NEW JERSEY– The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) or Church Of Christ members will never forget to remember the birthday of the INC Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, for his dynamic leadership, love, care, and guidance for the INC.

In time with the INC Executive Minister’s birthday, INC members in the Ecclesiastical District of New Jersey (Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania) conducted Aid to Humanity community outreach events on two consecutive days as part of the INC worldwide efforts in helping communities, especially in this time of the Covid-19 pandemic.

NJ Assistant District Minister Brother Solomon Joves expressed: “What better way to commemorate [Brother Eduardo’s] birth anniversary than to follow the teachings of our Almighty God that he reminds us. Obey God’s commandments, to share the faith, and give help to those who need it whenever we possibly can.”

In New Milford, INC members from the Bergen Congregation kicked-off Veterans Day by honoring 65 war veterans from VFW Post 4290, headed by Commander John Norman.

Veterans Day is an official United States public holiday observed annually in November, which honors military veterans or persons who served in the US Armed Forces.

VFW veterans who belong there serve the community to keep the memory alive for the men and women that have been part of the armed forces in the town of New Milford.

Though not everyone was there to witness a short and meaningful ceremony due to safety reasons, veterans belonging to Post 4260 will receive care packages containing essential items such as canned goods and toiletries.

Mayor Michael Putrino of New Milford, council members Matthew Seymour, and Lisa Sandhusen attended the event.

Mayor Arvin Amatorio of Bergenfield, council members Rafael Marte and Mark Pascual, and NJ Assemblyman Chris Tully also witnessed the event.

Commander Norman remarked: “In these troubled times, people need more organizations like this. They need to be faith-based. They need to believe in something. I think society as a whole has lost the word of God; and the belief that there is something bigger than all of us. And I think this is a thing that the church does.”

In Bayonne, members of the Jersey City Local Congregation conducted another Aid to Humanity event by delivering goodwill bags containing sanitizers, gloves, masks, canned goods, and toiletries to seniors and low-income families living in three building apartments managed by Bayonne Housing Authority.

During a short outdoor hand-off ceremony in front of the Bayonne Fire Department Headquarters, INC members also honored first responders from the fire and police departments.

Bayonne Mayor James Davis, council members Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski and Neil Carroll, OEM official Ed Ferrante, Fire Chief Keith Weaver, Police Chief Robert Geisler attended the ceremony.

Mayor Davis stated: “When you have a particular group in the community that comes out to reach out to everyone else, that is what it’s all about. Like right now, we are dealing with a pandemic. For the church [INC] to come out and say: We are here to help, we are here to help our seniors, to recognize our first responders, that is what brings our community together. It gives a little bit of a sense of calm for everybody within the city, especially during these trying times that we have today.”

This campaign is inspired by Proverbs 3:27: “Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it” (Today’s English Version).

The end of the worldwide activity brought surprises and excitement. The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) or Church Of Christ and Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo received Proclamations and Citations for October 31st, namely: (1) Iglesia Ni Cristo Day from New Milford; (2) Proclamation of Appreciation for the INC from the town of Bergenfield; (3) Proclamation of Appreciation for Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo from Bergenfield; (4) citation from the NJ Assemblyman; and (5) Iglesia Ni Cristo Day and Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo Day in Bayonne.

(**The Aid to Humanity events observed social distancing, wearing of protective masks, and other precautionary measures.)

The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) or Church Of Christ has congregations in 158 countries and territories, and its members are from 147 races and nationalities worldwide. — Courtesy of INC Public Information Office