The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) church on Gen. Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City.
MEMBERS of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) in Cebu are reluctant to talk to the media about internal conflicts in their church but said they remain strong amid the crisis confronting leaders in Manila.
“What’s important is to continue believing and praying to God. I also pray that whatever problem they experience right now will soon be fixed,” said a 40-year-old female INC member, who asked to remain unnamed.
At 8 p.m. last Thursday, she attended a worship service (Mass) at the INC church at General Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City.
After the service, the minister announced and read the circular related to the expelled INC members.
READ: INC expels mother, brother of Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo
“We were advised not to be bothered by the issue since we are out of the problem,” she said.
The 40-year-old Cebuana said she would continue to attend worship services every Sunday.
“I go to church because of God not because of them. I worship Him (God) not them (people),” she said.
Cebu Daily News visited the INC church at General Maxilom Avenue on Friday. A man in a black jacket and sunglasses told CDN that the minister in charge was still in Manila.
The crisis started after INC expelled the mother and brother of executive minister Eduardo Manalo – Cristina “Ka Tenny” Villanueva Manalo, Felix “Ka Angel” Manalo, and other family members Marco Eraño Villanueva Manalo and Lolita Manalo Jimenez.
A circular stated that the four were expelled due to “acts that aim to create divisions inside the church.”
The circular, signed by the executive minister, quoted I Corinthians 1:10 from the Bible that emphasizes unity in what children of God say, think and aim to do. Earlier on Thursday, Tenny Manalo, widow of the late INC minister Eraño Manalo, and son Angel, released a video pleading of help, saying their lives were in danger.