Guided by the Holy Spirit, JIL marks breakthrough 47th year

MANILA, Philippines — In a massive display of faith and unity, the Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide (JILCW) celebrated its 47th anniversary in a spiritually charged event at the Luneta Grandstand yesterday.

With the theme “Holy Spirit Breakthrough,” the grand celebration served as a historical milestone for JILCW – highlighting nearly five decades of divine encounters with the Holy Spirit, miraculous manifestations of God’s power seen in healings, transformations, and answered prayers. Organizers said more than a million members attended the JILCW anniversary celebration.

The event, which was filled with worship singing, prayer, and stirring testimonies, culminated in a life-changing main messages delivered by JILCW president and spiritual director, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, and his son, Sen. Joel Villanueva.

Bro. Eddie said God – through the Holy Spirit – confided to him that his senator-son was “the real main guest speaker for the 47th anniversary of JILCW.” 

He also thanked Sen. Joel’s Senate friends, including Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano who was present at the event, as well as Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Robinhood Padilla. 

Bro. Eddie, who founded  JILCW in 1978, spoke passionately about the power of the Holy Spirit and His ability to break chains, heal hearts, and transform lives. He reflected on how the Holy Spirit has continuously worked through JIL over the years, drawing countless individuals to faith and leading them into a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. 

“The Jesus Is Lord Church is a testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit,” adding, “For 47 years, the Holy Spirit has sustained this ministry – not by human effort, not by money or might, but by His awesome presence working in and through people whose lives have been forever changed,” Bro. Eddie declared.

“The Holy Spirit empowers JIL to fulfill its mission to bring peoples from all races, beliefs, and religious affiliations to the Kingdom of the Living God,” Bro Eddie said quoting Acts 1:8.

Having personally witnessed the work of God in the lives of millions of JIL members in its churches in more than 75 countries in the world, Bro. Eddie highlighted the JILCW Core Values, namely, Passionate Love for God; Love and Compassion for Others; Integrity; Faithfulness; and Excellence.  “The Holy Spirit has enabled us to achieve our breakthroughs through the years,” he said,

In a statement for its anniversary, JILCW recalled how its founder Bro. Eddie was “’arrested’ by God in 1973” after years of living as a “radical activist, communist, and atheist.”

“As a result of Bro. Eddie’s new-found faith in God, his compassion for perishing souls increasingly grew with each passing day. He could not keep his joy to himself! He had to tell everybody!” the ministry said in its statement.

Three years before its 50th or golden anniversary, JILCW declared this year’s celebration would become “a prophetic turning point – a preparation for greater revival.”  

“The 47th anniversary theme – “Holy Spirit Breakthrough” – is both a celebration and a challenge. It is a call to pregnant expectation for a fresh move of God among JIL people, to depend not on strategies or strength, but on the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit,” it pointed out.

In his message, Senator Villanueva, who is also a JILCW pastor, said this year was “extra special” as God “is doing something for the country.”  

“I can look you in the eye and say I’m not involved in any wrongdoing,” the senator said.

He added no amount of mudslinging can distract him from his mission “of building this nation, transforming this nation for the glory of God.”

Villanueva presented a video of his projects in the House of Representatives as CIBAC party-list representative, as director general of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and as senator.

 “We, the JIL people, we sincerely believe that God is with us, no one, nothing and no circumstances can be against us,” he added.