Manitoba District reaches out, shares true faith to French communities
By DENISE ROQUE and JOSE PRIMO RIVERA JR.
Date Posted: March 9, 2023
Through charitable and evangelical missions, members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) from its Ecclesiastical District in Manitoba, Canada reached out to residents of three French communities in the said province, sharing to them not only essential care packages but more significantly the true Christian faith.
More than 800 guests in total went to listen to the preaching of God’s words, and afterwards received the care packages prepared for them during the Care for Humanity segment of the events held on February 12, 16, and 19, 2023.
The first of these outreach-evangelical mission series took place in the Centennial Hall at Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes. One of the guests, Filimone Raiqiso, a Fiji national, enthused, “I am thankful to the Church for inviting me. I thought at first that this Church is like any other church I attended in the past but no—its doctrines come from the Bible, truthfully.”
He was among those who expressed intent to enlist as doctrinal instructees. “Another thing that made my experience remarkable is that I don’t feel any discrimination here. I saw the members welcoming guests, whatever his or her race, skin color, and language may be. Truly, it is a Church for everyone,” he added.
On this and the rest of the occasions, Brother Roland Andrade, Manitoba, Canada District supervising minister, delivered the Bible-based lessons in French, the second most common language in Canada. He emphasized that, more than anything, people must prioritize that which will assure them of salvation on Judgment Day, which according to the Holy Scriptures is joining and remaining in the true Church Of Christ.
The second part of the series, which was held on February 16 at the Université de Saint-Boniface, in Winnipeg, was held for the benefit of the Accueil Francophone, a non-profit organization based in that city which helps immigrants learn how to speak and write in French.
“Through God’s help, we’re able to uphold this mission,” said Brother Aeron Paul Mañabo, the district Light of Salvation overseer. “And the organization’s staff members were welcoming; not only did they themselves attend the evangelical mission but also encouraged their students to come along.”
Capping the weeklong-series, the brethren conducted the outreach-evangelical mission at the Notre Dame Recreational Center, Winnipeg on February 19. More people from the St. Boniface area benefited.
One of them, Martha Bueckbrt, who decided to become a doctrinal instructee, said, “The Church members welcomed me. Surely, I will find time to know more about the Church Of Christ. Thank you so much for such an experience.”
“It is God’s mandate that the Church Of Christ spreads the good news of salvation, regardless of race, culture, and language,” said Brother Andrade. Commending the brethren’s efforts, he observed that “the brethren responded with zeal, as always, ever active in the propagational endeavor of the Church.” — With reports from INC News Section