(Eagle News) — The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) recently consecrated a new house of worship in Leyte, bringing to 540 the number of houses of worship built from January to November this year (2015) alone.
INC Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, officiated at the special worship service on Nov. 27 in Sitio New Era, Barangay Langit in Alang-alang, Leyte where the 400-seater house of worship of the New Era local congregation is located.
The new house of worship was constructed in the eco-farming community dubbed as “ EVM Self-Sustainable Eco-Farming Community ” which the INC developed and granted to Typhoon Yolanda victims.
With the dedication of this newest house of worship, the INC, under the stewardship of the present Executive Minister, Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo, was able to construct 540 houses of worship in this year alone. This includes eight new houses of worship in other countries.
Eight new houses of worship abroad also dedicated this year
The eight new houses of worship dedicated this year abroad include the houses of worship in Fremantle in Australia; Pintasan in Malaysia; Daegu in South Korea; Edmonton South in Canada; and four locales in the United States namely Chicago in Illinois, Staten Island in New York, Corpus Christi in Texas, and Roseville in California.
INC Community in Alangalang, Leyte
In a statement, the INC detailed how the INC New Era local congregation in Leyte traces its beginnings back to 1994.
This was 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, the 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 are expected to be established.