By Marilyn Frivaldo
For the first time, amidst COVID 19, JIL pastors, church coordinators, and their respective church management teams congregated together the “new normal” way for the Pastors’ Congress last October 22 and 23. Aside from the almost 800 in attendance at JIL Prayer Garden, one thousand Zoom links were also given to those in national and international chapters.
The event was a prelude to the JILCW 42nd anniversary celebration on October 25.
The JILCW President and Spiritual Director, also current Deputy Speaker in the House of Representatives, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, congratulated all the JIL pastors for giving God the glory in the midst of the pandemic and for not giving up meeting together and exhorting one another now that the day of the Lord’s return is drawing near as expounded in Hebrews 10:25.
Keynote speaker Bro. Eddie, who believes that rapture may happen anytime, urged the workforce of JILCW to develop the right attitude, serve as salt and light in the world, go where the lost are, share the Gospel, and imitate Christ-like humility “as we prepare for eternity.”
The event also highlighted the recognition for Rev. Jovi Villanueva-Binalla, as the JILCW’s newly ordained Vice President, who likewise encouraged the crowd to prepare for eternity and be more than ready in preaching the Word in season and out of season, for “to be with Jesus in eternity is what makes heaven exciting.”
The JILCW Executive Director Rev. Renato Bernardo pronounced best things to come for the JILCW, citing “more breakthroughs, revivals, healings, wonders, miracles, and greater expansion and multiplication in our operations.”
Bro. Eddie’s firstborn Mayor Jonjon Villanueva, who is currently in the United States of America, sent his greetings, saying, “While preparing for eternity, Christians must be alert and vigilant. We must be ready when the trumpet sounds.”
The leadership of JILCW also recognized Rev. Gilbert Maghirang, pastor of Calvary Foursquare Church, for the kind assistance he extended to then JIL Fellowship during its humble beginnings. Maghirang reminded his fellow believers to not just praise and worship God but also to significantly live for Him who died for them.
Senator Joel Villanueva also encouraged the virtual and physical congregation to “be ready for the next chapters of the JIL Church while we wait for the Rapture. Like the eagle after 40 years of its existence, let us decide to continue living, for it goes to a mountain top and there undergoes the painful process of rebirth, hence making us more ready for further challenges for God’s glory.”
Rev. Joey Crisostomo, Director for Bro. Eddie School of Ministries International (BESMI), noted in a short message on Living with Eternity in Mind the importance of being eternity conscious. With that, he said, “To prepare for eternity means to prioritize God, and though no one sees it, we ought to serve God faithfully in our generation.”
“The emphasis of the world is on the external, physical and temporal. But God wants us to focus on the internal, spiritual and eternal,” thus mentioned by Director for National Operations Rev. Alex Garcia in his short message, Preparing Others for Eternity.
He addressed his fellow pastors on maintaining cohesive operational growth strategies in this pandemic time, i.e. study the effectiveness of online platforms, pursue in person or face to face worship healing services, intensify life groups, and expand the attendance participation by connecting all these methods.
Finally, the JIL Worship has launched a songbook of 150 songs with guitar and keyboard chord diagrams, with male and female keys, bpm and more. Those who are interested may check https://www.facebook.com/jesusislordchurch or visit www.jilworldwide.org to download and donate.
