Bro. Jackie Benton
Tribute for Bro. Roel Soriano
September 2021
MY FRIEND, BROTHER ROEL
It is with great pleasure that I greet all of my friends, and loved ones, and brothers and sisters in the Philippines, and pay honor to our precious, Brother Roel Soriano. Precious brother, friend. We’ve been friends for about 37 years.
When I first went to the Philippines and we traveled together, preached together, he was our interpreter. So he was our contact there for many years. So we just count it a great privilege to be able to speak a few words on his behalf.
Brother Roel was a minister that impacted the Philippines like no other Brother. So he’ll be long remembered because of his travel, his hospitality, and his blessings to the Bride of Jesus Christ.
Brother Roel, he did not live for himself, he lived for others. And I know that to be a fact so we’ll miss our brother, our hearts are saddened but our loss, our earthly loss here is heaven’s gain. And we know that it won’t be long until we are joined together with our brother.
And we send condolences to Chichi, and the daughters there, Paola and little Yndia. So we send greetings and condolences to all the family and those who are here during this memorial service for our brother. And we just count it a great privilege to be able to speak a few words on his behalf.
So, God bless each one and we pray the blessings of the Lord to Sis. Chichi and the girls, and the family. We’ll miss him, and all the church family.
JUST TO BE A BLESSING
I appreciate the song that Brother Roel wrote in behalf of me. I was sleeping on a balcony there (in the Philippines), on some benches, and Brother Roel, he came down with his guitar one day in 1992 and said, “Brother Jackie, I wrote a song for you.” And so he took his guitar and sang it for me and so I’m going to sing a little bit of it. He heard me so many times there in the Philippines, I would say, “I’m here just to be a blessing.” And so he titled it, “Just to be a Blessing”. He titled it, “Jackie’s Song”.
It’s been sung in Germany, Guyana, South America and many countries and it’s been a blessing. And I appreciate the song and I feel like it suits the occasion, Amen. I’ll be singing from my heart this afternoon, so God bless you.
BRO. JACKIE’S PERSONAL TESTIMONY
From the Desk of Jack Benton
September 28, 2017
Greetings to the saints of God in the precious, lovely name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I felt led to travel to the Philippines in 1983, and in the following years the Lord blessed me to return 21 more times, with the Lord providing many needs for the people and the churches. To God be all the glory and honor, for He is the One who made it all possible. God forbid that I should take any glory from our Lord.
I was blessed to baptize many souls in the Philippines in the ocean and was also blessed to baptize one brother in a prison in a barrel of water in Mexico. I made four trips to Mexico with Bro. James Walls of Richmond, Virginia. We also made many trips to Guyana and the Philippines together. Bro. Walls is now waiting for us in Glory.
I’ve used the saying for many years, “I am just here to be a blessing,” and on one of my trips to the Philippines, Brother Roel Soriano wrote a song in my honor called “Just To Be A Blessing.” I recorded the song, and to this day it is still my prayer and burden.
I started going to Europe in the year 2000 and went to many countries there. Through the years I have felt led to ask certain brothers to travel with me on these mission trips. A pastor in Ohio accompanied me to Romania. It was a blessed trip, and he has returned several times and been a great blessing to the people. I asked another minister from Ohio to go with me to the Philippines, and we made two trips together, but I think he has now surpassed me. Several young ministers went overseas with me, with some going back many times and even traveling to other countries as well. Some of these young ministers are now pastoring great Message churches and continuing in a great work for the Lord Jesus.
I have always striven to encourage the young ministers, and after I am gone, if the Lord should tarry, they will still be going strong for the Kingdom of God. If I have helped some soul along the way, then my living has not been in vain. Bro. Branham said, “I am trying to make life a little bit easier for the people,” and I have always tried to live my life by that statement.
Let me encourage you young people to work, preach, pray, and do all you can for God. Do not live your life for self. Bro. Branham said that is a selfish life, and eternal life is living for others. When you live your life for others, you are looking Heaven in the face.
God’s richest blessings to you all, and may you continue to live for Him. Much love and thanks to all the people who have been a support and a blessing to me and to the family of God over the years in His service.
Bro. Jackie Benton
