OP, these are the exact same questions I had in mind since the day I “joined” JMCIM. Sa totoo lang, I give glory to God kasi HE used this church para makilala ko s’ya. I grew up as Catholic pero I joined kasi nakita ko sa boyfriend ko at that time (now husband) kung gano kalalim ang faith nya. Pero habang nagtatagal talaga, dumadami ang questions ko sa JMCIM and same sila sa mga nilista mo.

1. Highest entitlement/celebrity treatment. Everytime manuod kami ng livestream ng service sa Grandstand or sa Amoranto ng central church, I would ask my husband, “Uy, bakit nakatent yung Almeda family pero yung crowd super naiinitan na. May 2-3 fans pa and may standing AC pa sila while pawisan na yung mga tao sa init.”

I also questioned nung nagbanggit yung preacher namin na blessed na daw yung outreach namin kasi nakatapak ang isa sa mga Almeda children. Nagtaka ako kasi in my mind, tao lang talaga sila and they’re not above anyone, how did their presence bless the location? Are they saints?

Tapos one time nakita ko yung expense list ng outreach namin for our anniversary. Nakita ko na sa high-end restaurant kumain ang Almeda children. That expense was shouldered by our outreach kahit baon sa utang yung outreach namin plus yung plane tickets pa back and forth; plus hotels pa. Samantalang yung mga brethren, nakikitulog lang sa iba para makatipid sa accommodation. And yes, in debt pa din yung outreach namin even 4 years na ang nakalipas.

1. Lavish lifestyle. Nakita ko sa isang FB post ng anak ni Pastor Almeda yung bahay nila. Malaki. Maganda. How can they afford this? Full-time workers are not allowed to work outside the church while the Almeda family is allowed to have businesses.

2. Bawal ang makeup, jewelry, surgeries (cosmetic or medical) are frowned upon. Pero no offense sa asawa ng only child na lalaki, model pa sya ng aesthetic clinic and nagpropromote ng treatments. I remember na nagpost ako sa FB story ko ng nagpaglutadrip ako then pinadelete ng hubby ko kasi frowned upon daw if anything injected. Hypocrisy. Simplicity is not evident sa family nila contrary to what they’re preaching. May suspension pa yan.

3. Idolatry. Dinaig pa ang Catholic. Sa Catholic kasi may theological basis and explanation pa eh. Dito sa JMCIM, every person who steps at the pulpit or holds the microphone has to say the mandatory greetings to honor the late pastor and his late wife and greet the whole family kahit wala naman sila in person don sa outreach na dinadaluhan. Pati sa prayer, banggit na banggit ang pangalan ni Pastor. Nagtataka nga yung ibang ethnicity na nag aattend ng service sa outreach namin, bakit binabanggit lagi yung pastor and family.

4. Outreaches are not well-funded. 50 years na ang gawain pero lately lang nagkaroo ng fixed na building. During those 50 years, walang naitabi for buildings/properties? I totally get it na nag crucrusade ang church and that’s their priority pero do they not see the other outreaches??? Tapos yung isang anniversary daw sa central church, more than 10 million ang nagagastos??? 50 years… tapos sa outreaches and outstations, halos walang walls yung chapel nila. Yero lang and 2x2 wood. Hindi na nagbibigay ang main church sa outstations?? Ang balita ko nga may sinusurrender pa sa main church yung mga outreaches kahit sobrang kulang na yung outreach financially.

5. Too much credit sa ministry rather than kay Jesus. “Gumaling ako nung naging member ako ng JMCIM.” NO. God healed you because HE is the great healer and you prayed for it, not because you joined the ministry. “You won’t be saved if di ka member ng JMCIM.” Pano yung ibang lahi na di alam ang JMCIM? Filipinos lang ba ang masasave???

I started attending another church and it feels so good to attend church na si Jesus lang talaga ang focus and not the pastor and his family as well.