Ang Dating Daan 2q514k

ANG DATING DAAN (Church of God Int’l)

Mr. Eliseo F. Soriano Founder

Formerly Church of God in Christ, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth or Mga Kaanib sa Iglesia Ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Saligan ng Katotohanan sa Bansang Pilipinas, Inc.

BRIEF HISTORY • Born from a poor family in Pasay City, Philippines, Soriano claim to be an “exceptional, consistently receiving the highest honors… and was awarded the highest possible grade in the entire history of his grade school.”

• Unfortunately, he did not finish his secondary schooling due to an alleged ―skirmish‖ with his acting school directress over a topic on religion.

• Soriano‘s follower took this not as a “twist of fate but rather [an alleged] manifestation of God’s work of hand bringing him to his real destiny.”

• His parents were of Iglesia ng Dios Kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Suhay ng Katotohanan founded in 1936 by a former Iglesia ni Cristo (1914) follower namely Nicolaz Perez

• Perez along with Teofila Ora left the I.N.C. fold in 1922 probably after learning that Jesus Christ was Mighty God but ―not‖ the Almighty God and proceeded to establish the Iglesia Verdadero de Cristo.

• It did not took long for the two former leaders of I.N.C. (1914) to develop discord among themselves. • This occurrence drove Perez to his new group under the name, Iglesia ng Dios Kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Suhay ng Katotohanan.

• Soriano‘s desire to read and memorize the Scripture was prompted by his hip in Perez‘ group at a young age of 17 years old.

• He was even believed to be a “special confidante of Perez, explaining to him the teachings and the mysteries of the word of God.” • Unknown to many, he was said rumored to be groomed as the successor of Perez after he dies.

• In 1975 just after Perez‘ death, some were stunned when the leadership was ed on to Levita Gugulan, a woman. • At first, Soriano might have yielded to that decision but it did not take long before he along with a few others rebelled against Gugulan‘s leadership.

• They believed that women as leaders in church are not biblically ed. It was reported that in 1976, Soriano and his allies were excommunicated by Gugulan.

• And the following year (1977), he ed a new group namely, Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Saligan ng Katotohanan. Which later evolved to, Mga Kaanib sa Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Saligan ng Katotohanan sa Bansang Pilipinas, Inc. (1990) and Bayan ng Katotohanan (1993).

Most likely because of a lawsuit filed by Gugulan‘s group with reference to the ―name‖ of Soriano‘s newly founded organization called,Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Saligan ng Katotohanan which is somewhat similar with the former‘s group name ―Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Suhay ng Katotohanan.

• In January 4, 2003, since the the Philippine Supreme Court ruled, once in for all, in favor of Gugulan's group, the name of Soriano's church was drastrically changed to: "Iglesia Ni YHWH at ni YHWSA HMSYH" (Church of YHWH and YHWSA HMSYH). • Update 4-Nov-2004: Now they prefer to be known as, Church of God International.

Method of Evangelization

• He spreads his teachings through the radio waves and lately used the television and internet facilities. He is fond of vehemently opposing various religious groups by attacking their non-essential doctrines like tithing and church appellations, as well as, personalities of a number of religious leaders.

Method of Evangelization

• One effective methodology of Soriano in captivating many gullible individuals into his fold by means of philosophical debates where he normally sets it up in their home turf (i.e. locale).

Method of Evangelization

• It can be observed that majority of the live audiences are from the Ang Dating Daan group capable of yelling instead of listening intently to what the opponent speaker is saying.

Method of Evangelization

Soriano on the other hand is a skilled heckler who tends to annoy and harass his opponent. As a result, this poor fellow who has really no idea totally whatsoever about Soriano‘s tactics will be prompted to either abandon the subject that he started or just leave the spiritual arena.

Method of Evangelization

• Many Eliserians will immediately assume that their self-styled messenger ―won the religious debate not knowing that it was just his being a skilled heckler that made him triumph.

Method of Evangelization

• A Christian apologist needs to be wary with every statement he utters because Soriano has a reputation of focusing on minor word details propelling him to neglect the whole subject of the debate.

Method of Evangelization

This is done by playing back a particular video taped segment recorded by an accomplice ADD camera man so the whole audience would know how the speaker allegedly ―contradicts himself.