Be Still

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Tough times had hit us in the past week.

Super typhoon Rolly whipped the nation last October 31st leaving blown-off roofs, causing flash floods, power outages, damage to infrastructure, blocked roads, almost 400 thousand evacuees, and even some dead people due to catastrophic winds and rains. Rolly hit the main Luzon Island particularly Catanduanes, Albay and Manila. And while the storm was still wreaking havoc the next day, a fire at night razed the 400 homes in a fisherfolk community in Bacoor, Cavite reclamation zone. It took four hours before the fire was put out.

These ordeals are indeed heartbreaking and we are sending our heartfelt empathy to our affected brothers and sisters. We pray for their immediate recovery from the losses they suffered and wish to offer uplifting words from the One we can trust in times like this.

Psalmist David sang to the Lord, “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.” (Psalm 57:1).

We can always count on the mercy of God. Peter encourages us to “Give all our worries and cares to God, for He cares about us.” (1 Peter 5:7)

We must not think twice in coming to God for He will attend to our cries. As written in Psalm 107:28-30, “Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble. And He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven.”

To all my countrymen, let the current challenges lead us to heed Psalm 46:10, for the Lord is saying, “Be still, and know that I am God!” Deep and true knowledge of the real God will let us pass through different calamities in life and still be able to come out triumphant.

Shalom! Shalom! God bless the Philippines!!!

Bro. Eddie seeks full investigation of JIL leaders’ double murder

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                      Official Statement

                                                                   Bro. Eddie C. Villanueva

                                                                            14 August 2013

Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Movement founder Bro. Eddie Villanueva condemned the killing of two lady cell group leaders of JIL Batangas allegedly perpetrated by two police officers even as he called on the Department of Justice and the Philippine National Police not to leave any stone unturned in investigating the twin murders.

“The leadership of JIL condemns in the strongest terms this dastardly act against two humble servants of God. We appeal to our authorities especially Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and PNP Chief Alan Purisima to please let justice prevail and order the immediate prosecution of the perpetrators,” Villanueva said in a statement.

Adelaida Fabricante, 46, and Leonila Cafe, 48, both active church leaders of JIL in Balete, Batangas were found dead in the middle of a road in Barangay Makina last Aug. 6.

Witnesses said they were last seen hitching a police car with Police Officer (PO) 3 Jose Rico Benitez and PO2 Mhelven Pagkaliwangan, both members of the Balete police.

Fabricante and Cape were laid to rest last Sunday which was attended by thousands of Balete residents.

Villanueva, who founded what is now one of the largest Christian movements in the world, expressed deep sadness over the attacks on the two women.

Fabricante and Cape came from a Bible study and decided to hitch-ride in the police patrol car on their way back to their respective barangays.

Earlier police reports indicated that the two were victims of “hit-and-run” but Balete Mayor Jovencio Hidalgo ordered a reinvestigation after thousands of residents trooped to the municipal hall condemning their deaths.

Hidalgo said several witnesses volunteered to give their statements linking the two cops to the deaths of the two female preachers.

“Maraming mga miyembro ng JIL na nagpapatunay na nakisabay ang dalawang biktima sa mobile ng dalawang pulis bago sila natagpuang patay,” the Mayor said.

Last Saturday, Hidalgo sought the assistance of Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Rueda-Acosta, who in turn, made a separate investigation on the case along with her team of lawyers and medico-legal doctors.

Based on medico-legal reports, the two were brutally beaten by hard objects and had bruises all over their bodies.

Hidalgo said another witness surfaced and narrated how he personally saw the police car as the bodies of the two victims were being dumped on the middle of the road.

The JIL Movement had also sent a legal team to work together with PAO lawyers in assisting the families of the victims.

Villanueva said JIL is grateful to Hidalgo and Acosta for their quick response but issued an appeal to the DOJ and PNP “to use the full force of the law for our brutally murdered lady pastors to get justice.”

http://www.philstar.com/probinsiya/2013/08/13/1083741/2-jil-preachers-pinatay-ng-2-pulis