PFWBC Philippine History

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by: Rev. Reynato Mendoza

In 1970, a missionary from the USA by the name of Rev. Winfield Kelly, his wife Mrs. Pinky Kelly and their two children Allen and David, came to the Philippines. They passed through Manila to come to the small town of Candon in the Province of Ilocos Sur. As they got off the bus, Rev. W. Kelly put all their baggage under an Acacia tree beside the national road, and his wife took a look around. Rev. Kelley started to talk to people passing by, telling them that he is a missionary of the Lord from the USA, and is looking for a man by the name of Richard Lacar. He approached several people, mostly because many could not understand him due to the language barrier, and they just would smile at him and leave. Others that could understand English simply did not know the man he was looking for. It was really difficult for Rev. Kelly to look for someone, because during those days, telephones were very uncommon and cell phones had not even been thought of! However, with the persistence of this missionary, somebody was able to direct him to the residence of the Lacar’s. The Lacar family warmly welcomed the Kelly family and gave space for them at their home.

Hence, the missionary had the principle of “redeeming the time because the days are evil,” and he begun to discuss and inform Pastor Lacar about his purpose in coming to the Philippines. One day later, he was introduced to Pastor Philip Buenavista, who was then a pastor of the Assembly of God Church in the town. They began to visit and evangelize some remote places such as Abra and San Emilio namely Tamac, Masiosioay, and Lancuas. After several weeks of struggle in the area due to the hot weather, the Missionary decided to go to Baguio City , the summer capital of the Philippines , to settle and start a Bible School.

After having meetings with several ministers like Rev. Dionisio Docusin, Rev. Ramon Omaoeng, Richard Lacar, Philip Buenavista and others, they decided to register the Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church, patterned and named after the mother organization in the USA on Sept. 21, 1971. These ministers mentioned served as incorporators of the organization. In the month of November, 1971 the missionary called a meeting to form executive officers and set a day for the annual conference. The executive officers then were formulated and was approved to hold office for one year and could be re-elected. The first set of executive officers for 1971-1972 were:

CHAIRMAN- Rev.Winfield Kelly
VICE CHAIRMAN – Rev. Richard Lacar
SEC. / TREASURER – Rev. Dionisio Ducusin

These officers held office and were re-elected and held office until 1974.

At the same time of the registration of the PFWBC church organization in 1971, Harvesters Bible Institute was formed and started with a few students who had the call of God on them. They came from different Provinces of Northern Luzon, Philippines. The school continued to operate and the work of the church in the Provinces grew. There were several churches that were planted and others which merged themselves to become part of the Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church. Some of those were; Lancuas Church , Masiosioay Church , Guinaang Church and Tamac Church . These Churches served as mother Churches in the Northern Philippines.

Early in 1974, a sudden illness struck Rev. W. Kelly and he was brought to a hospital in Baguio City. Later, he was transferred to Manila due to the severity of the sickness which was beyond the capabilities of the local hospital to treat . Actually, the doctors there declared that his sickness is incurable. A young, however, smart Pastor served as his attendant, (Rev. Joseph Benigno) most of his time in the hospital. After the executive officer of the PFWBC reported Rev. Kelly’s condition to the PFWB Headquarters - USA, it was decided that the Kelly Family needed to return to the states so that Rev. Kelly could get further treatment.

As the missionary Rev. W. Kelly was flown back to the USA for further evaluation and treatment, Rev. D. Docusin shouldered all the responsibilities as the Superintendent, and handled the administration of the School.

Later in 1974, another missionary family came over to the Philippines. Rev. Willard Wagner was sent by the PFWB headquarters – USA. His wife Yvonne and three children Elizabeth, Colleen, and Donna also came over. Ministers and students warmly welcomed the new missionary family and all together praised the Lord for His blessing and to the continuous supervision by the PFWBC headquarters USA over the new work in the Philippines . Rev. W. Wagner served in the Organization for two years from 1974-1976. He worked vigorously with Pastors of the local Churches, climbing mountains to reach people on the rural areas of Ilocos and Apayao Provinces.

As the work grew little by little in 1976, Rev. Wagner announced that they would have to go back home to the PFWB headquarters in the USA . Ministers, teachers, students and the churches all felt very sad due to the unexpected announcement. However they were relieved upon hearing that Rev. Kelly had miraculously recovered from the illness and would be coming back to the Philippines with his family to continue the work.

As Rev. Kelly came back on the year 1976, he was warmly welcomed by the churches, Ministers, Teachers, and students of Harvesters Bible Institute. The people were praising God, especially those who have seen his condition before! They knew the Lord had miraculously healed Rev. Kelly!

The annual conference was held in April on that same year. New officers were elected and there were some ministers added to the church as graduates of the school Harvesters Bible Institute were licensed in the organization. These new ministers went out reaching people with the love of Christ and planting new works at their destinations. At start of the school year of H.B.I. in 1976, the administration of the School decided to change the name of the school from Harvesters Bible Institute to Harvesters Bible College and thus making it a 4-year baccalaureate program improving the overall ministerial course.

In 1977, Missionary Rev. Winfield Kelly decided to resign as the missionary of the PFWBC but the work of the PFWBC established through his ministry continued. However, Harvesters Bible College then experienced its first temporary closure.

In 1978, Rev. Gervacio Tovera, was invited to the PFWB headquarters in the USA for discussions on the reopening of HBC and the continual support of the mission field. The mission field and the school went back to its normal functions after the said meeting at the PFWB Headquarters – USA. In 1979, he migrated to the USA that leds to the closure of Harvesters Bible College for the second time.

This was a tough time for the organization as the school remained in silence and the work in the field suffered. There were few ministers, however, who struggled to keep the organization alive. This was accomplished through the leadership of Rev. Philip Buenavista. In September, 1982, Rev. Jim Wall was sent from PFWB – USA headquarters to help in the restructuring and re-opening of the Bible School and to help hand in hand with Rev. Buenanvista in the mission field of PFWBC-Philippines to bring revival to the work. The Lord blessed the efforts.

In 1983, Harvesters Bible Academy was reopened with Rev. Joseph Benigno serving as Director of the school and Superintendent of the PFWBC-Philippines. The school rented a building at San Antonio, Candon.Ilocos Sur. After two years, land was purchased with the help of Dr. Herbert Carter and that the campus was named after him. Construction of classrooms and the chapel were started shortly after the purchase of the land. Everyone helped with the efforts to build – especially the students who spend most of their free time in the construction of the buildings on the campus. The new chapel was named in honor of the Rev. Jim Wall.

The Lord blessed Harvesters Bible Academy and multiplied their efforts. Construction and renovations continued and now there are 4 cottages for teachers, 1 missionary cottage, a kitchen, 3 classrooms, a library, and offices for the Director, Registrar, and executive officers of the PFWBC-Philippines. In addition, the churches were multiplying.

Many times, problems was used by the enemy to destroy the PFWBC in the Philippines but with the courage and determination of the leaders and with the help of the Lord, the organization grew all over the Philippines . The PFWBC now has 89 ministers working in the Philippines with as many churches and pioneering works. They are pastoring and ministering in Isabela, Ifugao, Apayao, Kalinga, Aurora Province , Ilocos, Abra, Mt. Province, Baguio and Benguet. The church also has a congregation in PFWBC- Hong Kong that was established in July, 2000 by the initiative of Rev. Jack Codangos and being pastored by voluntary ministers of PFWBC who are working there as domestic helpers. The Hong Kong work is growing and is our first foreign mission field.

In July 2006, Rev Raymond Davis along with his wife Regina were appointed as Bivocational Missionaries to the Northern Philippines by the PFWB Headquarters USA. Rev. Davis visits the Philippines several times per year and works with the church to help encourage, strengthen and share the work of the Lord.

We give glory to our God who endowed us with these blessings. Let us not forget that history is constantly changing and being rewritten but the Word of the Lord is current and bears His name: The God of everything and whose life is everlasting...Who is… Who was…. and Who shall be… the Beginning and the End.