History Iglesia ni Cristo

1 history

1.1 background
1.2 international expansion
1.3 21st century

history

during american colonial rule on philippines, there variety of rural anti-colonial movements, religious undertones, , american protestant missionaries introduced several alternatives roman catholic church, established church during spanish colonial period.

background

built in 1937, former chapel of punta, manila, congregation inc museum

felix y. manalo, born on may 10, 1886, in taguig, philippines, baptized in roman catholic church. in teenage years, manalo became dissatisfied roman catholic theology. according national historical commission of philippines, establishment of philippine independent church (also called aglipayan church) major turning point, manalo remained uninterested since doctrines catholic. in 1904, joined methodist episcopal church, entered methodist seminary, , became pastor while. sought through various denominations, including presbyterian church, christian mission, , seventh-day adventist church in 1911. manalo left adventistism in 1913 , associated himself atheist , agnostic peers.

on november 1913, manalo secluded himself religious literature , unused notebooks in friend s house in pasay, instructing in house not disturb him. emerged seclusion 3 days later new-found doctrines. manalo, wife, went punta, santa ana, manila, in november 1913 , started preaching. left congregation in care of first ordained minister , returned native taguig evangelise; there, ridiculed , stoned @ meetings locals. later able baptize few converts, including of persecutors. later registered new-found religion iglesia ni cristo (english: church of christ; spanish: iglesia de cristo) on july 27, 1914, @ bureau of commerce corporation sole, himself first executive minister. expansion followed inc started building congregations in provinces in 1916, pasig (then in rizal province) having 2 locals established. first 3 ministers ordained in 1919.

by 1924, inc had 3,000 5,000 adherents in 43 or 45 congregations in manila , 6 nearby provinces. 1936, inc had 85,000 members. figure grew 200,000 1954. cebu congregation built in 1937—the first established outside of luzon, , first in visayas. first mission mindanao commissioned in 1946. meanwhile, first concrete chapel built in sampaloc, manila, in 1948. adherents fleeing provinces away manila, japanese forces concentrated during world war ii, used evangelization. manalo s health began fail in 1950s, son eraño began taking leadership of church. felix manalo died on april 12, 1963. within span of 49 years of administration, iglesia ni cristo had 1,250 local chapels , 35 large concrete cathedrals. recognized , highly respected religious leader of philippines.

international expansion


inc central temple in quezon city, philippines

on july 27, 1968, eraño g. manalo officiated @ inaugural worship service of church in ewa beach, honolulu, hawaii—the first mission of church outside philippines. following month, inc established san francisco congregation. in 1971, church started in canada. in june 1987, main office (usmo) set in daly city, california, assist inc central administration in supervising 11 districts of church in west. first local congregation in latin america established in guantanamo bay, cuba, in 1990. following year, church reached mexico , aruba. 2000 , beyond, congregations rose in central , south american countries. first local congregation in europe established in england in 1972. church came germany , switzerland in mid-70s. end of 1980s, congregations , missions found in scandinavian countries , neighbors. rome, italy, congregation established on july 27, 1994; jerusalem, israel, congregation in march 31, 1996; , athens, greece, congregation in may 10, 1997. predecessors (prayer groups) of these full-fledged congregations began 2 decades earlier. meanwhile, mission first reached spain in 1979. first mission in northern africa opened in nigeria in october 1978. after month, king william’s town congregation, in south africa established. congregation organized in guam in 1969. in australia, congregations have been established since mid-1970s. church first reached china way of hong kong , japan through tokyo, in 1970s. missions have opened in kazakhstan , sakhalin island in russia. in southeast asia, first congregation in thailand established in 1976 , missions have been conducted in brunei since 1979. in addition, there congregations in vietnam, indonesia, singapore, , malaysia.

in 1965, inc launched first resettlement , land reform program in barrio maligaya, laur, nueva ecija. inc started operating radio station in 1969 while first television program aired in 1983. ministerial institute of development, renamed iglesia ni cristo (church of christ) school ministers , founded in 1974 in quiapo, manila, , moved in quezon city in 1978. in 1971, inc central office building built in quezon city. in 1984, 7,000-seat central temple added in complex. tabernacle, multipurpose tent-like building can accommodate 4,000 people, finished in 1989. complex includes new era university, higher-education institution run inc. eraño g. manalo died on august 31, 2009. son, eduardo v. manalo, succeeded him executive minister upon death.

21st century

the philippine arena

on july 21, 2014, president benigno aquino iii , inc executive minister eduardo v. manalo led inauguration of ciudad de victoria, 140-hectare tourism zone in bocaue , santa maria, bulacan, philippine arena located. philippine arena, 50,000-seat multi-purpose structure, touted world s largest indoor domed arena (by seating capacity), constructed inc s centennial celebration on july 27, 2014.

on july 27, 2014, inc celebrated centennial anniversary @ ciudad de victoria, philippine arena main venue, , in 1,180 worship buildings worldwide through live video feed. week-long celebration consisted of pyro-musical displays, worship service led manalo, oratorio, musical presentation, theatrical play, quiz show, , evangelical mission. worship service conducted inc centennial, inc secured 2 guinness world records largest gospel choir 4,745 members , largest mixed-used indoor theater philippine arena 51,929 attendees. on july 26, 2015, inc capped centennial year through different activities such international unity games, worship service led manalo, , closing centennial celebration held @ washington d.c. united states, , philippine arena.

on october 4, 2015, inc, through viva films, conducted world premiere of felix manalo, film depicting origin of inc , life of first executive minister, held @ philippine arena.

according encyclopædia britannica, church claims have congregations in more 100 countries in 21st century.