Is that the Iglesia ni Cristo Lokal ng Mandaluyong, MME? It stands as a testament to faith and community. The Iglesia ni Cristo has a compelling story. It began with Felix Y. Manalo. He is considered God’s messenger in these last days.
The Iglesia ni Cristo was registered in the Philippines July 27, 1914. Imagine the dedication of its early members. Their first local congregation was in Punta, Santa Ana, Manila. The church quickly spread throughout the metropolis. It also reached neighboring provinces in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Felix Manalo passed away April 12, 1963. By then, the Church had established ecclesiastical districts. These districts covered more than half of all the provinces in the country.
In 1968, Eraño G. Manalo led the Church. He established the first two local congregations outside the Philippines. These were in Honolulu, Hawaii and San Francisco, California. This marked the beginning of the Church’s expansion around the world.
The Church spread to North America. It established congregations in New York, Guam and Canada. It reached Europe with a congregation in London. The Iglesia ni Cristo expanded to Australia, Asia and Africa. By the end of the 1980s, congregations were in Scandinavian countries.
The first local congregation in Latin America was established in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 1990. The Church also established congregations in Rome, Jerusalem and Athens.
At the dawn of the new millennium, the Church reached South America. Congregations arose in Brazil and Peru. Before Eraño passed away in 2009, the Church was continuously spreading.
Under the leadership of Eduardo V. Manalo, the Church continues to progress. Its membership is constantly increasing. Thousands of ministers and Church officers are being added worldwide. Houses of worship and Church edifices are continuously constructed and renovated. This happens not only in the Philippines but also in other countries.
Houses of worship in Washington, DC, Barcelona and Amsterdam were dedicated. This strengthened the Church’s presence worldwide. On July 21, 2014, the Iglesia Ni Cristo inaugurated the Philippine Arena. It is currently the world’s largest mixed-use indoor theater. It was the venue of the Church’s centennial celebration. Millions of members from all over the world attended.
The Iglesia ni Cristo is Unitarian and non-Trinitarian. It believes that Jesus Christ is God’s chosen son. However, it does not believe that he is God himself. The Church teaches the doctrine of the Last Judgment. It upholds a strict biblical prohibition on consuming the blood of animals. Services are held in the vernacular language of the congregation’s members. The Church publishes a journal called Pasugo. It means “God’s Message”. It is published in Tagalog, English and other languages. The headquarters are in Quezon City, Philippines. In the early 21st century, the Church claimed congregations in more than 100 countries. Its membership was estimated at more than three million in the Philippines.
The Iglesia ni Cristo Lokal ng Mandaluyong, MME stands as a local beacon. It symbolizes the global reach and enduring faith of the Iglesia ni Cristo.