Christianity • Protestantism Behind the founding of the IEMELIF were Filipino nationalist and subsequent independence movements that blossomed in the late 19th century.

Filipinos wanted full autonomy in all spheres including religion, as three centuries of Spanish rule were marked by the Catholic Church's near-absolute control over the colony's temporal and spiritual affairs.

A group of Filipino preachers in the Methodist Episcopal mission in Tondo put up "Ang Katotohanan” (The Truth), an organisation that carried on evangelistic work in the country.

Their vision and motivation was faith in God's providence, and belief that the Filipino was capable of erecting a self-sustaining, autonomous, and self-propagating evangelical church.

The Discipline was revised to create of the Supreme Consistory of Elders, a board that became the legislative body of the Church, whilst the general superintendent became the head of the Episcopacy, an organ which was tasked with administration.

The brief term of Bishop Marcelino C. Gutierrez (1952–1953) saw important contributions in the organisation of the Ministerial and Lay Workers Institute as a permanent agency of the Church.

The Church also introduced the then-innovative central fund system, and formalised relationships with both local and foreign religious groups.

It also involves itself in civic and community affairs, extends help to victims of natural calamities like typhoons, earthquakes, and fires.

It was destroyed in a large fire that gutted Tondo, Manila on 3 May 1941 but was rebuilt at the same site and completed on 28 February 1959, which was also the Church's 50th anniversary.

The eastern and western flanks of the edifice have pointed arch stained glass windows, which cast a light-green hue all throughout the church's interior.

A large, newly constructed choir loft looms above and over the narthex and entrance to the nave, which has a high ceiling with decorative hanging lamps.

The framing of the ceiling, as well as the altar reredos, are made from Narra (Pterocarpus indicus), wood donated by Brother Edward Tan, an avid sympathizer of the Church.