All for God’s Glory - What the Church of Christ is Thankful for

mula sa itaas
Rome, Italy; Battersea, England; San Jose, CA
Waipahu, Hawaii
W.Sydney, Australia
Dallas, Texas, Forest Hills, New York
King William's Town, South Africa; Virginia Beach, Virginia
Montclair, California
Central Temple, Quezon City, Philippines

Published in Pasugo, Jul 2005

All for God’s glory
What the Church of Christ is Thankful for

KING DAVID SAID, “Give thanks to the LORD, proclaim his greatness; tell the nations what he has done. Sing praise to the LORD; tell the wonderful things he has done” (I Chr. 16:8-9, Today’s English Version)

Sustained and accelerated growth and astounding success – these have punctuated the history of the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) in the last four scores and eleven years, even in the eyes of nonmembers. That God has made it so is the conviction of its members throughout the world, for which they continuously thank and wholeheartedly praise Him, fully believing that the continued success of His nation depends on His power:

“Nations are in uproar, kingdom fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

“God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.” (Ps. 46:6-7, 5, New International Version)

From July 1914 to the present, the world has witnessed the collapse of regimes, redrawing of national boundaries, and changes in governments and ideologies brought about by wars, revolutions, and political upheavals. Still, “model” societies as envisaged by revolutionaries have not emerged. There have even been catastrophes.

As for God’s faithful nation, the Bible has declared, it “will not fall” because the Lord Almighty is its “strength and ever-present help”:

“God is our refuge and our strength, and ever-present help in distress. Thus, we do not fear, though earth be shaken and mountains quake to the depths of the sea, Though its waters rage …” (Ps. 46:2-4, New American Bible)

Looking back
On July 27, 1914, the First World War, a ‘death machine’ that would wreak unprecedented havoc and destruction and would decimate about ten million people, broke out in Western Europe. In contrast, a work for the salvation of man’s soul began on the other side of the globe – in the Far East – for God foretold:

“Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country … I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, For Israel My glory.” (Isa. 46:11, 13, New King James Version)

This is not the Israel of old, God’s first nation, because the time element is when salvation is near. The day of salvation referred to in the verse is the day when the Lord Jesus Christ returns. Ancient Israel had already turned away from God hundreds of years before (Dan. 9:11). Furthermore, God foretold in a related prophecy, “Bring my sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth” (Isa. 43:6, NKJV). According to Christ, His coming, or the end of the world, is very near, “at the very doors”, the equivalent of the time “ends of the earth” (Matt. 24:3, 33, Ibid.). “Wars an rumors of wars” (Matt. 24:6, Ibid.) would signify that the end is very near. The Iglesia ni Cristo was registered with the Philippine government on July 27, 1914, concurrent with the outbreak of World War I, at the time prophesied in the Bible as the “ends of the earth.”

Furthermore, the man sent to preach God’s righteousness or words would come “from a far country” in “the east”, which, in related prophecies, is “the islands of the sea” (Isa. 24:15, NIV) in the “far east” (Isa. 53:5-6, Moffatt Translation). As fulfillment, Brother Felix Y. Manalo, who preached God’s righteousness or pristine words, came from the Philippines, a country of 7,100 islands in the Far East. His God-given task resulted in the emergence of the Iglesia ni Cristo.

Even the sending of successful missions of this Church in the Far West was foretold by God in Isaiah 43:5: “from the far west I will gather you” (Moffatt Translation) and in Isaiah 59:19: “in the far west men have awe of the eternal” (Ibid.).
These prophecies were fulfilled. From a single local congregation in Ewa, Hawaii, on July 27, 1968, there are now hundreds of local congregations, extensions, and group worship services in the West.

The testimony for the true messenger of God
One would truly appreciate the utmost importance of the result of the work God entrusted to Brother Felix Y. Manalo if he understands and believes that one of the proofs that a messenger is God-sent is, he does what God has intended Him to do, just as what our Lord Jesus Christ pointed out when He presented a testimony to or proof of His being commissioned by God:

“But my testimony is greater than John’s: the deeds my Father has given me to perform, those same deeds of mine testify that the Father has sent me.” (John 5:36, New Jerusalem Bible)

Likewise, God, through His prophecies, outlined the works of His messenger and the Church in these last days. Even the glory that would be achieved by this Church was foretold:

“Once you were forsaken, hated and unvisited, Now I will make you the pride of the ages, a joy to generation after generation.” (Isa. 60:15, NAB)

“… I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isa. 41:10, NKJV)

“For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.” (Isa. 60:2, Ibid.)

That God fulfilled His prophecies to uphold the messenger and this work of salvation is evident in the recent testimonies and acclamations of nonmembers that speak eloquently of the Church’s triumphs and accomplishments:

“Iglesia ni Cristo has been distinguished by its phenomenal growth here and in many other countries … Its law-abiding, disciplined leadership and members have made INC a role model for other religious organizations …” (Manila Bulletin, July 27, 2004)

“When Minister Felix Manalo died on April 12, 1963, the Iglesia ni Cristo was already a well-established religious organization with millions of members in the Philippines and in many countries all over the world. Minister Felix Manalo’s labors have borne fruit a hundredfold …” (Ibid., May 10, 2005)

In a resolution, the Philippine Lower House of Congress acclaims:

“… the Iglesia Ni Cristo has grown at a phenomenal rate from a handful of local adherents to what is today, a congregation of millions scattered in almost all the continents of the world … [It] has remained at the forefront of spiritual evangelism, good will and honorable peace, thus enriching countless Filipino lives, leaving an indelible imprint in Filipino society and bestowing upon our country a lasting legacy.” (July 27, 2004)

“The story of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) … is one of the most remarkable sagas in the annals of religious movements. …” (Panorama, July 25, 2004)

Dr. Joaquin L. Gonzales III, Golden Gate University (San Francisco, CA) and University of San Francisco professor, says:

“From the date of their establishment, it took the American Protestant Churches more than a hundred years to cross the Pacific Ocean and establish themselves in the Philippines. Comparatively, the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) only needed approximately half this time to set-up formal missions in the United States and then proclaim the Bible to the rest of the world …” (February, 2002)

U.S. President George W. Bush says:
“… Churches like yours put hope in people’s hearts and a sense of purpose in their lives.” (July 15, 2004)

Philippine President Macapagal-Arroyo marvels:

“The Church has been a part of the country’s history and each chapter of that saga reveals pages that chronicle the triumph of the church… Even war and devastation did not hinder its march. We marvel at the administration’s dynamic and ardent leadership … the Church grows and becomes stronger each day. Truly, the mighty hand of God is at work …” (July 27, 2004)

The INC in the present religious landscape
Today, other religions an churches continue to experience a steep decline in religious observance.

In contrast, the Iglesia ni Cristo, depending solely on God’s power, continues its “triumphal procession” (II Cor. 2:14, NIV).

In the last two years alone, from July 2003 to July 2005, these are some highlights of the achievements of the Church:

In the Philippines alone, a total of 122 houses of worship were constructed.

Outside the Philippines, the new houses of worship of the local congregations of Forest Hills, New York an Montclair, California were dedicated to God. Today, the Church has thousands of concrete houses of worship worldwide.

The ordination of 122 ministers of the gospel last March 14, 2003 and May 4, 2005 through the laying on of hands by Executive Minister, Brother Eraño G. Manalo, added to the list of thousands of ministers and Church workers sent all over the world.

Last year, in the calamity-devastated provinces of Q uezon and Aurora an in other areas in the Philippines, the Church’s concern for the indigents was again deeply felt. From its incipience up to the present, Lingap sa Mamamayan had reached more than three million people by providing free medicines, relief goods, and medical and dental services.

The sleek three five-storey condominiums (serving as parsonages or ministers’ residences) along F. Manalo St., San Juan, Metro Manila, with a total of 110 units, are the newest addition to the residential communities constructed by the Church. Today, there are thousands of housing units of the Church in the Philippines and hundreds of pastoral houses for ministers and evangelical workers in congregations outside the country.

Tens of thousands were baptized in 2003 to 2005, as local congregations and districts worldwide intensified their missionary efforts.

111 new local congregations, (including extensions and new group worship services) were established in different parts of the world.

Reflections of God’s people in these last days
The Iglesia ni Cristo might be enigmatic to many nonmembers, but to the faithful, God’s power has sustained it and made it prosper. And so, to them, the works foretold by God for His messenger in these last days to carry out were performed by Brother Felix Y. Manalo, proving that he was indeed sent by God to begin His last work of salvation, the Iglesia ni Cristo. It is in this Church where people today can truly magnify and glorify God (Isa. 43:21) by rendering the true worship of Him. Brother Eraño G. Manalo, the Executive Minister since 1963, has unceasingly led the Church worldwide with undiminished dynamism. And he humbly attributes all of the success of the Church to God. During his watch, the number of local congregations has reached thousands across the vast tapestry of races, nationalities, and cultures in six continents, pulsating with vibrancy as one body of Christ.

Members of the Iglesia ni Cristo are awed as they reminisce the grandness of God’s blessings upon the Church. To them, these words of the Psalmist are as profoundly true as when they were first expressed:

“You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you. Were I to proclaim and tell of them, they would be more than can be counted.” (Ps. 40:5, New Revised Standard Version)

Indeed, numbers and words alone can never fully catalog all that God has done for this Church: all the triumphal strides of each faithful member, of each Christian family, of each local congregation, of each ecclesiastical district, or of the entire global Church. Conversion to the true faith is in itself a great triumph – and millions have renewed their lives after truly believing in the Church’s biblical teachings.

The true members of this Church draw their strength and inspiration for the journey that lies ahead from the fact that God has faithfully fulfilled His promises to the Church and continues to do so. Through His inspiring words forever etched in their minds and hearts, they are strengthened by God’s Spirit and by constantly obeying His commandments, especially the rendering of wholehearted worship to Him even in the worst of times. With the loving Almighty Father’s help, the Iglesia ni Cristo continues to soar to greater heights like an eagle with wings that never weary – all for God’s glory as its members cling to His promise:

“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.” (Isa. 51:6, NIV)

But, the present glory and successes of the Church, though important, are not ends in themselves – salvation and eternal life are. This is why God capped His promises with the most important success and glory of all, salvation.

Hence, the 91st anniversary of this Church, as its members throughout the globe praise and glorify God with utmost devotion, they remind themselves: “put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore!” (Ps. 131:3, Ibid.)