MANILA, Philippines (ENS) — The Iglesia Ni Cristo capped its week-long centennial celebration with a massive evangelical mission held for the first time at the 55,000-seater Philippine-Arena, which has been declared by Guinness World Records as the “largest multi-use indoor theater” in the world
More than 60,000 attended the event on Saturday, Aug. 2, with guests coming in from all walks of life, eager to hear the bible exposition of the INC and also to see for themselves the Philippine Arena which had placed the country in the map of modern architectural wonders.
The event was the final centennial celebratory activity in the Philippine Arena of the INC or Church of Christ, which was established in the Philippines on July 27, 1914. On its 100th anniversary last July 27, a special worship service officiated by its executive minister, Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo, was held at the INC’s 50-hectare tourism complex called Ciudad de Victoria in Bocaue, Bulacan where the Arena stood. The choir that sang hymns of praises that day was also declared as the “largest gospel choir” in the world by Guinness.
“It is an honor for me to be invited to this event,” said Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua, founder and chairman emeritus of the ALC Group of Companies, including the media group Business Mirror, Pilipino Mirror, Philippine Graphic and DWIZ. He came with his son, Edgardo, former congressman Rudolfo Valencia, and some retired military officials.
Cabangon-Chua expressed admiration for the INC and its executive minister Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo for his stewardship of the church that had now spread to more than 100 countries in the world, with members belonging to 120 races.
He said the INC had brought honor to the Philippines, especially with the construction of the Philippine Arena.
“It is something every Filipino should be proud of,” he said.
The evangelical mission last Aug. 2 was officiated by INC General Auditor minister Glicerio B. Santos Jr., who expounded on God’s teachings regarding the importance of finding and being a member of the true church that would be saved on Judgment Day.
Citing biblical verses, he said the Iglesia Ni Cristo or Church of Christ was the fulfillment of prophecies as written in the book of Isaiah, regarding the re-emergence in these “last days” of the Church established by Christ in Jerusalem.
Bulacan provincial governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado and other government officials also attended the event.
During the evangelical activity, a message from the INC Executive Minister was read. Bro. Eduardo Manalo said the evangelical activities such as the one held inside the Philippine Arena is one way by which more people would be able to hear God’s message of salvation.
Bro. Eduardo’s message, read by INC General Evangelist minister Bienvenido Santiago, cited the first book of Timothy 2:3-4, saying that God is pleased by such activities so that all men may know of the message of salvation.
He said God is fulfilling His promise to His church as the INC has now spread to more than a hundred countries across six continents . He also urged those attending the evangelical mission to hear and understand God’s message.
A church choir sang before the start of the bible exposition.
When minister Santos stood before the lectern at the start of the bible exposition, he told the multitude in attendance that he as a minister is only an instrument of God in teaching them His message of salvation, and that he would merely ask questions which the bible would directly answer.
During the bible exposition, minister Santos then read the prophecies on the re-emergence of the Church of Christ in these last days, including the place where it will emerge referring to the book of Isaiah that mentioned the islands in the Far East, which the INC members believe to be the Philippines.
The date when the INC was registered – July 27, 1914—also has biblical significance, according to INC teachings because this was the start of the first world war. The INC believes this as the start of the “last days” before Judgment day being referred to in the Bible, particularly in the old testament book of Isaiah.
Santos also read God’s promise to his “last messenger” and to the Church of Christ that would re-emerge in the last days, that He would strengthen and help His servant and this work of salvation (Isaiah 41:9-13)
Citing and reading biblical verses again (Matthew 24:6-8), Santos said that the “last days” or “ends of the earth” being referred to in the Bible were the days immediately before Judgment Day or Christ’s second coming which is marked by “wars and rumors of war,” famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
A brief history of the church was also presented from the time of the administration of the church’s first executive minister Felix Y. Manalo whom the INC believes is the fulfillment of the biblical prophecy on the last messenger of God, to the time of his successor, Felix’s son, Erano, to the present church executive minister, Bro. Eduardo, Felix’s grandson.
Before the evangelical mission, on Thursday, July 31, a stage play was held at the Philippine Arena, entitled “Ang Sugo” which detailed the life and struggles of Felix Y. Manalo, who first registered the Church of Christ or INC on July 27, 1914.
It traced the beginning of his preaching about the INC, after searching for the true church in his early years. Felix Manalo, was an ordinary Filipino, born a Catholic. He ater converted into Protestantism and became a pastor in several Protestant sects before eventually leaving the said religion to search for the true church which he read in the bible.
The stageplay also featured as narrators INC celebrities like Jaclyn Jose, Janice de Belen, Snooky Serna, Gladys Reyes, Anthony Taberna and his wife Roselle, Mike Magat, EJ Falcon and child star Xyriel Manabat. Actress Snooky Serna was also featured in the short introductory film before the play as Felix’s mother.
But most of the main players in the stageplay “Ang Sugo” were ordinary church members, including a minister, Rommel Topacio, who played “Ka Felix” in his later years. Several church evangelical workers also had roles in the play.
“ANg Sugo: A Stage Play” is the first ever stage play to be held at the Philippine Arena, the centerpiece architectural marvel inside the 50-hectare Ciudad de Victoria. It was unique because it also weaved a short film about “Ka Felix” in its opening scene, and also included actual photos of the the first INC executive minister and the pioneer brethren, and a video footage of the funeral of “Ka Felix” who died on April 12, 1963.
On July 29, a musical entitled, “Ang Bayan Mo’y Nagpupuri” (Your People Give Praise), was also staged at the arena. The musical relived significant events in the INC’s history, and featured a total of close to 500 singer-actors and dancers and a 1,100-member chorale. The executive minister, who watched the musical along with his family, also came out to greet the brethren at the end of the event.
On July 27, the actual 100th day of the Church of Christ, a special worship service was officiated by INC Executive Minister Manalo inside a jam-packed Philippine Arena, where a choir of 4,745 members was declared as the “largest gospel choir” by Guinness world records. The Philippine Arena itself was declared by Guinness as the “largest mixed use indoor theater” – an entirely new category for Guinness created because of the Philippine Arena’s uniqueness since it cannot just be described as a simple indoor arena. The two new Guinness records set on the INC’s centennial day brought to eight the total number of Guinness world records achieved by the INC since 2012. Five of these records were set this 2014 considered as the INC’s Centennial Year.
Various world leaders have also sent their letters of congratulations to the INC executive minister. Among them are Queen Elizabeth of England and U.S. President Barack Obama.
President Aquino also lauded the INC during the inauguration of the Philippine Arena on July 21.
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines also installed a national historical marker inside the INC Central Office grounds in Quezon City on July 24 in recognition of the national historical significance of the INC’s centennial to the country.
