Edith is known among Christian churches in the Philippines as the spirited worship leader who is able to lead people, by the million, in intimate worship of God. At one time, Dr. C. Peter Wagner, President of Global Harvest Ministries and Chancellor of the Wagner Leadership Institute, even called her a “world-class worship leader.”

While the commendation is uplifting, Edith is nonetheless never swayed by the applause of men. After spending more than half of her life serving God through the ministry of JIL, she has learned that her only true assurance is the Lord and His faithfulness. “The moment I completely entrusted my life unto Jesus when I was in third year high school, I never looked back,” she testifies as she recounts how she still emerged the valedictorian of her class in a new school where she transferred after she was gravely persecuted in the old school wherein she attended nursery up to junior year. “It was never easy, but I never questioned God. To me, it was an opportunity to let Him know that as much as He was faithful to me, I would try my very best to be faithful to Him as well,” she declares.

The next big chance to make good of her promise came when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2006. “When my doctor told me that the mass that was excised from my left breast was malignant, I actually felt numb. It was so surreal. But the only question that actually came into my mind then was how to break the news to my parents. Other than that, I was ok,” she smiles as she narrates her story.

The succeeding months were difficult ones for Edith. As trips to the hospital became more and more frequent, about three to four times a week, her hair became lesser and lesser – until she lost all to chemotherapy drugs. “I swear, I got only three strands of hair on my left eyebrow and probably five on my right,” she laughs in good humor as she shares how physically taxing the entire treatment was. However, she cites the dropping of her white blood cell count as the most exacting part of the treatment. She shares how her WBC dropped to merely 350 from the supposed normal value of at least 4,500. “I was immunocompromised that’s why I was quarantined most of the time, either in my hospital room or in my bedroom at home,” she divulges.

It was during this time of seeming inactivity and hibernation when Edith learned the power of, as she puts it, silently and patiently “waiting upon the Lord.”

“Too physically weak to even get up from bed, it was then when I truly experienced God ministered His renewing life to me. Yes. It was in my point of utter weakness when the Lord opened my eyes to the reality of His promise that the same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is the same Spirit that is quickening my mortal body,” Edith’s eyes’ twinkle as she quotes the verse from Romans 8:11. She claims that it was the scripture that particularly boosted her faith in God. “What more could I ever pray for when the very resurrecting power of God is operating right within me?” she asks in awe.

After almost two years and five routine check-ups, which included battery of laboratory tests and clinical procedures, Edith’s doctor is all smiles at her patient’s response to the treatment. Dr. Charity Gorospe of the premiere St. Luke’s Hospital in the Philippines scribbled on Edith’s updated medical record the words “no sign of disease” to validate her patient’s claimed healing.

Since the day Edith returned to her passion which is leading people in worship and teaching them about the life-giving power of Jesus, she has been to speaking engagements throughout the Philippines and in countries like the US, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Australia. “To the greatest glory of my God,” is all she could say when several instant healings and miracles are reportedly manifested in gatherings where she ministers the Lord’s resurrection power.

“God is sovereign. To the degree of our hunger and readiness for Him, He responds. And when He does, we can only expect the impossible and accept the unthinkable. I know, because I am a living proof of His saving grace,” Edith ends with finality.

Edith S. Mendoza is the Music Chairperson of the Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Church Worldwide and Executive Secretary to JIL International President and Spiritual Director, Bishop Bro. Eddie C. Villanueva. This article was first published in February 2008 in Asian Journal, San Diego California's award-winning weekly newspaper.