Iglesia ni Cristo turns 95 this Monday
I am one proud Iglesia ni Cristo member!
In the Philippines, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a special holiday on Monday.
It was on July 27, 1914 that INC was officially registered as a pioneering religious organization.
During this time, anti-colonialism movements in the Philippines, often with religious undertones, were the order of the day.
American missionary works were exposing the Filipino culture to many alternatives to Catholicism.
INC’s success is attributed primarily to its leadership-aggressive, materially successful, and indigenous movement.
Its founder Felix Y. Manalo, the man whom the members recognize as the “Messenger of God,” set out to perform his divine mission.
Manalo started shepherding several congregations, which turned to thousands.
Manalo died in April 1963, but this did not cause any disruption in the church activities. His son Erano took over the duties as executive minister and later on, grandson Eduardo V. Manalo became the deputy executive minister.
Over the next 30 years, INC became the fastest growing church in the Philippines.
It now has millions of members, including overseas.
The first overseas mission was on July 27, 1968 in Hawaii. Almost a year later on May 17, 1979, the Church of Christ on Saipan was officially established and registered.
“INC has succeeded not only in the areas of propagation and edification, but also in the field of construction of houses of worship, unhindered by the global economic slowdown,” according to an article in the INC’s publication God’s Message.
On social and environmental concerns, INC is aware of its role in society.
“Aside from spiritual, the church includes among its concerns the social well-being of the people,” the article read.
INC owns and operates a university and its satellite schools, catering primarily to marginalized members of society.
It has also its own hospital, housing projects, blood donation campaign, environmental conservation campaigns and the like.
Tags: anniversary, cristo, iglesia, inc