SC Justice keynotes church rites

Supreme Court Associate Justice Reynato Puno exhorted all Christians to remain true to their faith and do their part to help the country in these times of hardship and terroristic attacks.

Puno, a devoted Methodist who has held many important lay Methodist positions, was the guest of Good Samaritan United Methodist Church in Quezon City last week.

Speaking at the church’s 48th anniversary rites, Puno said, "We Christians should always maintain the fire of our faith in our hearts and remain tolerant towards other religions, doing our best to help and love others, as true Christians should, especially in these times."

Aside from his many other achievements, Puno has an honorary doctorate in Humanities conferred by Wesleyan University and received the Centennial Award for Law during the 1999 Philippine Methodist Centennial.

Good Samaritan Church started in 1957 with only 40 adult members in a Quonset Hut in what was then a rice paddy. Today it has grown to more than 2,000 adult members and 10 pastors led by Rev. H.E. "Joy" Cera and runs the four-story Good Samaritan Christian School behind the church.

A pioneer in community outreach, with the depressed area of Tatalon as its ministry, Good Samaritan has turned more than 300 Tatalon residents into professionals through church scholarships and self-help projects.

Last month, 1,700 Tatalon residents received free eyeglasses during a two-day medical, dental and optical mission. – M.P. Mirasol