The following
are inspiring stories of Iglesia ni Cristo converts from
around the world. Many of these true to life
stories are from many years back but their stories are still
relevant, most particularly, to those who are presently studying the
Iglesia ni Cristo. We hope that by reading
their stories people may come to understand
the workings on "how
God calls people", that is, how God move, draw and
give people the desire to study His words written in the Holy
Bible; and that by these convert stories other people may also be inspired to continue their search for the true Church
of Christ.
| Inspiring Convert Stories List |
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| "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" |
| Story Title |
Name |
Locale |
Former Religion |
Convert Story Highlight |
| I have been reborn. |
Kipp Keller |
Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.A. |
Protestant
(Member) Catholic
(Lay Minister) |
Former
Religion:
Although I studied hard and even became a lay minister,
I still had many questions that were unanswered. Each time I
asked, I was told that I must have faith and just believe that
it was that way…
Iglesia ni Cristo:
I felt very moved by the way
each question was answered through the Bible, the answer was
supported by the Bible. I was not asked to just accept what was
said. I was encourage to ask questions. I was told to feel free
to bring up anything that I had doubts about. This was something
that was so new to me—to be allowed to ask anything that I was
unsure of… … I asked questions, I was getting answers that I
never gotten before. I found out that this is the true Church.
Convert Story-02
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here to read full story. |
| No longer confused |
Arthur W. Jones II |
South Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. |
Attended various Protestant churches, and the Catholic
Church. |
Former Religion:
Even if I was attending worship services, I found
myself confused as to the proper worship of God's glorious name…
. I did not understand why the minister would begin the service
by reading a verse from the Bible and yet his sermon neither had
connection with nor give the meaning of the Holy Scriptures. He
was trying to make sense of the Bible by preaching from personal
testimony. . . . . . .
Iglesia ni
Cristo:
I noticed that the worship
service was solemn, no one talking, only praying. The choir
began their processional march. I heard the most amazing voices.
Instantly I felt secured. I felt overwhelmingly warmth.
Suddenly, I began to weep. The minister then preached. I noticed
that he never spoke his own words, only the words from the
Bible, no personal interpretations. I was intrigued and the all
the more glued to the lesson. I never learned as much in my all
life attending other churches than what I was learning right
there. I yearned for more.
Convert Story-03
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here to read full story. |
| It's never too late to find the truth. |
Leoncio Luna Tactacan |
Fresno, California, U.S.A. |
Catholic
(Member) |
Former
Religion:
Although the life I lived was filled with excitement
and successes , I still felt like something was missing. I was
searching for the true meaning of my life. Since I was a child I
didn't like what I saw in the Catholic Church, especially when
they bow down to images… . .
Iglesia ni Cristo:
I had many goals in life, but
this one final goal I was not able to achieve until almost the
end of my life… . On August 21, 2004, at the house of worship in
San Jose, I was finally reborn, baptized as a member of the
Church of Christ. At the age of 96, I feel that one is not too
old to finally find the true meaning of life. It's never too
late to find the truth that will lead to salvation. … I was
asked, "Now that you are a member of the Church of Christ, what
are you going to do now?" Clearly I said, "Follow"
Convert Story-04
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here to read full story. |
|
Why I became an
Iglesia ni Cristo member |
Edwin Pobre |
Long Island City, New
York, U.S.A. |
Baptist
(Member) |
Former Religion:
As a
Baptist, I was made to believe that salvation came by faith
alone and not by works; that all one needs to do to be saved is
to accept Jesus as his personal savior. I remained strong in
this belief until my father-in-law told me that one cannot be
saved without works. According to the Bible, he said, faith
without works is dead. . . . . Nevertheless, doubt started to
creep into my mind and I began to question how one can be saved
by a dead faith. I talked to a lot of Protestants from different
sects about their opinion on this matter, but I quickly realized
that they were in the same boat as I was. They all believed that
faith alone can save man. Having the approval of my peers, I
remained in my belief that I have been saved because I have
accepted Jesus as my personal savior. I believed that no matter
what I did, good or bad, I was entitled to eternal life.
Iglesia ni Cristo:
I expected the Bible
Exposition to be just like all the others I have gone to. I even
suspected that the Iglesia Ni Cristo had its own version of the
Bible to support its belief.
The exposition turned out to be very different from what I had
expected. The format was unlike anything I’ve seen before.
The
minister simply asked questions that I’m sure everyone was dying
to ask, then he simply answered the questions by reading the
Bible He did not tell stories or jokes nor used flattering
speech as evangelists and pastors do. What amazed me was how the
minister connected seemingly unrelated verses like a jigsaw
puzzle to present the whole picture of salvation. He was using
several versions of the Bible, none of which was their own.
Convert Story-06
Click
here to read full story. |
| Now a child of
God |
Anthony Darling |
Los Angeles, California,
U.S.A. |
Baptist
(member) |
Former Religion:
During my
teenage years, a friend invited me to her church, the New
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, of which I became a member. The
experience of being part of a church sparked my interest and
dedication to serve God in truth, but there was one problem that
I faced. I was surrounded by so many churches that were claiming
to be true but were teaching conflicting doctrines. I became
confused trying to determine which is the true Church belonging
to God. . . . . . I began to pray everyday asking God to show me
His true Church. After six months of visiting others churches
and examining their doctrines, I was still at a loss, until I
met Brother Amadeo Melchor one Thursday at the Los Angeles City
College. He invited me to attend that Thursday night worship
service of the Church of Christ.
Iglesia ni Cristo:
As the minister preached
about God and Christ, I knew that this Church must be a
Christian Church and of God. After the worship service, the
warmth of the brethren's reception overwhelmed me because
everyone seemed to be happy and sincere to have me as a visitor.
I decided to undergo instructions in Bible teachings in the
Church, to pursue my search for the true Church. After each
lesson on Church doctrines I received, I became more and more
amazed with the way the minister taught the doctrines of the
Bible. A question would be posed and then answered by means of
the Bible. . . . .
Convert Story-08
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here to read full story |
| Story of a
former Catholic Priest |
Teodoro G. Dizon
|
Miami. Florida, U.S.A. |
Catholic (Priest) |
Former Religion:
I was ordained as a Catholic priest on April 1, 1962. My first
assignment as a new priest was in Concepcion, Tarlac. It was there
where I received a call from a minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo,
inviting me to a Bible study and discussion. I tried to ask
permission from my superiors but was told not to go. . . . .
Since I was
responsible for opening and closing the chapel, I attended the
worship services. During those times, I felt the call of God working
in me and my belief in Christ as God was changing. . . . .
I was subsequently assigned to Guam,
where I continued attending the worship services of the Iglesia ni
Cristo when, at the same time, leading and saying mass as a navy
chaplain.
Iglesia ni Cristo:
I was baptized in the Locale of Jacksonville, Florida by Brother Venros
Santiago. This was the happiest day of my life on this earth.
All the doubts in my mind, especially about Jesus Christ as a
man, were cleared. . . . . . My conversion to the true Church was the happiest moment in my life.
It freed me from the shackles of Catholic Church and her hypocrisy
and false teachings which are contrary to the words of God written
in the Holy Bible.
Convert Story-09
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here to read full story |
| "I have found
what I was looking for" |
Dale Michael Schrader |
Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia,
U.S.A. |
Catholic
(member) |
Former
Religion:
Yet, even at a young age, I had always wondered about
the lessons taught to us in Catechism classes. Most of the
teachings I heard, for example, the divinity of our Lord Jesus
Christ did nothing to convince me to be devoted as a Catholic.
Instead, the explanations given by the priests, or lack thereof,
only led to me conclude that it was not the true religion.. . .
.I tried attending the services other churches to fill the
void of religion in my life. But after listening their
doctrines, I came to the conclusion that there really was no one
true church.
Iglesia ni Cristo:
The lesson was about the messenger of God. I listened
intently and I made sure that I understood everything so that I
could turn the table on him with questions. When he finished
preaching, I jumped at the first chance to inquire. But Brother
Suarez not only answered all of my questions satisfactorily but
he also answered every one of them directly from the Bible. This
was something that I had not seen in any of the other churches I
had been to. Brother Suarez had full command of the Scriptures
and he was right in front of me reading the answers to my
questions directly from the Bible. Afterwards, I knew that this
was not just another church.
Convert Story-13
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here to read full story |
| "How grateful I am to God" |
Louis John Vecchitto |
Norwich, Connecticut, U.S.A. |
|
In May 1985, I returned
to the Philippines after completing my active duty with the
Marine Corps, Upon my arrival in Olongapo, I met with Noel. He
was then married and had joined the Church of Christ, and was
now a deacon. He invited me to this Church. I went to see what
kind of Church my friend joined. While I was attending worship
services, I had so many questions in my mind. I was amazed of
how the ministers preached. I noticed that they did not produce
their own Bible They used various Bible translations. All the
questions I asked were finally answered. I'd been with different
religions, but I said to myself that this one was so different
and the teachings. were so clear, direct from the Bible.
I
thought it was kind of strange since the minister just gave me
the answer with- out telling me a story or interpreting from his
own. He could prove to me that this is really the Lord God's one
and only true Church. I finally decide to enlist as a Bible
student. The minister who taught me God's words was Brother Praxidio Ramboyong Jr. He would always ask me at the end of the
lesson if I understood it and he would make me answer questions
to make sure that I really did. I clearly understood because of
the fact that they came from the Bible.
Convert Story-14
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here to read full story |
| "God's purpose for keeping me
alive" |
Raymond D.
Harper |
Canton, Illinois, U.S.A. |
Pentecostal (member) |
Former
Religion:
I joined the United States Marine Corps. Eventually, I was sent to
Vietnam. While in Vietnam, I was captured. That incident somehow
made me believe that there must be a God and He had a purpose
for keeping me alive. That made me want to know more about God.
. . . . When I returned to the United States, I started
attending the worship services of a number of
churches. I attended the Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran,
Methodist, and other services but with no satisfaction. A
cousin of mine had become a Pentecostal minister and had his own
church. My mother had joined his church and asked me to also
join. I went to the services with her and was baptized, but I
still wasn't satisfied. There were just too many questions not
answered.
Iglesia ni Cristo:
At first, I thought it would be like all the other churches I had gone to.
. . . . . . As I progressed in learning about the Church's
teachings, many of my questions were answered. The evangelical
worker wouldn't only explain things to me but would show me the
proof written in the Bible. My cousin, the Pentecostal minister,
hadn't done that. I was beginning to have different thoughts
about the Church of Christ. I finished instruction in biblical
doctrines and was eventually baptized on February 19, 2005.
My
mind and heart have finally been satisfied with the teachings in
the Church of Christ, the only true Church.
Convert Story-17-
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here to read full story |
| "I was called through the
Brotherhood in the Church" |
Ronald Howell |
Seattle, Washington,
U.S.A. |
|
Former Religion:
AS I LOOK BACK,
I cannot help but shake my head and chuckle at the way my
life had been before I joined the Church of Christ. Religion or
anything relating to it was not even in my vocabulary. My
former religious
beliefs, if any were based on the words of a
preacher who confirmed I was saved, but for me they were mere
words.
Iglesia ni Cristo:
Basketball is my favorite
sport and I enjoy playing the game. One spring afternoon in
1999, I happened to join a team in Seattle University . .
. . What was interesting was that we were victorious many
times over. After the game, Kris asked me and another
friend to play for their Church's sports league. . . . .The first game of the basketball season came and I
admit that it changed my view of religion for the better. An
exciting crowd cheered and hooted for their locales. I had never
played in front of a huge crowd and was awed to see such fellowship
among the locales. With this experience, attending the Bible studies
became a regular activity for me, not only because I got to play but
more so because I enjoyed being in the company and fellowship of the
brethren. . . . .As I recall the lesson about the love of the
brotherhood, never: will I forget the warm and sincere welcome
of the first brethren whom I met during that first basketball
game. . . who opened their doors to me and welcomed me as part of their
family. Truly, all the brethren who helped me understand the
teachings of the Church define the truth that the love of the
brotherhood reigns in the Church of Christ.
Convert Story-18-
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here to read full story |
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Note: This section is under construction. More
Inspiring Covert Story will be added from time to time. |
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