News World Special: Helping Amid a Pandemic

Helping Amid a Pandemic

[VIDEO START]

NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: Welcome back to INC News World, I’m Naomi De La Cruz coming to you still from home in Anaheim, California, joined by Richie Ferrera in the Los Angeles area.

RICHIE FERRERA: As we continue this special episode marking the 106th anniversary of the Church Of Christ. 

[VIDEO END]

RICHIE FERRERA: As we continue to look back at how the Church Of Christ responded to the communities around them, we realize how far the aid was extended. At every turn, the projects and priorities enacted by the Church Administration has made lives better during one of history’s darkest times. It proves that the Church has a place in this global new normal with actionable, sustainable solutions.

KARLO NOGRALES (CABINET SECRETARY – PHILIPPINES): Yesterday we received

more positive news when we learned that our brothers in the Iglesia Ni Cristo 

have agreed to let the government use the whole Ciudad De Victoria estate. Not just the Philippine Arena itself but the entire estate to isolate and quarantine COVID-19 cases.

BROTHER GLICERIO SANTOS JR. (GENERAL AUDITOR – IGLESIA NI CRISTO): We hope this will help doctors, nurses, and paramedics who are really giving their lives. And we hope in these situations we all help one another. 

RICHIE FERRERA: Donations in the Philippines included thermal scanners, personal protective equipment, disinfectants, and other medical supplies to help hospitals and frontliners.

VINCE DIZON (COVID-19 NATIONAL TASK FORM – PHILIPPINES):  If not because of their generosity, allowing us to use this Philippine arena at no cost, we will be lacking in facilities to provide care for our countrymen especially those that are COVID-19 positive.

AINELOU DAVID (INC MEMBER – QUEENS, NEW YORK): The Church Administration is on point. They know what we need, and they’re responding.

RICHIE FERRERA: And while many are on the verge of hopelessness due to joblessness, there is one pocket of America that is thriving solely due to an influx of employment opportunities.

RAMIL GATCHALIAN (INC MEMBER & ECO FARM WORKER – SHOSHONI, WYOMING): Even though it’s hard times right now for everybody, we’re still able to survive: pay college tuition, mortgage, and all of the daily things that we need to take care of. What we’re doing is not only helping the family, but again, we’re doing great service to the brethren, the community over here in Shoshoni, we’re providing jobs for them, and again, we’re helping out with the project of the Church Administration.

RICHIE FERRERA: And the eco-farms established in Africa in previous years, are continuing to be a beacon of success in an area long struggling with poverty.

KAMOHELO MONTSI (INC MEMBER & ECOFARM WORKER – SOUTH AFRICA): My family’s life was difficult before we came to the farm.

MASHALANE THOTA (INC MEMBER & ECOFARM WORKER – SOUTH AFRICA):  It was bad at the time not eating something.

KAMOHELO MONTSI (INC MEMBER & ECOFARM WORKER – SOUTH AFRICA):  Because a lot of people are not allowed to work during this pandemic so we are very privileged to be allowed to work at the eco-farm during this pandemic. We are able now to buy foods, clothes, pay our bills, and also save a little bit for ourselves and I can also set aside the offerings. 

MASHALANE THOTA (INC MEMBER & ECOFARM WORKER – SOUTH AFRICA): It changes a lot in my life because many works are closed and we’ve been lucky to put something on the table. We can still survive around this pandemic. 

MOEKETSI KEME (INC MEMBER & ECOFARM WORKER – SOUTH AFRICA): Thank you, once again. My life would never be the same for I have changed for the better.

KEBONENG SARAH MOKAE (INC MEMBER & ECOFARM WORKER – SOUTH AFRICA): I feel free. I pray to God. [I] say, “Thank you, God.”

PHILIP VASQUEZ: In just a few years, FYM Foundation garment factories have been providing thousands of people in poor communities with secure and decent employment.

VERONICA MUTSI (INC MEMBER & GARMENT FACTORY WORKER – SOUTH AFRICA): We have the garment factory. We’re working here in the Garment Factory in QwaQwa. The life here is not good so we are very thankful because we [have] good income especially now in the pandemic times. So, we are very thankful. Thank you for the blessings. 

MANNANA MOTOBOLI (INC MEMBER & GARMENT FACTORY WORKER – SOUTH AFRICA): It helps us and our families to reach our needs and our wants because inside Africa we are so poor but it helps us to have the food in our families.

RICHIE FERRERA: And while the virus is subsiding in some countries, there is still yet another concern around the corner. 

DICELYN GANTE (REGISTERED NURSE & INC MEMBER – WALSALL, UNITED KINGDOM): It is just like you know, when you go to the ward, you can see the people around and everyone is just crying.

DAVID ORIA (DOCTOR & INC MEMBER – NEW YORK CITY): It just takes a toll on you mentally and emotionally, that’s kind of what you carry home. 

RICHIE FERRERA: And for this phase of the pandemic, the long term mental health adversities, the Church Of Christ is a refuge as well.

JEWELL BUENAVISTA (INC MEMBER – SOUTH SAN DIEGO): The driving force in all of this is God, everything is in Your hands. Because if we allow, I’m not gonna deny I’ve had my share of cries because it can be overwhelming when everything all at once just comes at you in a perfect storm.

KARA CABUSAO (NURSE & INC MEMBER – SAINT JOHN, OTTAWA): All the troubles, all the anxiety fades away. Because you’re serving our Almighty God. I really can’t explain the feeling of contentment, the feeling of security here inside the Church.

JANINE ROCELLE APITA (INC MEMBER – NEW ERA HOUSING PHILIPPINES): The Church Administration has sent a message that strengthens the faith of the members of the Church Of Christ to fight stress, depression, which is truly unavoidable, especially while we are experiencing this pandemic.

RICHIE FERRERA: While so much has been lost to this pandemic, it is with great faith, and joy, that these members of the Church Of Christ remain thankful and faithful.

BROTHER BERNARD DAOS (MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL – SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA): What happened to my family during this COVID-19, if we look at just that maybe someone could say, “What a great loss. That’s so difficult, that’s a painful experience.” But if you really look at how God has been blessing us and taking care of us all our life, this is just another chapter that we need to go through. So that we can see how God has given us blessing, after blessing, after blessing.

DEON VAN STATEN (DOCTRINAL INSTRUCTEE – JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA): The constant reassurance that we know God will provide and we just have to trust in Him. That’s what keeps us going. We know that the greater good, that God is, we just have to trust and that’s what’s [going to] bring us through all of this.

RICHIE FERRERA: It is God that has helped the faithful endure before the pandemic and it is a faith that will endure long after this pandemic passes. 

IRENE ALLENDER (INC MEMBER – BLOOMINGDALE, ILLINOIS): I been through  many, many hardships and trials in my life, even worse than this pandemic and I know He’s watching over me. I could feel that, you know, He’s guiding me and I always seek comfort, through, you know, those prayers and I know God will never, never disappoint me. He’s always there and I could feel it, I could really feel His spirit.

JR MACABULOS (INC MEMBER/REGISTERED NURSE – TEMPLE HILLS, MARYLAND): I could probably not be able to go to work if I felt like I had no faith. That’s my armor, literally, before I go inside the room. Like yes, I have my physical armor, but I mean, ultimately, I have my faith as my armor that I trust and believe and I pray and I worship that, you know, God will keep me safe.

EVSON REY CAPUNO (INC MEMBER/REGISTERED NURSE – LOMBARDY, ITALY): It’s very difficult physically, mentally and emotionally. But we as Church Of Christ members, I just entrust it to God in prayer. 

REY MANGUBAT (INC MEMBER – NEW YORK, NEW YORK): So for those, you know, who have loved ones who have been affected by the pandemic, remain strong, keep praying, continue to attend the worship service.

RICHIE FERRERA: And while some didn’t make it back to their families…

ALBERT GUERZON (INC MEMBER – ROCKI AND NEW YORK): And of course, God’s plan is better than our own.

GISELLE DANA LUNA (DAUGHTER OF LATE FRONTLINER – NEW JERSEY): I think having strong faith, especially during this time, it’s giving us a lot of comfort and peace in our hearts and our minds, knowing that ultimately, we put our trust in our Almighty God.

RICHIE FERRERA (CONTINUED): while others did come back home. The Church Of Christ is always looking forward to another year, another milestone, another success and eventually, its salvation.

GABRIELLE DAWN LUNA (DAUGHTER OF LATE FRONTLINER – NEW JERSEY): And as much as our dad finished his own race. We need to make sure we also finish ours. So while we’re still here, you know, we’ll continue to entrust ourselves to our Almighty God. We’ll continue to uphold our faith. We’ll continue to perform our duties, everything that we can do to ensure that on the day of judgement we’ll be able to see each other again.

ALBERT GUERZON (INC MEMBER – ROCKLIN, NEW YORK): When I hear verses about, you know, people in pain, now have no more tears or you know we will be together again. I know when I hear that, “We will be together again”, we will be together again.

BROTHER BERNARD DAOS (MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL – SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA): If we only live for this life, then we can be sad, then we can give up, then we can make every excuse we want because it’s only for this life. But if we really believe in eternal life, if we really believe in our membership in the Church Of Christ, if we really believe we are sons and daughters of God, then we keep living for eternal life; finish the race, fight the good fight, that is what those who have done it would want us to know and remember.

[VIDEO END]

NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: And as we celebrate this 106th anniversary of the Church Of Christ we are thankful for the many blessings that God has given to His church.

RICHIE FERRERA: And we are thankful for every experience of the last year, every step of preparation, for it has brought us here to another day to serve God.

NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: As always, thank you for joining us on this special episode of INC News World.

RICHIE FERRERA: Have a great weekend and God bless.