Is There a Place for Me in the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ)?

Angela Reid: Hi, and thank you for joining us here today. My name is Angela, and today with us we have Asi from South Africa and Warwick from Australia.

So chances are someone’s that you this video because they know you’re looking for a church or you’re looking for a way to get close to God. Whoever it was, we’re thankful that you’re giving us the time to watch this short video.

Not too long ago, I was where you are today, and so I know it can be a little bit overwhelming, especially if you haven’t been to a church in months, years, or maybe even decades.

Voiceover: That’s why we wanted to take a few minutes to answer some questions and share some information about the Church of Christ.

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1. Is there a place for me in this church?

Warwick Molloy: Number one: Is there a place for me in this church?

Is there a place? means “Will I be welcomed?” And it also means “Is there a purpose for me to attend?” Growing up an atheist, I didn’t feel that God and religion had a place in my life. But that all changed when a colleague of mine spoke with me about the Church Of Christ and the Bible. I started reading the Bible on my own and I learned that God is truly real.

So when my colleague asked me if I would attend a worship service in the Church Of Christ in 2022, I said yes.

Voiceover: Whether you are a working professional like myself or a family of six, there is something for everyone in the Church Of Christ.

There are community outreach programs in which you can participate. There are workshops where you can strengthen your marriage, and there are Children’s Worship Services for the kids. So there’s something for everybody. There are sports, musicals, films, and broadcast events. Again, something for everyone to enjoy.

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2. What is the basis of the beliefs that are taught inside of the Church of Christ?

Angela Reid: Question number two. What is the basis of the beliefs that are taught inside of the Church Of Christ?

Voiceover: Everything taught inside the Church Of Christ is based solely on the Bible, which are the words of God.

Angela Reid: This might seem pretty obvious, but having grown up in so many different churches, I know for a fact that not all churches practice this.

Voiceover: In so many of the churches I attended, we hardly talked about God. Like no one ever sat us down and talked to us about what God wanted for us, how he wanted us to be saved. It was just to attend or not attend. Honestly, it left me feeling like something was missing in my life. I needed a purpose, something I can hold on to since life is already hard as it is. So when my friend invited me, I said yes.

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3. What if I want to learn more about the teachings, do I need to become a member right away?

Asi Gqwaka: Question number three: What if I want to learn more about the teachings, do I need to become a member right away? Great question and the answer is no. You don’t have to. We understand that a lot of people who are invited to the Church Of Christ, they already have their own sets of beliefs, and they want to sit down to consider, to compare and to contrast what they are sharing in the worship services and Bible studies. So take your time.

Voiceover: When I was introduced to the Church Of Christ by a neighbor, I was still very young. I grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness, and while I could see how different the Church Of Christ was, I still needed to learn more. So slowly, I began to understand the biblical teachings inside the Church Of Christ. And in the year 2016, I was baptized.

Asi Gqwaka: So if you are listening right now and thinking, “I want to hear more,” we encourage you to come to a Bible study, ask your questions and attend worship services and get to know the members of the Church Of Christ and how their lives have been shaped by the words of God. Or you can even set up a one on one Bible study with the minister and get all of your questions answered. And if you are not sure where to start, just ask the person who invited you and they will help you out.

Warwick Molloy: And finally, there may be one more question that you’re asking yourself: Where did the Church of Christ come from?

Voiceover: The Church Of Christ began preaching in the Philippines in 1914. In 1968, it held its first worship service in the United States, and it has been establishing congregations around the world ever since.

Alessandro Ciucchi: Like right here in Rome, Italy, a place full of religious figures and ancient churches, the Church Of Christ continues to grow rapidly, with five congregations just in this city alone. This same type of growth can be seen in so many cities and countries around the world, making it easier to find a place of worship like this wherever you are today.

Masayuki Ota: And if you’re worried that they might not speak your language, don’t be. In most places you can probably find a worship service taught in the local language–[like] Japanese, making it easier for you to learn, understand and embrace God’s words in your life.

Ricardo Farromeque: But it’s not just about where you can find the Church Of Christ, but who you can find inside the Church. Members of the Church Of Christ come from all walks of life. Some are young and just starting out in life, while others are already grandparents.

Voiceover: Some work waiting tables and as health care workers like me, while others are engineers, teachers, store clerks, but regardless of where we came from, what former religion we had, what connects all of us is our shared faith and our membership in the true Church Of Christ.

Angela Reid: Now, you probably still have a lot of questions on your mind, but we also don’t want to overwhelm you with too much information. So for now, we thank you for taking the time to learn about the Church Of Christ. You can also check out our official website and continue your research there.

Asi Gqwaka: And if you want to attend our worship services, we have local congregations around the world ready to welcome you, and you can find the nearest one by visiting iglesianicristo.net/directory.

Warwick Molloy: There’s so much more we want to share with you about the Church Of Christ, like how finding the Church gave our lives a sense of purpose and moral direction.

Angela Reid: And how hearing God’s words gives us hope even when we feel like giving up.

Asi Gqwaka: But don’t just take our word for it. Experience it for yourself. We invite you to come listen, to ask your questions, and to discover the answer that God has in store for you. We hope to see you soon.

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