UNIDA: A CHURCH NAMED BY GOD!

IGLESIA EVANGELICA UNIDA DE CRISTO
A NAME CHOSEN BY GOD

IN 1932, six Filipino indigenous Churches bonded together to form ONE. And with humble Faith, they followed the example of the Disciples, in letting God choose the Name of the new Church. They did what they call Pelotilya, as the first disciples did when faced with the task of choosing the replacement of Judas - the christians drew lots from two people they have separated.

Our forefathers voted and separated three church names and after the prayer of the whole congregation they submitted them to God, and He chose the name IGLESIA EVANGELICA UNIDA DE CRISTO.

But they did not stop there, they also used pelotilya to choose the General Superintendent, General Secretary, General Treasurer, and General Evangelist of the Church. They voted 11 pastors to be members of the Board of Directors. Then they let God choose the Generales who will lead the church.

First the General Superintendent. They ranked the pastors according to the number of votes. The first three names were submitted to Pelotilya. In a straw hat they wrote the three names in three small pieces of paper and they rolled each one. In another straw hat they placed three rolled blank pieces of paper and a special one in which is written the words: “You are the one chosen by God.” It is possible and it had happened that three blanks will be drawn and no one is chosen, in which case the next three names in the ranking will be submitted to pelotilya until God chooses a name.

The process is repeated for General Secretary, General Treasurer, and General Evangelist.

It is our faith that God chose the name of our Church and also have chosen the leaders of the Church since 1932 up to the present.






Dear Unida Internet Travellers,
Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening, wherever you are in this whole wide world.

The response and viewership of our blogsite and youtube channel is awesome. I quote one commenter who said: “It is about time that the world knows about Unida Church.” Amen! We are committed to do this. We are late already but as our old saying goes: “Huli man daw at magaling ay naihahabol din.”

We have started posting videos at youtube and blogsite. To start, we have 11 videos posts about UNIDA CHRISITAN MUSIC and UNIDA CHRISTIAN DANCE and we appreciate those that have already seen them. If you have not yet seen them yet, please do so now here and/or at youtube.

Yesterday, we started a new series about Unida, who we are, what we are yesterday, today, and tomorrow. We start with the spirit that moves Unida which is “KAISANG UNIDA”, which I freely translate to English as “THE POWER OF ONE.” We posted yesterday “The Power of One-1” to be followed today by “The Power of One-2”, to be followed by “Unida History- 1 up to 4. This would translate 17 total video posts. And much later I would like to produce a Christian Telenovela. The only limiting factor in all this is expense but I never let that deter me.

Jokingly, Pastor Masiglat told me that “Dinaramdam niya pero hindi siya puwedeng artista sa telenovela ko.” And I answered that: “Kailangan ko ng balbas-sarado kaya kukunin ko siya.” That is, when he gets home from Abu Dhabi.

And we have made our Bagong Unida Blog almost like a real website but more interactive. More than the videos, we have written articles, commentaries and news from around Unida and the world that you can share with others like the videos. We are now broadcasting from Baclaran Unida Church where I am now the Administrative Pastor. And one day in the future, we will produce a Christian Telenovela that we will broadcast from our blog and youtube channel.

Sharing of the gospel now is more encompassing and worldwide, as I now beg you to forward this news to others so that they too may play our videos and read our articles, commentaries and news and be blessed by them. Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations;”

If possible, can you share with me some email addresses to whom I can also send refreshers like this? Our links are: http://bagongunida.blogspot.com and www.youtube.com/PastorGalying.

Because Christ lives,
Pastor Galying

In May 20,2007 the Unida Church celebrated 75 years at The Forum of the Philippine International Convention Center. Let us now go down memory lane in the history of the church.


The men's and women's organizations were part of the growth and history of the church.


It is now the turn of the Youth and the Choir to narrate their part in the history of the church.

The Sunday School and Body of Ministers also took part in the growth and life of the church.

It is now time to be ONE. Together, we rise up a united church. With one body, one spirit, one hope and one Lord, we will lift up this land for God alone. KAISANG UNIDA! LET US GO FORTH! THE POWER OF ONE!


At the Unida 75th Anniversary, contemporary songs were sung as gospels.

UNIDA CHRISTIAN MUSIC AND DANCE

Music, Songs, Dances, and Electronic Musical Instruments have taken center stage in Christian Celebrations and yes, even worships.

In its celebration of the church’s 73rd Anniversary at Cuneta Astrodome in 2005 and the 75th Anniversary at the Forum of the Philippine International Convention Center in 2007, we took videos of the songs and dances as performed by Unida Talents using modern technology. All for God alone!

We are now broadcasting these videos of Unida Christian Music and Unida Christian Dance in our channel at YouTube and in our Bagong Unida Blog. The links are:
http://bagongunida.blogspot.com
http://www.youtube.com/PastorGalying

What was an unreachable dream in the 1950’s when I was a boy I can now reach with my laptop and the world is just a keyboard away. Imagine YouTube telling me to: “Share your video with the world!” “Allow others to rate your video” “Allow others to embed and play my video” Wow!

And we have made our Bagong Unida Blog almost like a real website, but more interactive. More than the videos, we have written articles, commentaries and news from around Unida and the world that you can share with others like the videos. We are now broadcasting from Baclaran Unida Church where I am now the Administrative Pastor. And one day in the future, we will produce a Christian Telenovela that we will broadcast from our blog.

Sharing of the gospel now is more encompassing and worldwide, as I now beg you to forward this news to others so that they too may play our videos and read our articles, commentaries and news and be blessed by them. Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations;”

Old Hymns and Anthems sung by the “Creatives” composed of Gigi, Grace, Lady, Nikki, Ben, Rainier, Jonjon & Genesis. Click Video.


Rachelle R. Gerodias, our International Soprano performing a cover of “Light of a Million Mornings”. Click Video.


Unida Dancers performing at the Unida75th Anniversary at the Forum of PICC in 2007. Click Video.

Jun Penaverde and Rachelle Gerodias singing “The Prayer”. Click Video.

Gospel songs sung by Koro ng Unida composed of Mahjeeh, Ethel, Ninet, Rachel, Andrew, Ecoy, Rainier, & Alan. Click Video.

Unida Youth sings about reminishing their Sunday School & DVCS. Click Video.

Nylah Bautista singing “Shine” at the Unida 73rd Anniversary 2005 at Cuneta Astrodome. Click Video.

Unida Youth tries the modern boys dance. Click video.

Sunday School Children put on their dancing shows. Click Video.

IGLESIA EVANGELICA UNIDA DE CRISTO: A CHURCH NAMED BY GOD

IN 1932, six Filipino indigenous Churches bonded together to form ONE. And with humble Faith, they followed the example of the Disciples, in letting God choose the Name of the new Church. They did what they call Pelotilya, as the first disciples did when faced with the task of choosing the replacement of Judas - the christians drew lots from two people they have separated.

Our forefathers voted and separated three church names and after the prayer of the whole congregation they submitted them to God, and He chose the name IGLESIA EVANGELICA UNIDA DE CRISTO. But they did not stop there, they also used pelotilya to choose the General Superintendent, General Secretary, General Treasurer, and General Evangelist of the Church. They voted 11 pastors to be members of the Board of Directors. Then they let God choose the Generales who will lead the church.

First the General Superintendent. They ranked the pastors according to the number of votes. The first three names were submitted to Pelotilya. In a straw hat they wrote the three names in three small pieces of paper and they rolled each one. In another straw hat they placed three rolled blank pieces of paper and a special one in which is written the words: “You are the one chosen by God.” It is possible and it had happened that three blanks will be drawn and no one is chosen, in which case the next three names in the ranking will be submitted to pelotilya until God chooses a name. The process is repeated for General Secretary, General Treasurer, and General Evangelist.

It is our faith that God chose the name of our Church and also have chosen the leaders of the Church since 1932 up to the present.

BACLARAN UNIDA CHURCH is one of the original congregations of the churches that became ONE. And since then, it has contributed five bishops to the leadership of the church. Only those chosen by God to be General Superintendent can become a Bishop. And BUC to-date has five of them.

FIRELIGHT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

IN A FULLY TRANSFORMED CHURCH, EVERY MEMBER IS A GOSPEL BRINGER. Someone who tells someone else about JESUS. Someone who is in this world but not of this world.

Spiritual Transformation should happen in each and every member of the church, Not only for a few but rather it should be church-wide. There must be a church rebirth and renewal as the members shed, either inwardly or in appearance, the values, ideals, and behavior of a fallen world and undergo a radical change in inner character, condition, or nature.

The church must be transformed into something else: A lighthouse in the middle of a sin-darkened community. It must not only glow but should overflow with the FIRELIGHT of the Holy Spirit.

Seven decades ago, Baclaran was a barrio in the true sense of the word. In the early evenings, as the sweet scent of Dama de Noche permeates the surrounding, fireflies (alitaptap) abound. As youngsters, we use to gather them in a clear-glass “garapon” (a wide mouthed bottle) and marveled as they light up the place when we have gathered a big number of them inside.

Imagine, for a moment, the newly air-conditioned temple of Baclaran Unida Church, lighting up the whole community with the firelights of every transformed member worshipping the One True God – JESUS! A gathering of Christian Fireflies. Wow!

The temple then will be like a LIGHTHOUSE in the shore of a turbulent ocean, where those who are seeking God can come to become Firelights of the Holy Spirit.

IKAW! SI JESUS! AT AKO! KAISA! LET’S GO! (Click videos 1&2)

CHRISTIAN TELENOVELA, ANYONE?

TELEVISION IS A POWERFUL MEDIUM. An instrument of communication that can be used for good or bad.

People, including even Christians, are hooked on Tele-Dramas, which competes with prayer meetings, Bible Studies and other church activities. This is unfortunate but sadly true. While Christian programs proliferate television today, telenovelas dominate primetime TV. It is our dream that someday we will have Christian Telenovelas on primetime TV and Church activities.

Here is a video-look of this titled UNIDA KAISA TV:


Now here is video look at a promo for a Christian Telenovela:


Now a video look at the implementation of a video & live drama titled "Ang APAT"

SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION BEGINS

A WHOLE FAMILY WAS BAPTIZED AS BACLARAN UNIDA CHURCH BEGINS FISCAL YEAR 2008-09. THERE were rejoicing and praising as the 200-strong Baclaran Unida Church baptized 10 members of a family on Sunday June 1, 2008.

It was an auspicious start for their vision of SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION by Church Rebirth & Renewal. This was the result of the Church’s Person-to-Person Sharing of the Gospel and the Bible Study for new believers led by Sister Lucy Filio at the Pastor’s House every Tuesday.

Spiritual Transformation is the one-year goal of the Baclaran Unida Church. This will be church-wide and will embrace every activity of the church and will culminate at the Church Camp at year-end.

By camp-time, it is expected that each and every member, child & adult alike, will have transformed into a “new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

The battlecry of the church is SIKSIK 76!

View a video of this below: