The Message 111th Anniversary Special Episode
[Video clip starts]
Narrator: In just one year, the world has faced so many changes.
[News clip source: YouTube]
News reporter 1: Israel has come under the heaviest aerial assault in its history.
News reporter 2: One of the worst famines in decades. Millions more displaced.
News reporter 3: Fire seen from miles around L.A.
News reporter 4: The devastation is complete and just jaw-dropping
News reporter 5: An eye-opening look at the nation’s mental health crisis in our young people.
Narrator: And the pace continues to accelerate.
News reporter 6: A very large earthquake.
News reporter 7: A major 7.7 magnitude earthquake has rocked Myanmar and Thailand.
News reporter 8: Declaring the capital city an emergency zone.
News reporter 9: Grocery prices have surged at nearly 3%
News reporter 10: It’s the worst humanitarian crisis facing the world today.
[News headlines]
…announces new tariffs of up to 40% on a growing number of countries
Set to triple the number of troops fighting
Protests Planned Across U.S. on July 4
Colombia’s health ministry declared a nationwide health emergency on Thursday
“active circulation” of yellow fever.
Narrator: Fear and worry weigh heavily, not knowing what to believe in or who to trust add to the uncertainty.
News reporter 11: A lot of confused people, a lot of panic hits most people of God
Narrator: Yet through it all, a message of hope endures—God’s words, the truth taught here inside the Church Of Christ.
With grateful hearts, we commemorate the Church Of Christ’s 111th anniversary.
We reflect on God’s blessings, allowing the Church to reap continued success and growth, and how God’s words continue to reach more people.
Trusting that God hears our prayers, that He is there to provide us with guidance, is all the hope we need to face this world.
Learn more as we continue with this special episode of The Message.
[Video clip ends]
Brother Richie Juatco: Thank you for joining us in our special episode of The Message. I’m Brother Richie Juatco
Brother Mark Vasquez: And I’m brother Mark Vasquez.
Brother Richie: You know, there are some, especially those who are just learning about the Church Of Christ for the first time, they might find it strange that we are celebrating and thanking God during the time when the world is filled with all kinds of different problems, difficulties, and crisis in the world today.
Brother Mark: That may be true that most of the news today is almost all bad, but we’re celebrating not only because we have reason to celebrate and be thankful, but also because we have a specific instruction from God to praise Him and give Him glory, even as the condition of the world continues to worsen.
Brother Richie: So stay with us. This is what we’ll be studying today here on The Message.
[Show open]
The Message
Brother Richie: So we want to know and understand what is the biblical explanation of the world’s worsening condition. And despite that, Brother Mark, why are we in such a celebratory mood, and we’re so focused on praising and worshiping God?
Brother Mark: Let’s read the reason here in the book of Isaiah. We’ll read 24, 5 up to 6 and also verse 15,
The people have defiled the earth by breaking God’s laws and by violating the covenant he made to last forever. So God has pronounced a curse on the earth. Its people are paying for what they have done. Fewer and fewer remain alive. Therefore in the east give glory to the Lord; exalt the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea.
[Isaiah 24:5-6 Good News Translation, 15 New International Version]
Brother Mark: Here, the Bible answers two questions. Firstly, why is the world’s condition in the state that it’s in, and even worsening, despite the efforts of powerful people trying to improve it? What we read here, “God has pronounced a curse on the earth.”
Brother Richie: Brother Mark, why did God do that? Why is it that the whole earth is under God’s curse?
Brother Mark: What we read here, “Its people are paying for what they have done.” What is it people of the world have done to bring about God’s curse? The Bible states, “The people have defiled the earth by breaking God’s laws.”
Brother Richie: You know, we can actually see that today. We can see the people of the world increasingly moving away from God and His laws, thus ruining their relationship with the Creator. But although God has cursed the whole earth, again it goes back to that question earlier, Brother Mark, why are we celebrating?
Brother Mark: The reason why we’re celebrating is directly connected to God’s instruction that we just read. There are those that God has specifically instructed to praise and glorify Him, and who are they? We read, “Therefore in the east … in the islands of the sea.” And what are the instructions for those mentioned here? What we read, “give glory to the Lord, exalt the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.”
Brother Richie: So although the people of the world have ruined their relationship with God, God has an expectation and command to a selected few, a chosen people—His chosen people— to give Him glory.
Brother Mark: So how would we know who the chosen people are? He specified where in the world they would come from—from “the islands of the sea … in the east.”
Brother Richie: Now, since God did specify the place where His chosen people would come from, does God also specify the period of time when they would come about?
Brother Mark: Yes, He does. From the same writings of Prophet Isaiah, let’s now turn to Isaiah 42: 10, 12,
Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them…. Let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim his praise in the islands.
[Isaiah 42:10, 12 New International Version]
Brother Mark: God’s people whom he expects to praise and glorify Him, from the islands of the sea in the east, come from a specific time period. What time period would they come from? We read, “from the ends of the earth.”
Brother Richie: Now, Brother Mark, since that term in the prophecy “ends of the earth,” it’s referring to a time period. How would people know when that time period is?
Brother Mark: We’ll know that time period based on the Bible. If we were to read Matthew 24, others asked the Lord Jesus Christ, “When would the end be?” He said, you’ll know that it is near, at the doors, when we see signs.
Brother Richie: So these signs that our Lord Jesus Christ gave, what are those signs that we would know we were at that time period?
Brother Mark: The Lord Jesus Christ mentioned in verses 6 to 8 of that same book and chapter of Matthew 24, you will hear of wars, rumors of wars, there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
Brother Richie: Now, those things that were mentioned, it’s scattered all throughout history.
Brother Mark: Yes, we could see them even during our time. But the first time that it all happened at the same time was during the time of the outbreak of World War One.
Brother Richie: So when did World War One break out?
Brother Mark: July 27, 1914
Brother Richie: So that time period, “ends of the earth,” starts at July 27, 1914. Again, what was God’s instruction to His people at that time period?
Brother Mark: Well, the instruction of God to those people from that time period, it says, “Let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim his praise.”
Brother Richie: So that’s the connection that you mentioned earlier, that connection of God’s instruction and our celebration.
The Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church Of Christ, that is bringing to you this program, was established in the Philippines. The Philippines is an archipelago country, which means it is made up of thousands of islands located in the Far East. The Church was also officially registered on July 27, 1914, coinciding with the First World War, signifying the ends of the earth.
So the instruction of God, the instruction He gives to His prophesied people—from the ends of the earth, from the islands of the sea and the east—is the reason we, members of the Church Of Christ, Iglesia Ni Cristo, celebrate with thanksgiving. We are His prophesied people that glorify, praise, and worship Him
Brother Mark: As God’s chosen people, how often do we glorify, praise, and worship God?
Brother Richie: Well, we can read the conviction of God’s servants in the Bible when it comes to praising Him, which is also the conviction that we have. We’ll read here from Psalm 34, verses 1 to 3, it says this,
I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace. I will boast of all his kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart. Let us praise the Lord together and exalt his name.
[Psalm 34:1-3 The Living Bible]
Brother Richie: According to the Bible, how do God’s people worship and praise Him? Well, we read, “Let us praise the Lord together and exalt his name.” So gathering together, or congregating, to praise and worship God is what the members of the Church Of Christ take very seriously.
Brother Mark: Very seriously. Our congregational worship services are the focal point of our lives. And how strong is our conviction regarding worshiping and praising God?
Brother Richie: Well, just as this servant proclaimed, we read, “I will praise the Lord no matter what happens.” Our conviction to serve and praise God is unconditional, regardless of the circumstance or no matter what happens. What is the result of our obedience to God and unconditional service and praise to Him? Well, we have received His kindness, mercy, and protection, even His grace. And that is why we inside the Church Of Christ are so positive even during times of crisis.
Brother Mark: Because no matter what, we’ll always worship the Lord God.
Brother Richie: That’s right.
Brother Mark: Despite all the hardship, troubles, turmoil, and unrest in the world, we praise our God. We glorify Him and thank Him for 111 years of His love and protection to the Church. And what is the promise of God’s true servants in the Bible because of these blessings, which we too all promised to God?
Brother Richie: Well, we read that, “I will constantly speak of His glories and grace. I will boast of all his kindness to me.” Therefore, when it comes to speaking up and telling people about who God is giving His kindness and grace to, this is what we constantly do and will never stop doing. In fact, this is the purpose and goal of this program, The Message.
Brother Mark: The Message, this program, introduces people to the Church Of Christ or the Iglesia Ni Cristo, the Church from the islands of the sea in the east, which was established on July 27, 1914.
Brother Richie: This program broadcasts and shares with people God’s instruction to His nation today and proclaims the wonderful blessings that come from obeying those instructions. This is actually the first program of the Church to be produced outside of the Philippines, in order to bring God’s message nearer to those whom He will show His kindness and grace.
Brother Mark: Now take a moment with us to watch this short clip, to get to know more about this show, The Message.
[Video clip starts]
Narrator: Nearly 40 years ago, was the premiere of the first Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church Of Christ, preaching show produced outside of the Philippines.
Brother Robert Pellien: Brother Ed Maranan was sent to California and established the English preaching program The Message.
Brother Edward Maranan: The first of many challenges that faced us to have a TV program in America is to actually find the people who would form the TV production crew, acquiring the equipment we need, finding the facility for both production as well as post-production work. But the most important aspect was to find a TV station that would air our program episodes. We also needed to come up with the name of the program.
We chose the name, “The Message” as the name of the program. The Message because it’s not just a message, but THE Message, the true message which people need to hear, believe in and fulfill so as to be saved. We will use television as a mass media tool to create awareness of the existence of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, especially when it comes to the teachings we believe in.
After a year of preparations and through, above all, the blessing and grace of God, we aired the premiere telecast of The Message on July 27th, 1987.
Narrator: Viewers quickly connected with the show’s distinct preaching style—questions answered directly from the bible.
Brother Edward Maranan: We do not offer our own opinions or ideas. We let the Bible do the answering. And our viewers noticed this, based upon the comments we received in the letters we were receiving from them. Many expressed how refreshing the presentation was. Our program was simple and straightforward, just letting people know what the Bible teaches on various religious questions, but most especially on God’s purpose and plan for man.
Narrator: The Message first aired in the Los Angeles area through the broadcast service KSCI, eventually reaching audiences in Hawaii, Chicago, and New York.
[On-screen graphic]
18 KSCI-TV
Long Beach ⚫️ Los Angeles ⚫️ San Diego
Narrator: But there were still more people in other parts of the world who had not yet heard the true message of God.
Brother Robert Pellien: So how will the people come to learn the truth? God will always make a way. We were broadcasting bible studies on the radio. TV became popular. As technology went, we always went to where the people were.
Narrator: Since the launch of The Message, more programs were developed and new ways of reaching people emerged—including the creation of incmedia.org—to connect with even more audiences in new ways, through shows like That’s in the Bible, International Edition, El Mensaje, Verse of the Week, and more.
Aliw Garcia Pablo: We have content, we have blogs, we have podcasts–for all different types of topics. We have created not just content, and shows, but resources.
Brother Robert Pellien: And the media of the Church has very often been the actual arm that God uses in bringing the truth to that village, to that community, anywhere in the world.
Aliw Garcia Pablo: And so we’re able to reach people in remote places and be able to connect with them.
Brother Robert Pellien: The mission of the Church cannot be stopped. No distance, no time element.
Brother Edward Maranan: We are all about making known the truth, because that’s what God wants.
Brother Robert Pellien: Those who are seeking, they will find it and God will use the media if there’s no minister there yet.
Narrator: Today, the world has changed, but the mission remains the same. The Message continues to be your resource in your journey of faith.
Keep watching with us, keep growing with us, and stay constantly tuned into The Message.
[Video clip ends]
Brother Richie: So, it’s clear to see that God is the one working inside the Iglesia Ni Cristo, allowing the message, His message, to keep spreading across the globe. He continues to bless the Church with victories upon victories, due to being His nation today, and also because we praise and worship Him, regardless of all the problems and obstacles in the world.
Brother Mark: As we have already established earlier, one of the ways we praise and glorify God is by speaking up and sharing with people the truth of God’s message. Now, some might be thinking, “Why do we need that program, or why do we need the Church Of Christ?”
Some might even be thinking, Brother Richie, well they already have a Bible, so they don’t need that.
Brother Richie: You know that is true. The Bible is so readily available now. But, although many people nowadays have their own copy of the Bible, the mere fact that all those who say they follow the Bible, the fact that they do not share the same faith, belief, or understanding proves the actual message of God written in the Bible has not yet been understood.
This, again, is the reason why the Church put so much effort in producing programs like this, to help proclaim the biblical message.
Brother Mark: You know, Brother Richie, in order for us to truly, fully, understand this, let’s approach it from a different perspective. What would be the good result or the blessing for those who are listening to and believing in the message, which is why we constantly proclaim God’s message, or why we are always sharing the truth that we learn?
Brother Richie: Well, since we want to come at a different angle, let’s find out what would be that benefit. We’ll read from what’s written here in the book of Romans, chapter 10, verse 14 to 15, and this is what the Bible says,
But how can they call to him for help if they have not believed? And how can they believe if they have not heard the message? And how can they hear if the message is not proclaimed? And how can the message be proclaimed if the messengers are not sent out?…
[Romans 10:14-15 Good News Translation]
Brother Richie: Here, the Bible clearly defines the step-by-step process regarding God’s message and the blessing that comes from it. First of all, we read, “messengers are … sent out” by God.
Brother Mark: Why would the Lord God send out messengers? What’s the reason?
Brother Richie: So we did learn, it is so that, we read, “the message [can] be proclaimed.” So we need to understand that God’s message, written in the Bible, cannot be proclaimed, announced, or broadcasted by just anyone. The true message of God will only be proclaimed by the true messenger of God.
Brother Mark: So what will be the situation of people once the message is proclaimed?
Brother Richie: Well, we did read, they will hear. “They [will] hear … the message.” So again, we need to learn that the message of God is not acquired by self-study or personal interpreting the Scripture, but rather by hearing the preaching from God’s Messenger.
Brother Mark: So what opportunity is then presented to those once they hear the message of God?
Brother Richie: Again, the next step of what we read is, that “they [will have the opportunity to] believe.” So if people do not hear the true message, they will never be able to have the true belief about God. How can they? In fact, the Bible is the one that even asks how. “How [is it that they] can they believe if they have not heard the message?“
Brother Mark: So what’s the great blessing that people would receive once they hear the message of the truth and they hear it from the messenger sent by the Lord God?
Brother Richie: Well, then we read that “they can call to him for help.” This is another reason why we, here inside the Church Of Christ, constantly proclaim God’s message and always share the truth. We want to help people. We want to help people hear the truth regarding God’s words written in the Bible, in order to give them a chance to believe in it and then learn how to actually call to God for help.
Brother Mark: All of us need the help of our Lord, God in heaven right, Brother Richie? Earlier, we were mentioning how the condition of the world is getting worse. But everyone does not yet know how to receive God’s help that He promises to His chosen people.
Brother Richie: That’s right, and we want to help people get that help from God. And if more and more people learn God’s message and believe in the truth, regarding the biblical Church Of Christ, causing the Church to be fruitful and abundantly grow, because many people will join, praising and worshiping God, we ask this question, Brother Mark, “How would that make God feel?”
If that’s the case, we continue to do that, we are sharing our faith, more are praising Him and worshiping Him. How would He feel?
Brother Mark: Let’s see how the Lord God would feel. In the book of John, we’ll read 15, and we’ll read verse 8,
In this the Father will be glorified, that you bear abundant fruit, and be my disciples.
[John 15:8 George M. Lamsa Translation]
Brother Mark: The Lord Jesus Christ is the one speaking in this verse, And what is it that He stated? The Lord Jesus Christ made it clear that if we “bear abundant fruit,” how would God feel? He said here in these verses, “In this the Father will be glorified.” Since we already learned earlier that the members of the Church Of Christ, the Iglesia Ni Cristo, are the ones being instructed to give glory to the Lord, we remain focused on glorifying God by constantly broadcasting this message in order for the Church to keep bearing fruit, by helping more people return to the Lord God
Brother Richie: And to our fellow brethren, now that we ourselves have gone through the process, given the chance to hear God’s message preached by God’s Messenger, proved that we believe and accept God’s teaching by putting them into practice in our lives and joining the Church Of Christ written in the Bible, what is God’s instruction to us now, since the world is worsening all around us? Listen to what is recorded here in Colossians, 1 the verse is 23,
You don’t walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message—just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message.
[Colossians 1:23 The Message]
Brother Richie: The instruction of God is clear. We read, “You don’t walk away from a gift like that!” We must understand that being inside the true Church is a gift and something that we should never take for granted.
Brother Mark: So what do we need to do in order to hold on or to keep this gift given by the Lord God?
Brother Richie: Well, we read, “You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust.” So we must all the more strengthen our faith, or bond of trust— trust of God’s word that brought us here in the first place.
Brother Mark: Why do we need faith to be more steady and more grounded?
Brother Richie: Well, there is a warning that our God has given. Because of the worsening world, the world will try to weaken our faith. That’s why, what is God’s warning? We read, be “careful not to be distracted or diverted.” There are more distractions today than ever before that can divert our attention away from what really matters in life.
Brother Mark: Due to technology and the use of social media, more and more people present themselves as free thinkers, who from their own logic and intelligence, they think they can determine the truth for themselves.
Brother Richie: That’s right. But when it comes to the actual truth from our Creator, what is clearly written in the Bible? We read that, “There is no other Message—just this one.” So, do not allow anyone or anything to convince us that there is anything more important than God’s words or His instructions to us. Because of this, what is God’s command to keep us from being distracted and to help us remain firm in our faith? We read, “constantly tuned in to the Message.”
On behalf of all of us here, we greet all the brethren around the world a happy 111th anniversary.
Brother Mark: For those not yet of the same faith, but keeping an open mind, we encourage you to keep learning more of God’s written words taught here inside the Church Of Christ. Come visit a congregation near you, or if you want, ask us a question now by clicking the link in the description and inquire how to listen to the basic teachings of the Bible.
Brother Richie: Now, if you’re already going through those lessons, or wherever you are in your spiritual journey, we hope that the message you heard today has brought you closer to God and deepened your understanding of His truth taught here inside the Church Of Christ.
And your journey doesn’t stop here. Keep watching, keep growing with us, and stay “constantly tuned into the Message,” as we read earlier from Colossians 1:23.
On behalf of all of us here at The Message, we thank you for joining us in this special episode of The Message. We continue to greet our brethren around the world, “Happy 111th anniversary!”
But before we conclude, please join us for a short prayer.
Brother Richie: Our Heavenly Father, we are so very grateful to You. You are so loving and merciful to Your people. Although we can see Your words truly have truth, the world around us is worsening, it is under Your curse. But Your mercy still is with Your people. We can feel Your protection, we can feel Your guidance. And for this, we praise You, and we continue to worship and magnify Your most holy name.
Thank you, Dear God, for allowing Your nation in these last days to continue to be under Your safety and guidance. We thank You, dear God, as Your people, we are the ones that enjoy Your guidance and Your protection because of Your promise and because of the obedience that we are able to do of Your holy teachings.
We ask You, please, continue to bless the entire Church. Continue, dear God, to allow us to receive victories from You, and help us to stay focused, not distracted, not diverted from what You have taught us, that whatever happens, whatever the circumstance, we can continue to focus on praising You and bringing You the honor and glory due Your name.
We do ask for Your Mercy and favor to those watching that are not yet members of the Church. We ask You, dear God, as they are hearing this, please soften their hearts. Allow them to truly understand it is You that is being merciful to them. Give them more opportunities to hear Your words through the Church that You have prophesied, dear Father, so that they will be able to know the truth of how to receive Your help.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, we also thank You. We thank You for the guidance that You give to us. We thank You for allowing us to pray to our God. We ask You, dear Lord, help us to be like You, that we can glorify the Father and that we can always bear abundant fruit.
We thank You so much, dear Father, for Your administration that You use to guide the entire Church. We pray for our leaders. We ask that You bless them always. Bless our Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo Manalo. We ask also, that You bless our Deputy Executive Minister, Brother Angelo Eraño Manalo. We ask that You guide them for the sake of Your nation in these last days.
Thank you so much, dear God, for the blessings You give Your Church.
All of these things we ask and receive, through the name of Your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
Amen.
[Show close]
