(File photo)
MANILA – House Committee on Human Rights Chair and Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr. on Thursday spearheaded the commemoration of the National Baptist Day, one of the predominant Christian religions in the country.
"Today is a historic day as I join our people and Baptists all over the nation in the first commemoration of National Baptist Day since it was institutionalized via the passage of Republic Act (RA) No. 11897," Abante said.
Abante, one of the primary authors of RA 11897 or the “National Baptist Day Act”, said the law is "the product of men and women of faith, individuals who recognized the importance of acknowledging forces that uplift society by promoting Christian values: faith in a loving God, love for our fellow man, and service for our community."
Enacted in July 2022, National Baptist Day Act declares the second Thursday of January every year a special working holiday to recognize Baptists "for the continuous pursuit of their evangelical mission to contribute to nation-building by establishing Christian schools that instill academic excellence and build character in individuals, and churches that proclaim, teach and share biblical principles for the betterment of society."
Abante emphasized this is important "in a country where there are those who have lost their way, or have been lured by corruption and vice."
Abante, a pastor who founded the Metropolitan Bible Baptist Church and Ministries, as well as the Bible Believers League for Morality and Democracy, said "we need God-fearing Filipinos of character whose values and actions can inspire the misguided to find their way back into the arms of our Father."
"These include Baptists who speak and live the word of God -- beacons of light who can help counter the wickedness, depravity, and impiety that weaken the foundations of our nation."
The lawmaker quoted Psalm 119:105, which says that the Lord's word "is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."
"National Baptist Day serves to remind us that as Christians, our actions should forever be guided by His words, and that heeding their wisdom will bring us one step closer to God and the salvation of our nation's soul," he added. (PNA)
