More chapels sign of Iglesia growth

IGLESIA Ni Cristo (INC) is experiencing what its leaders said is “unprecedented growth” because of support from its members in the country and abroad, according to a spokesperson of the religious sect.

Edwil Zabala, INC spokesperson, said in a statement that under the leadership of Eduardo V. Manalo, INC had dedicated at least 1,091 chapels in the country. Several chapels have also been established abroad, Zabala said.

“These new chapels are a concrete manifestation of the support given by our members to the church, which is at an all-time high,” Zabala said.

Among the provinces with new and renovated chapels are Bataan, Benguet, Bulacan, Cavite, Camarines Sur, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Iloilo, Laguna, La Union, Leyte, Nueva Ecija, Negros Occidental, Palawan, Pangasinan, Rizal, Tarlac and Zambales.

Chapels in Metro Manila have also been dedicated in several cities, including Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Pasay, Pasig, Taguig and Quezon City.

Language is not a barrier in the propagation of Iglesia Ni Cristo faith overseas, Zabala said.

He said church services in other countries were conducted in the same way they were in the Philippines, but in the local language.

Despite reports of internal discord and allegations of corruption in the Philippine locals, Zabala said, INC is now one of the fastest-growing religious denominations in the world, fueled by the support of church districts in the United States and other countries.