Naomi De La Cruz: Welcome back to INC News World. From North America to Europe and Australia, we take a look at some of the latest events happening in the Church Of Christ around the world. Let’s check it out.
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Naomi De La Cruz: Our first stop takes us to the Ecclesiastical District of Orange County, California, where members gathered in Long Beach for a ‘Welcome, My Brethren’ event aimed to introduce newly baptized members and doctrinal instructors to the Church Of Christ and members took the opportunity to invite their guests, like Franklin, introducing them to the Church Of Christ.
Franklin Smith (Guest, Long Beach, California): It was nice and friendly and I haven’t felt that in a long time. The friendliness, the people that treat you so welcoming to the church.
Naomi De La Cruz: Guests were also given the opportunity to listen to the preaching of the words of God in a Spanish evangelical mission led by the Assistant Supervising Minister Brother Lowell Nucum.
Brother Lowell Nucum (Assistant Supervising Minister, Ecclesiastical District of Orange County, California): Well, the brethren were really excited to invite their friends who are Spanish-speaking. They know that some of the ones that they want to share their faith with really sometimes struggle with the English language or are just new here and still learning English.
Naomi De La Cruz: The evangelical mission was an inspiring moment for guests in attendance, like Gladys.
Maria Galaviz, Gladys Pachuca, Efren Ramirez (Guests, Long Beach, Orange County, California): It was very nice and well said. I’m very grateful. Yes. [We] learned new things in this Bible study. There is only one God. Agreed, there is only one God.
Franklin Smith (Guest, Long Beach, California): It made me interested. Plus, I haven’t been to church. Like I said before, in a long, long time. I think it’s time I should come back.
Naomi De La Cruz: Leaving a major impact, guests were left feeling the love and grateful for the chance to learn more about the Church Of Christ. Members continue to share their faith with their fellow men as we take our next visit to the Ecclesiastical District of New Jersey, where Teachers Appreciation Day activity was held as youth members invited their teachers and fellow educators putting together a program just for them, showing their gratitude and appreciation.
Naomi De La Cruz: They were also given the chance to socialize with one another while enjoying food, games, performances, and an inspiring message giving attendees the opportunity to learn more about the Church Of Christ.
Youth members and students presented educators and teachers with kind words of appreciation, encouragement, and certificates of recognition for their contribution to education.
From New Jersey, we travel down south to the land down under. As we take our next visit to the Ecclesiastical District of Australia West. Lying within the state of Victoria is the capital city of Melbourne, where a ‘Care For Humanity’ event took place. Care For Humanity and outreach program of the Church Of Christ aimed to provide assistance to those living in impoverished communities.
Members from the local congregation of Melbourne gathered to provide care packages to the communities of Cobram and Barooga, eager to extend care to their neighbors. Members handed out bags of food, household goods and other essential items to local residents, many of whom were immigrant workers employed in local agricultural facilities living away from their own families. Most importantly, the event gave an opportunity for guests and recipients to listen to the biblical teachings taught and upheld in the Church Of Christ.
From Australia West, we head back across the pond to the Ecclesiastical District of Northern Midwest, where a special gathering is held for choir members at the house of worship in Bloomingdale. For choir members like Hunter, achieving personal goals while performing their duties can be a delicate balancing act.
Hunter Smith (Choir Member, Cincinnati, Northern Midwest): Juggling school and wrestling, and being a choir member. Although it is difficult at times, it’s easy when you remember the words of God.
Camille Esguerra (Choir Member, Naperville, Northern Midwest): It definitely isn’t easy, to say the least. With life being so busy, especially school, but just remembering that my duty is very sacred to me. It’s very important to me. And growing up in the Church, I’ve always known that we’re supposed to prioritize our duties before anything else, because if we do our Almighty God will bless us and everything else and every other part of our lives.
Naomi De La Cruz: Despite the daily challenges in life, they continue to prioritize their duties in leading worship services inside the Church Of Christ. Led by Supervising Minister Brother Erman Bendicio, reminders were given, of the great importance of their duties, and we’re all the more inspired finding peace in carrying out their duties, in singing hymns of praises to the Almighty God.
Hunter Smith (Choir Member, Cincinnati, Northern Midwest): Singing the words and be able to feel it inside your heart is really important to me. It gets you through tough times, good times, and you appreciate every time you pick up your hymnal and sing those words.
Camille Esguerra (Choir Member, Naperville, Northern Midwest): You can’t always express the struggles you’re going through, but those hymns, they helped me in so many ways. They helped me not only express what the trials I’m going through, but all the more what I need to do.
Naomi De La Cruz: This special gathering also served to inspire officers by reminding them of God’s plan and the success guaranteed to those who serve and honor him.
Katrina Short (Choir Member/Organist, Milwaukee, Northern Midwest):
I wouldn’t have even gained anything without the help and guidance from our Almighty God. So that’s why I really pushed myself to remain in the choir, to perform my duty as an organist to help lead in the hymn singing, because I knew that that is what God wanted me to do. There was a lot of prayer, a lot of it. I would not have been able to do it without our Almighty God.
Brother Arturo Agag (Assistant Supervising Minister, Ecclesiastical District of Northern Midwest): Being an officer, even a good member, we cannot avoid being called the different kinds of trials. So when problems, different kinds of trials that will come in our life, all the more we need to get firm. We need to be prayerful through our Almighty God because there is a plan of God to all the officers, especially to the choir members. Not only the promise of the Lord in this life, but most especially when our Lord Jesus Christ will come, the promised everlasting life.
Hunter Smith (Choir Member, Cincinnati, Northern Midwest): When you put God as a priority, everything else in your life lines up and God guides you through difficult times. He doesn’t give you anything you can’t handle. And the answer is always prayer.
Naomi De La Cruz: From the Northern Midwest, we head east. As we take our next visit to the Ecclesiastical District of Spain. From natural sceneries to splendid architecture, Spanish culture has come a long way, finding inspiration from history. It is also here in this historically-rich country where a special musical event was held. Often referred to as a universal language, music brought people together in the Andalusia region for our first ever INConcert in Palacio de Congress in Marbella, Spain.
Leborio Andres (Organizer, Fuengirola, Spain): When we found out that we would be holding a grand event in our region, here in Andalusia, we immediately informed our friends and loved ones to join our INConcert here in our region.
Naomi De La Cruz: After months of preparations and rehearsals, attendees from all over the region of Andalusia gathered to witness the exciting musical performances, with members showcasing songs composed of Church Of Christ. Original music.
Brother Allan Dela Pena (Minister of the Gospel, Andalusia Region, Spain): The goal of this INConcert is to further enhance the musical talents of the brethren through singing. The brethren are united with one feeling and energy, and above all else, for the glory of our Lord God.
Ramil Villaluz (Head Deacon, Marbella, Spain): As a performer for the INConcert, we held a month-long prayer to secure an organized INConcert. With the help and mercy of the Father, we were able to conduct this activity in an orderly manner. And there were many brethren and guests in attendance, most especially our loved ones that we invited.
Naomi De La Cruz: Despite the long travel distances for some, members were eager to participate and unite in this activity, not only to present their musical talents, but to share their faith with guests and loved ones.
Mark Angelo Luis (INC Member, Marbella, Spain): First of all, I am very thankful to our Lord God for giving us the opportunity here in the Andalusia Region to hold this important activity – the INConcert. It was very exciting and we were able to invite many guests, most especially our co-workers who were extremely thrilled. And they wish to come back, as they have mentioned to us.
Naomi De La Cruz: Through these activities, members of the Church Of Christ are further inspired in sharing their faith with their fellow men, in hopes that many will come to learn more about the true teachings taught in the Church Of Christ. If you want to learn more about the Church Of Christ, visit INCMedia.org/about-us and subscribe to our YouTube channel @INCMedia.official.
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Naomi De La Cruz: Well, that does it for us on INC News World. Tune in every Saturday for new episodes of INC News World on INCMedia.org or our YouTube channel and on streaming platforms. I’m Naomi Dela Cruz and thank you for joining us. Stay safe and we’ll see you next time.
