Iglesia Ni Cristo
News Update
THE
Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) consecrated a new house of worship in Leyte on November
27, 2015, bringing to 540 the number of houses of worship built from January to
November this year alone.
INC Executive Minister,
Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, officiated at the special worship servicein Sitio
New Era, Barangay Langit in Alang-alang, Leyte.
The 400-seat house of worship of
the New Era local congregation is located in the eco-farming community dubbed
as “EVM Self-Sustainable Eco-farming Community” which the INC developed and
granted to Typhoon Yolanda victims.
The 540 houses of worship and barangay chapels that INC has built in the
Philippines for this year, included eight (8) new houses of worship in other
countries. The eight new houses of
worship dedicated in other countries include the houses of worship in Fremantle
in Australia; Chicago, Illinois; Corpus Christi, Texas; Roseville,
California; and Daegu in South Korea.
INC COMMUNITY IN ALANGALANG, LEYTE
The INC New Era local
congregation in Leyte traces its beginnings back to 1994 when seven INC
families from Sta. Elena Extension suffered persecution and were forced to leave
the land they are cultivating for their livelihood.
The INC administration found a
vacant public land in Brgy. Langit, Alang-alang which could be used as a
resettlement area under the government’s agrarian program.
The INC community in Sitio New
Era began when a number of Church members who are farmers from the surrounding
areas of Brgy. Langit heeded the call of the Church Administration to move to the
resettlement site where each family received three hectares of land to
till.
On March 1, 1995, Brother
Eraño G. Manalo, the then Executive Minister, decided to establish in the area
the local congregation of New Era. Eight days later, they held their first
worship service in a makeshift house that members helped to build.
TYPHOON YOLANDA
On November 8, 2013, typhoon
Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) wreaked havoc in Leyte. It swept away
houses, destroyed properties, and took away lives. Many people, INC members included, were
severely affected.
In response, Brother Eduardo
V. Manalo gave instructions and
quickly sent help
to the typhoon victims by launching massive relief goods distribution, aside
from the immediate rescue activities by the Society of Communicators and Networkers
(SCAN) International, INC’s support group in disaster management and relief
operations.
In addition, the present INC
Executive Minister also decided to establish in Alang-alang, Leyte the “EVM
Self-Sustainable Resettlement Project”to provide houses and jobs for the victims of the natural disaster.
INC Executive Minister
inaugurated the said resettlement site on January 23, 2015. Around this time,
the construction of the New Era chapel also started.
The Church constructed housing
units, a fish-drying plant, and a garment factory for the typhoon victims in
the 3,000 hectare land in Brgy. Langit. The INC also made available to the
residents tractors and other essential farm implements.
The INC administration,
through the leadership of Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, vows to continue helping
the needy and the poor for they believe that it is the will of God. More
eco-farming communities can be expected to be established.
[By Bro. Marlex Cantor with Bro.
Brando Bucks and Bro. Jed Caalim]
may Dios ang INC na papatnubay.Salamat sa Dios.
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