Eddie Villanueva: Difference between revisions
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| occupation = [[Televangelist]]<br> owner of <br>[[ZOE Broadcasting Network]] |
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In [[February 2001]], Brother Eddie received the [[EDSA]] People Power Freedom Award for ZOE TV 11 for its fair coverage of the People Power II movement. He founded and owns ZOE Broadcasting Network Inc. and operates Channel 11 on Filipino [[television]]. Bro. Eddie hosts three ZOE programs, ''Diyos at Bayan'', PJM (Philippines for Jesus Movement) Forum and ''Jesus The Healer''. |
In [[February 2001]], Brother Eddie received the [[EDSA]] People Power Freedom Award for ZOE TV 11 for its fair coverage of the People Power II movement. He founded and owns ZOE Broadcasting Network Inc. and operates Channel 11 on Filipino [[television]]. Bro. Eddie hosts three ZOE programs, ''Diyos at Bayan'', PJM (Philippines for Jesus Movement) Forum and ''Jesus The Healer''. |
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'''Bishop Bro. Eddie Villanueva''' |
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==Controversies== |
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===Unfulfilled Prophecies=== |
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=The Man, His Message and the Ministry= |
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Villanueva claims to be a prophet of God and has issued specific prophecies that he claims were prophetic visions from God. His prophecies mainly deal with God's grand plan for the Filipino nation. One of his failed prophecies was his declaration that the Philippines will become "''the America of Asia in 2000.''" |
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From a communist-atheist to one of the most powerful preachers of God’s Word in the world today… From a radical activist to the founder-pastor of one of the largest Christ-centered, Bible-based, full-gospel churches in the world… From a battle-scarred street parliamentarian to one of the most respected Christian leaders in the Philippines whose spiritual counsel is sought after by high-ranking officials and distinguished leaders of the nation… From a persecuted “small, country preacher’ to a world-renown radio-TV evangelist, prophet and apostle whose vision and mission is to see the nations of the world evangelized and transformed by the same Gospel that changed his life. |
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In 1998, The Philippine for Jesus Movement (PJM), an umbrella organization of more than 10,000 Protestant churches or about 3 million members of which Villanueva is the Chairman of the board had declared [[Jose de Venecia]] as the "''God-mandated next president of the Philippines.''" They said that de Venecia "''was ordained by the Divine providence to fulfill his vision for the Philippines as a great nation of God.''" |
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This in a capsule captures the exciting life story of Eddie Villanueva, fondly called Bro. Eddie or Bishop Eddie. |
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"''The glorious prophetic vision of God for the Philippines is for it to become prosperous and we cannot turn traitor to God’s calling and mandate,''" said Villanueva.<ref>Manila Standard March 25, 1998</ref>The prophecy went unfulfilled when de Venecia lost to former President [[Joseph Estrada]]. |
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==LIFE-CHANGING ENCOUNTER== |
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===Estafa Case=== |
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Bro. Eddie had a life-changing encounter with the Lord in 1973 while at the forefront of a leftist movement fighting against the evils of a vicious system that has perpetuated social injustice and massive deprivation in the country. At that time, he was also leading his family and other families in his home province of Bulacan (an hour away north of Manila) in an uphill, protracted legal battle against a notorious land-grabbing syndicate. |
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In Octorber 2005, an arrest warrant had been issued against Villanueva on charges of estafa(swindling) filed by businessman Benito Araneta in April 2005. The case dates back to March 2001 when Villanueva and his Zoe Broadcasting Network Inc. entered into an agreement with Araneta’s Entertainment Network Ltd (EnterNet) for the operation of [[ZOE Broadcasting Network|Channel 11]]. Under the agreement, [[ZOE Broadcasting Network|Zoe Broadcasting]] was to turn over to EnterNet the management, programming and marketing of the TV station. |
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Five days after that dramatic encounter with God, Bro. Eddie was brought face to face with a miracle he could never forget: the land-grabbers were arrested and detained. But a greater miracle took place in Bro. Eddie’s heart: The Holy Spirit “arrested” him. He became a true believer in the reality of a loving and powerful God! He surrendered his life to the Lord Jesus Christ and soon after, his wife Dory also gave her life to the Lord. |
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==HUMBLE BEGINNINGS OF JIL== |
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In accordance with the agreement, Araneta paid Villanueva P15 million in two checks dated March 29 and August 2001. To his dismay, Araneta, after making the payments, found out that Villanueva had already entered into a previous commitment to sell or lease air time of Channel 11 to Vintage TV Corp. owned by Carlos “Bobong” Velez for the period covering 2000 to 2015. The flabbergasted businessman also found out that for that arrangement, Velez had already paid Bro. Eddie some P20 million. |
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Bro. Eddie’s raging passion, fire and zeal for activism soon became a consuming passion for God, fire for the Gospel and zeal for evangelism. Out of the overflow of his spiritual turning point, he began to share Jesus with family members and friends, then in Bible studies and church gatherings. It was evident from the start that God’s special touch was upon this man, who, for years, was deeply immersed in Marxist dialectics, Leninist revolutionary tactics and thoughts of Mao Tse Tung. |
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To Araneta, it was obvious that he had been duped into a contract that had already been committed to another party. On this basis, he sued Villanueva for estafa(swindling), demanding the return of the P15 million he had advanced.<ref>[http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=felMaragay_oct15_2005 Manila Standard Today - Fel Maragay<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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As professor of Economics and Finance at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), his Alma Mater (where he now sits as a member of the Board of Regents), he seized every opportunity to proclaim the Gospel to his students, who in turn, responded with much fervor. Their lives were so touched that they urged their professor to teach them more about the Bible. |
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When the arrest had been made public after Villanueva's refusal to pay the P40,000 bail set by the court, he cried political harassment claiming that the case filed against him by Araneta who is the first cousin of President Arroyo's husband, is a reprisal for joining the opposition-led call for Arroyo’s resignation over accusations of cheating in the [[Philippine general election, 2004|2004 presidential election]]. Arroyo and her husband denied any involvement in the case and Araneta had denied that the charge was politically-motivated. <ref>[http://news.inq7.net/common/print.php?index=1&story_id=61830&site_id=26 Case vs Bro. Eddie not politically motivated]</ref> |
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Thus, the Jesus is Lord Church, popularly called JIL, was born. It was 1978. From a Bible study of 15 PUP students, it has exploded to a phenomenal constituency of over a million. It is considered the biggest in the Philippines today and one of the largest in the world. Today, Bro. Eddie’s ministry is also touching many millions more through his TV, radio, literature, audio-tape and video ministries, the JIL Christian Schools/JIL Colleges Foundation, Inc. and through the JIL worldwide ministries. |
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The Justice Department withdrew the arrest order after granting Villanueva’s request for a review of the case. |
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Bro. Eddie’s vision is to reach out to all Filipinos with the Gospel wherever they are – in the Philippines or in other countries- and to all nationalities in the four-corners of the earth. To pursue this vision, JIL has established chapters in Europe, US, Canada, Middle East, Northern Africa and neighboring Asian countries, reaching out mostly to expatriate Filipinos. Recently, God instructed Bro. Eddie to launch a massive evangelization campaign aimed at touching the major cities of the world with the transforming power of Jesus. |
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== |
==TRIUMPHS AND TESTINGS== |
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In May 2007, Villanueva's son, Eduardo 'Jonjon ' Villanueva Jr., who was running for mayor in Bocaue, Bulacan, was charged with murder and obstruction of justice by the Department of Justice after a soldier was killed in a shootout involving the supporters of Villanueva and a group of soldiers. [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/41626/AFP-pushes-murder-raps-vs-Villanueva-son] |
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On [[October 3]], [[2007]], Eduardo Jose “''Jon-Jon''” Villanueva Jr. and other associates, including a certain Francisco Verdi Villa, were indicted per a resolution filed by State Prosecutor Geronimo Sy. The criminal case will be filed with the Regional Trial Court of [[Bulacan]]. <ref>[http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/oct/04/yehey/top_stories/20071004top5.html Manila Times, Son of JIL’s Bro. Eddie indicted]</ref> |
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But the triumphs did not come without the concomitant testings. Bro. Eddie and his family have been at the receiving end of violent persecutions both from the enemy’s camp and from religious groups. They have been the object of several assassination attempts, the most horrible of which happened at about midnight on June 17, 1983. The whole family had just come from their church’s Friday night service and Bro. Eddie was about to enter their house in Bulacan when a grenade was thrown his way and exploded a few feet from where he stood into 1200 deadly shrapnel. The house front and part of the roof were shattered but not one shrapnel hit Bro. Eddie. God protected and spared the life of His servant and his family. |
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==2004 Presidential Bid== |
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Villanueva's campaign in the 2004 Philippine presidential election never went unnoticed because he was the only candidate with a very strong religious identity as he is, as noted above, the founder and senior bishop of the Jesus Is Lord International, an independent pentecostal group that has branches in Asia, Europe, and America. He campaigns on the claim that he is the only moral candidate for president, and that he has a program to eradicate corruption and restore morality in government. His campaigns carried both religious and political colors with the "V" finger sign representing Dios at Bayan (God and Nation). |
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==TRANSFORMING THE NATIONS== |
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He was the only presidential candidate who was claimed to have gathered an audience of millions in one place, making his campaign subject to arguments as to just what was the exact number of person who attended. In his Quirino grandstand campaign, his supporters claimed that they reached 3 million, but the conservative estimates of the police and security forces was only 600 thousand. This was followed by another major political rally at Ayala Avenue in Makati City where his supporters claimed the crowd reached 100,000 but the policemen estimated it to be only 10,000. His last grand campaign was done four days before the election at the Luneta Park and they claimed they reached five million in the crowd, but the national television news programs covered the event saying the crowd reached million (without giving the exact unit). |
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Bro. Eddie’s passion is not just for the evangelization but also the transformation of the Philippines and other nations to become the blessed nations of God declared in Psalm 33:12. In 1984, God gave Bro. Eddie a vision of a “bloody revolution that may come if the churches will not unite to win the country with the Gospel.” That vision gave birth to the Philippines for Jesus Movement or PJM, a broad alliance of churches and ministries with a nationwide constituency of millions. Under the leadership of Bro. Eddie as National Chairman, PJM has been actively engaged in its prophetic ministry to the nation leading mass-based activities and multi- media thrusts designed to transform the nation and establish the lordship of Jesus in all realms of life and society. |
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Despite the polls done by [[Social Weather Stations]] and [[Pulse Asia]] showing him trailing among the four contenders<ref>[http://www.newsflash.org/2004/02/ht/ht004193.htm Column: Sws, Pulse Asia Agree On Gma<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, Villanueva was confident that he would win the elections saying that "''this is why we do not believe in the surveys of the two companies that are usually commissioned by political parties here — because the more than three million human bodies (at my rally) can indicate the real results of the survey.''"<ref>[http://www.newsflash.org/2004/02/pe/pe003154.htm Bro. Eddie: Rp Reborn After Polls<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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Bro. Eddie’s prophetic mandate, that of speaking the heart and mind of God to the nation, was confirmed in November 1986 through a powerful word of prophecy given by Dr. Ralph Mahoney, founder of World MAP, and a world-respected Christian leader-statesman. Through the years that prophetic word has been reaffirmed by other distinguished global Christian leaders such as Dr. Bill Hamon, Dr. Cindy Jacobs, Dr. Peter Wagner, to mention some. |
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He has also spoken out against bloc voting by religious groups in response to the reported endorsements by the [[Iglesia ni Cristo]] (INC) and the Catholic charismatic [[El Shaddai (movement)|El Shaddai movement]] of President Arroyo. |
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Today, through his two top-rated weekly TV programs (Diyos at Bayan and PJM Forum), God has expanded Bro. Eddie’s reach in pursuing his prophetic role. Also recently, in recognition of such mandate, he has unanimously been chosen to chair God’s People Coalition for Righteousness (GPCR), an aggrupation of concerned Catholics, Muslims and Evangelical Christians, which aims to instill moral values in society and government. |
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He was the only presidential candidate who did not spend much during his campaigns as most, if not all of the campaign materials, including television advertisements were donated by his followers. His campaigns called for an alternative leadership, which he called righteous leadership based on a certain Biblical passage that says, "Righteousness exalts a nation." |
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==REACHING THE NATIONS BY TELEVISION== |
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Because of his religious identity he was accused of running for the presidency because of his religious interest and detractors stated that if elected his main goal would be converting the nation to Pentecostalism, a charge unlikely to be ignored in the Philippines, the third-largest Roman Catholic country in the world. Stories of campaign sermons being made against Villanueva by prominent leaders of major religious groups like the Iglesia Ni Cristo, El Shaddai, and even the Roman Catholic Church were also spread at that time, although proof of the existence of such sermons occurring to any wide extent was never offered. |
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Early in their ministry, Bro. Eddie and Sis. Dory recognized the power of mass media in proclaiming the good news of salvation to millions. Thus, in 1982, they stepped out in bold faith, launched JIL’s Multimedia ministry and started the “Jesus the Healer” TV weekly program. The results were amazing: enormous numbers of people were exposed to the Gospel and multitudes came to the Lord and began attending JIL services. Bro. Eddie saw the effectiveness of TV as a medium for reaching whole cities and nations for Jesus! |
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Villanueva's campaigns were marked with persuasion, praying, spontaneity of words, crowd singing (a carry over of the pentecostals' Praise & Worship practice) and celebrity supporters. Among them were Connie Reyes, Karla Martinez, Piolo Pascual, Gary Valenciano, Donita Rose, Yoyoy Villame, Nonoy Zuniga, Jeremias Jangad, Christian Bautista, and many others. |
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In 1984, in obedience to a word from God, Bro. Eddie started negotiations for the acquisition of Channel 11, the rights of which were owned by a very committed Christian businessman. It was a quest that took about 14 long years to finish. It will take a whole book to chronicle the staggering yet exciting struggle for Channel 11 – the miraculous Hand of God that was evident all throughout, the surprising turns and twists and the intense spiritual battle. Bro. Eddie knew that if the vision for Channel 11 was from God, ultimately, the victory would be at hand. Finally, on April 12, 1998, Channel 11 was dedicated for the glory of God. Even now, plans are already afoot on how to beam Gospel programs to the whole of Asia. |
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These elements made his campaign distinct from the others, but certainly did not translate into much success at the ballot box. |
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==”SECRETS” OF JIL’S SUCCESS== |
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When he lost the election, a lot of his followers were disappointed with him because it took him so long to concede victory to the elected incumbent President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, despite his having run so far behind. So many followers expected that his reaction would be totally different from the other politicians but to many he was seen to be singing the same melody with them. |
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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?” |
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A former supporter of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, he has turned into one of her most rabid critics after the election. Until now, he remains to be one of the visible figures of the opposition side, who calls for the resignation of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for alleged election fraud and corruption. He, along with his son Joel, a party list representative, are dubbed by some detractors as "selfish" and "sore losers", who use their followers for selfish interests. His solid supporters of course deny such accusation. |
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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.” |
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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: |
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==See also== |
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*[[Philippine general election, 2004]] |
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==“OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S CALL”== |
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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. |
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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. |
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==“INTEGRITY and FIDELITY IN HIS PERSONAL AND FAMILY LIFE”== |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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==”FAITH to BELIEVE for the IMPOSSIBLE”== |
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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! |
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Thus, in JIL, the ministry of healing, miracles, signs and wonders are not just indispensable distinctives but common occurences. |
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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. |
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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. |
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==“MULTIPLICATION OF LEADERS”== |
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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. |
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==“VISION FOR THE WORLD”== |
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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) |
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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. |
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Bro. Eddie and JIL will faithfully proclaim “the Gospel of the kingdom as a testimony to all nations” until the end will come. " |
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==References== |
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<div class="references-small"> |
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<references/> |
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</div> |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.bangonpilipinas.net Bro. Eddie Villanueva for President 2004] |
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Revision as of 00:50, 12 September 2008
Eduardo "Eddie" Villanueva | |
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| File:ECV FORMAL.jpg Bro. Eddie Villanueva | |
| Born | October 6, 1946 |
| Spouse | Adoracion "Dory" Villanueva |
Eduardo Villanueva (born October 6, 1946) is a religious and political leader in the Philippines. He was a presidential candidate in the 2004 Philippine election. He lost the election to incumbent Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and placed last in a field of five candidates, with 6.2% of the vote.
He is the owner and chairman of ZOE Broadcasting Network, a commercial TV station currently operated by GMA Network through Quality TeleVision (QTV). He is also the owner and president of Jesus Is Lord Colleges Foundation Inc. (JILCF), a Christian school in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Biography
Brother Eduardo "Eddie" Villanueva, founder of Jesus Is Lord Church, was born in Bocaue, Bulacan, on October 6, 1946. He is married to Adoracion "Dory" Villanueva and they have four children. His eldest son, Eduardo "Jon-Jon" Villanueva, Jr. lost when he ran for mayor in his hometown of Bocaue, Bulacan in 2004 but won in the May 2007 elections. His daughter, Joni Villanueva is a Christian singer and TV host. His other son Joel Villanueva, representing the CIBAC party list, is the fifth richest party-list congressman with a net worth of P18.3 million.[1]
In 1969, he graduated with a degree in Commerce, majoring in Economics, from the Philippine College of Commerce, which has since been renamed as the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
He took up law at the University of the Philippines but "was sidelined by activism and never had time to take the bar [examination]."
He worked as a full-time faculty member in the Economics and Finance Department of PCC until 1972. He then worked as the export manager of Maran Export Industries in 1973 and from 1976 to 1977, he was the general manager of the Agape Trading Co. He returned to PUP in 1978 as a part-time professor.
In 1978, Villanueva founded the Jesus is Lord Church formerly named Jesus is Lord Fellowship, which started with just eight members. He now claims that JIL now has some seven million members with branches in Asia, Europe and North America.
Brother Eddie received the Gintong Ama (Golden Father) award for Socio-Civic/Religious Sector from the Golden Mother and Father Foundation in June 1996. He was also voted Pastor of the Year in a 1998 worldwide search conducted by Dr. George Otis' High Adventure Ministries. The Ministries broadcasts the Voice of Hope program in 72 countries.
Villanueva was ordained Minister of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in 1979 by the California-based Victory in Christ Church and International Ministries. He has also been conferred the office of Episcopacy by the Sectarian Body of Christ in the Philippines in April 1996.
In February 2001, Brother Eddie received the EDSA People Power Freedom Award for ZOE TV 11 for its fair coverage of the People Power II movement. He founded and owns ZOE Broadcasting Network Inc. and operates Channel 11 on Filipino television. Bro. Eddie hosts three ZOE programs, Diyos at Bayan, PJM (Philippines for Jesus Movement) Forum and Jesus The Healer.
Bishop Bro. Eddie Villanueva
The Man, His Message and the Ministry
From a communist-atheist to one of the most powerful preachers of God’s Word in the world today… From a radical activist to the founder-pastor of one of the largest Christ-centered, Bible-based, full-gospel churches in the world… From a battle-scarred street parliamentarian to one of the most respected Christian leaders in the Philippines whose spiritual counsel is sought after by high-ranking officials and distinguished leaders of the nation… From a persecuted “small, country preacher’ to a world-renown radio-TV evangelist, prophet and apostle whose vision and mission is to see the nations of the world evangelized and transformed by the same Gospel that changed his life.
This in a capsule captures the exciting life story of Eddie Villanueva, fondly called Bro. Eddie or Bishop Eddie.
LIFE-CHANGING ENCOUNTER
Bro. Eddie had a life-changing encounter with the Lord in 1973 while at the forefront of a leftist movement fighting against the evils of a vicious system that has perpetuated social injustice and massive deprivation in the country. At that time, he was also leading his family and other families in his home province of Bulacan (an hour away north of Manila) in an uphill, protracted legal battle against a notorious land-grabbing syndicate. Five days after that dramatic encounter with God, Bro. Eddie was brought face to face with a miracle he could never forget: the land-grabbers were arrested and detained. But a greater miracle took place in Bro. Eddie’s heart: The Holy Spirit “arrested” him. He became a true believer in the reality of a loving and powerful God! He surrendered his life to the Lord Jesus Christ and soon after, his wife Dory also gave her life to the Lord.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS OF JIL
Bro. Eddie’s raging passion, fire and zeal for activism soon became a consuming passion for God, fire for the Gospel and zeal for evangelism. Out of the overflow of his spiritual turning point, he began to share Jesus with family members and friends, then in Bible studies and church gatherings. It was evident from the start that God’s special touch was upon this man, who, for years, was deeply immersed in Marxist dialectics, Leninist revolutionary tactics and thoughts of Mao Tse Tung.
As professor of Economics and Finance at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), his Alma Mater (where he now sits as a member of the Board of Regents), he seized every opportunity to proclaim the Gospel to his students, who in turn, responded with much fervor. Their lives were so touched that they urged their professor to teach them more about the Bible.
Thus, the Jesus is Lord Church, popularly called JIL, was born. It was 1978. From a Bible study of 15 PUP students, it has exploded to a phenomenal constituency of over a million. It is considered the biggest in the Philippines today and one of the largest in the world. Today, Bro. Eddie’s ministry is also touching many millions more through his TV, radio, literature, audio-tape and video ministries, the JIL Christian Schools/JIL Colleges Foundation, Inc. and through the JIL worldwide ministries. Bro. Eddie’s vision is to reach out to all Filipinos with the Gospel wherever they are – in the Philippines or in other countries- and to all nationalities in the four-corners of the earth. To pursue this vision, JIL has established chapters in Europe, US, Canada, Middle East, Northern Africa and neighboring Asian countries, reaching out mostly to expatriate Filipinos. Recently, God instructed Bro. Eddie to launch a massive evangelization campaign aimed at touching the major cities of the world with the transforming power of Jesus.
TRIUMPHS AND TESTINGS
But the triumphs did not come without the concomitant testings. Bro. Eddie and his family have been at the receiving end of violent persecutions both from the enemy’s camp and from religious groups. They have been the object of several assassination attempts, the most horrible of which happened at about midnight on June 17, 1983. The whole family had just come from their church’s Friday night service and Bro. Eddie was about to enter their house in Bulacan when a grenade was thrown his way and exploded a few feet from where he stood into 1200 deadly shrapnel. The house front and part of the roof were shattered but not one shrapnel hit Bro. Eddie. God protected and spared the life of His servant and his family.
TRANSFORMING THE NATIONS
Bro. Eddie’s passion is not just for the evangelization but also the transformation of the Philippines and other nations to become the blessed nations of God declared in Psalm 33:12. In 1984, God gave Bro. Eddie a vision of a “bloody revolution that may come if the churches will not unite to win the country with the Gospel.” That vision gave birth to the Philippines for Jesus Movement or PJM, a broad alliance of churches and ministries with a nationwide constituency of millions. Under the leadership of Bro. Eddie as National Chairman, PJM has been actively engaged in its prophetic ministry to the nation leading mass-based activities and multi- media thrusts designed to transform the nation and establish the lordship of Jesus in all realms of life and society.
Bro. Eddie’s prophetic mandate, that of speaking the heart and mind of God to the nation, was confirmed in November 1986 through a powerful word of prophecy given by Dr. Ralph Mahoney, founder of World MAP, and a world-respected Christian leader-statesman. Through the years that prophetic word has been reaffirmed by other distinguished global Christian leaders such as Dr. Bill Hamon, Dr. Cindy Jacobs, Dr. Peter Wagner, to mention some.
Today, through his two top-rated weekly TV programs (Diyos at Bayan and PJM Forum), God has expanded Bro. Eddie’s reach in pursuing his prophetic role. Also recently, in recognition of such mandate, he has unanimously been chosen to chair God’s People Coalition for Righteousness (GPCR), an aggrupation of concerned Catholics, Muslims and Evangelical Christians, which aims to instill moral values in society and government.
REACHING THE NATIONS BY TELEVISION
Early in their ministry, Bro. Eddie and Sis. Dory recognized the power of mass media in proclaiming the good news of salvation to millions. Thus, in 1982, they stepped out in bold faith, launched JIL’s Multimedia ministry and started the “Jesus the Healer” TV weekly program. The results were amazing: enormous numbers of people were exposed to the Gospel and multitudes came to the Lord and began attending JIL services. Bro. Eddie saw the effectiveness of TV as a medium for reaching whole cities and nations for Jesus!
In 1984, in obedience to a word from God, Bro. Eddie started negotiations for the acquisition of Channel 11, the rights of which were owned by a very committed Christian businessman. It was a quest that took about 14 long years to finish. It will take a whole book to chronicle the staggering yet exciting struggle for Channel 11 – the miraculous Hand of God that was evident all throughout, the surprising turns and twists and the intense spiritual battle. Bro. Eddie knew that if the vision for Channel 11 was from God, ultimately, the victory would be at hand. Finally, on April 12, 1998, Channel 11 was dedicated for the glory of God. Even now, plans are already afoot on how to beam Gospel programs to the whole of Asia.
”SECRETS” OF JIL’S SUCCESS
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 occurences.
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. "