The Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) is a Christian religion whose primary purpose is to worship
the Almighty God based on His teachings as taught by the Lord Jesus Christ and as recorded in the
Bible. The Church of Christ is a church for every one who will heed the call of God and embrace its
faith regardless of his or her nationality, cultural background, social standing, economic status,
and educational attainment.
Organization
A RADIANT CHURCH
In Ephesians 5:27, the Church of Christ is described as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or
any blemish, but holy and blameless (New International Version) Hence, the Iglesia ni Cristo molds
its members toward perfect unity of faith and practice, that each one will be devoted to a life of
holiness and service founded on true Christian teaching.
Religious
The Churchs major activities include worship service, missionary works, and edification.
Christian
The Church of Christ adheres to the unadulterated teachings of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ
written in the Bible. The faithful firmly believe that this Church is the fulfillment of biblical prophecies
that the Church established by Christ would re-emerge in these last days for the salvation of
humankind.
Independent
The Iglesia ni Cristo is not a denomination or sect. It is neither affiliated to any federation of religious
bodies nor itself an assembly of smaller religious organizations. The Iglesia ni Cristo is Christs one
true Church today.
Worship Service
This solemn gathering of the faithful is usually held on Thursdays and Sundays by every local
congregation inside the house of worship. It consists of hymn-signing, prayers, and study of Gods
words for proper applications in daily living.
History
Beginnings
The Iglesia ni Cristo was first preached by the late Brother Felix. Y. Manalo in the Philippine capital
city of Manila. Its first local congregation was established in Punta, Sta. Ana. On July 27, 1914, the
Church was registered with the Philippine government. In 1915, Brother Felix Manalo, as the first
Executive Minister of the Church, started training ministers to assist him in the propagation of the
gospel. By 1918, ministers and volunteer preachers were being sent to provinces around Manila. In
its tenth year, the first ecclesiastical district was organized in Pampanga province.
Domestic growth
By 1939, the Church had already expanded to as far as Ilocos Norte province in Northern Luzon to
Cebu province in the Visayas with the addition of 14 districts. It reached farther south in Mindanao in
1946 with the establishment of a district in Cotabato. When Brother Erao G. Manalo assumed
overall administration in April 1963, the Church had established districts in more than half of all
Philippine provinces.
Overseas
On July 27, 1968, the late Executive Minister, Bro. Erao G. Manalo, officiated at the first worship
service of the Church outside the Philippines. This gathering held in Ewa Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii
marked the establishment of the Honolulu Congregation, the first overseas mission of the Church.
The following month, the Executive Minister was in California to establish the San Francisco
Congregation and lead its inaugural worship service.
The Americas
In 1971, the Church set foot in Canada. In June 1987, the US Main Office (USMO) was set up in
Daly City, California to assist the Central Administration in supervising the then 11 districts of the
Church in the West. The first local congregation in Latin America was established in Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba in 1990. The following year, the Church reached Mexico and Aruba. From 2000 and
beyond, congregations rose in the Central and South American countries.
Europe
The first local congregation in Europe was established in England in 1972. The Church came to
Germany and Switzerland in the mid-70s. By the end of the 1980s, congregations and missions
could be found in the Scandinavian countries and their neighbors.
Mediterranean
The Rome, Italy Congregation was established on July 27, 1994; the Jerusalem, Israel Congregation
in March 1996; and the Athens, Greece Congregation in May 1997. The predecessors (prayer
groups) of these full-fledged congregations began two decades earlier. Meanwhile, the mission first
reached Spain in 1979.
Africa
The first mission in northern Africa opened in Nigeria in October 1978. After a month, the King
Williams Town Congregation, in South Africa was established.
Asia, Australia, and Oceania
A congregation was organized in Guam in 1969. In Australia, congregations have been established
since mid-1970s. The Church first reached China by way of Hong Kong, and Japan through Tokyo
also in the 1970s. Missions have also opened in Kazakhstan and Sakhalin Island in Russia. In
Southeast Asia, the first congregation in Thailand was established in 1976 and missions have
already been conducted in Brunei since 1979. In addition, there are also congregations in Vietnam,
Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia.
