Summary:
Jaden didn’t think he needed a church–until an invitation to Iglesia Ni Cristo answered his biggest questions about faith and purpose. See how one conversation led to baptism and transformation.
In this Blog
“The one thing that I struggled with in my previous faith was that the answers were always just like someone else’s thoughts on what they think the answer is. Every question I had had a biblical answer to it, and that’s what made me sort of keep wanting to keep coming back.”
Sometimes, life-changing decisions begin in the most ordinary moments. For Jaden Blanco, it started with a simple invitation and a video on incmedia.org
"I Believe in God, But I Don't Need a Church" — Until I Was Invited to One
One evening, in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia, with nothing much planned, Jaden accepted a friend’s invitation to attend a midweek worship service of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ). There was hesitation—understandably so.
“I believe in God but don’t belong to a church.” His early upbringing was in the Catholic faith, but he stopped going to church at the age of 10. So to be invited to a worship service in the Iglesia Ni Cristo, he wasn’t sure what to expect.
But curiosity won.
“I’d heard about the Church [Of Christ] before,” Jaden recalls. “I figured I might as well see how it compares to what I used to believe.”
That one decision marked the beginning of a journey he didn’t expect—one that would ultimately change his life.
The Question That Started Everything: "Am I Doing Enough to Get to Heaven?"
After attending a couple of worship services in the Church Of Christ, Jaden liked what he heard and how the worship service was conducted.
He cared about salvation so much that he wondered if he was doing enough to get to heaven. And this thought goes back to the Church Of Christ. So, he continued thinking: What made this Church different? What did they believe? How did it compare to his previous faith?
He was also curious about Brother Felix Y. Manalo and his importance to the Church. In the back of his mind, he was collecting questions about what he was hearing. But instead of feeling turned off by something unfamiliar or what others might even label as cultish, this piqued his interest.
That’s when his friend introduced him to incmedia.org.
“It was actually really helpful,” he says. “When you’re looking into a new church, there are so many questions. The website gave me a clear idea of the beliefs and the differences.”
Jaden found himself drawn especially to the videos. One in particular stood out—a discussion comparing the Catholic faith and the Iglesia Ni Cristo.
“That really caught my attention,” he shares. “It was educational, and it helped me understand things in a way I hadn’t before.”
Comparing Catholicism and Iglesia Ni Cristo: How One Video Changed His Mind
Videos in incmedia.org was an eye opener for Jaden and led him to fill out a form on the website wanting to know more.
He was then contacted and invited to a WebEx call. At the pleasant meet up, he was encouraged to ask his question directly to a Minister of the Gospel who could help him find the answers written in the Bible.
Meeting the Minister, Brother Richie Juatco, was so impactful for Jaden that he agreed to pursue learning the teachings of God being taught in the Church Of Christ.
That openness—to ask, to learn, to understand—became a defining part of his journey.
If you’re doing your own comparison between the Catholic Church and the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ), this video might be a good place to start: Watch The Difference Between INC and Catholic Church
Why Bible-Based Answers (Not Opinions) Made All the Difference
Soon after Jaden was connected with a Minister of the Gospel of the Local Congregation of Minchinbury, the congregation nearest to him. That was the start of Jaden’s Bible studies on doctrines in the Church Of Christ.
But what truly stood out wasn’t just the answers—it was how those answers were given.
“Everything was based on the Bible,” Jaden emphasizes. “Not just someone’s interpretation, but actual biblical references.”
For him, this was a turning point.
“In my previous faith, I often felt like answers were based on opinions. Here, every question had a clear biblical answer. That’s what made me want to keep learning.”
Inside the INC Membership Process: Jaden's Path to Baptism and Certainty
Becoming a member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo wasn’t something that happened overnight. It required time, effort, and commitment. And that’s exactly why it meant so much.
February 20, 2026, was the day Jaden got baptized and it was a symbol of his commitment and desire to serve God as he officially became a member of the Christ Of Christ in the Local Congregation of Minchinbury, Ecclesiastical District of New South Wales.
“It sounds strange, but I felt relief,” Jaden admits. “Because it’s not something you just walk into—you really go through a process.” That process, he says, gave him certainty. “It made me feel like I truly worked for this decision. And that’s how I know I made the right choice.”
From Directionless to Purpose-Driven: How Faith Reshaped His Daily Life
Throughout his journey, Jaden never felt alone. “The INC Media team was amazing,” he shares. “They kept in touch through messages and emails, just checking in on me.”
Those small gestures made a big difference. “It felt good knowing that people genuinely cared about my progress.”
From Going Through the Motions to Living with Real Purpose and Prayer
Looking back, Jaden sees a clear difference between his life before and after becoming a member.
“Before, I was just going through each day—doing whatever, without a real direction,” he reflects. “Now, there’s purpose in how I think and act.”
Faith has given structure and meaning to his daily life.
And then there’s prayer. “I never used to pray,” he says honestly. “I didn’t see the reason for it.” Now, it’s an essential part of his life.
“Knowing that God listens—not just to what I need, but also to my gratitude—that’s something really special.”
His Advice to Anyone Searching for Faith
For anyone who finds themselves where Jaden once was—curious but unsure—his advice is simple and bold: “Jump off the cliff.”
He smiles as he explains. “There’s nothing wrong with learning. There’s no pressure to commit right away. Just take that step and see where it leads you—because it led me here.”
Take Your Own Faith Journey: The Same Process That Changed Jaden's Life
Jaden’s story is a reminder that faith journeys often begin with simple questions, and the courage to seek answers.
If you’ve been sitting on questions about life, salvation and what God wants you to do, we invite you to connect with us. Fill out the form below and you’ll be connected with someone who can help guide you to the next step. It’s the same process Jaden followed and it’s one that can help you find your next step forward.
