INC Assists Families in Need Worldwide

INC Assists Families in Need Worldwide 

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RICHIE FERRERA: This week on a special episode of INC News World: see the worldwide Aid to Humanity events across the Philippines, Asia, and Africa; Aid to Humanity reaches Oakland, California; and an event farther south in Orange County, California. Your INC News World starts now.

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NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: Welcome to this special episode of INC News World. I’m Naomi De La Cruz.

RICHIE FERRERA: And I’m Richie Ferrera coming to you from the INC Media studios in Los Angeles, California. And in today’s special episode we’ll be looking at the worldwide Aid to Humanity events that happened recently. 

NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: And to start off, we’ll be taking a look at how international this project has become, starting in the Philippines. 

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NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: Across the Philippines, in the thousands of local congregations of the Church Of Christ, the Aid to Humanity was an outstretched hand to communities. In other parts of Asia like Japan, the event began with village evangelical missions in various locations across the country, and the District of Nagoya. And in the District of Tokyo, during their evangelical missions in collaboration with the event, the Christian Family Organizations had musical entertainment for everyone in attendance. And in the Districts of Northern and Southern Africa, and the many countries across the continent that have been introduced to the Church Of Christ, the Aid to Humanity events filled a most dire need: to fight the systemic poverty that has plagued the region. 

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RICHIE FERRERA: Oakland, California has been back to back with humanitarian events recently inside the Church Of Christ. Over the last year there have been multiple events held in the area and the city, in 2019, declared a Felix Y. Manalo Foundation Day in response. 

NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: Which is why it’s no surprise then that the Church Of Christ has returned to Oakland, or rather, it never left. Continuing to help the members of this community, including the countless who are homeless. Michelle Peredo has the story. 

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MICHAEL LAMPLEY (RESIDENT – OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA): It’s hard right now. I’m going through a lot of change right now. Divorce. Homeless. Never been through this before. 

MICHELLE PEREDO: Michael, an Oakland local, is going through some tough times. And unfortunately, this is not an uncommon situation. 

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Oakland’s homeless population rose 47% between 2017 and 2019, one of the biggest two-year increases of any California city, 

SF Chronicle 

MICHELLE PEREDO (CONTINUED): surpassing homeless rates of even San Francisco and Berkeley. 

MICHAEL LAMPLEY (RESIDENT – OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA): I need love. That’s what I need. I’m just telling you, I felt love in here. 

MICHELLE PEREDO: And today, it was love that inspired many volunteers in the District of Northwest California to reach out to residents like Michael, who were in dire need.

MICHAEL LAMPLEY (RESIDENT – OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA): I needed a hand to reach out. And y’all reached out. Y’all just didn’t treat me like a number. It got personal. I appreciate that. 

MICHELLE PEREDO: Michael, whose life was greatly impacted today, was among many Oakland residents that flocked to East Oakland Pride Elementary School for the Aid to Humanity event of the Church Of Christ. The event also caught the attention of a local pastor, Francis. 

FRANCIS CLAY (PASTOR “I AM THAT I AM JESUS CHRIST FOUNDATION” – ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA): I was going through the neighborhood, visiting a couple of churches in the area and I saw these lovely ladies and children walking. 

MICHELLE PEREDO: It was the members of the Church Of Christ that shined as a beacon for today’s event, in Oakland and around the world. 

FRANCIS CLAY (PASTOR “I AM THAT I AM JESUS CHRIST FOUNDATION” – ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA): I like the unity that you have. I really like the videos and programs. And it shows that you’re versatile, that you’re more multicultural. That’s the greatest gift, there’s strength in numbers, there’s many members in one body.

BROTHER ESTEBAN INOCENCIO (DISTRICT SUPERVISING MINISTER): All these things I already mentioned, is the Church’s aim to bring all people, to bring all cultures to the true gospel. 

MICHELLE PEREDO: Through this event, those short of daily necessities were given care packages to give them a lift. And resources to help them get back on their feet.

TIFFANY ELI (RESIDENT – OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA): The backpacks, and the giveaways, that’s that’s a blessing.

BROTHER ESTEBAN INOCENCIO (DISTRICT SUPERVISING MINISTER): We invited the American Job Placement Center, and they also set up a booth and they were able to assist other people of the community and even brethren, brethren that are looking for a place to work or looking for a place where they would be able to earn an honest living. 

DANIEL WRIGHT (RESIDENT – OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA): People are very open they were like “Hey Daniel, how are you doing?” Calling my name. Makes you feel appreciated, makes you feel better even if you’re having a downer day. Someone might actually notice you and call you by your name. And everybody’s just so nice and happy out here. I appreciate it, thank you. 

KAREN SHAVONN BUTLER ROBINSON (RESIDENT – OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA): I feel welcome. And I feel God here. I feel God’s love here. I learned God is real.

MICHELLE PEREDO: Though many left with feeling inspired, today’s event also left a lasting impression on some.

VOICE FROM VIDEO BEING WATCHED BY AUDIENCE: During the current administration of the Church Of Christ, the Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, through the project launched “My Countrymen, My Brethren.” 

DANIEL WRIGHT (RESIDENT – OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA): I kind of learned a lot. I learned a lot that the Church Of Christ gives out a lot and does a lot as well. I actually want to attend more so I can actually get more, educational wise, about, you know, how it was started off and on all the above. 

KAREN SHAVONN BUTLER ROBINSON (RESIDENT – OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA): I’m very excited to be amongst you and your ministers and the other members. And I’m very looking forward to coming back tomorrow. I’m going to bring my daughter and some neighbors with me.

BROTHER ESTEBAN INOCENCIO (DISTRICT SUPERVISING MINISTER): As a result of the Aid to Humanity activity that we conducted today, there are so many who were interested in coming back to know more about the Church, to know more about our doctrines. So immediately we invited them to our Bible study sessions that we conduct. It has truly been a very, very positive way, a positive tool for us to share our faith with our friends and our fellow countrymen.

MICHAEL LAMPLEY (RESIDENT – OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA): That was very inspirational. All of it, to me, Because I needed all of it. When you need that kind of love you accept it all. Bless y’all and keep y’all hearts open like this in the world. I think y’all going to help the world a lot. I really do.

MICHELLE PEREDO: And this great work didn’t cease to inspire. As the same outreach was conducted all across the Bay Area and Northern California, in various venues: from rented halls, community halls, and senior centers. Providing daily life essentials and medical aid such as blood pressure checks and more, even along with inspiring musical performances. But the main event of all these activities was the preaching of God’s words. Heading up further north, members of the Church Of Christ continued the same outreach in various venues throughout the Districts of Oregon, Washington State, and Alaska. As volunteers of the Church Of Christ unceasingly continue to conduct Aid to Humanity events all around the world, the greatest aid that continues to be offered to their fellow countrymen is the true uniting faith inside the true Church Of Christ. To keep up with more humanitarian efforts and outreach programs, log on to incmedia.org/incnewsworld. Michelle Peredo for the Iglesia Ni Cristo News Network; Oakland, California.

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NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: So that was in Northern California and our neighbors a little more north of here. What about right here in Southern California and the American Southwest? 

RICHIE FERERRA: The other 3 districts across Southern California also held Aid to Humanity events but we’ll start in Orange County, where California’s weather was almost a deterrent, we’ll see. Nikki Salazar has the details. 

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NIKKI SALAZAR: The weather forecast for Orange County, California was gloomy on this particular Sunday. But that didn’t stop Viktor from accepting a friend’s invitation. 

VIKTOR ORTEGA (GUEST): I think this is like the 3rd time they told us and I was like you know what she’s always telling us about the Aid to Humanity and I was like ok we’ll try it out today. 

NIKKI SALAZAR: He was able to join the crowd at  Santiago Canyon College that heard first the words of God that were shared by the Church Of Christ, followed by an especially prepared video presentation describing the international humanitarian projects being conducted through Aid To Humanity and My Countrymen, My Brethren. 

VIKTOR ORTEGA (GUEST): I like it, yeah. I’d say  it inspires me because yeah seeing people help each other out, it’s good because like it’s not just, I feel like everyone’s looking even next door you know, whatever you can do to help out, even your neighbor and stuff. It changes the world for that one person. 

NIKKI SALAZAR: And for each of these people in attendance, they received care packages filled with daily necessities. 

BROTHER ALFRED ALEXIS LORIDO (MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL): My Countrymen, My Brethren Aid To Humanity all over the world to help our fellow men, our countrymen, to reach out to the community and to the people of this world. Not only to help them in their material things, giving them care packages but most important thing is we can share with them our faith through the teachings of the holy scriptures that it is important that we know the true Church which is the Church Of Christ. 

ERNIE SIOSON (INC MEMBER – RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA): It’s also a chance for us to help one another, to help those who are in dire need, and as the video that we’ve seen today people need a lot of people. And it’s incumbent upon us to provide that type of humanitarian aid. 

NIKKI SALAZAR: And each visitor was also welcomed to a buffet of international dishes.  

VIKTOR ORTEGA (GUEST): I myself am Mexican so I don’t really know much of the food here, but trying it a little bit it’s pretty good, get to try something new. Oh I want that one! But yeah it was good. 

NIKKI SALAZAR: Just like how the bad weather did not stop the event in Orange County, the snow did not stop the gathering in Utah either. And in Nevada, members of the Church Of Christ reached out to the communities of West Las Vegas, Las Vegas, and Henderson with the Aid to Humanity My Countrymen, My Brethren project and delivered care packages to those in need. In the state of Colorado, a shoes and clothing drive was set up to assist those who might be in need this winter. And in Arizona, the words of God and the inspiring community effort led these two men to accept the invitation of the Church Of Christ and return to listen to more teachings found in the Bible and to join this community of true Christians. From across Southeast California members of the Church convened in South San Diego to extend the invitation to their local community. In the District of Los Angeles County local congregations gathered from Pasadena to North Hollywood, and to Bakersfield to bring this outreach project and God’s words into communities across the region. 

VIKTOR ORTEGA (GUEST): I’d say community is very important you know. In numbers we’re stronger if you’re trying to change a community it helps if the whole community is together about it. 

NIKKI SALAZAR:  Together with the members of the Church Of Christ around the world, here in Orange County, California, the projects Aid to Humanity and My Countrymen, My Brethren continue to be inspiring and edifying events. To see more highlights of these projects year-round, stay tuned to INC News World on incmedia.org. I’m Sister Nikki Salazar with Iglesia Ni Cristo News Network; Orange County, California. 

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RICHIE FERRERA: Coming up on the next episode of INC News World we continue our Aid to Humanity coverage in Florida, Washington, D.C., Hawaii, Canada, and Europe. Stay tuned! 

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NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: That’s all the time we have today on INC News World, I’m Naomi De La Cruz. 

RICHIE FERRERA: And I’m Richie Ferrera. 

NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: On behalf of the entire INC News World team, thank you for joining us, have a great weekend, and God bless!