Jesus Is Lord Church
Brief History

Bro. Eddie C. Villanueva, the Spiritual Director and Founder of the Jesus Is Lord, 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.

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. "

The Birth Of The Jesus Is Lord Church  In Norway

It was one cold winter day in February of year 1992, when an elderly man greeted somebody on a bus in Oslo… “kabayan, kumusta po?”. This simple yet friendly greeting was the beginning of the birth of the Jesus is Lord Church (Jesus is Lord Fellowship by then) in Norway.  The elderly man was then the  JIL Pastor assigned in London, who came to Oslo through the leading of the Holy Spirit with the intention of planting a JIL Church. The lady whom the man met on the bus invited him to a birthday celebration in Rykkinn, Bærum. This simple, but God-planned acquaintance led to the first JIL fellowship in Rykkinn on February 19, 1992. It was attended by some Filipino Christians who were so hungry for God`s Word and longing for a Full-Gospel Filipino Church. A Christian couple who attended that first JIL Fellowship testified that it was the answer to their prayer, one week earlier, for a true full gospel church.

This first  fellowship was followed by home bible studies and intensive workers training, 2 – 3 times a week held in different homes. During the trainings, the missionary was joined by other leaders from London. After a while, JIL Norway had to take further steps and more responsibilities under JIL London`s supervision. During those early years, JIL Norway rented different places for the mid-week services and Sunday Divine Worships Services.

The first pastor who took care of JIL Norway was an anointed servant of God and faithfully served the Lord in this ministry voluntarily because the ministry was just starting and because of her love for the Lord and the people that God has entrusted to her care. The Lord also used other people to Pastor the church on a voluntary basis during the formative years of JIL-Church. To name the few are, Sis. Lillian Guardian and Ptr. Gilbert Palmero.  The first JIL-Norway Full-time Pastor is Ptra. Lea Janolo. Currently she’s now the assign Pastor of JIL-Church in London. 

The ministry grew in quality and quantity. It was not an easy task at all. There were times of shakening and trials but many remained faithful to the Lord and to the JIL ministry. Faithful and anointed volunteer workers were raised by the Lord throughout these years in this ministry. It was God who opened this ministry and nobody can stop this church from growing and fulfilling God`s plan and purpose. Through the help of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, JIL Norway gave birth to JIL Denmark in year 2001.

After many years, the work is continually growing and the need for a full time pastor became so great so the leadership of JIL Norway requested for a full time Pastor from our JIL-International Headquarters in Philippines. After much prayer and waiting, the good Lord, through our Executive Director (Rev.) Dr. Adoracion J. Villanueva, sent Ptr. Fidel delos Reyes Jr. and came to Norway last January, 2005.

God has been and is continually blessing, anointing, leading and giving this ministry more visions and promises that all of us are holding to and we are continually seeing and experiencing the fulfilment of God`s promises.    More souls are being led to the Lord and are growing as true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. The volunteer workers don`t stop in learning through seminars, workers and leadership trainings headed by our Pastor. God has been manifesting His power through this ministry.

Inspite of global crisis, God is continually providing jobs and opportunities to His people. Spiritual and physical healings are happening every week after the preaching of the Word. God fulfilled His promise that year 2008 is the year of conquest. Outreaches throughout Norway (Nannestad, Bærum, Bergen) and Sweden (Goteborg, Borlånge, Stockholm) were opened.

Today, Jesus Is Lord Church, Norway is a church where God is continually bringing in more children, youth, singles and families from different walks of life.   During the last few weeks of year 2008, the Spirit of the living God has spoken to the leaders that year 2009 will be a year of overflow; overflow in praise and worship, overflow in prayer, overflow in blessing and overflowing victory. Great victories are won after great battles. This is the reason why the workers and even the whole body are being prepared and equipped for the battle, as we look forward to the victories God has stored for us through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior and through the mighty power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus comes.  All glory belongs to God alone!