The Local Congregation of Miami, Florida, in the Ecclesiastical District of Caribbean, reached and celebrated its 38th anniversary through a Family Fun Day held at Amelia Earhart Park, 401 East 65th Street, Hialeah, Florida on April 5, 2025.

“The Bible encourages us to love one another deeply just as the Lord Jesus Christ loved us. This activity is an opportunity to do so, as well as for families to gather, bonding while sharing meals and laughter,” expressed district supervising minister Brother Gary Garcia who graced the celebratory mood with his presence.

The brethren participated in various games that the Christian Family Organizations (CFO) officers prepared. These were Mega Volleyball, tug-of-war, three-legged race, five-legged race, limbo game, sack race, and Rock, Paper, Scissors Showdown.

During the games, wherein participants grouped as male and female and by area or by the CFO they respectively belong to, camaraderie was evident. After playing, prizes were given to the winners, who were as follows:

Mega Volleyball (Buklod vs KADIWA/Binhi): Buklod Team

Tug-of-war (Male): Area 1 &2

Tug-of-war (Female): Area 3 & 4

Five-Legged Race (Female): Jennifer Pineda, Grace Pineda, Gerardine Malaca, Girlie Rabara, Archie Hernandez

Limbo Game: Justyn De Guzman

Sack Race (Female): Jennifer Pineda, Sunshine Cayubit, Girlie Rabara, Meg Macasero

Rock, Paper, Scissors Showdown (Buklod Male vs Female): Jennifer Pineda, Sunshine Cayubit, Grace Pineda, Jeynelyn Marzo

Rock, Paper, Scissors Showdown (KADIWA vs Binhi): Aiden Mesina, Shyraine Cayubit, Zylo Reyes, CJ Salinas, Makayla Bondoc (Binhi)

“We planned for this activity, and it’s just so happy to see that a lot of brethren actively participated,” enthused district Buklod president Joseph Mesina.

“Playing games like this is a nice way to de-stress and relax on a weekend,” said KADIWA officer Angelica Fernando. “I got to have fun, socialize, and eat good food with the brethren. It feels really good.”

“It’s very fun for me getting to work alongside with my fellow Binhi as a team,” shared local congregation secretary Makayla Bondoc.

Starting as a committee prayer group in April 1977, brethren in Miami gradually increased in number until, in 1987, being organized as a separate congregation from that of Jacksonville, Florida. Miami Congregation was instrumental in establishing another congregation, the Local Congregation of West Palm Beach. — With reports from Eden Umbal and Renee Suarez of INC News Section