INC builds church in South Africa
THE Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) recently inaugurated a new church in South Africa as a follow-up to its “Aid to Humanity” advocacy in the continent that started three years ago.
It also opened a garment factory in Qwaqwa, South Africa to address the problem of joblessness and poverty in the area.
INC Auditor General Glicerio Santos Jr. led the inauguration of a house of worship, the eighth such structure built within three years, after Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo led the opening of the first one in Johannesburg in 2016.
“Our Executive Minister has a special place in his heart for Africa. He always reminded us to go back and do more to provide material and spiritual assistance to people on the continent,” Santos said. “We’re continuing to realize his vision and reigniting our aid initiatives in various African countries.”
He said hundreds of job applicants were trained to operate the factory.
Meanwhile, an estimated 15,000 people were given food and basic household necessities during the Lingap sa Mamamayan event held in Saliwa, Malawi on October 12.
Santos said Manalo would develop a farm in the area that will be used for livelihood purposes by local residents. The Salima farm would be the third INC farm in Africa.
“These latest activities are long-awaited follow-ups to the landmark 2016 Lingap events in Kenya and also in Malawi, which built on earlier campaigns in South Africa and Lesotho,” he explained.
The INC, he added, has established its presence in 16 countries in Africa.
“We’re continuing to formulate ways to reach more African countries because there’s so much more areas we haven’t served before,” Santos said.
Last month, the INC conducted an Aid to Humanity event to assist victims affected by Typhoon “Dorian” in the Bahamas.
The homegrown Filipino church has held Aid-Lingap events in various locations in India, Canada and the United States this year.
“We’re accelerating our aid programs, making them bigger with an ever- increasing number of beneficiaries in mind. We’re on track to realizing the vision of Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo to do our share in addressing global poverty,” Santos said.