Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic frenzy, people are looking for Kim Jong Un, North Korea's Supreme Leader who is rumored to be ill or even dead.

But, Kim is just a Supreme Leader, he's nothing compared to the one considered as The Most Important Person In The World or commonly revered as EVM (Eduardo V. Manalo). In hush voices, his followers are asking the same thing... "Where is EVM?"

In an effort to answer this question, his administration's propaganda team came up with a video of him teaching in what appeared to be a Baranggay Chapel podium. They claimed it to be streaming live on April 26, 2020 and posted it on their Executive News TV program complete with interviews of brethren who allegedly attended from the East Coast. While they praised their Executive Minister for preaching an inspiring lesson, many also noticed how generic his message was due to the lack of details regarding the Pandemic that is plaguing the world today, thus, the lack of empathy from a religious leader whose many members and ministers in the very lair of his administration, the Central Compound in Quezon City, were either infected or died from Covid-19.

Now that the administration of EVM was forced to abide by the government-sanctioned lockdown to stop gathering for worship in chapels,  many members suffer not only from losing their livelihood but their spiritual nourishment. And, while ministers and church workers hang in the balance of desperation, not knowing where to get their stipend or their only source and know-how to provide for their families, they are also looking for direction in a very chaotic time for the church. Who is running the show and where is their beloved leader, EVM?

"The Invisible Frontliner"

So why is EVM not showing himself to his faithful followers? Simple, just like the governance in North Korea, it's all about the optics. Whoever controls the Optics, controls the narrative. That's why this Church Administration relies heavily on its propaganda efforts whether it be through Social Media, church-owned and controlled Print, TV, Radio, and Online multimedia platforms, to ensure that its version of the truth will continue to feed the minds of their devout followers.

But here is the reality so far...

Translation:

"My name is _______. I am a minister from the locale of _______. We have been aware of the changes in the church, especially in Finance. It is sad to think of how the church finance became a milking cow, a source of corruption, and used for business. I would want to stand up for what is right but I fear for what the administration could do to us and knowing that I myself has a part in this corruption like many other ministers who have fallen into taking advantage of the brethren, businessmen, and women, politicians, all because we also have to be able to hand and "envelope" to our superiors in Central, especially the Sanggunian. They will surely use old cases against me and destroy me and my family like what they did to those who spoke out the truth. I continue to plead unto the Father to have mercy on me and my family and to forgive my lack of courage to stand up for His righteousness. I hope that the information I send to you will shed light on what is really happening in the church now and its Administration.

I am not judging you and I believe that God alone knows the content of our heart and we are answerable only to Him. May He continue to care for you and use you in exposing the truth.

How shameful to God that ministers nowadays have become mere collectors. This is Bro. Eduardo's opportunity to care for the brethren who are first in line in needing help yet they prioritize giving donations for photo opportunities to make a good public impression. They do not consider the impoverished conditions of the brethren who have lost their jobs and their livelihood, and whose future is uncertain after this quarantine.

My heart is going to explode from this grief. May God have mercy on our brethren and may many more open their eyes to the truth, especially the ministers who are still inside who are mute, like dogs who cannot bark, and have become paid shepherds. This is the truth, and it hurts. May God forgive me.

Thank you Bro. AE, may you continue to be an instrument for many to know the truth. May God bless you.

Thank you also for your courage in sending this to me for the sake of the brethren who need to know the truth. It is my faith that we all have a part in this fight. God knows our true situation and what is in our hearts. Always be cautious because those in power will not have second thoughts on destroying those who are not one with them and sending me this kind of information. Do not worry, I will protect your identity at all cost. Thank you again and may God bless you.

--- End of Translation ---

Unfortunately, it is now a matter of survival for the Ministers. They still cling to the need to preserve themselves. Don't you see that now is the time to come out while the power of the King can do no harm? His staff and his wealth withers in the presence of a deadly plague. You see, the King and the king's men are also being given a chance to repent NOW! The longer you wait, the higher the chances of losing this opportunity!

The road to the eventual apostasy was paved not only by this Administration’s failures but mostly by its successes. Surely, they have many accolades to show for but they failed to remain humble. Instead of staying grounded in Christian principles, they have ascended to their man-made clouds, drunk with power, authority, and pride. As the saying goes, the higher you fly, the harder you fall. As they parade their charity on the streets, blowing their trumpets as loud as they can for everyone to hear and see, they are blinded by earthly and material rewards of recognition. They do not realize that the room full of the Guinness World records they have acquired exhibits the undeniable evidence of their guilt. It is the proof that convicts them and puts the nail on their coffin.

Keep the cameras flashing and rolling for the recognition-hungry Church Administration of Eduardo V. Manalo.

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” ~ Matthew 6:2 (NIV)

So what exactly is holding these Ministers back from coming out to make their declaration of loyalty to our Lord God? Why do you think almost all of the EVM Ministers are not willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ and his flock?

Fear.

Fear of hardship. Fear of humiliation. Fear of fending for themselves. Fear of losing power and recognition. Fear of being persecuted. Fear of being oppressed. Fear of being unjustly imprisoned. Fear of losing all of their worldly possessions.

They have so much fear.

EXCEPT for the fear of God.

So, many EVM Ministers today remain safely inside the institution, not because of faith or conviction, but because of SELF PRESERVATION, thinking that by remaining silent inside, they can hang on to everything that they have saved up and that they will be spared from hardship and pain. But instead of preserving their lives, many found a sudden death, a painful realization all but too late, for the Bible already declared:

 ^"If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it."

~ Matthew 16:25 NLT

And many more are at the brink of losing their lives, not only here on earth, but in the life to come.

The EVM Ministers became slaves to money and work so hard in order to please EVM to the point of squeezing every centavo out of our impoverished brethren, as confided by one who is still inside the EVM institution:

If God sent a plague in the form of a pandemic, the church administration sends a Pandemonium of forms to keep asking for offerings in different specialties. Is one offering really special compared to another? Why stop at asking for just money? Since some ministers and their families already openly indulge in wearing branded clothes, shoes, belts, and watches, maybe they should level up their collection to necklaces and diamond rings!

Some ministers have even point-blank asked their congregation to buy them a car or a van! These Ministers have become bolder and bolder haven't they? Bro. Franklin Lago Jr. is just one of them who belongs to the current breed of EVM Ministers.

 

Do you see the pattern emerging from these current Ministers of EVM?

These shepherds are all privilege-driven!

They are ministering for a fee, or a salary to sustain a lavish and responsible-free lifestyle. They are what the Bible calls paid or hired shepherds!

The Hired Shepherd

 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep." ~ John 10:11-13 NLT

Many of them do not have other skills necessary to make a living should they step up for what is right. One has to summon up all courage and strength to break away from this predicament and rely on nothing and no one but on what God can do after one makes such ultimate sacrifice.

It seems like the “Obey and Never Complain” mantra works in bypassing the members’ common sense that they don’t even condemn their leaders who have spent more than 10 years in selling church products, and their Executive Minister for using a Private Air Bus!

Are the members of the church still cheerful or gullible givers? The Sunday and weekday worship offering collections have become a daily stick-up, much to the woe of the very poor brethren, especially in the Philippines.

When they hit you up for multiple offerings during one service and more during the weekday services too, it is a form of spiritual abuse. This was unheard of during the ministries of Bro. Felix and Bro. Eraño. During EVM's tenure, we hear testimonies of congregations being asked to donate for a “renovation fund" that mysteriously disappears from the locale because the project was not approved after the money has been collected. This is fraud. Some realize they are getting played, and are dubbed as offended when they voice out that the administration is too concerned with money and power. They eventually leave or get expelled for rebelling against the administration. But many members still buy into the fear of sinning if they don’t offer cheerfully. If you want to be saved, you have to offer abundantly or suffer the fury of the lake of fire!

For members and ministers alike, Apostle Paul is a great example. He refused to take money for his ministry. Apostle Paul declared that he would only "present the gospel free of charge."

"But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel." ~ 1 Corinthians 9:15-18 (NIV)

A far cry from the ministry that we find in the church today. They have been using the scripture as a blanket condemnation of those who do not give according to their liking. They accuse the brethren of stealing from God when they are the ones distorting scriptures so they can go into "extortion" mode. These greedy ministers are the real thieves who "scripture-hop" and throw out of context verses to worshippers to coerce them to give more.

My hope and prayer is that through these exposés, you will be informed, equipped, and strengthened to be one with God first. This is equal to loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind. In doing so, you will fear nothing, and no one!

Now that you have the knowledge to discern good from evil, right from wrong, and truth from falsehood, a choice shall be made. You now find yourselves standing at the crossroads of the spring of hope and the winter of despair, choose one or the other, and may you choose wisdom over foolishness, or life instead of death. Your choice will set a course for the destiny of your soul and the church.

 

~ Antonio Ramirez Ebangelista