HISTORY OF THE IEMELIF CHURCH

Behind the founding and growth of the IEMELIF Church is a story. It is the story of the long simmering and long-suppressed passion of the Filipinos for self-expression, dating back to the long centuries of Spanish domination. When the Spanish rule ended, the Americans came in. Even with the extensive and far-reaching changes that the new regime instituted in all areas - government, education, religion - the nationalistic cravings of the Filipino spirit still would not be quenched.

The Beginning

Various American Protestant denominations came in with the American occupation.  Immediately, these all set about preaching the Gospel among the Filipinos.  Many Filipinos who had long chafed under the intolerance of the monolithic Roman Catholic Church thirstily drank in the fresh and novel expositions of the American missionaries.  Before long, many Filipinos were baptized into the Protestant faith.  Among them was Don Paulino Zamora, a nephew of the martyred Fr. Jacinto Zamora of the immortal Gomez-Burgoz-Zamora triumvirate.  Don Paulino himself had suffered exile by the Spaniards when he was caught in possession of a Bible.

The  Young Zamora

Nicolas Zamora, like his father Don Paulino, became deeply interested in the Protestant movement, and father and son, soon enough, involved themselves in various activities which led in due time to Nicolas becoming a lay preacher.  At about this time, the American missionaries had begun to feel that Filipinos should start taking up more active roles in church affairs.  It was but natural then that their eyes should fall upon Nicolas Zamora who, with increasing exposure abetted by a natural stage presence, had developed into an eloquent and brilliant preacher Nicolas Zamora. Thus, was ordained a  minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church - the first Filipino ordained Protestant minister.

The Methodist Episcopal  Church

Among  Zamora's  first assignment was as minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church in what is now the Knox Memorial Church on Rizal Avenue in Manila.  Other Filipinos were soon also ordained in the Methodist Episcopal Church.  They were engaged not only in preaching in the churches but also in helping propagate the faith in the countryside.

By 1909, or just ten years after the Protestant movement was brought into the country, the Methodist Episcopal Church had attained quite a large membership.  The Filipino ministers felt, justifiably, that they had contributed in quite an appreciable measure to this rapid growth.  Somehow, the stirrings of nationalistic zeal began to surface all over again.  The Filipinos felt that they could now stand on their own feet.

The Founding

These nationalistic elements came to Nicolas Zamora and asked him to lead them in declaring independence from the American church and forming their own Filipino Church.  Nicolas Zamora balked.  After all, he enjoyed the confidence of the Americans and was recognized by all, Filipinos and Americans alike, as the leading Filipino minister

Soon, however, circumstances contrived to make it abundantly clear to Nicolas Zamora that it was indeed time to declare independence.  On Sunday, the 28^th of February, 1909, he preached the historic first sermon - which was at once the declaration of independence from the Methodist Episcopal Church - of the Iglesia Evangelica Metodista en las Islas Filipinas.  This marked the coming into being of the first indigenous Protestant church in the Philippines.

Birthpains

The new denomination was long on spirit and enthusiasm, but short on finances and know-how.  That is why the critics were convinced that within three months, the secessionists would come crawling back.  But they mis-judged the resolution of the group and their belief in the denomination's appointment with destiny.  Spurned by their very difficulties which persisted for many years, the new denomination prospered and grew and soon was extending itself all over the countryside.

Independence

The IEMELIF since the very start has been a self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating church and has remained so to this day. It has had to finance all its activities – the support of the ministerial and lay staff and the expenses for their training, the missionary efforts to propagate the church and the gospel in places where there were no existing congregations, and the erection of new church buildings.

Challenges and Growth

Over the years, there have been varied problems attendant to its steady growth and the ever changing religious climate.  Thru all these the Church has remained steadfast and has weathered all crises that served only to spur the members to even greater fervor in the service of the Lord.

From a handful of churches in Manila and suburbs, it has grown to over 300 congregations throughout the Philippines and in different parts of the United States of America and Canada.

Statement of Faith

Having sprung from the Methodist Church, the IEMELIF Church has adapted the Methodist doctrine and Articles of Faith, as well as its practices and observances.