“Evangelization through expansion, fulfilling our mission through a bigger and better-serving Church” is how the Iglesia ni Cristo chooses to address the negative tirades of critics and former members, explained INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala.
“Hindi po kami manhid. Minsan ay apektado rin kami ng sunod-sunod na negatibong balita laban sa amin,” Zabala said in a statement.
He clarified, however, that “the INC would rather sow the seeds of growth and reach out to more people through actual church work.”
Zabala shared that the INC is opening more chapels worldwide in addition to five new North American chapels already inaugurated in 2016.
The Church is scheduled to dedicate 10 new chapels in the US, two in the United Kingdom, two in South Africa, and two in Japan within the coming months.
“We are also ready with 7,000 new ministerial students worldwide to meet the expansion.”
Zabala added that under the leadership of Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo, a newly-constructed building of the New Era General Hospital in Quezon City is ready and equipped to serve the general public.
The four-story medical facility has a 139-bed capacity and was built with indigent patients in mind.
“If others want to divide and destroy us, we unite and edify. If our critics go on a demolition job, we build. We strive to uphold the biblical verse about loving God with all our heart, our soul, our strength,” explained Zabala.
“We don’t address negativity with negativity. We do our best to stay positive, and we are all solid behind the leadership of Executive Minister Edurardo V. Manalo,” the INC spokesman insisted.