A Gothic-style structure stands before us. This is the Iglesia Ni Cristo. Originally, it was built as St. John’s German Lutheran Church. The congregation began in 1860. It was known as Deutsche Evangelische Lutherische St. Johannes Kirche. Initially, they gathered at a beer saloon. The saloon was managed by Conrad Hubner, a founder.
Their first church was a wood frame building. It was on the north side of East 169 Street. It was dedicated in 1865. In 1893, they bought this Fulton Avenue lot. They planned a new church here. The property included two houses. One became a parish house. The other served as the parsonage.
In 2010, the Lutheran congregation disbanded. The building then became Iglesia Ni Cristo. This Church of Christ is independent. It is a Nontrinitarian Christian church. It was founded in the Philippines in 1913.
The Iglesia Ni Cristo’s history is fascinating. Brother Felix Y. Manalo preached it. He was considered God’s Messenger. The church was registered in the Philippines on July 27, 1914.
The first local congregation was in Punta, Sta. Ana, Manila. The Church spread quickly. It expanded throughout Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. By 1963, the Church had districts in over half the country’s provinces. Brother Felix Manalo passed away on April 12, 1963.
In 1968, under Brother Eraño G. Manalo, the Church expanded abroad. The first congregations outside the Philippines were in Honolulu, Hawaii, and San Francisco, California. This marked the start of global expansion. New York and Guam followed in 1969. Canada came in 1971.
Europe saw its first congregation in London in 1972. Now, it is known as Battersea. The Church reached Australia in the mid-1970s. Asia followed with Hong Kong in 1974. Thailand in 1976 and Japan in 1977 joined. Africa got congregations in Nigeria and South Africa in 1978. By the late 1980s, Scandinavia had congregations too.
Latin America’s first congregation was in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 1990. Churches were also established in cities of Christian significance. Rome, Italy opened on July 27, 1994. Jerusalem, Israel followed on March 31, 1996. Athens, Greece joined on May 10, 1997.
In the new millennium, the Church reached South America. Brazil and Peru gained congregations. Before Brother Eraño passed away in 2009, the Church had been spreading worldwide. Under Brother Eduardo V. Manalo’s leadership, the Church continues to grow. Membership is constantly increasing.
Thousands of ministers and officers are being added globally. Houses of worship are being built and renovated. These projects are happening in the Philippines and beyond. The Iglesia Ni Cristo maintains a strong global presence. It stands as a testament to its vibrant history.