Why Go To Church?

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Brother Bob Pellien: Why do you go to church? Why do you belong to an organized religion? 

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TODAY’S TOPIC: “WHY DO YOU GO TO CHURCH?”

Brother Bob Pellien: Why do you always attend the worship service? Many may ask such questions to members of the Church Of Christ. Well, they see that members of the Church are always attending the worship services and Bible studies and such, and when they ask where we’re going after work, where we’re going after school, many times they’ll mention they’re going to the Bible study. So why do we go to church? Are there actual benefits of going to church? I’m Bob Pellien. We’ll answer that and much more right here on the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition, and today, joining us in this important discussion is Brother Marvin Mangune in Los 

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Marvin Mangune

Los Angeles, California

Minister of the Gospel

Brother Marvin Mangune: Hello, Brother Bob, thank you for having me today. 

Brother Bob Pellien: We thank you so very much as well, Brother Andrew Fisher in Melbourne, Australia, the Land Down Under. Brother Andrew, thanks for joining us.

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Andrew Fisher

Melbourne, Australia

Minister of the Gospel

Brother Andrew Fisher: G’day Brothers, great to be here.

Brother Bob Pellien: We also have with us in this important discussion for today, Brother Daniel Pinnock in Paris, France, Brother Daniel, welcome to the discussion as well.

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Daniel Pinnock

Paris, France

Minister of the Gospel

Brother Daniel Pinnock: Thanks so much. Brother Bob, and hello to all of our viewers.

Brother Bob Pellien: Brothers and dear viewers, we welcome everyone to this program and discussion, and it’s a very important and timely topic. So we’re asking, Why do you go to church? Or even, why do others not go to church? Take a look at this short video clip to open up our discussion.

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[Source:@harrykrown]

And he stopped coming to church cause he didn’t want to follow what God has said, but you are working with me. You believe I’m a man of God, then I’ll tell you what God has said. So why do you run away from church? Because he doesn’t want to be questioned, he doesn’t want authority, doesn’t want spiritual guidance.

[Source:@it’smacclark]

Hey why did you stop going to church for so long when you were so involved?

I got burned out. 

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2:53 Why many don’t want to go to church

Brother Bob Pellien: Brother Marvin, shouldn’t be surprised that the whole world is experiencing this anti go to church ideology that we saw presented in those couple of clips, and it’s all over the internet now, right? 

Brother Marvin Mangune: Yes, Brother Bob, honestly, you know, we shouldn’t be surprised at all. In this part of the world, there are many people with such a sentiment or an idea of not going to church or even not being religious at all. But you know, why is it? Why is it that we shouldn’t be surprised if we were to ask the Bible here in Second Timothy, 3, 1 to 5, we could read the answer here. 

You may as well know this too, Timothy, that in the last days it is going to be very difficult to be a Christian. For people will love only themselves and their money; they will be proud and boastful, sneering at God, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful to them, and thoroughly bad. They will be hardheaded and never given to others; they will be constant liars and troublemakers and will think nothing of immorality. They will be rough and cruel. and sneer at those who try to be good. They will betray their friends; they will be hotheaded, puffed up with pride, and prefer good times to worshiping God. They will go to church, yes, but they won’t really believe anything they hear. Don’t be taken in by people like that. 

-II Timothy 3:1-5 The Living Bible

Brother Marvin Mangune: Dear viewers and dear friends, we shouldn’t be surprised by the lack of religious service that people render unto our Lord God. It’s because the Apostle Paul already told us and forewarned us of the kind of attitude that many of the people would have in our time, in these last days. They would prefer good times to even worshiping God. They would rather go to the park or even watch movies or even play video games instead of rendering service or worship unto our Lord God. We shouldn’t be surprised then by the things that they are doing, which is disconnected to our Almighty God. So this is what people would be doing in our time. They would lack religious service, and they would lack in performing services to our Lord God. 

Brother Bob Pellien: Other things, Brother Andrew, their time was in the pursuit of hobbies and leisure and such, right? 

Brother Andrew Fisher: That’s exactly it, Brother Bob, because instead of devoting time and effort to giving attention to God and serving God here in Australia, for example, what people invest most of their time and attention and even their resources and money into are things like sports and leisure. You know, people go to great lengths to participate in sporting events and fanatics over sporting teams, even investing their money, driving far to do these things, yet they won’t be willing to do any such thing when it comes to serving God or religion.

Brother Daniel Pinnock: So an additional sad aspect of that Brother Andrew is that so when it comes to those who, for example, are participating in those hobbies or leisure time instead of serving God, you even have among them and people that are sneering at God or mocking God, as was mentioned in the Bible, and in truth, if they’re not sneering at God, mocking God, the idea of serving God, it’s nowhere near their minds. It’s just something that isn’t important for them. Going to church is something that just isn’t important for many people. 

Brother Bob Pellien: If we could just sum all of this up, then, Brothers, what it sounds like is that in this discussion, what’s being determined here is that there’s a global trend ongoing and intensifying that simply sees people drifting away from service to God and no longer have a desire to go to church. It’s a global trend nowadays, right?

Brother Marvin Mangune: It really is, Brother Bob, you know, we could see that, that sentiment, that idea of stepping away from God or not serving God. We see this all over the world, you know, not only here in Southern California, where many people are so distracted by different things in this life, but they even just take that whole part away in their life, in serving God. If we could even read a survey and even a study done by the Pew Research Center, you know, they did a research or a study concerning being religious, right? This is what they say here in the research: “Globally, younger adults are less likely to attend prayer services than their elders in 53 out of 102 countries surveyed.” So here, we can really see that there is a lack of religious interest or in attending a prayer meeting or some kind of worship gathering. More than half of those that were surveyed, the younger adults, the next generation the youth, were less likely to attend a prayer meeting or some kind of religious gathering.

Brother Bob Pellien: That global trend, Brother Marvin, those and those, those statistics that support what we’ve been discussing here, those are really sad. 

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TODAY’S TOPIC: “WHY DO YOU GO TO CHURCH?”

Brother Bob Pellien: That’s a really sad statistical score.

Brother Marvin Mangune: It definitely is, Brother Bob. It’s unfortunate. It’s really sad. You know, our children are growing up in a world where many of their surroundings, they really are disinterested in serving God or even in religion.

8:11  Why do members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo not follow the anti-church trend and still go to Church?

Brother Bob Pellien: Brother Andrew, let’s go to you for a moment. Why do you think here in the Iglesia Ni Cristo, that global trend and that drift, it’s we’re not surrendering to that, to that trend here inside the Church Of Christ? Why not, Brother Andrew?

Brother Andrew Fisher: Well, Brother Bob, though you know the trends of the world and what many people may be doing, may be going further away from God. Inside the Church Of Christ, our faith is firmly based and our conviction is based on what’s written in the Bible, and we can read what’s written here in Psalm 95 and the verse is 6. I’ll read to you what it says, 

Oh, come. Let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
-Psalm 95:6 New King James Version

Brother Andrew Fisher: Dear viewers, as members of the Church Of Christ, and inside the Church Of Christ, we won’t be swayed or bend to the trends of not serving God or going to church, as some say, because we firmly believe what the Bible says. We will serve or we will worship our Lord God, because, as we heard in the verse, He is our maker. It’s our inherent duty to God as our Creator, to serve and to worship him. 

Brother Bob Pellien: That’s right, Brother Andrew, right at the profound and direct answer to our initial questions, questions posed, right? You’re like, why go to church? Why worship God? You read, it’s his command, right? Brother Daniel, you heard the command. 

Brother Daniel Pinnock: Very clear. Brother Bob, and that’s why, when it comes to all of our viewers who are listening to this program, we hope you understand that worshiping God, it’s something that should be a part of our life. It’s something that we should consider vital or important as something that we should have always included in our priorities.

Brother Marvin Mangune: Yes, Brother Daniel. We are members of the Church Of Christ, we really accept, we believe, we understand that God did create us. So we always render our worship to our Lord God. We never forget to render our services unto Him. 

10:33 How about on the side of God? If it’s important to us [going to church], is it also important to God?

Brother Bob Pellien: Okay, look, wait a second, Brothers. So it’s very clear that for us inside the Church Of Christ, our worship to God is very important, going to church, worship services, any of the various activities, very valuable. But here’s the thing. The question is, how about on the side of God? If it’s important to us, is it also important to God?

Brother Daniel Pinnock: The answer to that question, Brother Bob is a clear yes. And for our dear viewers, we can actually read that here in Hebrews 10:25 to 27 please listen: 

Some people have given up the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord’s coming is getting closer. No sacrifices can be made for people who decide to sin after they find out about the truth. They are God’s enemies, and all they can look forward to is a terrible judgment and a furious fire.
-Hebrews 10:25-27 Contemporary English Version

Brother Daniel Pinnock: So, clearly beloved friends when it comes to God’s expectation, yes, worshiping God, gathering for worship, it is something that our Lord God does deem important. That’s why, when it came to the apostles, even during their time, they taught members of the Church Of Christ that they should not fall into the habit like others have when it comes to not worshiping God. It should be their habit to worship God, and that’s why, inside the Church Of Christ, in our time, that sentiment is shared among the members of the Church Of Christ. Our worship of God is important. It’s something that we want to do. It’s something that we understand we should be doing in our lives. 

Brother Andrew Fisher: And not only that Brother Daniel, is it important for us who worship God, and it’s important for our Lord God too, but there is a vital and great bearing on worshiping God and receiving salvation.

Brother Bob Pellien: Wait a minute. Brother Andrew, what’s the connection there? You’re saying that our service to God, our going to church, church activities, etc. This is a connection to our salvation?

Brother Andrew Fisher: That’s right, Brother Bob, because, as we just heard from the verse that Brother Daniel just read, if we will decide to sin by not worshiping our Lord God, there’s no sacrifice for that sin. Because, think about it, dear viewers, what sacrifice was made for our sins to be forgiven? Wasn’t it the sacrificial death of our Lord, Jesus Christ, His blood being shed for us to be forgiven. Therefore, if we choose not to worship God, we don’t want to serve God, then our sins can’t be forgiven and we won’t receive salvation.

13:24 What kind of worship should be rendered to God in the Christian era? What kind would He find acceptable?

Brother Bob Pellien: Okay, Brothers, here’s another important point, though, I believe, because many of you in the program right now might say, well, we’re all out here worshiping. Because there are organizations, religious organizations, conducting various forms and formats of worship with the intent to serve God, right? Maybe they would say, I go to church. So we ask then, what kind of worship should be rendered to God in the Christian era? What kind would He find acceptable?

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TODAY’S TOPIC: “WHY DO YOU GO TO CHURCH?”

Brother Marvin Mangune: Brother Bob, we could find the answer here in First Corinthians 1426, 15 and 40, the kind of worship or gathering that the Lord God really is seeking from us. 

How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with understanding. Let all things be done decently and in order.
-First Corinthians 14:26, 15 and 40 New King James Version

Brother Marvin Mangune: That’s a kind of gathering or coming together, or worship service, which the Lord God is seeking from us. A gathering or coming together where there is a hymn or a song of praise, there is a teaching, and that teaching could be in a different language, and so it should be interpreted so that we would be able to understand it, that it would benefit us. It’s also a gathering where there is prayer and we answer in agreement, and our worship service, which God is seeking from us. The congregational worship service is also done in a decent manner, a proper it’s also done in an orderly way. 

Brother Bob Pellien: So the obvious question that Brother Marvin, Dear Brothers, is it not the kind of worship service that we do here inside the Church Of Christ?

Brother Daniel Pinnock: Brother Bob, the answer to that. Is a resounding yes. Inside the Church Of Christ that is exactly the worship service that we conduct, a worship gathering with the hymn singing, where we listen to the teachings, the words of God, and where we conduct our congregational prayers, which is why we always invite our friends, our loved ones, our viewers to this program to attend a worship service inside the Church Of Christ, so you can see it for yourself. Now, please understand, dear friends, that when it comes to that responsibility to worship God because He is our maker, we have to make sure that it’s done in the way that will be acceptable to God, remembering that if we were to read Isaiah 59:2, because of the sins that people have done, people are separated from God. So if a person doesn’t get their sins forgiven, then their worship of God will not be accepted. And if we’re going to worship God, of course, we want that worship to be accepted by God. 

Brother Andrew Fisher: That’s a good point. You bring up Brother Daniel, because others might be saying, “Hey, we worship that way too. You know, in our Church, in our gatherings, we sing, we pray, we also study the word of God. But we need to understand that the way we worship, though it may be how the Bible just mentioned, it must be in the way that is accepted by God and the way that will lead us to salvation. So how can we make sure of that? And we can read the answer from the Bible here in the book of Luke chapter 13, and the verses are 23 up to verse 24 

And someone asked Him, Lord, will only a few be saved (rescued, delivered from the penalties of the last judgment, and made partakers of the salvation by Christ)? And He said to them, Strive to enter by the narrow door [force yourselves through it], for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.
-Luke 13:23-24 Amplified Bible (Classic Edition)

Brother Andrew Fisher: Viewers, how can we ensure that the services we render to our Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ will not only be accepted but lead us to salvation? The instruction of our Savior was clear, we must strive to enter through the narrow door. Therefore, whatever services to God we may be rendering, even if we might say it’s the popular belief that we’re doing or perhaps that we’re doing what the majority of other people or religions are doing, but what we need to ensure of is that we’re doing what the Lord Jesus Christ said, that we find that narrow door and we enter it. 

18:08 Who is the door that we need to enter in, we need to pass through so that we will be in a place where our worship will be found acceptable to the Lord?

Brother Bob Pellien: So, dear friends, who is that door? That’s the next important question, right? The door we need to pass through to be in and where we need to be to ensure that one’s worship will be found acceptable to God. Who is that door, dear friends, the partner will answer that and more right here on the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition, as our discussion continues in a moment.

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INC International Edition

Brother Bob Pellien: Welcome back as we continue with this important discussion. 

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TODAY’S TOPIC: “WHY DO YOU GO TO CHURCH?”

Brother Bob Pellien: Who is the door referred to there in our previous reading, that we need to enter in, we need to pass through so that we will be in a place where our worship will be found acceptable to the Lord? Who is that door in the first place, Brother Marvin?

Brother Marvin Mangune: Brother Bob, if you would let me answer that here in John 10 and the verses 9, the Savior, our Lord, Jesus Christ, tells us this, 

I am the door; anyone who comes into the fold through me will be safe…
-John 10:9 Revised English Bible

Brother Marvin Mangune: So who is that door? That important question that you know, that we ought to know, it’s our Lord Jesus Christ. 

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Marvin Mangune

Los Angeles, California

Minister of the Gospel

Brother Marvin Mangune: The Lord Jesus Christ is the one who said, I am the door. But what’s the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ? Is it that we would just know that he is the door? That we would just believe that he is the door? Our Lord Jesus Christ, like what he mentioned earlier, is entered by the narrow door. Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us, here, come into the fold through me. Therefore those who enter the door are those who came into the fold or into the flock. They’re not outside of that flock. They’re not outside of that fold. They’re inside of the fold or the flock of our Lord Jesus Christ.

19:21 I need to be in that fold. I need to be in that flock. Where is it? What flock is that? So can I enter it?

Brother Bob Pellien: Well, Brothers, surely our viewers would want to ask, well, I need to be in that fold. I need to be in that flock. Where is it? What flock is that? So can I enter it?

Brother Daniel Pinnock: Well, let’s provide that answer for them. Brother Bob, dear viewers, you can read that here in Acts 20 and the verse 28: 

Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.
-Acts 20:28 George M. Lamsa Translation

Brother Daniel Pinnock: So that fold or flock that we should enter beloved friends is the Church Of Christ as taught in the Bible.

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Daniel Pinnock

Paris, France

Minister of the Gospel

Brother Bob Pellien: So then the viewers we all need to be inside the true Church Of Christ in order to be able to render worship service to God that he’s going to find acceptable, then. That’s what we’re learning from these scriptures, right Brother Daniel? 

Brother Daniel Pinnock: Exactly, correct, Brother Bob. If a person wants to render true service to God, they have to enter the Church Of Christ. It’s the Church Of Christ where we can offer that kind of service to God that our Lord God accepts.

Brother Andrew Fisher: That’s why Brother Daniel, it’s no surprise that isn’t it that the Lord Jesus Christ was instructing and inviting people to enter into His church, into the flock, the Church Of Christ. 

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Andrew Fisher

Melbourne, Australia

Minister of the Gospel

Brother Andrew Fisher: Because, as you read earlier, from Acts 20:28, not only is the Church Of Christ the flock that Christ wants people to enter, it was the Church Of Christ that was purchased or redeemed by the blood of Christ. Therefore, inside the Church Of Christ, our sins are forgiven, and we can render true service to God that will lead us to salvation.

Brother Marvin Mangune: Our dear viewers and dear friends, you know that really is the condition that we ought to meet first, before our services, our worship would be acceptable before the Lord God. We need to be forgiven of sins, and that’s through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. And that which our Lord Jesus Christ, redeemed with His blood is none other than the Church Of Christ. We invite you, dear viewers, to examine the Church Of Christ, to really see what the Church Of Christ we’re preaching about, what the Church Of Christ is really about.

Brother Andrew Fisher: That’s right, Brother Marvin. That’s why. You know, our viewers might be scattered in different parts of the world, but you can find the nearest congregation of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, or Church Of Christ, closest to you, and you are more than welcome. We encourage you to visit the nearest congregation. Ask questions, listen to the teachings of God we believe in, so that we can make sure that the way we’re serving God will be accepted and will bring us eternal life.

Brother Bob Pellien: So before we finish up our discussion for today, Brothers, on behalf of our viewers, let’s finish up with a couple of final questions like this. 

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TODAY’S TOPIC: “WHY DO YOU GO TO CHURCH?”

22:16 Why take action and become a true worshiper?

Brother Bob Pellien: If the viewer would pose, “why should I consider becoming a true worshiper, truly worthy of worshiping the true God in the true Church Of Christ? Why is it so valuable that I learned this lesson not just from watching it in this program, but internalizing it and learning it and taking action upon truly entering it? Why? Brother Daniel, why would, if our viewers are asking that question, why do I have to do this now?

Brother Daniel Pinnock: Brother Bob, the reason for it, and for our dear viewers, is that there is such a blessing and such a benefit, if we would do so. Please listen to what’s recorded here in Psalm 34 the verse 9:  

Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness.
-Psalm 34:9 The Message

Brother Daniel Pinnock: The Bible was very clear, dear viewers, if we want the best, if we want the goodness of our Lord God, then we have to worship God in the way that God expects and in the place where we are supposed to worship God. So yes, you may have your hobbies, you may have your priorities in life, dear friends, but when it comes to wanting the best in life, when it comes to wanting to experience God’s goodness, which, let’s admit, that’s something we could use, especially in these difficult times, then we have to worship God, and we have to do it the way God expects, which is why we are always inviting you inside the Church Of Christ so we can experience those kinds of blessings, and especially salvation, as we’ve already discussed.

Brother Bob Pellien: You want the best for your life. You want the best for your family. You want spiritual growth. Can’t avoid worshiping God here inside the Church Of Christ. And we want the goodness of God for you. We want you to join us worshiping God here inside the Church Of Christ. What will you experience when you join us in worship? Take a look. Here’s what you will experience. 

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[Source: incmedia.org]

You finally did it. You made plans to attend a worship service in the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ). Maybe you’ve been invited many times, or maybe you’ve been searching for a church near you, and an Iglesia Ni Cristo congregation popped up. Or perhaps you’ve seen people walking out of the building looking happy and fulfilled. So you wonder to yourself, I want what they’re experiencing. With everything going on in our communities, everyone could use a little bit more blithe mint and inspiration these days. We totally get that. But now you’re a bit nervous about this experience and are wondering what to expect when you walk inside. Well, let’s help you with that. When you walk into a worship service in the Church Of Christ, maybe one of the first things you’ll notice is the peace and solemnity of the gathering. You’ll first step foot in the foyer, while you’ll be greeted by a deacon or a deaconess, who will happily show you where the sanctuary is and answer any questions you may have about the service. Let them know it’s your first time. They’ll be excited to help you. After the foyer, they’ll guide you to the main sanctuary, where the seating is arranged with two sides, the male and the female sections. Most people are surprised by this, but this is done to maintain the solemnity and orderliness of the worship services. This is based on the Bible’s instruction written in First Corinthians 14:40, everything must be done in a proper and orderly way. Deacons and deaconesses will then help usher you to your seat. Now you may not have had a chance yet to look up, but when you do, you’ll notice that the Sanctuary has a very simple layout. There’s a podium, and behind the podium is where the choir sits. There are no crosses or graven images, because in the Church Of Christ, we follow strictly what the Bible says. 

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“You shall have no other gods before Me. 

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image– 

any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, 

or that is in the earth beneath, 

or that is in the water under the earth; 

you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. 

For I, the Lord your God, am jealous God, 

visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children 

to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 

-Exodus 20:3-5 New King James Version

So in every worship building, in the Church Of Christ, all you will find is simple moldings complementing the simplicity and solemnity of the occasion. You may also have noticed that we’ve said solemnity a few times. There’s a reason for that. The Bible teaches us that worship services are very sacred occasions because of who is present. Solemnity is observed because it’s a command of God after all. 

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The Lord is in His holy Temple;

let everyone on earth be silent in his presence.
-Habakkuh 2:20 Good News Translation

So while there is hymn singing, there isn’t clapping or yelling involved. It’s the opportunity to pray to God, but also the chance to hear his teachings. So every detail is aimed to ensure we can give God our complete attention. In fact, every worship service in the Church Of Christ, wherever you are in the world, follows the same simple format, arrival and personal prayer, hymn singing, opening, congregational prayer, preaching of a Bible Lesson, closing congregational prayer benediction. So wherever you are in the world, you never have to worry about what happens next or even surprises. This is your time to focus solely on hearing God’s words and offering true and meaningful worship to God. Well, that covers it for now, you may still have some questions, or you may still be a little nervous. If that’s the case, just email us and we’ll walk through your questions and help you get ready for your first worship service in the Church Of Christ.

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WORSHIP WITH US!

incmedia.org/find-a-congregation/

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Brother Bob Pellien: In the Church Of Christ, you not only receive Bible-based teachings in the Church, but also community and fellowship. Well, we’d like to thank our Brother Marvin Manguni there in Los Angeles, California. Thank you, Brother Marvin. We’d like to thank you as well Brother Andrew Fisher there in Melbourne, Australia, and to you as well Brother Daniel Pinnock in Paris, France. Thank you, all three of you, for your Bible-based answers, so that, as Apostle Peter said to the members of the Church, you will 

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. 

-I Peter 3:15 New International Version

Brother Bob Pellien: That’s Peter first, Peter 3:15. Well, that does it for us here on the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition for today. We hope that you will join us again next time. I’m Bob Pellien, thanks for watching.

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