Numerous blogposts, news, and forum string today, is aimed at noticing Iglesia Ni Cristo’s accomplishment as a religious organization in the Philippines.
A reputable national paper published in the Philippines (Manila Bulletin) has this to say about the Iglesia Ni Cristo on the occassion of its 94th year Anniversary:
94th Anniversary of the Iglesia ni Cristo
THE Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) was founded by Felix Y. Manalo on July 27, 1914, as a non-trinitarian Christian restorationist religious organization. A basic component of the INC’s beliefs is that its founder, Felix Y. Manalo, was sent from God to reestablish the Christian church in its true form.
The historical context of the formation of the Iglesia ni Cristo renders additional importance to the INC’s birth. Born in an era when there was a lot of rural anti-colonialism movements and at a time when, US missionary work was exposing Filipino culture to many alternatives to the Catholicism installed under earlier Spanish rule, the INC’s founder was able to discern that God gave him a mission to preach the gospel and to reestablish the first church founded by Jesus.
Beginning with a handful of followers in Punta, Santa Ana, Manila, the founding head minister propagated his message within his local area. As membership increased, he delegated others to spread the teachings of the INC and it eventually spread throughout the Philippines and to other countries. After Felix Manalo’s death in 1963, his son, Eraño, took over duties as executive minister and Eduardo V. Manalo is the deputy executive minister.
The INC has grown to close to 6,000 congregations called locales, spread throughout more than 96 countries and territories in 6 continents. Through its numerous churches and by way of media, with the INC operating or broadcasting in several radio and television stations, and also by means of its official INC magazine God’s Message of Pasugo, the members of the INC have constantly re-enlivened their faith in God.
We congratulate the Iglesia ni Cristo, headed by Executive Minister Eraño G. Manalo, Officers and Members, on the occasion of their 94th Anniversary and wish them success in all their endeavors.
The Philippine Senate recognized this accomplishment of a Filipino-church by issuing Philippine Senate Resolution No. 445 of the 14th Congress authored by Senator Francis Escudero titled: “COMMENDING THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF KA ERANO G. MANALO AND KA EDUARDO V. MANALO ON THE OCCASSION OF THEIR 94TH ANNIVERSARY.”
The Philippine Congress also issued their counterpart House Resolution No. HR00583, titled “A RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO UNDER THE STEWARDSHIP OF KAPATID ERANO G. MANALO, ITS EXECUTIVE MINISTER, ON THE CELEBRATION OF ITS NINETY-FOURTH (94TH) ANNIVERSARY ON JULY 27, 2008″ which was adopted as Resolution no HR 00068 on June 4, 2008.
Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has also filed Senate Bill No. 376, “AN ACT DECLARIN THE TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY OF JULY OF EVERY YEAR A SPECIAL NATIONAL HOLIDAY IN OBSERVANCE OF THE FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY OF THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO…”
There is so much to say about Iglesia Ni Cristo. But, this is it for now. We’ll go deeper to this church as we go along the ride in PINOYWORLD.
Happy 94 Anniversary!
Source: PINOYWORLD
