Netizens extend their birthday wishes to Bro. Eliseo Soriano who celebrated his 50th year of service to God and humanity on April 7 this year, expressing thanks and support for the televangelist who helped change their outlooks in life for better.
Netizens actively shared news and blog stories, photos and video clips that pay tribute to Bro. Eli, which kept social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram abuzz with greetings for days.
#BESat50 – which stands for first letters of “Bro. Eli Soriano” and the year of his baptism – was the hashtag used by the online community. The international evangelist was baptized on 1964.
“He is one of the best reasons why we believe that God and our Lord Jesus Christ love humanity! #BESat50,” posted Benedict Abulencia on Facebook.
“Thanks be to God for His bountiful mercy, for the chance to understand His manifold wisdom through You and Kuya Daniel. You are indeed [a] blessing from above sent for us,” from Meryll Lopez, who posted his appreciation and greetings in social media.
“Feliz Aniversário irmão Eli! Nós te amamos! Graças a Deus por sua vida!!!!!” (“Happy birthday Bro. Eli! We love you! Thanks to God for you!”) remarked on Facebook by Karol Rusczyk Klein from Brazil.
Twitter user @iamRaymondLacsa said: “And I’m so glad I’ve stayed, right here w/ you through the years @BroEliSoriano. May GOD keep you always #BESat50″
MCGI Thankful for Bro. Eli’s 50 Years
The long-time host of Ang Dating Daan radio and television program celebrated his day of baptism in South America, which incidentally was the venue of the Members Church of God International’s (MCGI) International Thanksgiving to God and a first for the congregation with international following across the globe.
It was a milestone for MCGI whose quarterly international thanksgiving has always been held in the Philippines.
While representatives from different regions and countries flock the ADD Convention Center in Apalit, Pampanga in past years, however, there was nothing like the recent ITG in South America.
This time, representatives belonging to countries from North and South American nations, as well as Middle East and Europe travelled across borders to come to South America.
For those who were there at the South American venue, it was a once in lifetime experience seeing Bro. Eli amidst the thick of the Church members who came from different races and places of the world.
Apart from the thousands of participants from different countries and continents of the world who flock the South American venue, members and guests congregate in major coordinating centers across the globe.
The ITG or “Pasalamat ng Katawan” (PNK) is a quarterly three-day gathering of the members of the Church of God International, and for this quarter was held from April 5 to 7.
When Bro. Soriano left the Philippines in 2005, the focus of MCGI’s propagation efforts shifted to South American countries. Bible Expositions in Portuguese and Spanish languages were held in the region which led to a succession of converts in the continent.
“I thank God because of all of you,” said Bro. Soriano during his opening remarks before the attendees of the ITG. “For the last 50 years of my life, I am thanking God that in spite of the difficulties I met along the way, until now I’m with you standing.”
(Written by Roy Cruz)