The Members Church of God International (), abbreviated as MCGI, is an international Christian religious organization with headquarters in the Philippines. It is popularly known in the Philippines as Ang Dating Daan (; abbreviated as ADD), after its flagship radio and television program of the same name which is also the longest-running religious program in the Philippines which was hosted by Eli Soriano, MCGI's overall servant (formerly called presiding minister) until his death in 2021.
In compliance with government regulations, Eli Soriano registered the group with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as Ang Mga Kaanib sa Iglesia ng Dios kay Cristo Jesús, Haligi at Saligan ng Katotohan sa Bansang Pilipinas (English: Members of the Church of God in Christ Jesus, Pillar and Ground of Truth in the Philippines). In 2004, its registered name was changed to "Members Church of God International" () in line with the church's overseas expansion. The group is known in Hispanophone and Lusophone countries as Miembros de la Iglesia de Dios Internacional and Membros da Igreja de Deus Internacional respectively, shortened as MIDI.
MCGI is not related to the many Church of God groups that descended from the Barney Creek Meeting House revival of the late 19th century in the United States.
History The Members Church of God International in the Philippines rooted from a similar denomination, the Iglesia ng Dios kay Cristo Jesús, Haligi at Suhay ng Katotohanan (Church of God in Christ Jesus, Pillar and Support of the Truth) which was first headed by Nicolas Antiporda Perez in Pulilan, Bulacan, Philippines in 1928. It started as a small group with less than a hundred believers.
Perez' leadership (1928–1975) On December 10, 1936, the church was registered with the Philippine government by Perez as Presiding Minister with a Central Office in Natividad St., Pasay (then part of Rizal). Since then, church workers were being sent to nearby provinces around Manila.
Perez led the church from 1928 until the time of his death in May 1975. In 1969, Perez gave Soriano an identification card bearing the "Minister" title. Before Perez died, he did not lay his hands on a successor. After the death of Perez, Soriano outlined the topics being taught to the members, in order for them not to lose hope. The members thought Perez prepared those topics before he died but other workers in the church knew, however, that it was written by Soriano.
On July 11, 1975, members of the Board of Trustees, including Soriano, allowed Levita Gugulan, the Secretary General, to act as "temporary" presiding officer until such time a new presiding officer is elected, in compliance to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). However, Gugulan led the church permanently.
Schism and legal battle Soriano and other members believe women are not allowed to rule over the church according to the Bible. In their belief that the group formerly led by Perez already went astray in the teachings of God, Soriano left the group led by Gugulan, together with some members who testified that they have heard Perez preach that it is strictly prohibited in the Bible for a woman to rule over the Church of God.
Soriano registered "Mga Kaanib sa Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus Haligi at Saligan ng Katotohanan" (Members of the Church of God in Christ Jesus, the Pillar and Ground of Truth) with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Soriano used the word "saligan" (ground or foundation) in reference to the Greek word "ἑδραίωμα" (hedraióma), and not "suhay" (brace), which is used by Gugulan's group.
Gugulan's group filed a petition with the SEC to compel Soriano to change the registered name of his group. During the pendency of the case, Soriano registered "Ang Mga Kaanib sa Iglesia ng Dios Kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Saligan ng Katotohanan sa Bansang Pilipinas" to comply with the SEC. In 1996, the SEC En Banc favored Gugulan's petition and it was affirmed by the Court of Appeals in 1999. In December 2001, the Supreme Court First Division denied Soriano's appeal with finality. Pending Supreme Court's decision, Soriano reserved a new corporate name in 1996 containing transliterated Hebrew words and have it finalized in 2004 with the current name.
Soriano's leadership (1977–2021)
In the 1970s, missionary works started and were first in the towns of Pampanga and then, the neighboring provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, and Metro Manila. In the last quarter of 1980, the church launched the radio program Ang Dating Daan. Through the local radio station DWWA 1206 kHz, the radio program was heard in many parts of the Philippines. The program became popular because of its unique live question-and-answer portion. In 1983, the program kicked off its national television appearance through IBC Channel 13. Ang Dating Daan as a program in radio made its stint in television through RJTV 29, PTV 4, SBN 21, and now UNTV.
On January 13, 2004, the church registered "Members Church of God International" as its corporate name in the SEC. In the same year, the church tapped GlobeCast for The Old Path (TOP) Channel satellite broadcast in the United States of America and Canada.
On January 7, 2006, the first live Bible exposition in the United States was held in Los Angeles, California. In 2008, Bible Expositions were conducted in the continent of Oceania bringing forth the first congregation in Papua New Guinea. In the same year, congregations were established in Ghana, West Africa as a result of a series of Bible studies in Africa. The early months of 2009 saw the Church introduced in Latin America.
In June 2011, Soriano doles out vitamins, medicines for the congregation.
Razon's leadership (2021–present) From April 4–10, 2021, the church held a special event entitled The Legacy Continues. A week-long commemoration with worldwide events for public service and charity programs. A total of 628,567 individuals benefited from the global feeding program across 7,377 locations worldwide. During the event, a total of 2,021 branches of MCGI free stores are already opened from its initial launch. Another total of 1,200 individuals benefited for the mass wish-granting activity for small-scale livelihood grants and free tablets that they can use for online schooling needs.
Organization The Members Church of God International as an organization is managed by its Central Administration under the Workers Ministry (now Servants' ministry). It is composed of the Overall Servants (), council of Helpers of the Ministry ( abbreviated as "KNP") and Church Servants ().
Overall servants List of Overall Servants Name Date Eli Soriano1977 – 2021 Daniel Razon 2021 – present
Bro. Eli Soriano was the Overall Servant () to the church (formerly called as presiding minister or Tagapangasiwang Pangkalahatan in Tagalog) until February 2021. His deputy, Bro. Daniel Razon is the Assistant Overall Servant (, formerly called as vice presiding minister or Pangalawang Tagapangasiwang Pangkalahatan in Tagalog).
They supervise the entire organization, implement policies and projects, teach the helpers of the ministry (formerly called as assistants to the administration, ministers-in-charge, abbreviated as "MIC" and officers-in-charge, abbreviated as "OIC") and church workers all the doctrines of Christ and oversee rightful execution of duties and responsibilities assigned to them, including other officials in various church ministries and organizations.
The overall servant prepares the outline of biblical topics () and preach sermons. A part of it will be delivered and discussed by his deputy. Preaching of biblical topic is done by the Overall Servants, either live or recorded, which is being aired in all locale church congregations. They also personally take time to resolve spiritual and personal problems of members every Thanksgiving gathering, during the consultation period.
Helpers and workers Helpers of the ministry supervise a church "Division" () referring to a geographical region in the Philippines or group of countries in a continent such as Asia Oceania. Area Servants (, formerly called as Tagapangasiwang Pampook and abbreviated as "TP") oversee a church "District" () referring to one Philippine province. Assigned Church Servants administer various church services such as Prayer Meetings, Worship Services, Indoctrination Sessions, Bible Studies, Bible Expositions, and Thanksgiving in local congregations. They are allowed to communicate official memorandum signed by the Overall Servants and preside over matters and activities concerning the local church. Brethren can personally seek spiritual or personal advice from servants (encargado), who were trained during ministerial classes, in giving Biblical advice and recommendations.
Logo As required by Philippines agency Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for organizations to have their respective official seal, where every paper submitted to the office must have a dry seal, Bro. Eli Soriano was obliged to create a dry seal for the church. Thus the following symbols explain: The open book represents the Bible; The torch represents the lamp; The cords represent a binding tie, which is the love that exists among the members; The anchor represents the hope that the members have in the Church of God; The big star, which dominates everything in the logo, represents Christ; The four Hebrew characters on the open book, referred to as Tetragrammaton, read (right to left) as Yod, He, Vau, He, and translated in English as YHWH, is the original name of God in Hebrew, written in the Ten Commandments.
Membership
The church keeps a formal number of members but does not openly reveal it. In 2015, the church gained more than 20,000 new members through regular and mass baptisms.
As of 2015, the church has established more than 1,360 congregations in the Philippines and abroad, up from a total of 1,280 locales reported in 2014.
Congregations are grouped geographically by divisions, districts and zones mainly the Philippines, South America, North America, Canada, Asia Oceania, Middle East, Europe, Israel and Africa Division.eia.mcgi.co.uk The official website of the church reported its presence in 46 countries and territories as of 2010.
Since its arrival in South America in 2009, the church saw a growing number of locales in the continent. As of 2015, it reported 237 established locales in Brazil, including those in Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Florianópolis.
Members not living in accordance with the church's teachings may be excommunicated or expelled, from the church.
Propagation and evangelization efforts
The Members Church of God International believe that an important duty and obligation of the members of the church is to propagate the gospel on earth until the consummation of the ages. Eli Soriano began his nightly town-to-town preaching in the 1970s but eventually realized that his life is not enough to reach the entire Philippines. In the 1980s he decided to use emerging media such as radio and television.
In October 1980, it initially launched the Ang Dating Daan program hosted by Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon and later on Philippine television in February 1983. The program is now being broadcast in more than 70 countries, in five languages over terrestrial television, radio, internet and carried by at least seven satellites across the globe.
Currently, the church programs reach in six inhabited continents via TV Verdade, TV La Verdad, The Truth Channel and UNTV using the services of at least seven satellite providers.
Radio broadcast
The 30-minute AM radio program of Ang Dating Daan began in 1980. In 1999, the program is heard nationwide through DZRH, RMN and 100 Radyo Natin stations. Since 2011, the radio program is now on its home station UNTV Radyo La Verdad 1350.
Television broadcast