NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: From North America to Europe, we take a look at a series of inspiring events 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 Florida where a special gathering was held at the Space Coast Convention Center in Cocoa Beach, Florida for the Buklod or married couples in commemoration of the 61st anniversary of the Buklod organization. They were reminded of the importance of strengthening the bond of marriage life led by Supervising Minister, Brother Marlone Balason.
EDDIE SANCHEZ (BUKLOD MEMBER, TAMPA, FLORIDA): The words that were taught today, [were] perfectly said about [the] husband and wife — to unite together, always keep that love going.
NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: The special event was followed by a Buklod Night event for the married members.
EDDIE SANCHEZ (BUKLOD MEMBER, TAMPA, FLORIDA): It’s a beautiful gathering, seeing the people that you knew for a long time gather together this is a great night for everyone.
NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: The special gathering included fun games aimed to further strengthen the marital relationship between husband and wife.
DANILO VARGAS (BUKLOD OFFICER, COCOA BEACH, FLORIDA): We’re so happy that, again, we are given the opportunity to bond with the Buklod brothers and sisters in our district. It’s so good to see them everyone again, so happy being together. But the most especially is the opportunity that we again, receive. The words that we just received during the special worship service, it touched our hearts again.
BROTHER MARK BERNAL (MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL, COCOA BEACH, FLORIDA): It’s beneficial for Buklod members to strengthen their bond as a husband and wife because in the Church Of Christ, that is the bond of husband and wife and this bond they need to strengthen and solidify always, because this is what keeps their marriage not only together, but for our Lord God to be with them, to be there with their household.
BROTHER RONNIE DAVID (MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL, ORLANDO, FLORIDA): It’s important that we have patience. Love is patience. So when it comes to life, there are struggles, there are misunderstandings, but we should be patient. We should be able to sit back and just think, let’s try to understand each other, because if we can have patience, we can have communication. If we can have proper communication, we can have understanding. And if we have understanding, then our love will be okay, especially as members inside the Church Of Christ that are Buklod members.
BROTHER MARLONE BALASON (SUPERVISING MINISTER, ECCLESIASTICAL DISTRICT OF FLORIDA): Activities like these as like what our Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo Manalo’s always reminding us about. It helps strengthen the bond between husband and wife. It’s important for the Buklod members to have that strong relationship as husband and wife, because especially if they have children, they’re the foundation of the family. So the foundation of the family has to be strong, the husband and the wife. If the foundation is strong, spiritually strong, then that will go to the children as well — the future of the Church.
NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: From Florida, we head north to the Ecclesiastical District of Greater Toronto, where a special gathering was held in the house of worship of Midtown Toronto. Leading by example were the Buklod members, the married members of the Church Of Christ, taking up different duties in the Church. For members like Homer, who was among those to take part in an oath-taking of new Church officers.
HOMER LINTAG (BUKLOD OFFICER, MIDTOWN TORONTO, GREATER TORONTO): I know that this duty is God given, and as a member of the Church Of Christ, I know that there is a growing need of the Church when it comes to taking care of the brothers and sisters, and as a part of the hand of the Church Administration when it comes to taking care of the brethren in the locale.
NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: The sacred event focused on the importance of holding an office in the Church Of Christ, in strengthening the faith and unity among fellow members, led by Supervising Minister, Brother Raul Adalla.
BROTHER RAUL ADALLA (SUPERVISING MINISTER, ECCLESIASTICAL DISTRICT OF GREATER TORONTO): The benefit of participating in this activity launched by the Church Administration is to strengthen the love of the brotherhood and to make everyone active in their service to our Almighty God. So that they may be able to give glory to our Almighty God and make them be united always with the Church Administration in compliance with the teaching of the Bible that we all must be submissive to the Church Administration.
NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: Attendees were joined by fellow members like Ferdinand, from the congregation of Toronto through videoconference, as newly inducted Church officers were reminded of the importance of upholding the sacred duties entrusted to them.
FERDINAND DEL ROSARIO (BUKLOD OFFICER, TORONTO, GREATER TORONTO): We have been raised to be God-fearing and to always love the Church Administration, love the duty and first and foremost, always preserve our election that’s been taught to us by our parents and we always hear that through the Church Administration every time we attend our worship services.
NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: Special gatherings like this continue to inspire members as we take our next visit across the pond to the Ecclesiastical District of Central Europe where another special gathering was held in Frankfurt, Germany in a study of the words of God as led by Supervising Minister, Brother Joel Catalan.
NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: Joining through videoconference were members from across the district including: Berlin, Bonn, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Munich, Zurich, Switzerland, and… Rotterdam, Netherlands. Among those in attendance was Ashley, currently residing in the Netherlands after relocating from Aruba in her pursuit of a higher education.
ASHLEY ROSMALEN (KADIWA OFFICER, ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS): I moved in the corona period, so I moved on my own, and it was difficult to adjust with my studies because I had to live far away from the chapel and the travel time was more than an hour.
NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: Despite the challenges she faces, Ashley was unhindered in her efforts in supporting these activities being among those to participate in an oath-taking of new Church officers.
ASHLEY ROSMALEN (KADIWA OFFICER, ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS): These duties I took upon me to become stronger in my faith and to continue to praise and magnify our Almighty Father’s name.
BROTHER STEPHAN SCHIELMANN (RESIDENT MINISTER, WIESBADEN, GERMANY): It’s of utmost importance that many more officers are added to the Church because the officers are helpers of the Church Administration in making sure that the spiritual welfare of the brethren are taken care of, in making sure that they will reach the promised salvation.
BROTHER JOEL CATALAN (SUPERVISING MINISTER, ECCLESIASTICAL DISTRICT OF CENTRAL EUROPE): This is an additional force for our district in helping in the Church activities and not just in the propagation of the words of God but in edifying all the brethren and those who will become members of the Church. We are united with Brother Eduardo V. Manalo and all the Church activities, because we do this for God’s honor and glory.
FRANCES (KADIWA OFFICER, FRANKFURT, GERMANY): I feel very blessed and I am also very thankful to our Lord God that I have the opportunity to take up a new duty in the Church and also especially to help the Church Administration and the KADIWA in our district.
BROTHER PHILIPP MANGUIAT (RESIDENT MINISTER, BERLIN, GERMANY): We firmly believe this will help strengthen not only the bond, not only to edify the brethren, but to continuously unite with the spirit and aim of the Administration.
ASHLEY ROSMALEN (KADIWA OFFICER, ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS): I will fulfill my duties and continue to ask for guidance from God as I will not be able to fulfill his duties without him and I will continue to strengthen my faith in him.
NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: New church officers continue to heed the call of the Church Administration as we take our next visit to the Ecclesiastical District of Northern Europe where a special gathering was held in Oslo, Norway. In an effort to support the growing numbers, members were reminded of the importance of fulfilling their Church duties as they were led in a preaching of the words of God by Assistant Supervising Minister, Brother Jake Edic.
NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: Members from across the district connected via video conferencing including sites from: Vienna, Helsinki, Stockholm, and Copenhagen, where among those to take part in the oath-taking was Angel, taking up the duty as a secretary for the KADIWA organization, or unmarried members over 18.
ANGEL BENJAMIN (KADIWA OFFICER, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK): This special gathering today inspired me to all the more fulfill my duties actively, because it has been taught that God will always guide us. And there is an assurance that he would always look after us and it’s a great blessing.
NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: With the ongoing works in the Church Of Christ, the need for more Church officers is at hand.
BROTHER KEVIN HEITMANN (RESIDENT MINISTER, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK): The victories of the Church are increasing, especially now in our time through the leadership of Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, our current Executive Minister. And because the numbers of brethren are increasing, we need more officers inside the Church to take care of and guide the brethren in their services to our Almighty God.
JENNYFLOR HEMEDEZ (CHOIR ORGANIST, VIENNA CENTER, AUSTRIA): Feeling the love of the Church and especially the Church Administration is something that keeps us motivated and helps us in all the duties that we have because we want to praise God with our duties.
BROTHER JAKE EDIC (ASSISTANT SUPERVISING MINISTER, ECCLESIASTICAL DISTRICT OF NORTHERN EUROPE): We had many new Church officers here in our Ecclesiastical District of Northern Europe, and it is our hope that they will be of good help to our Executive Minister in taking care of our brethren here in this part of the world.
NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: Through events and activities like these, ties and unity among the brethren are further strengthened under the care of the Church Administration and the loving guidance of the Almighty God.
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NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: Well, that does it for us on INC News World, tune in every Sunday for new episodes on INCTV and every Saturday on INCMedia.org, our YouTube channel and on streaming platforms. I’m Naomi De La Cruz. Thank you for joining us. Stay safe and we’ll see you next time. God bless.
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