Rebuilding Hope: INC Extends Aid after Super Typhoon Mawar in Guam

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Host: In a prompt response to assist families affected by Super Typhoon Mawar, learn how volunteers in Guam are stepping up to help. In a heartfelt gesture of appreciation, the INC Giving project takes center stage in Fremont, California, recognizing the invaluable contributions of teachers. From North America, watch the latest happening in the Church Of Christ. Your INC News World starts now.

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Richie Ferrera: Welcome to INC News World. I’m Richie Ferrera coming to you from the INC Media studios in Anaheim, California.

Just recently, the US island territory of Guam was devastated by category 4 Super Typhoon Mawar. There is an effort to bring much-needed relief to residents who were affected, so let’s learn how a group of volunteers stepped up to help. Rozelle loyola gives us that report.

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News Anchor: Overnight, the US territory of Guam has been bracing for a direct hit from Typhoon Mawar. Likely the worst storm to hit the island in decades.

Rozelle Loyola: With heavy rain and winds up to 150 miles per hour, trees toppled, and crushed cars, affecting over 150,000 residents. For Jun and his family, it hasn’t been easy, who returned to their home after seeking shelter at the time of the storm.

Jun Loren Villanueva (Resident, Guam): The roof came off and all of the water came inside and damaged all of our appliances and other important things. We thought the damage was not that big, then when we entered the door, the water flowed out and it flooded inside. Our cabinets, all of the doors were gone. Our living room, the TV, and appliance system, and the sofa are all damaged by the typhoon and water. All of our things– we were not able to save anything, just the clothes that we can still wash.

Jinky Villanueva (Resident, Guam): The strength and the length of the storm was pretty long. Right now, we’re using our car for power.

Rozelle: Jun and his family’s situation is not a unique one, as Cornel and his family were also greatly affected.

Cornel Miclat (Resident, Guam): With the force of the typhoon, our things were damaged like what you can see now. Our cars are totally damaged. The electricity will still take a while to come back because the damage in our area is big. It will probably take 1-2 months before it can come back.

Rozelle: Jun and Cornel’s families are among the many residents who, until now, are waiting for power and water supply to be restored. But in a prompt response to help alleviate the struggles of residents like Jun and Cornel and their families during this time of crisis, the Church Of Christ stepped in. In partnership with the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation and through a ‘Care for Humanity’ event in the ecclesiastical district of Micronesia, residents were given everyday essentials such as toiletries, water, rice, and butane in hopes of helping hold families up while waiting for power and water sources to resume in their communities.

Brother Noel Gasmen (Supervising Minister, Ecclesiastical District of Micronesia): The aim of the Church Administration is first of all to follow God’s commandment to help our brethren, the love of brotherhood, and also our fellowmen. As we love our fellowmen, as we love other people, we show our love for our Almighty God in heaven.

Jun Loren Villanueva (Resident, Guam): When we heard that the [Church] Administration had a ‘Care For Humanity’ event, we had hope and our mood was happy because the [Church] Administration remembered us.

Rozelle: For doctrinal instructees Tiana, Jokina, and Dairen, they are thankful that the Church continues to think about their families, addressing their spiritual and material needs.

Tiana Seker (Doctrinal Instructee): We’re struggling, we’re trying our best to get the things that we need. We’re so appreciative because we were given the things that we need. We’re thankful for the things that we need.

Jokina Seker (Doctrinal Instructee): I feel happy.

Ross Rhonda (Resident, Guam): Grateful. Thankful. We appreciate it.

Cornel Miclat (Resident, Guam): We also thank our Almighty God because the Church Administration always remembers us even though they are physically far from us. Thank you very much for not leaving us alone. Thank you very much Brother Eduardo V. Manalo.

Rozelle: And of the most important support given by the Church Of Christ to those affected during this time of calamity was comfort through the words of God from the Bible– giving hope and inspiration in the midst of challenging circumstances.

Brother Noel Gasmen (Supervising Minister, Ecclesiastical District of Micronesia): Despite the things that are happening in this world, we help them to believe in the Almighty God.

Jun Loren Villanueva (Resident, Guam): Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, our Executive Minister, we’re so thankful for the help.

Jinky Villanueva (Resident, Guam): Thank you, thank you so much. We love you.

Rozelle: Whether assisting families struggling with poverty or helping fellow men during times of calamity, the Church Of Christ continues to respond rapidly to the needs of communities like here in Guam. It’s also through endeavors like these that have not only provided material help to residents, but hope through the Almighty God, as Church Of Christ members continue to share the true faith. Rozelle Ann Loyola for the Iglesia Ni Cristo News Network.

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Richie: We’re so glad to hear that residents in Guam are continuing to stay safe and remain hopeful during this difficult time. And we continue to pray for their welfare.

Now with the month of may designated as teacher appreciation month, parents and community volunteers came together to celebrate educators in Fremont, California, showing their heartfelt appreciation for the tremendous impact they have on the lives of students.  Olivia navasca has the details.

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Olivia Navasca: This is my P.E. teacher, Coach C. She’s nice and fun. She was my guest at the Teacher Appreciation Event in my local congregation of Fremont where INC Kids like me got to say thank you to our teachers for all that they do for us. We read poems to tell them how much they mean to us. We sang songs to them. And they even won really cool prizes. But mostly our families spent time with them and made them smile.

Coach Crittendon (Easton Elementary School, Fremont, California): I loved it. It was great. Thank you so much for inviting me.

Alexis Castillo (Daycare and Preschool Teacher, Fremont, California): Honestly, we don’t get appreciated enough. So this is such an amazing, nice thing that you guys put together.

Olivia: Teachers appreciation events is part of the INC Giving Project where we believe in whenever we possibly can, do good to those who need it. And we know that at the end of the school year, teachers are tired and could really use some love and appreciation, and they got just that.

Katie Do (Smiling Face Day Care, Fremont, California): Tonight was just amazing. Just to have this honor means so much to me. And we could not be teachers without [the] little ones, so thank you for having me.

Olivia: Everyone had a great time and left with full hearts.

Interviewer: What was your favorite part?

Isaiah Viray (INC Kid, Fremont, California): The performances because we danced for the teachers.

Olivia: Thank you teachers. You mean the world to us. I’m Olivia Navasca reporting for the Iglesia Ni Cristo News Television Network. Fremont, California.

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Richie: From North America to Asia, we witness how Church Of Christ members uplift, cultivate, and share their faith around the globe. Let’s take a look.

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Richie: Our first stop takes us to the ecclesiastical District of Virginia. From the mountain ranges of the Appalachians to Chesapeake Bay is the state Commonwealth of Virginia. And it’s also here where an evangelical mission, a study of God’s words, was held. Members from across Virginia, including Norfolk, Chesapeake and Newport News, gathered with their invited guests at the house of worship in Virginia Beach and guests like Seneade were brought closer to the words of God tonight.

Seneade Boloy (Guest, Virginia): Tonight the lesson made me feel more connected towards the Bible. The topic tonight was a messenger by God.

Lauren Turner (INC Member, Virginia): So the event we had tonight was the EVM, which is the evangelical mission. The lesson taught tonight was pretty much emphasizing having a messenger in a prophecy.

Richie: For members like Lauren, they were eager to participate in this event, inviting their friends for a chance to listen to the true teachings.

Lauren Turner (INC Member, Virginia): I was able to have a guest. He’s my coworker and friend. His name is Timothy Johnson.

Timothy Johnson (Guest, Virginia): I felt that the lesson was inspiring and it was according to the word of God. The lesson I learned today, I can use in my everyday life. Just spreading the word of God and just sharing it with love and everybody came here smiling and embracing each other and this is something I will definitely carry on. And I’m glad I was able to attend.

Richie: The evangelical mission also served as an opportunity for guests like Rheanne to learn more about the true teachings upheld in the Church Of Christ.

Rheanne Dinapelis (Guest, Virginia): I’ve always taken an interest in Iglesia Ni Cristo.

Richie: And it was through a relative where she first learned about the Church.

Michael Romano Jr. (INC Member, Virginia): I’ve been inviting her to worship services.

Rheanne Dinapelis (Guest, Virginia): The lesson taught tonight was very special to me because I was always questioning about the different religions and how they compare to each other. And it made me understand how different this Church is compared to the other ones. And it made me feel closer to Iglesia Ni Cristo because I normally go to Catholic churches and I never really understood it, but I felt a connection with this lesson.

Richie: The event was extended further to different venues including Fayetteville and High Point in North Carolina, to Charleston, South Carolina, and even Atlanta, Georgia, joining online in the study of the true teachings, led by Minister of the Gospel, Brother Ed Maranan, emphasizing the importance of believing in God’s messengers.

Brother Ed Maranan (Minister of the Gospel, U.S. East Office, Washington, D.C.): When we look out into the world, other religions are also doing works of propagation. But the difference between us and them is that they don’t have the messenger, it’s a very timely lesson, to teach to our friends and guests who joined us in our evangelical mission tonight to make known the importance of the work of the Messenger of God in commemoration of the 137th anniversary of the Sugo, Brother Felix Manalo.

Marina Garner (Guest, Charleston, South Carolina): I’m feeling very good, optimistic. I’m looking forward to learning more and more, and I very happy that I’m going back to church now. It’s been many years since I’ve been to any church and very happy it’s the Church Of Christ.

Dwayne Beaton (Guest, Charleston, South Carolina): Well, it was enlightening. I gotta say it was enlightening. It was the message and I received it.

Rheanne Dinapelis (Guest, Virginia): I would love to join an activity like this again.

Richie: And as part of continuing the commemoration of the birth anniversary of God’s messenger, a Care For Humanity event was also held in Norfolk, led by Supervising Minister, Brother Esteban Inocencio, providing care packages to those in need.

Richie: Activities in the Church Of Christ, like the Care For Humanity continue as we take our next visit to the ecclesiastical district of the Caribbean…

Located among the isles of the Greater Antilles is the nation of Haiti. Filled with mountainous terrains and once known as the “Pearl of the Antilles”– the wealthiest colony in the West Indies, its rich culture has been overshadowed by extreme poverty, regressing as one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere. But it is here in Haiti, where the Church Of Christ held another Care For Humanity event to extend aid to families in need.

Richie: Led by Supervising Minister, Brother Garry Garcia, care packages were distributed to local residents in need.

Brother Garry Garcia (Supervising Minister, Ecclesiastical District of the Caribbean): Through these care packages prepared by the Church Administration, we are able to help our fellowmen with their basic needs. But the greatest thing we could offer to them are none other than the words of God written in the Bible which will guide them in the attainment of the promised salvation.

Richie: The event began with a study of God’s words, as members, along with their invited guests gathered to listen to the true teachings taught in the Bible. And among those in attendance was Ledius, a reverend Pastor in Haiti.

Pastor Ledius Joseph (Guest, Haiti): The lesson that was taught today was very good because what was taught were the words of God. If someone wants to become a true Christian, he needs to continue to listen to the Bible studies because inside the Church Of Christ, the lessons that are taught by the ministers can change the lives of many.

I will come again because everything inside the Church Of Christ is true but in the other churches, they can say one thing but they cannot prove it.

Richie: The spread of the true faith continues as we take our next visit to the ecclesiastical district of Southern Ontario…

Where an inauguration was held for the group worship service of Brantford in commemoration of the birth anniversary of God’s Messenger, Brother Felix Y. Manalo. Led by Supervising Minister, Brother Raul Adalla, members gathered to witness this historic event.

Brother Raul Adalla (Supervising Minister, Ecclesiastical District of Southern Ontario): We thanked our beloved Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, for approving the establishment of Brantford Group Worship Service in the Ecclesiastical District of Southern Ontario, Canada. With the help and mercy of our Lord God, more people will be called in the true Church Of Christ in this part of the world. We will press onwards to further victories in all the works of the Church.

Herald Garcia (Head Deacon, Brantford, Southern Ontario): We feel so happy and blessed now that the worship service will be closer to our brethren who live around the area, now we don’t have to travel so long to reach the place of worship. We would like to thank our Church Administration for approving our Group Worship Service especially to Our Almighty God, for giving us this wonderful blessing, we are very blessed and thankful.

Richie: Through activities like this, the Church Of Christ continues to make known to others the value of receiving the true teachings upheld in the true faith. If you want to learn more about the Church Of Christ and its various activities, visit INCMedia.org/Church-News and check out our YouTube channel at INCMedia.Official.

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Richie: Well, that does it for us on INC News World. Tune in every Saturday for new episodes of INC News World on incmedia.org, 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!