84 years ago today, a great leader was born.
On January 2, 1925 Eraño Manalo of the Iglesia ni Cristo was born. The fifth child of Felix Manalo, Eraño took over the leadership of the church after this father’s death in 1963 ten years after he was elected successor. Executive Minister Manalo, fondly called “Ka Erdy”, is credited for sustaining the stability and securing the growth of the Iglesia ni Cristo. Beloved by his brothers and sister, Ka Erdy has led the church for the last 45 years probably the longest in any religion.
The Iglesia ni Cristo is the largest entirely indigenous Christian religious organization that started in the Philippines and is also the largest independent church in Asia. It has become the fastest growing church in the Philippines. And with it’s foreign mission entrenched in major cities, it may quite possibly be the fastest growing in the world.
With his leadership, the church has grown steadily in the Philippines and abroad. The church today is present in 70 countries outside of the Philippines with over 200 congregations in addition to the more that 3,000 congregations in the Philippines. Under his leadership, the church embarked on ambitious media propagation, through print, radio, television and lately, the internet through net-25.com.
Government leaders extended their greetings to Manalo in time for his 84th birth anniversary. They said under Manalo’s administration, the INC attained a phenomenal growth from a handful of local adherents to what it is today.
We send greetings to the leader of the Iglesia ni Cristo, Executive Minister Eraño G. Manalo on the occasion of his 84th birth anniversary. We wish him good health, great wisdom and long life.
Source: Manila Bulletin, http://www.net-25.com/94thvideos.html