by Elder Aries de Vera
Reading for the day: Psalms 77:11
Every time I hear music or watch movies from my younger years, I feel nostalgic. I grew up in one of the most colorful and defining decades in history—the ’90s. My music and fashion sense were mainly inspired by grunge and the post-punk movement of that time. I collected cassette tapes of Nirvana, Eraserheads, and other alternative bands, and wore ripped jeans and plain shirts paired with either Chuck Taylors or Vans sneakers.
That decade saw the boom of television and print media. I enjoyed watching sitcoms and browsing through pop culture magazines. I wrote love letters and poems in the absence of social media. Oh, those times were indeed lovely.
Before the turn of the century, things started to change. I witnessed how mobile technology and the internet gradually became part of people’s daily lives. My first cellphone was a Nokia 5110, with screen backlights and interchangeable cases. I did my research on the web using dial-up internet, with that unforgettable screeching connection sound. Emails and messaging platforms like Yahoo and AOL began replacing traditional ways of expressing thoughts and feelings—slowly but surely.
Those were the days before Apple, Google, and Meta began shaping the way we live our lives. Though the ’90s are long gone, their memory lives on in me. They will forever be embedded in my being. I’m a certified Batang ’90s.
But one reason I’ll never forget that decade is because it was during that time that I found God. One summer, at a Good Friday service in Manila, I got baptized. A new me was born. I embraced and lived the apostolic way of life. I enjoyed the company of my fellow youth as we discovered new ways to serve God. Our summers in high school and college were well spent. We traveled the streets of Manila doing evangelism and preaching the gospel in public places. We would go to Luneta after our Young Watchers service and invite people to the church. We were young and naive, but our hearts beat with the Apostle in doing great things for the mission of God.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” - 2 Corinthians 5:17
As music, fashion, and people’s lifestyles change through the passing of time, one thing remains unchanged: the fire and zeal of the Church to evangelize the lost and edify the saints. The Goodman of the House, our late beloved Apostle Arsenio Tan Ferriol, spearheaded the media ministry of the church. He directed the MCD (Media Communications Department) to launch various means of propagating the Gospel and institutionalized programs designed to empower God’s people. This gave birth to our radio, television, and print media ministries. The flagship program that most of us have come to know is Oras ng Katotohanan, both in radio and TV. We would jump into our wooden “couch” and watch an episode of ONK being shown on IBC 13 or PTV 4, since YouTube was still non-existent back then. This became a classic 4th Watch lifestyle, in addition to collecting every issue of The Word Magazine. Life then was so simple yet full of devotion.
By the turn of the century, I was blessed to become a part of Oras ng Katotohanan and The Word Magazine as a writer and eventually as an editor. It was a blessed opportunity that I had never even dreamed of before. I feel unworthy, but I remember what my mentors in the media ministry always tell us: “To whom much is given, much will be required.” It is a very encouraging biblical verse in Luke 12:48 that reminds me to grasp every opportunity available in serving God. In my days as part of those ministries, I’ve seen how God expanded His work over time. From His mouthpiece, the Goodman of the House would always manifest and declare visions. I remember him saying that someday we would have our own radio station, capture more viewers and listeners of the true Gospel, and win more souls for Christ worldwide. These manifestations did not remain as mere declarations. In the proper time, God fulfilled His promises to His people. The ‘90s and early 2000s are behind us, but the end-time mission of God remains at the forefront.
Fast forward to today, as I am typing this article, I am amazed at the many great things that God is giving His people. Now, through the leadership of His living apostle, Apostle Jonathan S. Ferriol, we have seen a new height of “revival” in the Church. We now have multiple radio stations and have incorporated the use of social media and the internet in our preaching. Thousands of souls are being reached in every edition of the Home Free Global Crusade. I know that above us, the Goodman of the House is very proud of what the 4th Watch Church has become. We are living and continuing the apostolic legacy that was set before us. And just recently, we’ve seen the iconic program Oras ng Katotohanan return on television. It’s not just a reboot or a comeback, but a continuation of what God has constantly been doing in His Church—that is, saving souls and empowering His people.
Good memories are meant to be cherished. I know that I cannot bring back the ‘90s, but I can always look back on those good old days. It reminds of what the Psalmist is saying in Psalms 77:11, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.”
It’s not just a reboot or a comeback, but a continuation of what God has constantly been doing in His Church—that is, saving souls and empowering His people.
I have seen how God moved mightily in the PMCC 4th Watch. I have experienced God’s saving grace in my life and in my family. I have witnessed how the mission of God expanded and grew by leaps and bounds. Those nostalgic memories have led me to better appreciate what He is doing in our time. They usher me to tightly embrace the spirit of revival that is currently present in the church. It gives me a clearer picture of our future as God’s people—greater things are coming!
Reflection: How has your past shaped the way you live your life and serve God today? What are your fond memories from the past that have influenced how you serve God now? What are your unforgettable Oras ng Katotohanan (ONK) moments?
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