Homegrown Filipino church Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) has expanded in Africa.
“This has been a particularly challenging year for the INC, but we’ve hurdled all obstacles thrown our way. We’ve come out a stronger, more unified church,” INC general auditor Glicerio B. Santos Jr. said in a statement.
“INC is now a globalized church which welcomes all races and persuasions,” Santos added.
The INC has reached 16 countries in the African continent this year. Two new chapels were dedicated and eight more are to be opened next year. Conversions and baptisms have been particularly aggressive in South Africa and Kenya.
“Baptism is the final act before one becomes a member. We’ve had thousands of baptisms in Africa, and these involve locals, not Filipinos based in the continent.” Santos said.
Outreach programs were held in King Williams Town, Johannesburg and Ladybrand in South Africa, Nairobi and Kiberia in Kenya, and Maseru and Semongkong in Lesotho.
INC has also established eco-farming communities in South Africa.
The church’s increasing global reach has enabled it to establish footholds in many areas worldwide. INC’s growth has accelerated under the able leadership of executive minister Eduardo V. Manalo.