Its chapter, which is what members call their meeting place, is now located on Village Lane in Chinatown.
The first PBMA missionary, Bienvenida Aurelio, arrived here in 1987 as a waitress.
She was asked by their divine master Ruben Ecleo Sr., the founder of PBMA, to propagate the group’s teachings on island.
Aurelio started her missionary work by healing the faithful.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993, but she said through the power of prayer and faith, “I am whole now.”
When Saipan was at the peak of its economic growth in the mid-1990s, she said the association flourished and its members included those from Guam, Rota and Tinian.
One of her “patients” was a sister of a local Catholic Church leader who later recuperated from a very serious ailment.
As president of the association, Aurelio said she ensures that she and her members can serve as models of right living in the community.
From over a hundred, there are only a few of them left on Saipan but Aurelio said their mission to heal the sick continues.
PBMA doesn’t recruit members. But it is non-sectarian group so anyone from any denomination can join the association.
“I am happy with my work and despite the many trials, our group has survived,” Aurelio said.
Her husband Alfredo is now the president of the association. He was once a heavy drinker and gambler until he joined the group and found the light.
Through “spiritual healing” Mr. Aurelio said he could hardly believe how his life has changed.
He said he has many unforgettable experiences in offering prayer healing to the sick. One of them was a Filipino guest worker who was admitted to the hospital.
“I asked him to drink holy water and after an hour he gradually recovered,” Mr. Aurelio said.
To maintain their spiritual connection with God, PBMA members have to pray at 2:30 in the morning each day, Mrs. Aurelio said.
She said they pray for world peace.
They have a regular gathering every first and third week of the month at their chapter.
