Iglesia ni Cristo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Iglesia ni Cristo |
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Official seal
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| Abbreviation | INC |
| Classification | Restorationism |
| Theology | Nontrinitarianism, Unitarianism |
| Governance | Central administration |
| Executive Minister | Eduardo V. Manalo |
| Region | 156 countries and territories |
| Language | Filipino, English |
| Headquarters | Quezon City, Philippines |
| Founder | Felix Manalo |
| Origin | July 27, 1914 (date registered to the Philippine government) Punta, Santa Ana, Manila, Philippine Islands |
| Congregations | approximately 7,000 |
| Members | 3 million (estimated worldwide) |
| Ministers | 7,205 (2009) |
| Hospitals | New Era General Hospital |
| Aid organization |
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| Primary schools | Yakap Orphanage |
| Tertiary institutions |
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| Other name(s) | Church of Christ |
Iglesia ni Cristo (which means Church of Christ in English, often shortened to INC) is a Christian church that started in the Philippines. It was founded by Felix Manalo in 1913 and officially registered with the Philippine government on July 27, 1914.
The INC believes it is the true Christian church, just like the first church founded by Jesus. They see their church as a "restoration" of that original church. According to INC teachings, the church's official registration in 1914 was a special event planned by God. They believe it fulfilled Bible predictions about the original Church of Christ being re-established in the Far East (which they say refers to the Philippines) as the "end of days" approaches.
When Felix Manalo passed away in 1963, the INC had grown across the Philippines. His son, Eraño Manalo, took over and helped the church grow even more around the world. After Eraño Manalo's death in 2009, his son, Eduardo V. Manalo, became the current leader. In 2020, about 2.8 million people in the Philippines were members of the INC, making it the third-largest religious group in the country.
Contents
History of the Iglesia ni Cristo
During the time when the United States governed the Philippines (1898–1946), many new religious groups appeared. American missionaries also brought different types of Protestant Christianity to the country. This offered people alternatives to the Catholic Church, which had been the main church during the Spanish colonial period.
Felix Y. Manalo: The Founder
Felix Manalo, born in Taguig, Philippines, on May 10, 1886, was first baptized in the Catholic Church. As a teenager, he became unhappy with Catholic teachings. He explored different Christian groups, including the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He left Adventism in 1913.
In November 1913, Manalo spent three days studying religious books and writing down his new beliefs. After this, he began preaching in Punta, Santa Ana, Manila. He later returned to his hometown of Taguig to share his message. On July 27, 1914, he officially registered his new religion as the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) with the government. He became its first leader.
The INC quickly began to grow. By 1924, it had thousands of followers in Manila and nearby provinces. By 1936, the number of members reached 85,000, and by 1954, it was 200,000. The first INC church outside Luzon was built in Cebu in 1937. The church also began missions to Mindanao in 1946. As Felix Manalo's health declined in the 1950s, his son Eraño began to take on more leadership roles. Felix Manalo passed away on April 12, 1963.
Growing Worldwide
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On July 27, 1968, Eraño Manalo led the first worship service of the church outside the Philippines, in Ewa Beach, Hawaii. The next month, the INC opened a church in San Francisco. The church then expanded to Europe (United Kingdom in 1971), Canada (1973), and South Africa (1978). By 1998, the INC had established 543 churches and missions in 74 countries outside the Philippines.
In 1965, the INC started a program to help people resettle and get land in Nueva Ecija. The church also began broadcasting on radio in 1969 and on television in 1983. In 1974, they founded a school for ministers, which later moved to Quezon City. The INC Central Office building was built in Quezon City in 1971, and the large 7,000-seat Central Temple was added in 1984. The complex also includes New Era University, which is run by the INC. Eraño Manalo passed away on August 31, 2009, and his son, Eduardo V. Manalo, became the new leader.
The 21st Century
On July 21, 2014, former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and INC leader Eduardo V. Manalo opened Ciudad de Victoria. This is a large area in Bulacan that includes the Philippine Arena. The Philippine Arena is a huge 55,000-seat building owned by the INC. It holds the Guinness World Record for the largest mixed-use indoor theater.
The Philippine government declared 2014 the "Iglesia ni Cristo Centennial Year" to celebrate the church's 100th anniversary. July 27, 2014, was made a special non-working holiday.
On July 27, 2014, the INC celebrated its 100th anniversary at Ciudad de Victoria, with the Philippine Arena as the main location. The celebration was also broadcast live to about 1,180 church buildings worldwide. The week-long event included music, plays, and worship services. For the centennial worship service, the INC earned two Guinness World Records: for the largest gospel choir (4,745 members) and for the largest attendance at a mixed-use indoor theater (51,929 people at the Philippine Arena).
In October 2015, the INC released a film called Felix Manalo, which told the story of the church's founder. By 2018, the INC had more than 7,000 churches in 151 countries and territories around the world.
Beliefs and Core Values
The Iglesia ni Cristo believes it is the true church that Jesus Christ established in the first century. They believe its registration in the Philippines was a fulfillment of Bible prophecies that Christ's church would reappear in the Far East.
The Bible
The Iglesia ni Cristo believes that the Bible is the only book inspired by God. Therefore, all their beliefs and practices are based on the Bible.
God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit
The Iglesia ni Cristo believes that God the Father is the only true God and the creator of everything. They do not believe in the Trinity, which is the traditional Christian belief that God is three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The INC believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and was created by God the Father. They see Jesus as God's highest creation and believe he was a man, not God himself. They believe Jesus died to save humankind from sin.
The INC believes that the Holy Spirit is God's power, not a separate divine being. They believe the Holy Spirit is sent by God the Father and Jesus Christ to guide God's people.
The One True Church
The Iglesia ni Cristo believes it is the one true church founded by Jesus Christ and restored by Felix Manalo in the last days. They teach that the first-century church became corrupted by false teachings, especially by the 4th century. The INC says this corrupted church is the Catholic Church. They believe their church's re-establishment signals the "end of days."
They believe that the Iglesia ni Cristo is mentioned in the Bible, for example, in Isaiah 43:5, where "east" refers to the Philippines. The INC teaches that its members are the "chosen ones of God" and that salvation is only found within the Iglesia ni Cristo. They believe that simply having faith is not enough for salvation. The INC states that the true church's official name is "Church of Christ" or "Iglesia ni Cristo."
Felix Manalo as God's Messenger
The INC believes that Felix Manalo is the "angel from the east" mentioned in Revelation 7:1–3. They say he began preaching about the INC when World War I started. This time is referred to in the Bible as the "ends of the earth," a period when the end of the world is near. Manalo is from the Philippines, which they consider to be in the "center" of the Far East.
As the one sent by God to restore the INC, Manalo became the first leader and spiritual guide of the church. He taught that the Bible was the ultimate authority for everything in the church. As God's messenger, Manalo is seen as the most important guide for all people and the leader of the re-established Church of Christ in modern times.
Baptism
The church believes that baptism must be done by fully immersing adults in water. They teach that people must be baptized into the Iglesia ni Cristo to become followers of Jesus Christ. The church does not baptize babies. Instead, newborn children of members are dedicated to God through a special prayer led by an INC minister.
Expulsion
Members who do not follow the teachings of the INC are warned. If they continue to break the rules after being warned, they are removed from the INC. This means they are believed to lose their chance at salvation. Some actions that can lead to expulsion include eating blood, missing church services too often without a good reason, or having a romantic relationship or marrying someone who is not a member.
Eschatology and Resurrection
The INC believes that a person is made of a body, a soul, and a spirit. When a person dies, their body and soul die and stay in the grave until the Second Coming of Christ. The spirit, however, returns to God. When Christ returns, all faithful servants of God who have died will be brought back to life. They will join living loyal INC members. They will be rewarded by living in the Holy City, or New Jerusalem, with God the Father and Jesus Christ. At a time chosen by God, a second resurrection will happen, and non-INC members will experience a "second death" in the Lake of Fire.
The church believes that God has set a special day when he will judge all people. They believe this day is also the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Practices
Worship and Prayer
The church holds worship services twice a week: once during the week and once on the weekend. These services are held in local languages, and some churches provide sign language interpreters and translators. Services include singing hymns, prayers, Bible studies, voluntary offerings, and a blessing. Both God the Father and Jesus are worshiped. The ministers use the same sermon outline prepared by the executive minister. Deacons and Deaconesses help guide people to their seats and collect offerings. The choir leads the singing of hymns. The first INC hymnbook was published in 1937.
Worship services for children (called Pagsamba ng Kabataan, or PNK) are held every weekend. They use similar lessons as the adult services but are taught using a question-and-answer method. The church teaches that purposely missing worship services is a serious sin, so members are expected to attend twice a week.
The church encourages its members to pray every day. People commonly pray before meals and before going to sleep. They do not use prayers that are simply repeated from memory.
Sharing the Faith
Since February 1939, the church has published Pasugo ('God's Message') in both Tagalog and English. Felix Manalo wrote its first editorial, explaining that the magazine's purpose was to spread the faith. The magazine contains articles about INC beliefs and explains why they disagree with other teachings, such as the Trinity. It also shares information about church history, educational programs, and missionary achievements, including photos of newly built churches. In 2009, over four million copies of Pasugo were given out worldwide.
In the Philippines, the INC broadcasts programs that discuss Bible teachings on radio and television through the Christian Era Broadcasting Service International. These programs are aired on many radio stations in the Philippines, the US, and Australia. INCTV 48 also broadcasts the INC's religious programs. These programs can also be watched online.
The INC regularly holds large religious gatherings called evangelical missions to attract more followers. On February 28, 2012, the INC held its largest missions across 19 sites in the Philippines at the same time. In Manila alone, over 600,000 people attended. On April 13, 2013, the INC started Lingap-Pamamahayag (Aid-Evangelism) under its project Kabayan Ko, Kapatid Ko (My Countrymen, My Brethren), which combines outreach with evangelical missions. On September 26, 2015, the INC held its first worldwide evangelical mission, led by Eduardo Manalo, at the Philippine Arena and broadcast to 2,125 locations globally.
Community Outreach
On November 19, 1981, the INC started the Lingap sa Mamamayan ('Aid To Humanity') Program. This program provides relief goods, healthcare, and other services to people in need, especially those affected by disasters. It also offers seminars on disaster preparedness, first aid, and family planning. Other helpful activities, like blood drives and community clean-ups, are also held around the world where the Iglesia ni Cristo has churches.
The Felix Y. Manalo (FYM) Foundation, which carries out the Lingap sa Mamamayan and similar programs, was officially registered in the Philippines in 2011 and in the United States in 2012. It is also recognized in Japan, South Korea, Spain, and Russia.
In July 2012, a Lingap sa Mamamayan event in Tondo, Manila, earned three Guinness World Records for the most people involved in a dental check, the most blood pressure readings, and the most blood glucose tests in eight hours. In April 2016, the INC broke four more Guinness World Records for the largest collection of clothes for donation, the most shoes donated to charity, the most medical ultrasound exams, and the most medical risk assessments in eight hours, also held in Tondo, Manila.
In February 2014, the INC set two more Guinness World Records with a worldwide charity walk held in 135 locations across 29 countries. The INC holds records for the largest charity walk in a single location (175,509 members in Manila) and the largest charity walk in 24 hours across multiple locations (519,521 participants). The money raised helped survivors of super Typhoon Haiyan with housing and livelihood projects. The INC broke these records again in May 2018 with its "Worldwide Walk to Fight Poverty."
In February 2014, the INC also set a world record for distributing the most hunger relief packs in eight hours (302,311 packs).
In March 2014, after a worship service in Tacloban, Leyte, Eduardo V. Manalo led the start of the EVM Self-Sustainable Community Rehabilitation Project. This project, costing over one billion pesos, includes 1,000 housing units for typhoon Haiyan survivors. It also includes factories for clothes and dried fish, and an eco-farming project to provide jobs. Over 150,000 relief packages were given out, along with free medical and dental services. The housing and livelihood project was opened in January 2015.
In November 2015, Manalo opened a community project for the Kabihug tribe, an indigenous group in Camarines Norte. This project includes 300 homes, a calamansi orchard, an ecological farm, factories, a clinic, a learning center, and an INC worship building. In May 2016, another housing and eco-farming project was opened for the B'laan tribe in South Cotabato.
Administration and Organization
| Iglesia ni Cristo Executive Ministers | |
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| Name | Tenure of office |
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| Felix Y. Manalo | July 27, 1914 – April 12, 1963 |
| Eraño G. Manalo | April 23, 1963 – August 31, 2009 |
| Eduardo V. Manalo | September 7, 2009 – present |
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The Iglesia ni Cristo has had three Executive Ministers (called Tagapamahalang Pangkalahatan) who lead the Church Administration and guide the members' faith. Eduardo V. Manalo is the current Executive Minister. He manages the church's operations. Along with other senior ministers, he forms the Central Administration of the Iglesia ni Cristo.
The Central Office in Quezon City, built in 1971, is the main headquarters of the Iglesia ni Cristo. It houses the offices of the central administration and various church departments. About a thousand INC professionals and volunteers work there. The INC also has three main offices outside the Philippines: in Burlingame, California; Washington D.C.; and Heathrow, London.
The church's administration and ministerial work are divided into ecclesiastical districts. These districts are led by District Ministers. Each district usually has about 40 local churches.
Architecture of INC Churches
Iglesia ni Cristo church buildings are mainly used for worship and other religious events. They often feature tall, narrow windows, interlocking shapes, and rosette designs. They also have towers and spires. There are multiple entrances leading to the main worship area, where men and women sit on different sides of the aisle facing a platform where sermons are given. The choir is located behind the platform, and larger churches have a baptistry with pools for immersion baptism at the back.
Architects have described INC churches as having a unique look with "exuberant use of fanciful forms and ornaments" and bright white fronts. The distinctive spires are said to represent the faithful reaching out to God. Famous architects like Juan Nakpil and Carlos A. Santos-Viola have helped design INC churches. The church's Engineering and Construction Department, created in 1971, ensures that all church buildings have a similar design.
The first chapel, built in Tondo, Manila, in 1918, was made of woven leaf panels, nipa, and wood. After World War II, the INC began building concrete chapels. The first concrete chapel was completed in Sampaloc, Manila, in 1948. The INC Central Temple, which opened on July 27, 1984, can hold up to 7,000 people. It was designed by Carlos A. Santos-Viola and features octagonal spires and ribbed windows. Newer buildings often use variations of the Central Temple's design. These are built to hold 250 to 1,000 people, while larger churches in cities can hold up to 3,000.
INC churches outside the Philippines that were bought from other religions are often heavily renovated to fit the INC's worship style.
Political Influence in the Philippines
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The Iglesia ni Cristo is known for its practice of bloc voting during elections. This means that members are encouraged to vote for the same candidates. During the 2016 presidential election, INC communities in some areas gave almost all their votes to the candidates the church supported. The church supported Benigno Aquino III in the 2010 presidential election and Rodrigo Duterte in the 2016 election.
On June 12, 2009, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law declaring July 27 as "Iglesia ni Cristo Day," a special national working holiday. On February 13, 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed INC's executive minister, Eduardo Manalo, as a special envoy for overseas Filipino concerns. He was reappointed to this role by President Bongbong Marcos in 2023.
See also
- Christian Era Broadcasting Service International
- Eagle Broadcasting Corporation
- DZEM
- DZCE-TV
- DZEC-TV
- Net 25
