WARNING: Beware of the existing websites and blogs that scattered in the web that claims that the infos they presented about this church were true. Examine carefully the said websites and blogs first before believing. These are works of the detractors of the church making disinformation for those who are searching about the Iglesia ni Cristo.

From Pasugo Magazine 1982

The Church and its growth

“Today, religious sects are flourishing in the Philippines. Some of these have been brought in by missionaries, but others are indigenous having sprouted and grown in the Philippine soil without being introduced or supported from other countries. One of the best known of the latter type is the Iglesia ni Cristo, which came into being in 1914 through the preaching of Felix Manalo. Its more or less distinctive chapels have become familiar landmarks in many cities and towns of the Philippines. Its membership appears to be increasing yearly; and it exercise a measure of influences in the political life of the nation.” Albert J. Sanders, A protestant view of the Iglesia ni Cristo 1962 p. 3



“Independent churches have sprung into vigorous life in many, if not all, countries in the Third world. One of the largest, wealthiest, and more powerful of these is the rapidly growing Iglesia ni Cristo in the Philippines.” Arthur Leonard Tuggy, IGLESIA NI CRISTO: A study in Independent Church Dynamics 1976 p. vii



“On the worldwide scene, its significance is great primarily, because of its size and wealth. The Iglesia ni Cristo is the largest (non mission related) independent church in Asia. It is about fifty percent larger than the Kimbaguist Church in Zaire, the largest independent church in Africa, and about the same size as the Congregacao Crista in Brazil. …,its existence as an independent church must be taken very seriously.” Arthur Leonard Tuggy, IGLESIA NI CRISTO pp. 244-245



“No one however would doubt that the Iglesia ni Cristo is a dynamic religious body which has shown intense vitality, endowed, as it is, with a sturdy organization that many other religious groups in the country patently lack.” Pedro S. Archutegui, S.J, Director Cardinal Bea, Institute for Ecumenical Studies from the Foreword of the Iglesia ni Cristo: Its Christology and Ecclesiology



“The Iglesia ni Cristo has increased in its expansion under Erano Manalo. By 1974 it had become the largest non Catholic church in the Philippines.” Alex Wilson & Christine Tetly, 1978, p.85



“Yet it cannot be denied that the Iglesia is a large, powerful and expanding organization. It may well constitute the most vital and aggressive threat which the Catholic Church faces in the Islands at the present time. It is certainly a force to be reckoned with now and in the years to come by any one interested in the religious welfare of the Filipino people.” Joseph J. Kavanagh, S.J, Philippine Studies (a quarterly)



“Whatever people say about the Iglesia ni Cristo, it seems to grow in geometrical progression; The show numbers—or some members may be wont call it the infalliability of numbers—at the Araneta Coliseum indicated that behind its growth as an organization and a leadership that is remarkable.” Faliz M. Caliwag, Sunday times



“The largest and fastest-growing of all these groups—indeed, of any organization outside the army—is the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ)…” Max L. Stackman, “The Phil. Tinderbox (Part I); The Christian Century” May 15, 1982, p.54



“…the fastest growing religious movements in the Philippines.” Gerald H. Anderson, editor, Studies in Philippines Church History



“…the Iglesia ni Cristo, which is not a century old yet more powerful than the four-century old Catholic faith in the Philippines.” Jose C. Balein, Columnist “Another one”, The Manila Chronicle, Feb. 3, 1965



“It may be significant that the Iglesia has been able to achieve its great growth without the extensive splintering which has occurred among Pentecostals in the Philippines.” Arthur L. Tuggy, Iglesia ni Cristo, pp.258-259



“…the decline of Aglipayanism is closely connected with the rise of the Iglesia ni Cristo.” Frederic H. Chaffee et. Al., Area Handbook for the Philippines, Feb. 1969, p.163



“…the Church of Christ in the Philippines has converted millions of people of various nationalities. The phenomenal growth and unchecked progress of evangelization have caught the imagination of many. Her achievements, both spiritual and temporal, are too marvelous to be considered as the work of man.” Zoilo Galang, editor, Encyclopedia of the Philippines Vol. XX Manila, Phil. C1958, p. 466



“With its serious and larger following, the Iglesia ni Cristo was organized in 1914 by Felix Manalo. It has since become one of the richest and most powerful religious groups in the country.” Alfredo Roces, editor, Filipino Heritage: The making of the nation, c1978, p.1624



“The Iglesia ni Cristo or Church of Christ in the Philippines is the fulfillment of the prophecy written in chapter 7, verses 2 and 3 of the revelation and in accord with various prophecies in the books of Prophecies of God recorded in the Bible, such as in Isaiah 41:9, 43:5-7, 46:11” Zoilo Galang, editor, Encyclopedia of the Philippines



“The Church of Christ (Iglesia ni Cristo) has developed from proverbial mustard seed to a full frown oak since its emergence in 1914 in Punta, Sta. Manila, under the leadership of Felix Manalo.” Philippine Daily Express “Iglesia ni Cristo: From mustard seed to full-grown oak”



The doctrines

“Actually, Iglesia doctrine is a much firmer structure than many of its opponents are ready to admit.” Arthur L. Tuggy, Iglesia ni Cristo, p.255



“… the Iglesia’s liturgy is unique… The liturgy celebrated every Thursday and Sunday, is essentially a liturgy of the Word, consisting of choral and congregational singing, Biblical preaching and communal prayers. … For the Iglesia the most important of all is the Word of God that weekly nourishes the spirit.” Alfredo Roces, editor, Filipino Heritage: The making of the Nation, p. 2728



“Adherents of the Iglesia, it must be assumed, are earnestly seeking for the fullness of God’s truth. The Bible for them is the only rule of faith and practice. God’s oneness and creatorship are recognized, and Jesus Christ is accepted and trusted as Lord and Savior.” Gerald H. Anderson, editor, Studies in the Philippine Church history, p. 364



“The Iglesia claims to be neither Catholic, for it worships no graven idols, nor Protestant, for it form a single body, firmly ruled by a bishop and is not a multiplicity of sects. The Iglesia is the true long dead Church of Christ, quickened to life by the Lord’s own Messenger—Bishop Felix Manalo.” Alfredo Roces, editor, Filipino Heritage: The making of the Nation, p. 2728

The last Messenger

“Today religious sects are flourishing in the Philippines. One of the most formidable of these is that founded by Felix Manalo in 1914 and officially designated as Iglesia ni Cristo … Many of its members come from Protestant churches. Manalo is a dynamic leader who has demonstrated unusual ability in influencing people in building up a strong organization. His churches are found not only in Luzon but also in Visayas and Mindanao.” Albert Sanders, A protestant view of the Iglesia ni Cristo



“… the Iglesia ni Cristo has shown a phenomenal growth. Starting from Manalo who, in 1914, constituted a religious hierarchy of one, the church has grown into a nation-wide organization noted for its ornate cathedrals, centrally located chapels and well knit ministers and members. A kind of organization like it had never before been known in the Philippines. That Manalo made such an organization possible in the country is remarkable; that he was able to make it a great social force is a tribute to his indigenous aspiration and spiritual leadership.” Mac A. Fabian “Felix Manalo (A great Spiritual leader)”, 1969, p.9



“Iglesia leaders are loyal, aggressive hardworking.” G.M. Roperos, Sunday times magazine, Jan. 11, 1959



“…Bishop Felix Manalo, consistently upheld in his sermons, in the Church Congregations, in his utterances in public rallies and in writings, that he is a mere brother and, in keeping with his commission, and teaches nothing in his own but merely converts people in the Church of Christ, these people should follow and obey only that which God commands. This he does, for he seeks only the glory of him that has sent him.” Zoilo Galang, editor, Encyclopedia of the Philippines



“Factors Contributing to the growth of the movement.”

“First has been the dynamic leadership of Felix Manalo who dominated the movement for a period of forty-nine years.” Gerald H. Anderson, editor, Studies in Philippines Church History

The members

“the most outstanding mark of the INC is the apparent unity of its membership…

…Their unity is best reflected by their brotherhood. They consider themselves members of one huge family.” Ben Lara, Iglesia—disciplined and cocksure (Last of a series) Bulletin today, July 15, 1973



“The Iglesia ni Cristo in the Philippines has managed to retain a high degree of unity.” David J. Hesselgrave, ed.; Dynamic religious movements : Case studies of rapidly growing religious movements around the world, 1978, p.308



“The Iglesia moves forward like an army, each member in his proper place and under recognized authority.” Arthur L. Tuggy, Iglesia ni Cristo, p.258
“A highly organized disciplined membership mobilized through a cell (“committee”) system for mission and propagation of their church.” Arthur L. Tuggy, Iglesia ni Cristo, p. 249



“..even those who deplore the Iglesia because of its political pushiness admit that it’s one church in the Philippines that communicates with the poor and that has the power to reform lives. The stories of drunks who gave up the bottle, of gamblers who forsook the table, of thugs who turned into men of peace when they became a kapatid are not apocryphal. In the Iglesia, and perhaps only in the Iglesia, do conversions in the fullest sense of the word still occur in our day,” Quijano de Manila (Nick Joaquin), Ronnie Poe & other Silhouttes, p. 105




“…The changes wrought upon the lives of her members are remarkable. Those who have led vicious lives are changed into a pattern of wholesomeness, cleanliness and usefulness. Those who once had no fear of defying the law were made law abiding citizens. Those who used throw their hard-earned income in gambling ceased to be such, and began to lead and manage a peaceful like the moment they embraced the Church of Christ.” Zoilo Galang, editor, Encyclopedia of the Philippines, 1958, p.466



“The members are well-disciplined churchmen and they are exemplary citizens of the nation.” Gerald H. Anderson, editor, Studies in Philippine church history, p. 364



“…This wonderful change in the lives of her members are attributable to the fact that, the time one signifies his intention of joining the church, he is subjected to a rigid indoctrination by duly qualified ministers who enjoin and admonish him to lead a life strictly patterned after the will of God; thus, only those who by conviction and faith manifest an unconditional surrender to scriptural teachings and mandates find entrance into the Church.” Zoilo Galang, editor, Encyclopedia of the Philippines, 1958, p.466



“And Iglesia congregation often will become the home of a ‘lonely soul’, for he finds congenial fellowship with people like himself, is given what he regards as a responsible God-appointed task and enters with others in the common worship of God. These congregations are close-knit, self-contained, and separist in nature. They are havens which separate and protect the individual from the world with all of its ungodly ways and temptations.” Gerald H. Anderson, editor, Studies in Philippine church history, p.357


“Their sincerity, their devotion to the Gospel, the honesty of their intentions, cannot be doubted. They strove to practice the Christianity that had so charmed them in the Godspel and they saw all men as their brothers.” Quijano de Manila (Nick Joaquin), Ronnie Poe & other Silhouttes, p.107



The Church and social action

“The most telling argument that the (Catholic) Church is a failure is the Iglesia ni Cristo which has given the common man that sense of social justice and moral order which an impersonal, rich Church (Catholic) has not been able to give. The Catholic Church should learn from the dynamics of the INC (Glesia ni Cristo).” Vitaliano R. Gorospe, S.J, Philippine National Problems and Development




“In practice, both Catholics and Protestants neglect poor of our land. The group that has significantly moved into this vacuum is the Iglesia ni Cristo…

By passing the enigma of how many members they really have, we must acknowledge that the Iglesia ni Cristo provides much that the common tao needs; a sense of belonging, of community, of being part or a successful enterprise” A.Leonard Tuggy & Ralph Toliver, Seeing the church in the Philippines, 1972, p.140



“As manifestions of its charity for its members, it has set a huge farm in Maligaya, Nueva Ecija, to accommodate tenant-farmers who were ejected from their land during the old order. For those who want to earn more money by learning new skills, the INC has established the New Era Schools which give vocational training from hairdressing to dressmaking and from tailoring to automechanics. Doctors go around to local communities to heal and comfort the sick. For the jobless, the INC has a placement bureau.” Ben Lara , “Iglesia—disciplined and cocksure flock”, Bulletin Today, July 15, 1973

“The Iglesia ni Cristo has fielded mobile clinics to help the poor, regardless of creed and race.” Teodoro F. Valencia, columnist, “Over a cup of coffee”, Bulletin Today, Aug. 9, 1978



The Houses of worship


“Looming up against the skyline in various parts of the city are the towers of the impressive Iglesia ni Cristo chapels.” Tuggy & Oliver, Seeing the Church in the Philippines, p.131

“So rapid has been the rise of the Iglesia ni Cristo during the postwar years that the Church was able to build an imposing cathedrals in San Juan, Rizal, and stately churches in other parts of the city. The sect has a cathedral in Baguio.” The Philippine Herald, Mar. 27, 1963

“In terms of buildings, there can be little doubt that the magnificent Iglesia ni Cristo churches reflect and in most cases surpass the grandeur of the Roman Cathedrals of the Philippines.” David J. Hesselgrave, editor, Dynamic Religious movements, p. 314



“Today in Tondo Manila, for example, men look at the aging Roman Catholic Cathedral and they look up to the spires of the newly constructed modern Iglesia ni Cristo cathedral chapel. The psychological impact of this on the masses of people in this predominantly Roman Catholic nation should not be underestimated.” Artur L. Tuggy, Iglesia ni Cristo: A study of Independent church dynamics, p.257



“The Kapilya is first and foremost an assembly where the faithful meet the Lord, not through images or private devotions but through the word.” Alfredo Roces, editor, Filipino Heritage: The making of a nation, 1978, p. 2728



“One writer has commented that the Iglesia chapel in San Juan makes the Manila Cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church appear as “a cheap, ungainly house of devotion in spite of its beauty and worth in cement and marble”. The chapel in San Francisco del Monte, finished in 1963, one of the most beautiful church structures in the Philippines, seats 3,000 people.” Gerald H. Anderson, editor, Studies in Philippine church history, 1969, p. 352