For other uses, see. Members Church of God International, abbreviated as MCGI, is an international religious organization with headquarters in the. It started as a small group with less than a hundred believers in 1977. On April 25, 1980, in compliance with government regulations, registered the group with the SEC as Ang Mga Kaanib sa Iglesia ng Dios Kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Saligan ng Katotohan, sa Bansang Pilipinas English: Members of the Church of God in Christ Jesus, Pillar and Ground of Truth in the Philippines. For them, the church's primary objective, as commanded by Jesus Christ, is to propagate the gospel unto all nations until the consummation of the ages, convert sinners to believe and glorify God and to make them qualify for the eternal life in heaven. Currently, MCGI is present in six inhabited continents of the world with more than 1,360 established local congregations. Its flagship program is being broadcast in more than 70 countries, in five languages over terrestrial television, radio, internet and carried by at least seven satellites across the globe. They believe that the Father is greater than all, greater than Jesus Christ as declared by Christ himself. They do not observe customs and traditions which they consider to have pagan origins incompatible with Christianity. MCGI is not related to the many groups that descended from the Barney Creek Meeting House revival of the late 19th century in the. An ADD Coordinating Center of MCGI in Manila. The Members Church of God International in the Philippines rooted from a similar denomination, the Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Suhay ng Katotohanan Church of God in Christ Jesus, Pillar and Support of the Truth which was first led by Nicolas Antiporda Perez in , in 1928. On December 10, 1936, the Church was registered with the Philippine government by Brother Nicolas Antiporda Perez as first church Presiding Minister with a Central Office in Natividad St. Since the year the church was established, church workers were being sent to the nearby provinces around. Brother Nicolas Antiporda Perez, lead the church from 1928 until the time of his death in May 1975, the church was then a small group with less than hundred congregations. After Perez's death in 1975, Levita Gugulan, the secretary-general of the church, succeeded as presiding minister; Soriano countered the authority of Gugulan. In the last quarter of 1980, the church launched the radio program ADD. Through the local radio station DWWA 1206 kHz, ADD was heard in many parts of the Philippine Archipelago. The program became popular in the Philippines because of its live question and answer portion. In 1983, the program kicked off its national television appearance through Channel 13. Ang Dating Daan as a program in radio made its stint in , , , and now. On January 7, 2006, the first live Bible exposition in the United States was held in. In 2008, Bible Expositions were conducted in the continent of Oceania bringing forth the first congregation in Papua New Guinea. In the same year, congregations were established in Ghana, West Africa as a result of a series of Bible studies in Africa. The early months of 2009 saw the Church introduced in Latin America. This resulted twelve MCGI members including Willy Santiago to split from the group in October 2009 and established a new religion, the or MCGJCW, with membership now consists mostly of former MCGI followers. The , the MCGI headquarters in the Philippines. The organization is managed by the MCGI Central Administration under the MCGI Workers Ministry. Overall Servants Currently, is the Overall Servant Tagalog: Lingkod Pangkalahatan to MCGI formerly called as Presiding Minister or Tagapangasiwang Pangkalahatan in Tagalog and his deputy, is the Vice Overall Servant Tagalog: Pangalawang Lingkod Pangkalahatan, formerly called as Vice Presiding Minister or Pangalawang Tagapangasiwang Pangkalahatan in Tagalog. The Overall Servant prepares the outline of Biblical topics Tagalog: paksa and preach sermons. A part of it will be delivered and discussed by his deputy. Preaching of Biblical topic is done by the Overall Servants, either live or recorded, which is being aired in all MCGI local congregations. They also personally take time to resolve spiritual and personal problems of members every Thanksgiving gathering, during the consultation period. Assigned Church Workers administer various church services such as Prayer Meetings, Worship Services, Indoctrination Sessions, Bible Studies, Bible Expositions, and Thanksgiving in local congregations. They are allowed to communicate official memorandum signed by the Overall Servants and preside over matters and activities concerning the local church. Brethren can personally seek spiritual or personal advice from Workers, who were trained during ministerial classes, in giving Biblical advice and recommendations. Funding Much of their funding is provided by voluntary contributions from members and personal donations from the Overall Servants. MCGI does not practice tithing and neither accept any contribution or donation from non-members nor offer any religious service in return for any financial payment. In blue are countries and territories where Members Church of God International MCGI is present as of 2015. As of 2015, Members Church of God International has established more than 1,360 congregations in the Philippines and abroad, up from a total of 1,280 locales reported in 2014. Congregations are grouped into geographical divisions mainly the Philippines, South America, North America and Canada, Asia Oceania, Middle East and Europe, Israel and Africa Division. The official website of the church reported its presence in 46 countries and territories as of 2010. Since its arrival in in 2009, MCGI sees a growing number of locales in the continent. As of 2015, it reported 237 established locales in , including those in , , , , and. More than a hundred other locations in Brazil receive preaching through DVDs and. In , the church reported 195 established locales and another 60 locales currently being established, with only three countries left to reach. MCGI keeps a formal number of members but does not openly reveal it. In 2015, the church gained more than 20,000 new members through regular mass baptisms. See also: They beli
