I know that you have dropped by in this site for some other reasons than reading post about 'faith' but it may satisfy your curiosity if you will glance on this article plus links on pertinent Youtube videos.
Literally
everywhere in the Philippines, INC chapels have always been a familiar
sight. Every corner even at the most
inaccessible places – you will just be surprised how these chapels had been built
(how are the materials transported) considering the difficulty of
transportation brought about by topography. It has all been the work of our
almighty God- he made these things possible with his help and guidance.
Many people are
wondering what made the chapels sturdy and looking great all the time. The
secret lies beyond its construction and planning as well as unceasing
maintenance. Before every chapel is erected, various testing were done in all
aspects – the soil and the calamity faults are studied (whether the place is
prone to windy storms/earthquake fault etc.) to adopt the construction of each
chapel to the unpredictable environment. Every chapel has a new and own
approach in matters of planning and architecture same goes with the actual
construction. Rip-rapping is done for erosion prone grounds. The roofing are
fortified for those chapels built in stormy places. No paint can last a lifetime that is why
re-paintings are done almost yearly and there are quality inspection team
sent from the Central Office to check on the status of the chapel (inside and
the building itself), the compound and the improvements inside- they recommend
fixings and some cleaning needs to maintain each chapel – no chapel is exempted
even the pastoral houses and offices.
Every chapel was
built with the INC members being the construction workers, engineers and
architects – we have this regularly employed laborers to do the job from
masonry, engineering to architecture. A daily prayer is held for the protection
of each worker as well as the rightful and guided performance of duties.
Despite being paid to do the job, each worker considers their work as a noble
‘duty’ to our Lord God – that is why they see to it that they do not waste any
time nor material in doing their tasks.
And some of the workers have special duties (choir member, deacon etc.),
they still perform their duties in the Worship Service everywhere they are
assigned. The ordinary workers -members never miss a worship service.
The Church
Administration has shown the value of erecting chapels by setting-up an edifice
where the centralized planning and dispatch is happening the ‘Engineering
and Construction Dept.’ of the Iglesia ni Cristo. There are also sites where the church pews,
built-in furniture/fixtures (cabinets/doors, wooden sculptures) and roof
structure, metal frames are being fabricated. Because every chapel glorifies
our Lord
God despite the falling economy of the world, INC maintains its
conviction of continuous and fervent desire to build chapels in every corner of
the world – budgeting while not sacrificing quality. A meeting is also held
(national level) from time to time to discuss problems encountered in every
project – to find a better solution and to expose the situation to others to avoid
a ‘repeat’
of that occurrence and in order for the others to be aware of the MOST fitted
solution to face it. Brother Bien Manalo,
Head of Engineering and Construction Dept.- sees to it the department is updated with the modern technology and
presents a video to educate all foremen and key construction officers to
abreast with the simplified but enhanced methods discovered worldwide.
Here in the
Philippines, the concept of the ‘barangay chapel’ has been
introduced by the Church Administration to bring the worship place closer to the
brethrens – for us to easily access the chapel whenever we want to do our
prayers in times of troubles and pains or to give thanks for blessings God has
given us any moment of the day. Most of
the pioneer recipients of the project are the locales that have brethrens
walking hours or those that need to cross sea and dangerous paths just to reach
the chapel especially during Worship Services.
The Church Administration sees and feels the hardship and perseverance
of every member wanting to serve our Lord God eagerly despite the huge setbacks
of danger (storms met sea-crossing brethrens just to reach the nearest chapel).
The work of
salvation is up and running – the spreading of God’s words is an epidemic that embraces
the church members. The members are ever-growing and all these chapels are
advance preparation of the forecasting done by the Church Administration to
accommodate even the NEW members.
A chapel costs
millions to build. A barangay chapel is a more simple, temporary and cheaper ad
fastest alternative to locales where there are still few members.
The construction of superb chapels are not stopped in the emergence of the ‘barangay chapels’ – locales where the members (many schedule of Worship Service is set to accommodate brethrens) had doubled are demolished to make way for larger and modern chapels. They are built simultaneously – every month hundreds of chapels are built without delay and finished on expected ‘offering date’.
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| This is how a Barangay Chapel looks like... |
The construction of superb chapels are not stopped in the emergence of the ‘barangay chapels’ – locales where the members (many schedule of Worship Service is set to accommodate brethrens) had doubled are demolished to make way for larger and modern chapels. They are built simultaneously – every month hundreds of chapels are built without delay and finished on expected ‘offering date’.
This is where
the offerings we give are spent. The proof is everywhere, we maybe smaller in
member’s count but the finances are well-spent and accounted for and the chapel
buildings dominate other bigger religions in quantity and quality.
Every coin a
member offers every Worship Service is helping build a church anywhere in the
world that is why we do not stop giving offers even we have our own chapel at
this very moment. This church is one and we do not leave other members alone
and that unity shows, just look around and you will see an ‘Iglesia ni Cristo’ chapel standing
before your eyes.
For further informatio, please visit:
www.incmedia.org
http://iglesianicristo.net/#1
For further informatio, please visit:
www.incmedia.org
http://iglesianicristo.net/#1
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