
Choral groups of local congregations from the Ecclesiastical District of New Zealand engaged in a virtual sing-off called Songs of Salvation Choral Competition to culminate the 3rd anniversary celebration of their district on November 29, 2020.
The Local Congregations of Manukao, Northshore, Hamilton, Auckland, Christchurch, and the Group Worship Services (GWS) of Tauranga and Silverdale participated.
“Believing that the Church Administration launches activities so Church members will remain active in the faith, the brethren are always inspired to unite with the Church activities,” said Brother Jose Fuentes, Jr., Hamilton Local Congregation resident minister.
The participants rendered Iglesia Ni Cristo original music for their presentations.
As to the preparation of their choral group, Carmi Manalaysay, an organist from the Local Congregation of Hamilton, narrated, “Since the competition was announced, the brethren were very eager to participate and to come up with an entry that … would be most suitable for the choir.”
The choir of the Local Congregation of Hamilton emerged as the winner of the competition. All participants did their best to express their faith and strengthen their fellow brethren through music.
Carmi expressed: “We miss singing together during worship services. Activities like this gives us an opportunity to feel that same way again. It helps strengthen our brotherhood and use the talents in singing to glorify our Lord God. We are happy and humbled to win the competition as recognition of our hard work and most of all it is a way to participate in the activities of the Church, to please and to praise our Lord God.” — With reports from INC News Section