the program. He knew that many family members who are still members of ADD will be hurt by his move. For sure this will create friction and tension in their relationships but after weighing the pros and cons he decided to go on.

Let us praise the Lord for His great love is without end. Let us praise the Holy Spirit the only One who can genuinely convert and transform human hearts. Let us praise the Father Almighty for making us His children.

May the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queen-Mother, guide and support, uphold and protect Bro. Obeth and his family. May the Lord continuously bless The Splendor of the Church and the Defensores Fidei Foundation for the Glory of His Name. Amen.

St. Gregory the Great, intercede for us! St. Michael, the Archangel, please be at our side! Amen!