(Tagalog: Lingkod Pampook, formerly called as Tagapangasiwang Pampook and abbreviated as "TP") oversee a church "District" (Tagalog: Distrito) referring to one Philippine province. 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. Membership The church 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 and mass baptisms. As of 2015, the church 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 geographically by divisions, districts and zones mainly the Philippines, South America, North America, Canada, Asia Oceania, Middle East, 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 South America in 2009, the church sees a growing number of locales in the continent. As of 2015, it reported 237 established locales in Brazil, including those in Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Florianópolis. Members not living in accordance with the church's teachings may be excommunicated or expelled, from the church. Members are required to be modest in dress and grooming. Women are prohibited from cutting their hair and wearing expensive jewelry and denim pants, and men are prohibited from having long hair. They are strictly prohibited from drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, using drugs, and gambling. Propagation The Members Church of God International believe that an important duty and obligation of the members of the church is to propagate the gospel on earth until the consummation of the ages. Eli Soriano began his nightly town-to-town preaching in the 1970s but eventually realized that his life is not enough to reach the entire Philippines. In the 1980s he decided to use emerging media such as radio and television. In October 1980, it initially launched the Ang Dating Daan program hosted by Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon and later on Philippine television in February 1983. The program is now being broadcast in