The phenomenal work of God through Bro. Eddie continues with more colorful chapters being added. Despite the remarkable fruitfulness of his ministry, it seems that God has something even greater for his chosen servant to fulfill. But the question is invariably asked: “What is the secret of this man?” He never had the opportunity to attend a formal Bible school but “why is he effective and why is God blessing his ministry tremendously?”
Bro. Eddie’s standard reply reveals the heart of a real man of God: “it’s all because of God’s amazing grace.” When one takes a hard look at how God has prospered this man and his ministry, indeed, the only conclusion is: “it is only by His sovereign grace.”
For the last 25 years, Bro. Eddie and JIL stand as classic examples of the practical outworking of such grace. If I can distill into some key thoughts (“secrets” if you will) why God has blessed the man and his ministry so enormously (yet in reality it is such that one can’t even begin to grasp) the following immediately grab the mind:
OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S CALL
A valid and God-blessed ministry always begins with a definite Call. The Bible shows us that when God plans to do something in the world, He first looks for someone He can use to fulfill His glorious purpose. He then calls that man, prepares and equips him, imparts His vision and sends him out. Such call gives the Called a sense of destiny, a vision. Unmistakably, this is Bro. Eddie’s experience.
Thus through the years, he persevered to obey God’s call with holy passion, aggressively and fearlessly battling satanic onslaughts against him, his family and unique ministry (which is misunderstood even by some fellow Christian leaders) because just like the men whom God called in the Old and New Testaments, he took hold of God’s vision for him and is fiercely determined to achieve it. Knowing this, Bro. Eddie literally gave up everything (his childhood ambition to become a topnotch lawyer and politician, a successful businessman, even his resources, etc.) and committed himself unreservedly to obey God. He exemplifies to all JIL people what total commitment is all about.
INTEGRITY and FIDELITY IN HIS PERSONAL AND FAMILY LIFE
Bro. Eddie models a leader who practices what he preaches. He demonstrates a contagious passion for God and a reverential fear of Him which have kept his personal/family life and ministry above reproach for 25 years, untainted by any hint of misdemeanor. God by His grace has indeed protected and preserved him from anything that would disgrace His name. This is not to say that the man had not suffered shortcomings or made honest mistakes which all ministers of the Gospel commit at times, despite their dedication to keep their integrity of heart. Bro. Eddie realizes that successful ministry is just the natural outflow of a life of integrity and fidelity in every arena of life, so he has purposed in his heart to be an example.
Despite the bigness of his ministry, he always exudes genuine humility and servanthood. He is always careful to give glory to God for all the “successes” of JIL. Yet, he is always on a learning posture. He never fails to consult regularly fellow leaders and elders in the Body.
Bro. Eddie learned early on that his family is top priority. He knows that his family validates his ministry and that without the witness of a strong family, really, he has no message to the world. He models a loving and faithful husband and a real father. Sis. Dory is a true, dedicated and excellent helpmeet always alongside her husband. As partners in ministry, they are truly twin towers of strength.
Their prayerful guidance, has helped propel their children into divine placements where they are now enjoying significant success and impact: Jonjon is presently the Mayor of their hometown, Bocaue, in Bulacan and is one of the youngest mayors in the Philippines today; Joel Emmanuel, a Harvard graduate, was elected to the House of Representatives in 2001 and is the youngest (and certainly one of the brightest) Congressman in the country (he is called the Benjamin of Congress); Joni is not only a top-rated gospel singer/artist but also an able administrator. She is Executive Vice President and General Manager of Zoe TV – Channel 11. Jovi, the youngest is a brilliant and amiable junior at the country’s premier university for teachers and is deeply passionate for ministry.
FAITH to BELIEVE for the IMPOSSIBLE
As mentioned earlier, Bro. Eddie didn’t have the opportunity to attend formal schooling in a Bible school, but as a young Christian and on to the early days of his ministry, he literally “devoured” books and tapes of ministry “greats” – successful healing evangelists and pastors such as Morris Cerullo, T.L. Osborn, Oral Roberts, Ralph Mahoney, Kenneth Hagin, to name some. These men plus the inputs of other local ministers helped shape the focus and thrust of Bro. Eddie’s preaching and ministry – that of walking in the realm of the miraculous, healing, faith, signs and wonders ministry. He was reared not just to believe in miracles but to rely on them; to see the invisible and believe God for the impossible!
Thus, in JIL, the ministry of healing, miracles, signs and wonders are not just indispensable distinctives but common occurrences.
Also, from the start, Bro. Eddie believed in the bigness of God and His power and grace to make JIL not just big but the biggest church– to give God the maximum glory! This reminds one of God’s promises to Abraham that his descendants will be as innumerable as the stars in heaven (Genesis 15: 5), dust of the earth (Gen. 13:16), sand on the seashore (Gen. 22:17). It is no big surprise then that JIL is big today (and counting!) and has been catapulted into such an enormous body underpinning Bro. Eddie’s prophetic voice.
In fact (to inject a personal note here), at the rate God has been enlarging JIL, I envision it to become one of the 10 – 15 largest churches in the world with healthy, reproducing chapters all over the Philippines and in major cities of the globe led by cutting-edge leaders, having millions of discipled members who are reaching out to millions more through JIL’s Multi-ministries. I could see JIL exercising its apostolic and prophetic mandate to the Body of Christ and to the nations and will be recognized more and more as a powerful transformational force (that no government can afford to ignore) in shaping the destiny of the Philippines and other countries until the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
MULTIPLICATION OF LEADERS
Bro. Eddie knew from the beginning that he can’t fulfill God’s mandate alone, so he focused on training and equipping able and faithful leaders. He adheres to the wise adage that there’s no real success until you have prepared your successors. JIL has grown phenomenally as it is today because it has teachable and loyal leaders who caught and run with the vision and pursued with discipline and zeal JIL’s priorities of evangelism and transformation. The JIL International Bible College which was established as a formal school in 2001 is dedicated to train more leaders for the end-time harvest.
VISION FOR THE WORLD
Bro. Eddie’s heartbeat is not just the Philippines but the whole world. He takes God’s command literally and seriously to “Go and preach the gospel to all creation… “ (Mark 16:15ff); “Go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matt. 28:18-20)
His passion is to give each one in this world the opportunity to hear the Gospel and say yes to Jesus. To fulfill this, JIL has expanded to the continents of the world – reaching out to Filipinos first who will then be God’s bridges to other nations and cultures: JIL Hong Kong will reach out to China with its billion plus people; JIL European chapters will reach out to the French, Spanish, Italians, British, Dutch, Germans, and other Europeans; JIL North America will reach out to the Americans, Canadians and Hispanics and so on.
Bro. Eddie and JIL will faithfully proclaim “the Gospel of the kingdom as a testimony to all nations” until the end will come.