It was a bird. It was a plane. And it would have been an aircrash.
On September 16, 2010, Bro. Eli Soriano and The Old Path crew with him were on their way to a Bible Exposition in South America when a vulture the size of a full-grown human crashed into one of the plane’s engines.
It was a bird strike of a potentially catastrophic nature, fully disabling one of the two engines from functioning, which could have resulted in the plane blowing up.
How often do wildlife strikes occur? Reportedly, the figure goes up to about 7,500 a year. However, recorded deadly plane crashes caused by birds hitting planes throughout history are only less than 10.
“We had no idea how big the damage was to the plane. We continued to fly in circles, and I was asking my translator why we haven’t landed yet. According to my translator, the pilot was afraid that if the plane would land with a lot of gasoline, the damage would be graver,” recounted the Overall Servant of the Members Church of God International (MCGI).
So on September 25, 2010, Bro. Eli, joined by the whole MCGI congregation, offered thanksgiving unto God for keeping him and his associates safe.
Faith Over Fear
“Even as a child, I’ve always had a fear of heights,” said Bro. Eli during the said thanksgiving service of MCGI.
MCGI conducts weekly thanksgivings with its Philippine headquarters: the ADD Convention Center in Apalit, Pampanga as the host venue, while other convention centers and coordinating centers across the globe are connected via internet and satellite.
Courtesy: Photoville International | Myvn Fernandez
With God’s help, Bro. Eli Soriano overcame his fear of flying so that he could reach more souls in propagating the word of salvation around the globe.
At a very young age, Bro. Eli was diagnosed with chronic nephritis, a kind of disease whereby one’s kidneys are inflamed. Those who have this disease are more likely to feel dizzy when subjected to heights.
But because of the need to propagate God’s Word to all natinos, Bro. Eli braves the high skies to go to people who continuously request for Bible Expositions and Mass Indoctrinations. Preaching of God’s Truth is more important than anything else for the award-winning preacher.
“This is not stupidity or foolishness, this is really sound doctrine. This is God’s work and this gives me the courage to ride airplanes,” said Bro. Eli, further articulating that even if it meant his life, this work will continue.
Reasons to Fly
Unfazed by the incident, Bro. Eli believes that the mission to propagate God’s words will continue. Powered by what he learned from the Holy Scriptures, the preacher said he will not cease to ride one plane to the next. He read letters from new viewers of his latest religious program in India and Europe, which he said increased his desire to reach these people.
Bro. Eli receives many letters on a daily basis, asking for more information about the Church, some even stating that they’ve already left their former churches, and are waiting for indoctrination and baptism.
Right now, MCGI holds broadcasts over various countries. Broadcasting over Uruguay, Canada, Europe, North and South America, there will soon be broadcasts held over in Brazil and Argentina as well. In Europe, The Old Path program hosted by Bro. Eli is being aired on Revelation TV.
Although the contract with Revelation TV is just to air the program every Saturday, letters received recently from viewers confirmed that the show is also aired on Sundays. During a two-hour time window when the station doesn’t have show slots, they air Bro. Eli’s show.
Courtesy: Photoville International | Migs Pilares
A Bible Exposition held in Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil in July 2017. Bro. Eli Soriano traveled from east to west for the global propagation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. To this day, he tirelessly hosts daily Bible Studies, Bible Expositions, and Indoctrination Sessions intended for audiences around the world.
Apart from television, the international evangelist finds time to reach the people on the web via his webcasts on Livestream.com, blog on WordPress, and Twitter.
“I speak on the web as well. We have live programs on the internet, and every Wednesday we have livestreaming. On Sundays, we have a live broadcast aired in almost the whole of South America. On Wednesday afternoons, we also hold a live program in South Africa.”
“There is a need to go to different places, because there are people waiting for our Bible Expositions. I believe in God’s work of saving people,” Bro. Eli said.
Written by P. Arellano
