Menu
Menu
EVERY TIME the anniversary of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) since its establishment on July 27, 1914 in the Philippines comes, Church members the world over gather in their respective places of worship to honor the Almighty God through their Thanksgiving worship services. These gatherings serve as the brethren’s heartfelt expression of gratitude to God for His unfailing love and the wondrous works He has done for His people.
The Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, officiated at the Thanksgiving worship service in the Local Congregation of Gifu West, Ecclesiastical District of Nagoya, Japan. In the said gathering, the houses of worship of both the Gifu West Congregation and, via livestreaming, the Ichikawa Congregation in the Ecclesiastical District of Tokyo, Japan were dedicated to the Lord God.
After the choir members’ processional march, Brother Manny SV. Benedicto led the congregation in the opening prayer. Then, the history of the local congregations of Gifu West and Ichikawa was read, and Brother Glicerio P. Santos IV led the dedication prayer.
In his homily, the Executive Minister reminded the Church members of the conviction they must have no matter what happens—that no one and nothing should separate them from God’s love that they attained when they became members of the Church Of Christ. After the sermon, Brother Romer D. Galang then led the congregation in prayer. Brother Angelo Eraño V. Manalo, the Church’s Christian Family Organizations (CFO) Coordinator, said the benediction.
Expressing their profound gratitude are some of the Church members who were able to witness the momentous occasion.
Japan
By Stephanie Delos Reyes
Before the establishment of their local congregation and having their own place of worship, members of the Church Of Christ in Gifu West travel around 50 kilometers in order to attend the worship service in Nagoya. With their prayers to have a local congregation in their area answered, the Church Administration approved that the Local Congregation of Gifu West be established on October 6, 2014. However, back then, Church members in Gifu West Congregation had to rent places where they would gather to worship God.
Because of the continuous efforts of the brethren to share God’s words with their fellowmen, membership in Gifu West has grown in number, and they devotedly prayed to God for their congregation to have a permanent house of worship. God heard their prayers, and through the Church Administration, an edifice was bought and underwent general renovation for them to have a permanent place of worship. The newly renovated house of worship was dedicated to the Lord God in the Thanksgiving worship service led by the Executive Minister himself. Sister Arisa Kato from the Gifu West Congregation expressed, “I am overjoyed that the house of worship of our local congregation was dedicated to God.”
For the Church members, the house of worship is truly important. Sister Arisa said, “It is in the house of worship where we primarily receive God’s words that we always need to guide us to the right direction, especially when we are at the crossroads in life and struggling. That is why, even when I am busy, and even during troubling times, I go to the house of worship. And as what Brother Eduardo Manalo taught us, whenever we feel anxious or troubled, God will help us and never leave us if we pray, especially inside the house of worship.”
Such is also what Brother Katsuyuki Kubota, a Children’s Worship Service (CWS) officer in the Local Congregation of Ichikawa, firmly believes in. He said, “What the Executive Minister taught us from the Bible—that all things are possible with God—truly resonated in me. We, as human beings may feel weak, sick, troubled, and sad. But with God’s help, any problem or difficulty can certainly be solved. I firmly believe that no matter what we encounter in life, we must never stop devoting ourselves in praying to God especially in the house of worship, for He always listens to us and is always ready to help us.”
Having a chapel of their own in their local congregation now, Brother Katsuyuki expressed, “I will continue to actively attend the worship services and praise the Almighty God for His greatness. I also firmly believe that now that we already have a bigger and permanent house of worship that can accommodate many people, with God’s help, we will all the more triumph in the work of propagation and more people will be able to listen to the words of God that the Church upholds.”
Hawaii-Pacific
By Janela Boy
Fifty-six years ago, on July 27, 1968, Brother Eraño G. Manalo, then the Executive Minister of the Church, led the Church members in Hawaii in the first worship service to God in the Far West. Starting from a small house in Ewa Beach, the members of the Church Of Christ reached numerous countries outside of the Philippines. Then, on July 27, 2018, exactly 50 years since the first worship service in Hawaii, Brother Eduardo Manalo, the Church’s current Executive Minister, led the brethren in a worship service wherein the house of worship dedication of the Local Congregation of Ewa Beach, and the ordination of 50 new ministers, were both held. Brother Ernesto Ferrer, whose family moved from the Philippines to Hawaii for a better life over 56 years ago, stated, “The rapid and exponential growth of the Church Of Christ after the first gathering in Hawaii truly is the work of God.”
Brethren in the Ecclesiastical District of Hawaii-Pacific were blessed to attend, via livestreaming, the Thanksgiving worship service officiated by the Executive Minister in Japan. In the worship service, Brother Eduardo Manalo reminded the brethren to stand firm in their divine election, as the devil will do everything he can to ruin our faith. For us not to fall into the devil’s deceits, the Church Administration always instructs us to never neglect praying to God, for He is the One Who can truly help us. Having known the importance of prayer, Brother Ernesto and his wife also instills this to their child. He said, “My wife and I are blessed with a daughter. We constantly advise her to always pray and trust in the Lord God.”
As years continue to pass, hardships also continue to worsen, and Church Of Christ members are not exempt. Nevertheless, the Almighty God grants His chosen nation more victories. The fulfillment of God’s promises to the Church in its entirety and to its members individually truly inspires the Church members. Brother Ernesto, currently a deacon in the Pearl Harbor Congregation, expressed, “Looking back 56 years ago, I can say that I am truly blessed, for together with my family, we are still members of the Church Of Christ. Being a living witness on the growth of the Church inspires me all the more to be stronger in the faith and remain trusting in the Almighty God.”
San Francisco, California
By Jan Erik Lita
Brother Junel Haugley, a head deacon and a CWS (Children’s Worship Service) teacher, recounts the difficulties migrating from the Philippines to San Francisco, California over 30 years ago. Moving to the west during a time the economy was going through a severe recession, Brother Junel remembers how hard it was to find a job when no jobs were available. However, he found inspiration from the brethren who reminded him to put his trust in God. He said, “The brethren have been so warm and caring since I have arrived more than three decades ago. Even if it wasn’t material support, a visitation and a prayer did so much to lift one’s spirit that was down in time of need or even in grief.”
It was this same love of the brotherhood and trust in God that led to the establishment of the Local Congregation of San Francisco, California over 56 years ago. A few days after the very first worship service in Hawaii, the then Executive Minister, Brother Eraño G. Manalo traveled to San Francisco, California to lead the Church members there in a gathering, and the Local Congregation of San Francisco, California was established. As Brother Junel recounts, “I feel proud that I am able to see this in my life, the fulfillment of God’s prophecies regarding His work of salvation in these last days.”
During his Bible-inspired homily, Brother Eduardo Manalo reminded the brethren to never lose hope nor be discouraged even if the worst is happening in one’s life. This message of the Executive Minister further inspired Brother Junel, “I will give my best to live trusting in the Lord God and in the Lord Jesus Christ and to wait patiently for the answers to my prayers.” He affirmed, as a head deacon and CWS teacher in their congregation, that he will lead his household and brethren under his care to have faith in, trust in, and rely on God whenever they go through difficulties.
