The United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, visited (Iglesia Ni Cristo) INC Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V. Manalo last Monday, February 12, 2018.
The US Ambassador’s visit to the Church’s international headquarters at the INC Central Office in Quezon City, Philippines, came about as the Church is preparing celebrations for its 50th anniversary of the establishment of congregations beyond the Philippine borders this year.
The visit of Ambassador Sung Kim is one of many conducted by international diplomats to the Executive Minister of the INC.
“We are very happy with the visit of His Excellency US Ambassador Sung Kim to the INC Central Office to visit the Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo,” said INC Minister Joel San Pedro, the protocol officer of the INC Central Office.
“The timing is perfect as the Church is celebrating its 50th anniversary in the West and has grown to around 300 congregations in the US alone,” he said.
It was on July 27, 1968 that the first overseas congregation of the INC was established in Hawaii, U.S.A. The second overseas congregation was established in California. At present, the Church comprises 6,000 local congregations and missions, in 142 countries and territories around the world, with its membership comprising of at least 133 ethnic groups and nationalities.
The INC, a global Christian Church that upholds Bible-based Christian teachings, was first registered in the Philippines on July 27, 1914, and will be celebrating its 104th anniversary this year.