By Jonah Grace Lopez
Eagle News Service, Canada bureau
ALBERTA, Canada (Eagle News) – On May 10, coinciding with the 130th birth anniversary of the Late Brother Felix Y. Manalo, whom the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) members believe to be God’s Last Messenger, some 200 church members drove almost three hours from Edmonton to Lac la Biche in Alberta, Canada where some 2000 relief good bags were handed out.
Many of the volunteers had taken time off from work to participate in this Aid for Humanity Project of the INC.
The look in the faces of the evacuees is remarkably priceless. An evacuee herself handing out relief good bag to another evacuee is a notable sight indeed.
The day before this, on Monday, May 9, through the direction of the INC Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V Manalo, INC minister Brother Rolando Gaviola conducted a re-packing of relief goods at the Canadian Druze Centre where more than a hundred INC members — from children as young as five years old to grandparents as old as 80 – volunteered in the preparation of the 2,000 relief bags.
The relief bags were brought to the Bold Centre in Lac La Biche, Alberta Evacuation Camp.
The call to help and assist in the re-packing the relief goods had once again brought the Edmonton Region together.
Rey Escalona, a Bible Student from the Edmonton South Congregation hurried from work to make it to Canadian Druze to ensure he helped in some way.
“I love extending my help, especially to a cause such as this,” he said.
He was amazed on how the members of the Church had gone beyond the call of duty — taking time off from work, school and their personal obligations — to be a part of such a worthy cause.
Even with the economic downfall of Alberta, members of the Church of Christ has once again shown and have done their part in doing good to those who needed it.
A dozen communities in Fort McMurray, here in Alberta, Canada were affected by the vast wildfire in the since it started spreading on May 1.
A mandatory evacuation has forced all 80,000 Fort McMurray residents to leave their homes in search of safety. This his has been the largest fire-related evacuation in the province’s history. The fire has destroyed homes and businesses in several areas and is threatening Downtown.
When the Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V. Manalo of the Iglesiani Cristo (Church of Christ) heard of this devastating news, he hurriedly contacted the FYM Foundation Chairman, Brother Glicerio Santos, Jr. to ensure the members of the Church of Christ as well as the residents of Fort McMurray were extended the help and assistance needed to enable them to withstand the shattering effect of such a disaster.
While the INC Executive Minister was still finalizing the help the Church would extend, church members in the Alberta and BC Region have united and started bringing relief goods to show and extend their help.
Canned goods, shoes, clothes, blankets were among the many different items donated. Many also volunteered to open their doors in case members of the Church as well as their fellow Albertans needed accommodations.
The temperature soared around 30 degrees Celsius on Saturday as the RCMP escorted about 2,400 vehicles to safety, south of the fire-ravaged city. A convoy of evacuees once again made its way from the north side of the fire to the south.
More than 14,000 people have made it out in the past two days, while many others were flown to safety. The more than 60 members of the Church affected in Fort McMurray made it to Edmonton. There is still no timeline for residents to be allowed back into their homes, but the Alberta government has begun preliminary planning, although it stressed that fighting the fire is still the top priority.
One sad truth is not knowing if residents would actually be able to return to their homes eventually.
With this project, however, members have shown the true meaning of unity, love and care for their fellowmen.
One passerby exclaimed, “Who would have thought that a congregation with majority of its members being the society’s minority would be so generous and eager to extend tremendous support and aid to Canadians?”
The INCGiving Project logo states “Whenever possible, do good to those who need it,” and this is what the INC members did and would always strive to do. (Eagle News Service, Canada bureau)
