Roderick "Eric" Herradura Natoc
1977 – 2014
A quietly faithful Filipino missionary and Asian MFT team captain.
- Born
- 20 October 1977 · Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat, Philippines
- Passed away
- August 2014 (age 36)
- Funeral
- 16 August 2014
Eulogy
Biographical sketch drawn from the recorded Seonghwa Ceremony (Part 2) hosted by NJ Family Church of Clifton.
Roderick Herradura Natoc, known affectionately as Eric, was the youngest child in his family, born 20 October 1977 in Sultan Kudarat province in the southern Philippines. He grew up among four older siblings and pursued his studies at the University of Southern Mindanao, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electronics. In 1999, in General Santos City, he joined the Unification movement — a decision that would shape the remaining fifteen years of his life.
In 2006, Eric answered the call of the Asian Mobile Fundraising Team (MFT) and travelled to the United States as a missionary. The work was demanding and required tremendous endurance, and Eric served as a team captain whose quiet determination and warm smile inspired his teammates. After completing this mission, he was matched and, in 2007, blessed in marriage to Leah Damian. Together they became a founding family of the Elizabeth Family Church community in New Jersey, raising two daughters, Kylie and Ellie.
Those who knew Eric described him repeatedly as a 'common' or 'regular' person in the best sense — a shy and humble man who never complained, who often took on a double workload, and who could be counted on without fail. His supervisor at work and his church family alike testified that his quiet faithfulness left a visible void when he was gone. He loved his father deeply and lived a life oriented toward service rather than recognition.
Eric was hospitalised on 6 August 2014, and brothers and sisters across the country prayed for his recovery. He passed into the spiritual world several days later. His older brother Eddie travelled from Canada to be at his side, while his parents and sisters watched the ceremony from the Philippines and Korea.
At his Seonghwa, the community pledged to support Leah, Kylie, and Ellie, and to honour Eric's offering by deepening their own missionary responsibility in America.
'Life here on Earth is not measured by how long we live,' his brother Eddie said. 'It is measured by how you live your life, how you touch each and every one that surrounds you.'
Seonghwa Ceremony
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