Dear Miss Yeng,

First, we would like to commend you for your zeal and passion to serve the Lord ever since you came to know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. It is clear that your heart desires to grow in faith and to use your gifts for God’s glory. We also recognize that you have likely been involved in a local Christian church where you were nurtured spiritually and encouraged to continue walking with the Lord. Many born-again believers have been inspired by how you have faithfully used your talents to edify the body of Christ in various local churches across the nation and beyond (cf. 1 Peter 4:10–11).

However, we have recently become aware that you have become associated with a religious group that claims to be Christian but, upon closer examination, deviates from the essential doctrines of the Christian faith. Jesus Himself warned that “false prophets… come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). The group known as the Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch) teaches beliefs that are not in harmony with historic, biblical Christianity. In fact, this religious group likely instructed you to undergo water baptism again, even if you had already been baptized in your previous church. This is because, to them, water baptism is a requirement for salvation. They teach that baptism is not merely symbolic, but the moment when a believer’s sins are forgiven, they are added to the body of Christ. One of their key proof texts for this belief is Acts 2:38, which they frequently cite to support their position.

You may not be fully aware of their background and doctrines. Groups such as this are particularly spiritually dangerous because they appear Christian on the surface, they sing the same songs, use similar language, and speak of Jesus, but their teachings subtly distort biblical truth (2 Corinthians 11:13–15). Unlike groups that openly deny the Christian faith, such as the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC), Jehovah’s Witnesses, or Members Church of God International (MCGI), the PMCC (4th Watch) disguises its errors beneath Christian terminology, making it difficult for believers who are not firmly grounded in Scripture to discern the difference.

1. According to their doctrine, an individual must remain affiliated with the PMCC (4th Watch) in order to maintain salvation. 

“Habang tayo ay nananatili sa Iglesia ay may buong katiyakan tayo na ang ating kalayaan ay patuloy nating matatamasa sapagkat ang Iglesia ayon mismo sa bibig ng Panginoong Jesus ay hindi pagnanaigan ng Hades (Mateo 16:18).” – The Word, Vol. 7, No. 40, June 1986, 13. 

Indiscreetly, the term “Iglesia” in their article refers to their religious group.    

2. Adherents of the PMCC (4th Watch) are required to follow the doctrines established and taught by their founder, Arsenio T. Ferriol.

“Manatili sa aral ng Dios na dala ng Kaniyang sugong Apostol. – Ang kalayaan ay maaaring mawala kapag ang ating pananalig at paniniwala sa Dios ay humina. At ang posibleng sanhi ng panghihina ay ang hindi na regular na pakikinig ng Salita ng Dios na minimensahe ng mga sugo sa bawa’t gawain.” – The Word, Vol. 7, No. 40, June 1986, 13. 

“Sugo ng Dios ang nagdadala: Ang utos na ipangaral ang evangelio sa Marcos 16:15-16 ay hindi para sa lahat ng gustong mangaral. Ito ay iniutos sa kaniyang mga apostol. Mga sugo lamang ng Dios ang may karapatang mangaral ng evangelio (Roma 10:14-15) ‘Anong pagkaganda ng mga paa ng nagdadala ng mga balita ng mga bagay na mabuti.'”  – The Word, Vol. 7, No. 40, June 1986, 26.

Who are the “mga sugo sa bawa’t gawain?” They are referring to the pastors who have embraced and promote the beliefs of their main “Sugo” namely Arsenio Tan Ferriol.

3. One must ascertain whether the founder of a religious group was truly divinely chosen, in order to ensure the authenticity of one’s salvation and to confirm that the church to which one belongs is genuinely called by God.

“Ang sumampalataya sa evangeliong dala ng mga sugo ng Dios ay ligtas na.” – The Word, Vol. 7, No. 40, June 1986, 27.  

“If the person who has been called by God to lead His church is truly and proven to be called by Him, then the church he leads is also called by God.” – The Word, Vol. 4, No. 21, October-November 1993, 8. 

4. According to the PMCC (4th Watch) teaching, for a person to attain salvation, it is necessary not only to have faith in Jesus Christ but also to undergo water baptism.

“But God’s promise of eternal life is being made available to all peoples of the world–for free! No charge, surcharge or covercharge! God’s promise of eternal life is simply for free! All we need to do is to accept his gift of eternal life. ‘I tell you the truth, he who believes in me has everlasting life,’ Jesus Christ promised to us in John 6:47. To ‘accept’ pr ‘believe’ in Christ means that we must be ready to recognize our sins, turn away from them and be baptized in His name.” – The Word, Vol. 4, No. 21, October-November 1993, 13.

5. Although members of the PMCC (4th Watch) profess that Jesus is the Creator, Lord, Son of God, and Savior, they deny His full humanity, teaching instead that He is merely “like man.”  

“Ano ang sasampalatayanan kay Jesus? Siya ang Tagapagligtas, Luc. 2:11. Siya ang Panginoon, Rom. 10:9. Hindi nilalang kundi lumalang ng langit at lupa, Heb. 1:8-9. Siya ang Cristo, Gawa 5:42. Bugtong na Anak ng Dios, Mat. 16:16, Hindi tao, Fil. 2:6, nakitulad sa tao.” The Word, Vol. 4, No. 21, October-November 1993, 17.   

This reflects the ancient heresy of Docetism, which taught that Jesus was divine but only appeared to be human.

Miss Yeng, we understand that many within this group are kind, sincere, and outwardly devoted. Yet sincerity does not equate to truth. As the Apostle Paul warned, “If anyone preaches any other gospel… let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8–9). Our heartfelt prayer is that you will seek fellowship in a Christian church that remains faithful to the sound doctrines of Scripture and upholds the central truth that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

May the Lord grant you wisdom and spiritual discernment as you prayerfully consider this important matter (James 1:5; 1 John 4:1).

In Christ’s love and truth,

Justyn M.                                

justyn@thebereans.net

www.thebereans.net