“The unity among brethren was truly in display,” enthused Ara Corpuz from Hukou Congregation. She was referring to the INC Unity Games of the Taiwan Ecclesiastical District held on November 10, 2024 at the Yangmei Senior High School grounds, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.
The said sports event brought together Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) members, athletes and supporters alike, from all the 15 local congregations and two group worship services (GWS) of the district.
The participants competed in basketball, volleyball, track events (100-, 200-, 400-meter relays), table tennis, chess, dama/draught, darts, and badminton. Except basketball, volleyball, and darts, which each had one category, other games had both men’s and women’s categories; badminton even had singles and doubles.
“Being here so delights me as I’ve seen how the brethren were so active. Indeed, win or lose, unity is what matters,” said volleyball player Kathlyn Reyes of Baoshan Congregation.
The following congregations were declared champions:
Men’s Basketball: Taipei City
Women’s Volleyball: Hukou
Track events
100-meter, men’s: Xinchuang
100-meter, women’s: Taipei City
200-meter, men’s: Taipei City
200-meter, women’s: Yangmei
400-meter, men’s: Zaoqiao
400-meter, women’s: Taipei City
Badminton
Singles, men’s: Xinchuang
Singles, women’s: Taoyuan
Doubles, men’s: Hukou
Doubles, women’s: Yangmei
Table tennis
Singles, men’s: Hukou
Singles, women’s: Yangmei
Doubles, women’s: Yangmei
Chess
Men’s: Zhongli
Women’s: Taoyuan
Dama/Draught
Men’s and Women’s: Zhongli
Darts
Women’s: Taoyuan A (Zhongli)
The district supervising minister Brother Roel Castillo, district Christian Family Organizations overseer Brother Julius Caezar Santiago, and district Light of Salvation overseer Brother Ricardo Baltazar Jr. awarded trophies to the basketball and volleyball champions, other toppers included. All other event winners were given medals.
Indeed, in the INC Unity Games of the district, “the love and bond of brotherhood shone,” attested Red Cruz of Luzhu Congregation. — With reports from Karen Analee Abalos and Ferly Tolentino of INC News Section