Jesus Miracle Crusade
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry (JMCIM) is a religious group from the Philippines which is well known for its promotion of miracles and healing through faith. JMCIM is led by Evangelist Wilde E. Almeda. JMCIM claims to be one of the largest Apostolic Church with over a million Filipino members worldwide.
[edit] Doctrines
One God, Three Manifestations
JMCIM believes that there is but one God, Jesus Christ, manifested three times as God (who is our Father and Creator), spirit (as the Holy Spirit), and flesh (as the Son of man - Christ our Savior).
Baptism
Baptism is one of the key components for salvation. There are, however, two types of baptism -- baptism in water and baptism in the spirit. The former is done by completely immersing a person's body in water and baptizing him/her in Jesus' name. The latter can only be done by the Spirit of God.
Holiness
Holiness is diligently preached and observed by the JMCIM — whether it be in conversation, appearance, or way of thinking.
Worshipping and Praising
One of the secrets to JMCIM's spiritual success is the untiring worship and praise its members perform everyday. JMCIM may be one of the very few churches (if not the only church) that spends hours upon hours in worshiping and singing praises unto the Almighty God. This is because JMCIM believes that our main purpose in life is to exalt and give glory to our dearest Jesus through psalms and musical instruments.
[edit] Criticisms
Almeda is criticized for claiming that faith alone can heal a person's sickness without the help of medicine.
Claiming to have supernatural powers given to him by Jesus Christ, he claims to have stopped tropical storms and survived assassination attempts by Communist Rebels whose rifles failed to fire on him even with triggers pulled. His members also claim that he has healing powers that make the lame walk, the blind see and the "demon possessed" exorcised.
In the 1998 presidential elections, Almeda promised to have himself shot by a firing squad in Luneta if his favored candidate Jose de Venecia did not win in the election. The promise went unfulfilled when de Venecia lost to Joseph Estrada in the election.
In 2000, Almeda and his eleven "prayer warriors," went to the Abu Sayyaf hideout against the wishes of the government to "pray over" and to convince the kidnappers to free the 21 mostly foreign hostages in the Sulu jungle abducted by the Abu Sayyaf from Malaysia's Sipadan tourist resort in April. Despite their payment of 35 sacks of rice and $3,000 as an "admission fee" to the Abu Sayyaff hideout, Almeda and his warriors ended up being taken captive themselves. While in captivity for three months, Almeda suffered a mild stroke that tragically left him permanently speechless.[1]
When President Estrada was asked when he would announce the rescue of the other remaining hostages, he jokingly said: “Let Almeda announce it in Luneta and then let him shoot himself.” in reference to Almeda's public promise to have himself shot if Estrada wins the 1998 election. They were rescued by the military from the Abu Sayyaf on October 2, 2000.[2]
In 2004, Almeda and his warriors had volunteered with the help of a guide to rescue the Filipino hostage Angelo dela Cruz taken by terrorists in Iraq. Almeda said that the Terrorists would be overwhelmed by the power of prayer and may be converted to Christianity. He said that after their meeting and his "praying over" their leaders, they would be clapping and jumping while singing Christian songs. However, Dela Cruz was released not because Almeda prayed over the terrorist, but because President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pulled the Filipino troops out of Iraq as demanded by the terrorists.[3]
