103rd anniversary of Iglesia ni Cristo

TODAY, the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) celebrates its 103rd founding anniversary. With around two million members (based on emirates of media organizations), the INC is among the country’s largest religious groups. Pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 9645, “Commemoration of the Founding Anniversary of Iglesia ni Cristo Act,” that was signed on June 12, 2009, July 27 of every year is a Special National Working Holiday throughout the country in recognition of INC’s exemplary achievements “in leading its members towards spiritual enlightenment, and good citizenship.” In 2014, to commemorate the INC’s Centennial Anniversary, a joint resolution by Congress declared July 27 of that year a Special Non-Working Holiday throughout the country.

The INC was founded on July 27, 1914, by Felix Ysagun Manalo who became its first executive minister. The first local congregation of the INC was established in Punta, Sta. Ana. In 1915, he started training ministers to assist him in the propagation of the gospel, and by 1918, he started sending them as volunteer preachers to provinces around Manila. By its tenth year, INC had organized its first ecclesiastical district in Pampanga. In 1939, INC had expanded to Ilocos Norte in Northern Luzon, and to Cebu province in the Visayas with the addition of 14 districts. In 1946, it reached farther south in Mindanao with the establishment of a district in Cotabato. In April, 1963, when Brother Eraño G. Manalo assumed overall administration, the church had established districts in more than half of all Philippine provinces.

On July 27, 1968, he officiated at the first INC worship service outside the Philippines in Ewa Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii, marking the establishment of the Honolulu Congregation – the first overseas mission of the INC. Since then, the INC has expanded to the other continents of the world. Today, INC membership has over a hundred nationalities. Its phenomenal growth and expansion has been attributed to the zeal of Ka Felix, of his son, the late Brother Eraño G. “Ka Erdie” Manalo, and the current INC Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V. Manalo.

We congratulate the Iglesia ni Cristo led by its Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo, its leaders and faithful members, on the occasion of their 103rd Founding Anniversary.