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Our History

 

         All things work together for good to those who submit in the Will of our Living God. We know that every church here on earth was founded by our Lord Jesus Christ. It is His Body and He is the Head. The very reason for writing our church history is to know well the Working Power of the Almighty God who started its journey, who holds the lives of His children, who sustains every detail of its ministry and who trusts its strength to do the impossibilities for the Glory of His Name. Its purpose is to preserve the legacy of this church in times of in all circumstances till the coming again of our Savior. We thank God for all the efforts and sacrifices of the men and women of God for the past thirty nine years. Glory be to God!

    The passion to plant a church here at General Mariano Alvarez (GMA) started on May 24, 1974 through the arrival of Bro. & Sis. Florence Lumigis and their family. They came from the Alliance Church in Zamboanga City, island of Mindanao. As church leaders and Christians for how many years, they felt the passion for the lost souls who long for a church that will care for their souls here at GMA, which is then a relocation center before. God worked on that passion in their hearts and they decided to ask help from Pasay City Alliance Church to assist them in planting a church. This church closely responded through their Church Planting Ministry headed by Ptr. Cuaresma. As they arrived here, they surveyed the place and took pictures of homes and barangays.

          Months went by, after that survey no help came from the said church. As they were waiting the assistance from the church, the passion continued growing and burning. So the Lumigis initiated to start the ministry on their on and went to see Ptr. Valmike Apuzen in Quezon City to ask again for help and yet they were referred to the nearest church which is only the Pasay City Alliance Church.

 

        He organized again the ministry, trained new leaders, discipled them, put up new bible studies, organized prayer cottage and small groups. Later, a young pastor, Ptr. Hatab Castillo Jr. who came from Mt. Apo Alliance Bible College. The youth and the children ministry were growing at that time. Then he got married here and left the church to work in Bahrain. So Ptr. Jun Obis arrived and worked here but in a very short time and got married then left the church to Trece Martires, Cavite where he put up another church. Ptr. Arnel adviced the Church Board of Leaders to get a fulltime pastor since he don’t have more time for the church due to his work at DPWH. 

       In 2001, Ptr. Aldrin Torillo who focused in the Pulpit Ministry, Evangelism, Discipleship and Church Administration with his wife Ptra. Mary Jane Torillo who then focused in the Music Ministry, are both graduate students of Davao Alliance Bible College arrived in our church. They had two kids while they worked here for five years. Then Ptr. Arnel left the GCAC with his family for a calling inTagaytay Christ’s Commission Church a senior pastor.

        At that time, the church supported two young people who decided and followed the calling of our Lord to study in Bible School; Ptr. Reynaldo Calipayan a graduate pastor from Davao Alliance Bible College and now a missionary in Japan with his wife who became an intern here in our church in the person of Ptra. Russel Elid-Calipayan and Ptr. Kristian Asebias, who graduated from Mt. Apo Alliance Bible College, took his internship back in GMA and is now a fulltime pastor at Rizal Alliance Church together with his wife.

         Several interns also came from different Bible Colleges in Alliance from Mindanao. Ptra. Anne Magtibay, Ptra. Joy Golosino and Ptra. Julie-cel Pasaporte who focused then in the Children and Youth Ministries.

        Alongside, almost the financial status of the church fluctuated. Still, God sustained the church. Shortly in the first month of 2007, the church raised thirty thousand pesos. Before Ptr. Aldrin decided and left the church, he appointed Bro. Rodney Diaz, an engineer by profession and a businessman, as the church administrator and Sis. Remedios Belbes as the church elder. Bro. Rodney, a man of God came from the Nazarene Church, has labored faithfully in the church balancing his time with his business and family.

          In the beginning of the ministry, the Lumigis have had children extension classes in Area C, D and E which God blessed for having more than 100 children who came from different extension classes. During those times, we do not have yet the capacity to support the said ministry and which is why was turned over to the Southern Baptist Church.

        In 1975, our denomination had a Church Planting Target to plant four hundred churches nationwide which Pasay City Alliance Church firstly commissioned Tita and Lyn Walsh to help and assist the ministry of the Lumigis. On the same year, they also sent Ptr. Gutierrez but he didn’t stay long because he got married.

         In the year 1984, a single woman of God came here in our church in the person of Sis. Remedios Belbes who was used spiritually by God in GCAC until this time. When she arrived, she helped our ministry voluntarily. Afterwards, a very young pastor came – a fresh graduate from Ebenezer Bible College and Seminary in Zambonga City. In this time, he became one of our CAMACOP Leaders who has been really blessed and used by God that our denomination grew. He is Dr. Gerryl  Nillos. Many ministries he handled grew, many young people became believers, yet he left the church due to some problems and issues. He resigned in that year.

         Ptr. Ed Napila also came, who is now our missionary in Poland. Ptr. Rey de Guzman also came who now works in Cubao Church. Ptr. Raul was really used by God by having a Day Care Center here together with his wife as a teacher. Unhappily, a lot of problems arose. Really our enemy doesn’t want to see a church grow to the point that our church almost divided and some members left the church to another. That was then the critical time for our church.  Ptr. Molina and his family left the church and lived at Pangasinan. He died last three years ago. But, our God doesn’t want to see our church dying so he sent and used Ptr. Arnel Herradura to reconcile what was lost before. He is a licensed engineer and worked at DPWH.         

        He decided to be a fulltime pastor and schooled at Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary on a Master’s Degree program and graduated last 2011. The church grew not only in spiritual but also financially. This is also because of the faithful members who really prayed, supported and gave sacrificially in service of God. Since then, the church reached all the annual target budget and needs of the church and its ministry.

          Back in the Regional Forum in 2010 at Jabez Campsite - Dasmariñas, Ptr. Rodney and Elder Remedios Belbes met a young and intern pastor of South Manila Alliance Church, Ptr. Jade Diaz. The church invited him to work in GCAC as a youth pastor. He is a talented pastor, an artist, a musician and also a preacher. The youth ministry flourished even more by the Grace of God. The year 2010 and 2011 were one of the blessed years of this church.

       From thirty thousand pesos, God blessed us many folds. We bought another musical instruments, built the children’s classroom, tiled the comfort rooms, had a pastor’s office, started the pastor’s parsonage and the second floor building with a cost of almost four hundred thousand pesos.

           Four years passed by, Ptr. Jade left GCAC for Pasay City Alliance Church and was replaced by Ptra. Irene Faith de Pedro who recently graduated. She focused on the Christian Education, Children Ministry and the Youth Ministry. After a year, she left GCAC to go back to Mindanao and got married last October 24, 2015. Following her, Ptr. Justin Jay Umangay came last May, 2015 and continued the ministry left by Ptra. Irene with additional ministry in the Music Team assisting the Director, Sis. Sharon Shierly Vargas.

            During the transition of the two aforementioned pastors, Ptr. Hatab Castillo Jr., fresh from Bahrain, went home to his family and was invited again by the church to work God's ministries in GCAC which he agreed. Back then in Bahrain, he was also used by God in the Baptist Church there as an assistant pastor. Currently, he is heading the Evangelism Ministry and assisting the Music Ministry in song leading and playing the guitar.

 

              By then, the Pastoral Team composed of three handsome men of God in GMA was formed: Ptr. Rodney Diaz (Senior Pastor), Ptr. Hatab Castillo Jr. (Associate Pastor) and Ptr. Justin Jay Umangay (Associate Pastor). These men of faith are now the pillars of GMA Christian Alliance Church together with the Church Ministerial Team who are actively supporting and working the ministries in this church.

      Glory to God in the Highest! Many ministries opened and started not only inside the church but in the community. The youth ministry had their concert night at Brgy. Tirona and Mission exposure at Bulihan, the women had their prayer walk at Brgy. Tirona and Bible Studies for unbelievers and the children ministry have their children’s camp at exposure at Belbes farm. Until this time the ministries are continuously growing. We have bible studies and classes, children’s outreach ministries, youth small groups and even community services.

         Youth Jams are present. Prayer Meetings are separately done by adults  during Thursdays at 3:00 PM and youth during Tuesdays at 6:30 PM. Concerts after concerts happen. Sunday Services are held every 8:00 AM.

          Truly, this church has been through a lot. But God, our big and mighty God is faithful and true to those who love and serve Him in all circumstance.

            God bless GCAC!

 

            #teamJESUS #GCAC #39yearsandcounting

 

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