(Ebook) The Iglesia Ni Cristo - Church Of Christ Today - Pasugo: God's Message Magazine Special Issue by Iglesia Ni Cristo - Church Of Christ ISBN 01161636

(Ebook) The Iglesia Ni Cristo - Church Of Christ Today - Pasugo: God's Message Magazine Special Issue by Iglesia Ni Cristo - Church Of Christ ISBN 01161636

About UsThe Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) is a Christian religion whose primary purpose is to serve and worship the Almighty God based on His teachings recorded in the Bible. It is not a denomination or sect. It is neither affiliated to any federation or religious bodies nor itself an assembly of smaller churches or religious organizations.This Church is for every one who heeds the call of God and embraces its faith—regardless of one’s race, nationality, cultural background, social standing, economic status, and educational attainment.Our ProjectsThe Church Of Christ engages in infrastructure and other developmental projects, from small- to large-scale, that address the needs of its members and their fellowmen. Worth mentioning are the following:Houses of worshipTo meet the needs of its constantly increasing number of worshipers, the Church Of Christ carries out a vigorous chapel construction program.This also includes the purchase of closed-down buildings of other religions and the renovation of such properties into the Church’s houses of worship.Through the recent years, the Church has built about 5,000 houses of worship worldwide.Offices and other buildingsAside from houses of worship, the Church Of Christ also constructs other buildings for worthy purposes.Some of these are the Church’s main offices in the USA, England, and Japan; the administrative offices within its Central Office complex in Quezon City; and the Philippine Arena and the Philippine Sports Stadium in Ciudad de Victoria in Bulacan.Resettlement and livelihoodThe Church Of Christ establishes resettlement communities consisting of housing units, livelihood sites, and houses of worship.Recently established are those in Sitio Langit, Alangalang, Leyte, Philippines for the displaced survivors of Typhoon Haiyan; in Paracale, Camarines Norte for the Kabihug; and in Barangay Danlag, Tampakan, Cotabato South for the B’laan (both indigenous peoples in the Philippines).Our ProgramsConcerned with the welfare not only of its members but also of society in general, the Church Of Christ initiates programs that promote its Christian values in its various fields of endeavor.FamilyThrough its Christian Family Organizations—Buklod (which means “bond”) for married members, KADIWA (“Kabataang May Diwang Wagas” or “Youth with a Noble Intent”) for the single members 18 years and older, and Binhi (“seed”) for 12- to 17-year-old members—the Church Of Christ conducts seminars, get-togethers, and other activities that uphold the biblical ideals on marriage, parenting, and family relationships.HealthPromoting good health and clean living, the Church Of Christ mounts free medical-dental missions, blood donation drives, health care seminars, and other related campaigns. Its New Era General Hospital not only caters to the concerns mostly of its ministers and members but also helps in mobilizing volunteers for the Church’s medical missions.EducationThe Church Of Christ’s support on education has given rise to the New Era University.Through the Iglesia Ni Cristo School For Ministers, the Church Administration trains men to help in overseeing and in propagating God’s message for man’s salvation.SportsRecognizing the value of sports not only for personal development but also for building up team spirit and unity, the Church constantly holds sports activities under the banner of Unity Games.OutreachThe Church Of Christ Aid for Humanity program has benefited multitudes of people in need, from calamity victims to indigents and indigenous peoples.Through its implementing arm, the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation, the Church gives assistance to the needy in all parts of the world.EnvironmentTree-planting activities and clean-up drives form part of the Church Of Christ’s ongoing program on environmental protection and preservation.Arts and cultureThe Church Of Christ helps its members hone their creative talents through programs that serve specific interests in music and the arts. The Church conducts competitions and presentations to showcase its members’ creative works that highlight the true Christian way of living.Our ActivitiesThe Church Of Christ involves its members in faith-building and faith-sharing activities, which mainly include:Worship serviceA solemn gathering of the faithful usually held twice a week in the house of worship and consists of hymn-singing, prayers, and the study of God’s words to guide the true Christians in their daily living.Home visitationConducted regularly by the Ministers, Ministerial workers, and Church officers for prayer and edification of every household and individual member.Prayer meetingHeld weekly by each group of neighboring households for further instructions in the faith and announcements about Church undertakings.Children’s Worship ServiceA weekly worship gathering for children aged 11 years and below, using age-appropriate methods of spiritual guidance and biblical instruction.Bible studies on doctrinesBiblical instructions for those intending to join the Church to learn about its basic doctrines.Our HistoryThe Iglesia Ni Cristo was preached by Brother Felix Y. Manalo, God’s Messenger in these last days, and was registered in the Philippines on July 27, 1914.From its first local congregation in Punta, Sta. Ana, Manila, the Church quickly spread not only throughout the metropolis but also to the neighboring provinces in Luzon and across the islands of Visayas and Mindanao.When Brother Felix Manalo was laid to rest in April 1963, the Church had already established ecclesiastical districts in more than half of all the provinces in the country.In 1968, the Church, led by Brother Eraño G. Manalo, the Executive Minister then, successively established the first two local congregations outside the Philippines—Honolulu, Hawaii and San Francisco, California in the USA.Thus began the Church’s expansion in the Far West and eventually around the world.From then up to the end of the ‘70s, the Church went on to spread throughout the continents of North America (establishing local congregations and group worship services [GWS] in other states and territories, such as New York and Guam in 1969, and Canada in 1971); Europe (the first local congregation, London [now Battersea], was established in 1972); Australia, mid-‘70s; Asia (China, by way of Hong Kong in 1974; Thailand in 1976; and Japan in 1977); and Africa (Nigeria and South Africa in 1978). By the end of the ‘80s, there were local congregations and GWS in the Scandinavian countries and their neighbors.The first local congregation in Latin America was established in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 1990. Congregations were also established in world cities that are of great relevance to the history of Christianity— Rome, Italy on July 27, 1994; Jerusalem, Israel on March 31, 1996; and Athens, Greece on May 10, 1997.At the dawn of the new millenium, the Church’s mission reached South America with the establishment of GWS in Brazil and Peru. Before Brother Eraño was laid to rest on August 31, 2009, the Church had been spreading continuously in different parts of the world.Through the leadership of its present Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, the Church continues to progress and succeed. Its membership has been constantly increasing.Thousands of ministers and Church officers are being added worldwide. The construction and renovation of houses of worship, Church edifices, and other structures also continue, not only in the Philippines but also in other countries.The houses of worship in Washington, DC; Barcelona, Spain; and Amsterdam, The Netherlands are just a few of those outside the Philippines that were dedicated to God in recent years, thus strengthening the Church’s presence in other countries worldwide.On July 21, 2014, the Iglesia Ni Cristo inaugurated the Philippine Arena, currently the world’s “largest mixed-use indoor theatre.” This megastructure that sits in Ciudad de Victoria, Bocaue, Bulacan was the venue of the Church’s centennial celebration held on July 27, 2014, which was attended by millions of its members from all over the world.The Iglesia Ni Cristo has an international membership comprising 147 racial and ethnic backgrounds.It maintains nearly 7,000 congregations and missions grouped into more than 160 ecclesiastical districts in 157 countries and territories in the six inhabited continents of the world.Mission & VisionMissionThe Church Of Christ endeavors to:Share the gospel of salvation to all people by following Christ’s command to “go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” so that “whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:15-16, English Standard Version).Edify the faith of its members through constant and effective religious instruction, “admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom” in order to “present everyone perfect in Christ” (Col. 1:28, New International Version).VisionAs the Church Of Christ is envisioned to be a “radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Eph. 5:27, New International Version), the Church Of Christ pursues the perfect unity of faith and practice among its members, that each one will be devoted to a life of holiness and service founded on true Christian teaching.https://iglesianicristo.nethttps://incmedia.org