MICHAEL ROBINSON (INC NEWS CORRESPONDENT): Building houses of worship, has long defined the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ), as beacons of hope. This mission continues in Johnsonville, a once abandoned town now revived by the Church. Through ongoing outreach and key developments, its transformation moves forward. Now, Johnsonville stands as home to one of the newest houses of worship of the Church Of Christ, a testament to God’s work remaining unhindered.
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CLIFFORD DONALD STIRBA (TSV OFFICER, BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT): Great day for the Church, for all the brethren here in Connecticut.
AMELIA BANTING (SCAN OFFICER, ROCKLAND, NEW YORK): Very excited! With the grace of God, we’ve been waiting for this day.
JAYSON LABOY (LOS OFFICER, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK): This is going to be history. We don’t know when there’s going to be another chapel dedication like this.
RODGER HUGHES (HEAD DEACON, WOODBURY, NEW YORK): Oh, this is wonderful. It just shows how the Church is growing.
MICHAEL ROBINSON (INC NEWS CORRESPONDENT): This is a celebration of history in the making. An old chapel in Johnsonville, once part of an abandoned village, has been restored and dedicated as a new house of worship. It is part of the Church Of Christ’s mission to build houses of worship for God’s glory. As one of the newest, it has brought members from across the Northeast together in gratitude.
And today, members from throughout the Ecclesiastical District of New York gathered together for a worship service to commemorate this special occasion.
JOB MIRASOL (CHOIR MEMBER, BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT): We thank our Lord God for that wonderful blessing, for always giving us these wonderful hymns of praises that inspires everyone in the fold.
MICHAEL ROBINSON (INC NEWS CORRESPONDENT): This inspiration continues to be shared through God’s words, as Supervising Minister, Brother Sheridohn Santos, led the worship service, reminding members of the importance of dedicating houses of worship, a testament of God’s love for His people like here in Johnson.
JAYSON LABOY (LOS OFFICER, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK): It was tear after tear, just from the beginning to the end. It was super overwhelming. The Holy Spirit was around each and every one of us.
CLIFFORD DONALD STIRBA (TSV OFFICER, BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT): It’s a meaningful and spiritual service, to always be the temple, not forsaking the worship service. I think we all take that to heart in the Church.
BROTHER NEIL OMELDA (ASSISTANT SUPERVISING MINISTER, ECCLESIASTICAL DISTRICT OF NEW YORK): The dedication of houses of worship is one of the proofs of the love of our Lord God for His nation in these last days, because it is the place where we gather in worship, where we find strength and inspiration through His holy words.
MICHAEL ROBINSON (INC NEWS CORRESPONDENT): Especially for pioneer members like Edwin living in East Hartford, among the closest to this new house of worship, shares how his faith played an important role for this day to come.
EDWIN RABANAL (PIONEER MEMBER, DEACON, JOHNSONVILLE, CONNECTICUT): We have faith in God, and through the power of prayers God will provide everything you need. Very pleasant to us, all the members here in Connecticut, because we were waiting for this.
MICHAEL ROBINSON (INC NEWS CORRESPONDENT): Waiting to see God’s plans unfold. Years before, when news broke about the surprising purchase of this desolate and once abandoned 62 acre land, leading to this historical moment.
[NEWS CLIP: EAGLE NEWS INTERNATIONAL, IGLESIA NI CRISTO PURCHASES SECOND U.S. TOWN]
GENTLEMAN: I’m looking forward to that. I’m hopeful that it’s going to be something very positive for the town. I expect it will be.
WENDELL DAVIS (ATTORNEY): I’m also a resident. I live not too far down the road, about 10 miles down the road, in Hebron, Connecticut, and I’m super excited to see this beautiful property and how it’s going to turn out. I can’t wait to come back and see all the great things that the Church [is] going to do with this property.
MICHAEL ROBINSON (INC NEWS CORRESPONDENT): The Church Of Christ carefully considers every property it acquires and strives to have a proper place of worship for its members. In Johnsonville, this large property offers even more. Its size and existing buildings provide many possibilities to support the Church’s future needs.
BROTHER EPIFANIO MANIEBO JR. (RESIDENT MINISTER, JOHNSONVILLE, CONNECTICUT): The extension was approved on September 5, 2018, and the first inaugural worship service was the pastoral visitation of Brother Eduardo Manalo on September 15, 2018. And our first worship service was held on September 25, 2018. So we used one of the buildings here. It was called ‘the meeting house,’ [a] small building. And [for] almost six years, we held our worship services [in] that place.
RAYMOND FRANK (ARCHITECT, INC US WEST OFFICE): Whenever we purchase a property, they want to make sure that there’s always a place of worship, a proper place to worship for the brethren. And I think also for that specific property, it gives so many potential uses because of the size and and the number of buildings that are there. Depending on whatever the needs are in the future for the Church, I think that type of property has many options that can be used by the Church in the future.
MICHAEL ROBINSON (INC NEWS CORRESPONDENT): But a space for even greater purpose, and Johnsonville has become a center for fruitful efforts, like community outreach for residents through the INC Giving Project, doing good whenever possible through acts of kindness.
Johnsonville was also a prime location in the New York area for the Worldwide Walk Campaign in fighting poverty in Africa, and the opening of the School For Ministers, in training ministerial workers for the ever growing spiritual needs of the Church worldwide.
But the goal has always been to restore the town to its former glory, especially this old chapel in becoming one of the newest houses of worship in the Church. Renovations began and were underway, where considerate care needed to be taken care of. Even though it was old, it was still considered a historical landmark.
ALVIN PEREZ (CONTRACTOR): If you know this history of it, it came from another state. It was chopped down to pieces, brought it over here. It was built almost 200 years ago.
RAYMOND FRANK (ARCHITECT, INC US WEST OFFICE): It’s called a Carpenter Gothic style, which is a very distinct North American type of architecture. So it’s very unique, and it was decided early on by the Church Administration to just restore it, not to change much of the design features of the building, but just to pare it, to bring it up to not only its former glory, but to even make it more beautiful, because now it’s used by the Church Of Christ. So the city was very happy that we weren’t changing very much, because it is kind of a historic building in that area, and it’s very well known in the area and by the community,
MICHAEL ROBINSON (INC NEWS CORRESPONDENT): While preserving its historic architecture, the chapel now features the distinctive Iglesia Ni Cristo facade, with a fully updated interior, with a larger seating capacity suitable for a growing congregation, with a restored balcony and fixtures, the ability to add overflow, as It will be the center of many more grand events. It can accommodate over 500 during special occasions like this chapel dedication.
RAYMOND FRANK (ARCHITECT, INC US WEST OFFICE): We added restrooms to the building. We added handicapped wheelchair accessibility. It’s really a big difference. It’s not as dark and cold looking. It’s nice and warm and beautiful, and many of the neighbors have commented as they pass by that they’re looking forward to be able to go there to also worship and to use that building in serving God.
ALVIN PEREZ (CONTRACTOR): From being a Gothic looking chapel, turn it to become like a beautiful Church, like our signature [chapels], as a Church Of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo) look.
JAYSON LABOY (LOS OFFICER, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK): It means so much to me. It’s my first time [attending a] dedication of the chapel, and it’s going to be history. It’s a beautiful feeling to be part of God’s plan.
BROTHER SHERIDOHN SANTOS( SUPERVISING MINISTER, ECCLESIASTICAL DISTRICT OF NEW YORK): It shows that there is no obstacle that will hinder the Lord’s work. And so it’s a proof that this is God’s Church—this is the true Church Of Christ. And it reminds a lot of the brethren that worshipped today, that witnessed this chapel dedication, what Brother Eduardo had set up for them, a good future. It gave the District of New York a place to have Christian Family Organization activities, and then this day, for us to be able to witness a house of worship dedicated to the Lord God.
PAUL LARIVIERE (PIONEER MEMBER, JOHNSONVILLE, CONNECTICUT): I’m very glad, because it makes it a lot easier for us to not have to go to some other place for a big event.
MICHAEL ROBINSON (INC NEWS CORRESPONDENT): Moving forward, this sacred place will serve as a beacon of faith, welcoming more people to learn about God’s truth.
BROTHER GODOFREDO GOLLAYAN JR. (SCHOOL FOR MINISTERS COORDINATOR, JOHNSONVILLE, CONNECTICUT): We can see the eagerness of the people around here, not only in Johnsonville, but those who are passing by. And it is so easy for us to invite people to attend our Bible studies, even our evangelical missions, as well as our worship services.
RODGER HUGHES (HEAD DEACON, WOODBURY, NEW YORK): I’ve been a member for 38 years, and during that time I’ve seen every place that I’ve been just expand so rapidly, especially in the last 15 years. It just goes to show the love of God.
BROTHER EPIFANIO MANIEBO JR. (RESIDENT MINISTER, JOHNSONVILLE, CONNECTICUT): We would like to thank our Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo Manalo, for allowing us, our congregation here in Johnsonville, to dedicate this place of worship.
MICHAEL ROBINSON (INC NEWS CORRESPONDENT): And as this milestone becomes part of the ongoing work of the Church Of Christ in this town’s history, true faith is alive here and it will continue to strengthen and bring more to light that this Church is God’s love for His people, and a growing light like here in Johnsonville.
Michael Robinson reporting for the Iglesia Ni Cristo News Network.
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RICHIE FERRERA, ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA: Congratulations to the members in Johnsonville. All praises be to God. Is your local congregation preparing for your house of worship to be dedicated? Let us know in the comments.
Well, that does it for us on this episode of INC News World. Tune in every Sunday for new episodes on INCTV and every Saturday on our YouTube channel and on streaming platforms.
I’m Richie Ferrera. Thank you for joining us. Stay safe and we’ll see you next time.
God Bless.
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