Bro EVM led the Thanksgiving service at Templo Central last July 18, 2015

BROTHER EVM LED THE THANKSGIVING SERVICE AT TEMPLO CENTRAL

July 27, 2015

 Brother Eduardo V. Manalo preaching atPunta, Sta. Ana congregation

QUEZON City, Philippines. Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, current  Executive Minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, led the congregation in praising God and giving thanks to Him as the Church celebrates her 101st anniversary. All locale congregations of the Church of Christ held special thanksgiving service every year to give thanks and praises to God as he showered the Church with blessings and triumphs year after year.

The special thanksgiving service in Templo Central (the Iglesia Ni Cristo central temple located at Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines) last July 18, 2015 was officiated by our beloved Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo.

As early as 3:00 o’clock in the morning, the Templo Central main naïve, the Santuario, and the the Tabernacle (the multi-purpose building besides Templo Central) were filled to capacity. The special worship service officiated by our beloved Brother Eduardo V. Manalo was attended by more than 15,000 brethren from diferent locales of the ecclesiastical districts of Central and Quezon City.  

In his homily, Brother Eduardo emphasized the divine reason why we held thanksgiving services every year as the Church celebrates her anniversary. He narrated how God continuously bless the Church with triumphs and success year after year. Aside from finishing the contruction of the Philippine Arena, he added that “noong taong 2012 ay 119 na mga kapilya ang naihandog, noong 2013 ay 139, noong 2014 ay 154 at sa taong ito (2015) ay may 218 na ang naihahandog kasama na ang mga tinatawag na barangay chapel.”

He also emphasized that the Philippine Arena, which is the largest Arena in the world having a capacity of 55,000 was constructed only from 2012 to 2014, while the second largest arena which we can find in Japan having a capacity of 36,000 took six years to finished. “Nagawa ang kamangha-manghang gawang ito dahil sa tulong at kapangyarihan ng Diyos” he added.   

Ka Eduardo also emphasized that the Philippine Arena is a pride of all Filipinos. “Kapag ikaw ay nasa ibang bansa at sinabi mong ikaw Filipino, ang itutugon sa iyo ay ‘Philippine Arena’” he said.

He also emphasized that we must continue obeying God’s commandments, and a member of the Church not only took oath to upheld the comandments of God written in the Bible, but also to accept disciplinary action in failing to do so. “Kaya itinitiwalag ko ang mga lumalabag sa utos ng Diyos na ating tinataguyod sapagkat sinabi ng Biblia na ‘itiwalag ninyo ang masamang kasamahan ninyo” (referring to I Corinthians 5:13). He also urged the Brthren to be careful in using the social media. “Nagagamit ng iba ang internet para ipalaganap ng iba ang kanilang kamalian at panlilinlang.”

Brother Eduardo also admonished the brethren to be steadfast with their faith especially when trials came to our life. As the Secong Coming of the ord Jesus is fast approaching, trials will get more intense, thus he admonished the brethren to entrust themselves to the Lord God.

The special worship service was filled with the Holy Spirit. “Napakabiyaya at damang-dama mo ang kapangyarihan ng Diyos” said by an old brethren. “Muli akong lumakas at nagkaroon ng inspirasyon upang makapagpatuloy sa kasiglahan ano pa man ang mga pagsubok na aking masagupa sa buhay” a KADIWA (youth organization of the Church) member said. Everyone who attended the said occasion went home with a renewed hope and truly inspired to continue being active in the Church inspite of many trials that will come to his/her life.