The Manila congregation of the United Church of God recently transferred to a new site, dubbed as the Church Activity Center (Manila) at Unit 206 of Rizalina 2 Annex Building, along Quezon Avenue (near EDSA) in Quezon City.

This new site is unlike the other sites the Manila congregation had used before, primarily because for a fixed monthly rent (with minimal annual increase), the congregation can use this site for 24 hours a day, seven days a week!

Being called the Church Activity Center (Manila) is not just a name; for, in support of the two-fold commission of the Church, “Preaching the Gospel, Preparing a People,” a theme for the Manila congregation is to provide an environment (while on this temporary dwelling place) where each member is nurtured, while preparing for and yearning for “the new heaven and the new earth.”

With this new Church Activity Center, the Manila congregation can now be more assured that they have a place to meet, not only for Sabbath services, Bible studies, and the Annual Holy Days but also for the other activities like Women’s Club, Spokesman Club, Youth Speech Club, Youth Bible Lessons, and the Rondalla practices just to name a few—all without incurring more rent expense for the Church.

The idea to look for a new and relatively more permanent site started when the Manila congregation could no longer use the conference room at the Certeza Building and when the congregation transferred to the function rooms at Marvin Plaza sometime August 2006.
While the sites at the Certeza Building and at Marvin Plaza were accessible enough for the brethren, their availability was not always certain, being rented spaces in office buildings. Hence, the Manila congregation would sometimes rent other sites —like the Audio-Visual Room at the Meralco Foundation (which is rather expensive)—when the Certeza Building or Marvin Plaza would not be available.

With the growth that the Manila congregation is experiencing (the average attendance is now in the 80s, while peak attendance during a Sabbath reached almost 100), the number of “support activities” outside of the Sabbath services, the Bible studies, and the Annual Holy Days is also increasing. If the congregation had remained at the previous locations, more activities would mean more rent expense for the Church, as what happened for the pre-Feast Festival Show 2006 rehearsals, the youth activities, etc.

The question of when to transfer to the new site and especially how to inform the management of Marvin Plaza was a concern, since the Church had mentioned to the management of Marvin Plaza its intention to continue to rent Marvin Plaza for the first quarter of 2007. However, 10 days before the estimated completion date of the renovations at the new Church Activity Center, Mr. Rey Evasco got a text message from the management of Marvin Plaza informing him that January 27, 2007 would be the last time the Church could use the function rooms at Marvin Plaza, since they have decided to convert the said function rooms into office spaces.

Hence, on January 28, 2007, the youths (the teens and the young adults) were the first group to use the new Church Activity Center for their Youth Speech Club and for their monthly Bible Study-Christian Living Sessions.

And, on the first Sabbath of February 2007—February 3—the Manila congregation had its first Sabbath service at the new Church Activity Center (Manila).

© 2007 United Church of God, AIA - Pilipinas