Bro. Mike (A Servant Leader) PROFILE: BRO. MIKE Z.

VELARDE & MINISTRY THE

With all the troubles of life around us, the individual is once again looking for a Living Christ in our midst-a simple, humble, and reachable Christ Who cares for the feelings and needs of lost souls; a Christ who is ready to listen and hear the cry of a troubled mother and father, because their child is being possessed by demons and evil spirits, or is afflicted with sickness; and a Christ Who is always ready to answer: I will go and heal him. To tell you the truth, I am still baffled up to now as to the reason for my being in this Ministry. More specially, the way this Ministry progresses so amazingly, in spite of the attacks against it and against my person, particularly. But I am consoled with what the Scripture says:Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that builds it. I have prayed and thought of writing some sort of guideline for quite a time already, but I could not think of any, because I just wanted to be free to act in the manner that the Spirit of the Lord moves me.But today, February 14,1993, after witnessing once again the tremendous outpouring of the Holy Spirit during our Special Valentines Overnight Appointment with El Shaddai at Luneta Grounds where more than two million people stayed the whole evening of February 13 from as early as 3:00pm, Saturday, to as late as 8:30am of February 14, Sunday; and with the forthcoming First National Workshop of El Shaddai Service Volunteer Workers on February 19 and 20, 1993, I forced myself to finally write down the following guidelines for the benefit of those who, like me, have also been touched by the Holy Spirit and are moved to make themselves available in the service of the Lord through this Ministry. BRO. MIKE Z. VELARDE To be prepared for the calling, I first had to be broken and cut off from all worldly possessions: From business, wherein I found myself buried in an indebtedness of no less than P200 million. Banks and financial institutions had foreclosed all my assets- houses, commercial buildings, lands, and everything- except one, the Radio Station DWXI 1314khz (AM) From the love and care of my wife, who, at first did not understand the mysterious call, refused to talk to me or attend to my food and clothing for almost a year, and even dared to divorce me; From good reputation, which in spite of what I had been doing for the Kingdom of God and the Church, I was charged with the worst crime a man of God could commit -stealing peoples money headlined in newspapers of nationwide circulation by the very people I had trusted and helped with my little left-over savings just so the Good News could be proclaimed over DWXI Radio.

This is a testimony from BRO. MARIANO MIKE Z. VELARDE-Servant Leader of El Shaddai Before going further, I let me state this fact very clearly. By religious affinity, I am a Catholic. And very clearly, I intend, or should I say, I am led and inspired to remain a light to the Catholic faith, as I am called to be. I do not pretend to know nothing about it, except that through it, in baptism, the Light of Christ Jesus has been handed down to me. I am not in this Ministry to defend the Catholic faith, for it needs no defenders. As Jesus said: Not even the gates of hell can prevail against it. May be, just I have been called to rekindle life and light to a troubled church of my time. Whether our Bishops and Priests will agree or not, the Catholic Church in the Philippines in particular, and throughout the whole world in general, from a laymans point of view, seems to have lost, except for its doctrines and cannon laws, its light and power, forcing many weak Catholics to depart from it. The life changing power of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, which I believe is the essence of our faith, is not easy to find, not even in the Eucharist. Not that the Eucharist is without power, for indeed I believe it is the means whereby the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ can be found, but that such power can no longer be felt, because it has become a ritual of sort a heavy burden of obligation to so many tired and a weary Catholics. I am speaking based on my own experience, to say the least. But after ten years in this Ministry, I am just restating the sentiments and feelings of practically every Catholic who have come in contact with me.

(Glory to God!! This person was been a tool for me to know GOD more and More.. Me, Bro. Henry is one of the blessed member of the EL SHADDAI fellowship international.)

doing things against His Will. I repented of all my sins, asked for Gods forgiveness, and received in my heart Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. As I continue attending the DWXI-PPFI Family Appointments with El Shaddai and listening to God's Word, I experience peace and joy in my life. With courage from God, I declined the marriage proposal of my boyfriend and told him the truth about myself, boldly proclaiming that the Lord Jesus Christ has set me free. I now live a new life as a real man. Hallelujah! Bro. Raymond Paraiso Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, Philippines

TRANSFORMATION

I grew up feminine in many ways. This enraged my father especially when he realized what I had become, and later, he disowned me for being such. In the late 1980s, I went to Japan, where I had injections of female hormones so I could develop woman's breasts and suppressed the appearance of my Adams apple. I adopted Patricia Monique as my female name and successfully became one of the cover girls of the SO-EN magazine. Later, I went to San Francisco, California, where I modelled designers clothes and became an "in-house" model for various fashion houses, such as Macys, Imagnin, Nordstrom, Sak's Fifth Avenue, Kamisa Couture and many others. In 1991, I won the Miss San Francisco Supermodel tilt as a bogus woman. And for three years and eight months, I had a serious relationship with a handsome American bachelor, who thought all the while that I was a real woman. When he proposed marriage and discussed his plans of having a family with me, I panicked, fearing he would kill me if he found out my real gender. I felt so depressed and blamed God for my predicament. I resorted to prohibited drugs and twice attempted suicide, but these only made my life more miserable. I decided to return to my family in the Philippines, where I met Bro. Mike Z. Velarde. Hearing the Word of God from him, I realized Gods love for me and accepted the truth that He created me as a man and that I had been

I developed homosexual tendencies during my childhood. As I grew up, I enjoyed using make-up and womens fineries. At the age of twelve, I began to work as a beautician and made enough money for my needs, luxuries, and hormonal treatments to develop a feminine figure. After some time, I became addicted to prohibited drugs. I would join my homosexual friends almost every night in disco houses. I would pay at least three men to take me to bed all at the same time. I also won in several beauty contests for gays. In 1991, I went to Japan and worked as a dancer in a bar. There, I had a live-in affair with a wealthy Japanese. He proposed marriage to me but I refused. When I returned to the Philippines, a friend invited me to attend an El Shaddai DWXI-PPFI fellowship at the Reclamation Area in Pasay City. During the healing message, the preacher quoted from the Bible the following verse: the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion (Romans 1:27). This made me realize that I had been living a sinful life. Right then, I repented of all my sins, surrendered myself to God, and decided to turn away from my worldly ways. As I attended the fellowships regularly, I began to change my ways. I gave up my effeminate tendencies through His grace. Praise God, I am now a new creation in Christ! In my desire to save my friends from the deception of the devil and help them live according to His Will, I share with them the miracle of how Jesus Christ has changed my life. To God be the glory!

promised to change. I had a haircut and started acting like a real man, the way I had been created by God. Praise God for my new life!

Bro. Rudy Simon Manila, Philippines Bro. Erwin Anacta Marikina City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Since I was a little boy, my aunt used to dress me up in girls clothes. This led to my becoming effeminate. Things worsened when my parents separated. At that point, I left our home and found myself in the company of nightclub hostesses, who convinced me to join them. I started wearing dresses, had my hair styled like a woman, and spent my time hanging around the Rizal Park in Manila. When I was sixteen, a man mistook me for a girl and tried to rape me. When he found out that I was a boy, he almost killed me. But God saved my life. Later, I worked as a beautician and had a boyfriend with whom I fell deeply in love with. After some time, he told me that we could no longer continue our relationship. I could not accept the idea, so I tried to commit suicide by taking an overdose of sleeping pills and slashing my wrist. I was given only a slim chance to live. In that condition, I dreamt of talking with God, begging Him to take my life, but He instead asked me to confess my sins. When I called on Him, a blinding light appeared. I woke up, feeling my life had changed. From that time on, I tried to avoid my boyfriend. One evening, I was invited to a prayer-meeting of El Shaddai DWXI-PPFI in our chapel. The Word of God touched my heart. I learned that homosexuals cannot enter the Kingdom of God. I repented of all my sins, asked for Gods forgiveness, accepted in my heart Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and

During my early teens, I dressed up and acted like a boy. I even learned to drink, smoke, and later had relationships with women. After attending a born again fellowship, I was able to change my ways and began to live a new life. After some time, however, I returned to my old life and had an affair with another woman. I worked for a living, while she kept house for me. I found out later that she renewed her relationship with her boyfriend. Acceptance was not easy for me and I almost lost my senses. My officemate invited me to attend a Mass and Healing Rally of the El Shaddai DWXI-PPFI at the PICC-CCP Grounds in Pasay City. As I listened to the Word of God delivered by Bro. Mike, I found peace of heart and mind and God has delivered me from my vices. I now live a normal life as a true woman! I fell in love with a man, who accepted me in spite of my sinful life in the past. We received the Sacrament of Matrimony on December 9,

1993, and since then, God has blessed us with two children. Praise the Lord Jesus Christ! Sis. Precy Perante Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Bro. Jose Jolly Loraa Lambunao, Iloilo, Philippines

I was still a high school student when I got hooked on gambling and marijuana. Then, I began to fall in love with persons of my own sex. After finishing college, I came to Manila and worked as a beautician. I resorted to using hormones to develop a feminine figure. I participated in beauty contests for gays and won in several competitions. I had relationships with men for several years. On April 5, 1996, I heard Bro. Mike explaining the Word of God over DWXI Radio that men who indulged in homosexual acts were an abomination to God. That very moment, I repented of all my sins and accepted in my heart Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. My life has since then changed gradually! In a chance meeting, my former boyfriend suggested that we renew our relationship. However, I told him, Satan, get out of my brother, in Jesus Name! And he never showed up again. God gave me the extraordinary courage to overcome my weakness! He has also given me a good-hearted and beautiful girlfriend. Thank You, El Shaddai!

I was just a five-year-old boy when I became fond of using make-up and womens clothes and accessories. In my early adolescence, I was heavily dependent on smoking and drinking. I also had affairs with married men. One of them became my live-in partner for more than three years. He often abused me physically, stole my money and left me for long spells, but when he returned, he would again do those things. I knew that my situation was against the Will of God, but I didnt know how to get out of it. Then, I heard Bro. Mike over DWXI (1314 kHz) AM, saying, God created male and female only! If you are a homosexual or a lesbian, you are being deceived by the evil spirit. The words really touched my heart. I repented of all my sins and accepted in my heart Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. As I continue to listen to the Word of God and live by it, El Shaddai has gradually delivered me from my vices and evil ways. Some time later, God gave me my own house and lot. At present, I am happily married to a woman who loves and accepts me despite my past life, and God blessed us with a healthy child. Thank You, Lord Jesus Christ, for Your love and goodness! Bro. Danilo Baltazar Cainta, Rizal, Philippines

Nick Vujicic's testimony My name is Nick Vujicic and I give God the Glory for how He has used my testimony to touch thousands of hearts around the world! I was born without limbs and doctors have no medical explanation for this birth 'defect'. As you can imagine, I was faced with many challenges and obstacles. 'Consider it pure joy, my Brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.'....To count our hurt, pain and struggle as nothing but pure joy? As my parents were Christians, and my Dad even a Pastor of our church, they knew that verse very well. However, on the morning of the 4th of December 1982 in Melbourne (Australia), the last two words on the minds of my parents was 'Praise God!'. Their firstborn son had been born without limbs! There were no warnings or time to prepare themselves for it. The doctors we shocked and had no answers at all! There is still no medical reason why this had happened and Nick now has a Brother and Sister who were born just like any other baby. The whole church mourned over my birth and my parents were absolutely devastated. Everyone asked, 'if God is a God of Love, then why would God let something this bad happen to not just anyone, but dedicated Christians?' My Dad thought I wouldn't survive for very long, but tests proved that I was a healthy baby boy just with a few limbs missing. Understandably, my parents had strong concern and evident fears of what kind of life I'd be able to lead. God provided them strength, wisdom and courage through those early years and soon after that I was old enough to go to school. The law in Australia didn't allow me to be integrated into a main-stream school because of my physical disability. God did miracles and gave my Mom the strength to fight for the law to be changed. I was one of the first disabled students to be integrated into a main-stream school. I liked going to school, and just try to live life like everyone else, but it was in my early years of school where I encountered uncomfortable times of feeling rejected, weird and bullied because of my physical difference. It was very hard for me to get used to, but with the support of my parents, I started to develop attitudes and values which helped me overcome these challenging times. I knew that I was different but on the inside I was just

like everyone else. There were many times when I felt so low that I wouldn't go to school just so I didn't have to face all the negative attention. I was encouraged by my parents to ignore them and to try start making friends by just talking with some kids. Soon the students realized that I was just like them, and starting there God kept on blessing me with new friends. There were times when I felt depressed and angry because I couldn't change the way I was, or blame anyone for that matter. I went to Sunday School and learnt that God loves us all and that He cares for you. I understood that love to a point as a child, but I didn't understand that if God loved me why did He make me like this? Is it because I did something wrong? I thought I must have because out of all the kids at school, I'm the only weird one. I felt like I was a burden to those around me and the sooner I go, the better it'd be for everyone. I wanted to end my pain and end my life at a young age, but I am thankful once again, for my parents and family who were always there to comfort me and give me strength. Due to my emotional struggles I had experienced with bullying, self esteem and loneliness, God has implanted a passion of sharing my story and experiences to help others cope with whatever challenge they have in their life and let God turn it into a blessing. To encourage and inspire others to live to their fullest potential and not let anything get in the way of accomplishing their hopes and dreams. One of the first lessons that I have learnt was not to take things for granted. 'And we know that in all things God works for the best for those who love Him.'That verse spoke to my heart and convicted me to the point where that I know that there is no such thing as luck, chance or coincidence that these 'bad' things happen in our life. I had complete peace knowing that God won't let anything happen to us in our life unless He has a good purpose for it all. I completely gave my life to Christ at the age of fifteen after reading John 9. Jesus said that the reason the man was born blind was 'so that the works of God may be revealed through Him.' I truly believed that God would heal me so I could be a great testimony of His Awesome Power. Later on I was given the wisdom to understand that if we pray for something, if it's God's will, it'll happen in His time. If it's not God's will for it to happen, then I know that He has something better. I now see that Glory revealed as He is using me just the way I am and in ways others can't be used. I am now twenty-three years old and have completed a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Financial Planning and Accounting. I am also a motivational speaker and love to go out and share my story and testimony wherever opportunities become available. I have developed talks to relate to and encourage students through topics that challenge today's teenagers. I am also a speaker in the corporate sector. I have a passion for reaching out to youth and keep myself available for

whatever God wants me to do, and wherever He leads, I follow. I have many dreams and goals that I have set to achieve in my life. I want to become the best witness I can be of God's Love and Hope, to become an international inspirational speaker and be used as a vessel in both Christian and non-Christian venues. I want to become financially independent by the age of 25, through real estate investments, to modify a car for me to drive and to be interviewed and share my story on the 'Oprah Winfrey Show'! Writing several best-selling books has been one of my dreams and I hope to finish writing my first by the end of the year. It will be called 'No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!' I believe that if you have the desire and passion to do something, and if it's God's will, you will achieve it in good time. As humans, we continually put limits on ourselves for no reason at all! What's worse is putting limits on God who can do all things. We put God in a 'box'. The awesome thing about the Power of God, is that if we want to do something for God, instead of focusing on our capability, concentrate on our availability for we know that it is God through us and we can't do anything without Him. Once we make ourselves available for God's work, guess whose capabilities we rely on? God's!

May the Lord Bless you In Christ, Nick Vujicic