Music

00.01.30.00

El Shaddai gathering

Bus travelling

McGrath:  It's five hours til show time. And the star is on his way.

Brother Mike Verlade, millionaire real estate agent, and media mogul, is on a mission from God.

Crowd waving thousands of flags

Singing

McGrath:  This is not a pop concert. This is the church Brother Mike built - El Shaddai. It's now a multi-million dollar evangelical empire revolutionising the Philippines. And this is probably the largest weekly mass in the world.

02.01

While the faithful rev up outside, backstage Brother Mike is preparing too.

02.32

Brother Mike walks on stage

Music

McGrath:  His followers believe he performs miracles - making the poor rich, healing the sick, even curing transsexuals.

The Philippines is a celebrity-mad religious country. But even here, there's never been a church like this.

Brother Mike sings to crowd

Brother Mike [singing]:   I believe, yes I believe.

03.03

McGrath:  Well, maybe it's more like a Tonight Show, but it appears his off-key singing doesn't deter the faithful.

Woman in audience

Woman:  Oh, Brother Mike. We love him so much, and I have everything to thank the Lord for giving him to us.

Brother Mike [singing] I believe.

03.18

Brother Mike to me, he is used by the Lord Jesus Christ as an instrument to change many people's lives. And not only me, a lot of my friends and a lot of people you see around here. There are millions of them, all over.

Brother Mike on stage

Brother Mike:  And after the service, we are going to have dinner. Egg sandwich...

McGrath:  It's a mystery why he's so popular. He speaks for hours, his jackets are awful, and his message is straight from a self-help manual with a dollop of the devil thrown in.

03.57

Brother Mike

Brother Mike:  ...and it's time for us Christians to get into where those demons and evil spirits are hiding.

And exercise this power to trample upon the snakes and the scorpions. But the moment you rebel or reject that authority, you will can be sure you will receive punishment, because rebellion is a sin, like witchcraft.

04.18

Man in crowd

Man:  Let's just say that once I was lost, but now I'm found. As the lyrics of the song say. I used to a philandering husband, I drink a lot, I even gamble. That was my old life. But when I heard Brother Mike talk about, or preach about righteousness, it suddenly struck me, I have to change.

04.36

Brother Mike interview

Brother Mike:  I'm a bit concerned, concerned in the sense that there's no way for me to back out any more. If I only would have a way, I'll back out from it. It's really a tremendous responsibility. But I always say this is not my work, this is the Lord's work.

05.14

Ramos at Brother Mike gathering

Brother Mike:  His Excellency, President Fidel Ramos.

FX:  Applause

Ramos:  Your growth is nothing less than spectacular.

05.36

McGrath:  He's such a political force, that even the Protestant President comes a-courting. And his religious broadcasting empire has made him so famous that everyone wants a piece of Brother Mike. Now there are moves for the king maker to become the king.

Brother Mike:  Whatever is the Lord's plan for me, I'll be there.

Brother Mike interview

McGrath:  And if the Lord calls you to be the President of the Philippines, what would you do?

Brother Mike:  There must be some very strong indications that it's the Lord wanting me to be there.

McGrath:  What indications would you look for?

Brother Mike:  That is very hard to tell.

06.13

Music

McGrath:  But Brother Mike has bigger ambitions. He says the whole world needs him, not just the Philippines. So the church is expanding. It's coming soon to a country near you.

ENDS

Music

06.47

BROTHER MIKE

Reporter  CATHERINE MCGRATH

Camera    GEOFF CLEGG

Sound       SCOTT TAYLOR

Editor        MARK GLEESON

Producer   IRRIS MAKLER