The Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) has established a new group worship service (GWS) in the city of Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

The inaugural worship service, which was officiated at by Brother Amante Rodriguez, supervising minister of the Tokyo, Japan Ecclesiastical District, was held on November 1, 2024 at Shoken Gakuen Maebashi Hall. Also present were attendees from the Local Congregation of Gunma-ken.

Succeeding worship services of the GWS will be held at 281 Shimo Toyo Oka Machi, Takasaki Shi, Gunma Ken, shared Brother Alexis Ada, the GWS’s current resident minister.

“I’m truly thankful to God for the Takasaki GWS is now established,” Katsutoshi Sekiguchi, head deacon of Gunma Congregation, said. “This is a great blessing for our local congregation and for our brethren in Takasaki,” said Elsa Sekiguchi, choir member from the same congregation. “We express our gratitude to Brother Eduardo Manalo for his continuous care and support,” she added.

“I feel very blessed that finally after the brethren’s searching for a place of worship near our area, we are a GWS now,” Sharah May Abaquita, deaconess, expressed.

“Our district has been fortunate to gain a new place of worship in Takasaki,” Brother Rodriguez remarked. “This progress is a tremendous help for our brethren here as this enables them to continue their worship and services to our Lord God closer to their homes.” — With reports from Wyrlo Ulayao