Japan House of Councilor Members visit INC Central Office and New Era University

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Bro. Alberto R. Domingo, Jr., NEU Vice President; Bro. Glicerio B. Santos Jr., University Management Officer; Hon. Hirohiko Nakamura; Dr. Corazon C. Osorio, NEU President; Hon. Shinsuke Suematsu; Atty. Restituto S. Lazaro, Member, NEU Board of Trustees; and Dr. Nona S. Ricafort, Commissioner, Commission on Higher Education (CHED)

Japan House of Councilor Members visit INC Central Office
and New Era University

The Honorable Hirohiko Nakamura, Member, Japan House of Councilors and Chairman, Special Committee on Official Development Assistance and Related Matters and Honorable Shinsuke Suematsu, Member, Japan House of Councilors and Chairman of the Standing Committees on Oversight of the Administration visit Iglesia ni Cristo Central Office and New Era University on Thursday, January 6, 2011.

The visit aims to establish a possible tie-up between New Era University (NEU) and Social Welfare Junior College (SWJC) of Japan. This may eventually lead to bringing caregivers and nurses to Japan for possible employment. [By Leo Rivera; PHOTOS: Noel Ignacio & Jo Mendoza]

source: http://www.neu.edu.ph

Converts: An ex-catholic Nun

By ERLINDA MIRAFUENTES-DELA CRUZ

I was born and baptized into the Catholic Church. My grandmother taught me how to pray the Angelus and the rosary daily. My early childhood was replete with different sizes of statues of all saints elaborately dressed like mediaval beings and arranged on the altar where we knelt before them as we recited long and repetitious prayers in their honor. My mother, Dominga Calderon, taught me to have a personal devotion to all souls in Purgatory. I became a prayer leader of the novena for the dead especially during All Souls’ Day in the cemetery. I devoutly observed different practices such as fasting and abstinence during holy week and the nine-day novena in preparation for the feast days of the honored patron.

Many years had passed and my spiritual knowledge was deeply rooted in the catechism. I observed diligently the reception of the sacraments, particularly holy communion, confession, and other para-liturgical services. Through the help of my spiritual confessor I became a catechist when I was a senior in high school. My heart was filled with so much love and burning zeal to spread the glad tidings by teaching the catechism in public schools. As a result of this missionary commitment, I decided to enter the convent in order to serve God in a very special way as a nun.

First, I joined the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM) congregation in the year 1979. I stayed with this congregation until 1987. Then from 1988 to 1994, I joined the Sisters for Christian Community (SFCC), an international congregation. I became a perpetually professed Sister but everything was in vain.

I sought God’s kngdom for 14 years as a nun but I felt there was a vacuum deep in my soul. I started to doubt my religious vocation as a nun. I got tired of reciting and chanting long prayers. I felt a complete dryness in all spiritual exercises. I kept on hoping that someday I may be able to overcome this inner torment.

Then one day, as I was about to leave the country to go on another missionary journey, I met Aldy Perez Dela Cruz, an active member of the Church of Christ(Iglesia Ni Cristo). In one of our sharings, he graciously invited me to observe the way the Iglesia Ni Cristo worships God. Full of biases and inhibitions I hesitated for about three times. I refused his invitation because I thought then that the Iglesia Ni Cristo was “Iglesia Ni Manalo.” Furthermore, the thought was imprinted in my memory that changing a religion is committing a mortal sin and my soul will be damned in hell. I was scared.

Suddenly, I remembered the thrust of Ecumenism as promulgated by the Vatican Council II. Inspired by this, I curiously observed the Iglesia Ni Cristo worship service at Putatan Chapel, Muntinlupa City. To my great surprise, I was deeply touched by the hymn sung by the choir. I couldn’t help but join the brethren in crying throughout the hymn-singing. More so, I was overwhelmed by the impact of the preaching of the minister about the relationship of parents and children.

After few weeks I felt a craving, hungering and thirsting for another worship service. I attended the worship services several times, and then I realized that the true light was gradually shining in me. I finally decided to listen to the doctrines of the Iglesia Ni Cristo. The lesson that dealt with the sign of the cross were the focal points of my conversion. I was so terrified when I learned the true meaning of the sign of the cross on the forehead. I thank God for the gift of Brother Felix Y. Manalo, the messenger of God in these last days. I felt extraordinary gifts from God right after studying the first ten doctrinal lessons.

At last, I felt deep within my heart that I found His kingdom in the Iglesia Ni Cristo. Truly ispired by His light and love, I immediately wrote a letter to the SFCC Sisters in the USA, requesting them to dispense me from my vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. I was officially dispensed from my vows on April 10, 1994.

I joyfully continued studying the remaining lessons until April 30, 1994. For more than six months I was tested on how faithful I was in attending the worship services. Most of the time I attended the worship service in Dagupan City.

I observed that the more I attended the worship services, the clearer my faith and conviction became that the Iglesia Ni Cristo is the answer to my spiritual dryness when I was inside the convent. The solemnity and orderliness of the worship services, and the teaching that is purely taken from the verses of the Bible, were totally absent from the Masses I heard in the convent. I would experience the power of God and His mighty blessings whenever the ministers and deacons lead the prayer. I had never felt these extraordinary graces when I attended Masses or any liturgical services when was a nun.

Finally, on October 1, 1994, I was baptized into the only true Church, the Iglesia Ni Cristo. This is the most unforgettable date in my life.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."(Mt. 6:33, NIV). This passage in the Scriptures is truly fulfilled in my life now that I am a member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo. I found His kingdom in this Church.

I pray to God that He enlighten the minds and touch the hearts of all religious nuns and priests, that as they see the kingdom of God in their respective convents, they may be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to listen to the teachings of the Iglesia Ni Cristo. May they become more receptive to its doctrines that will lead them to true happiness, freedom and peace. May they become authentic followers of Christ through the teachings of the Scriptures, the only source of faith, that will lead them to salvation and to become true heirs of the new heaven and the new earth.

For all my brothers, sisters, relatives, and friends, I pray to God that, through the ministers and members of the Iglesa Ni Cristo here in the Philippines and abroad, they be graciously called into the true Church of Christ and be saved on the Last Day.

Source: Pasugo God’s Message International Magazine, November-December 1996 issue

Video of convert story of Sis. Dela Cruz, click here.

INC have trinitarian doxology?

INC doxology:

Purihin natin ang Ama,

Mabuhay sa pag-ibig ng Anak,

Taglayin ang espiritung banal,

Ang Diyos ay lagi nating sambahin

Amen.

Favorite topics of the jealous people (mostly Catholic defenders) is the doxology of the INC that mentions the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. But, is it really TRINITARIAN?

Well, lets see.

After having a deep research about it, now i can show you!
Wait, let us translate that new version of the doxology in english word per word.

Let us praise the Father
live in the love of the Son
Receive the Holy Spirit
Let us always worship God.

Amen

The point of the INC attackers (mostly Catholic defenders) is that it consist the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit and so at the last phrase it is said to be "LET US ALWAYS WORSHIP GOD". Going to the conclusion that the said 3 persons for us is the GOD.

Is it true?

Why not looking at the OFFICIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION?

Here it is:

Praise God, the Father up above,
Proclaim the love of his beloved Son,
Receive the Holy Spirit's gift
Let us worship our Almighty God

Amen

(I came to know it as i attended the english worship service at Central just few months ago. I really planned to go there just to know these things!^^)

In the first phrase, its very clear, the "GOD" we addresses is none other than the FATHER!

It doesnt say, "Let us worship the father, son and the holy spirit!"

But i know that the instruments of the devil will still spread the information, i mean, the lie they created saying that our doxology has the trinity!


But wait again, what if they talking about is the old version of the hymn?

The old version is this:

Ang Ama ay papurihan,
Anak, espiritung Mahal,
ng mga taong nilalang
at ng tanang sanglangitan

Amen

If you look at the old doxology, they say it is very obvious that is has the trinity! or we also worship the holy spirit, Is IT TRUE?

Another created attack is that because the old version have the trinity doctrine, so the INC changed it...

If you see the introduction in the "Himnario" or Hymns of the INC, it is stated like, dont be surprised if some changed and etc. because the hymns is still on the process of development...

That's why the tunes, and also some phrase on the songs still change for the better!


Why not showing the official english version?
(with the further research, i came to know it)

O glory to the father's name,
Exalt the lord his only Son,
and to the holy spirit praise,
On earth and heaven everyone,

Amen

So, where in the hymn stated that the father, son and the holy spirit is one? or lets say we worship that 3 persons as God, anyone?

If not, better confess to your priest about the sins you have done, as always attacking and maligning the church using created lies.

There are many things you didnt know INSIDE the church, coz only the members understand it. That's why you always make conclusions on what the INC have.


It is like this,
Example, i have a girl best friend, we are holding our hands while walking. for us there is no malice on it, but when people whom we know see us, they will say we a relationship, even if it is not true they will spread the news that were "on".

See? But if you seek the truth, by having a thorough research, not just believing what others say, you will not make any conclusion, therefore you can be called "CREDIBLE"!