Landmark of soul-winning: Bible Baptist Church celebrates 50 years

From one convert to a 20,000-membership base, from a two-storey house to a 5,000-seater church facility, from Bible studies in homes to nearly 400 missions and churches worldwide, Bible Baptist Church didn't just grow by bounds and abundance. The Bible Baptist Church in Katipunan has become a landmark of Christianity and soul-winning.

Through its 50-year history, Bible Baptist makes manifest that winning souls to Christ through God's Word bears no borders, no discouragement, no inhibition. As a living testimony of making a difference to Christians, Bible Baptist celebrates God's greatness and goodness on its jubilee winning more souls. A feat that would have seemed daunting and unthinkable in a province where majority of the nearly four million population venerate a child god made of stone.

Yet for all of Cebu's economic prosperity, there is idolatry. For all its political prominence, there is spiritual decadence. For all of the culture of the world, there is a culture of unbelief. For all of Satan's influence, there are boundaries. It is often in places where spiritual fibers are decaying, compromised and shrouded in a culture where sin is dignified that man seeks true salvation and living in God's Word.

Two celebrations, different continents.

In an interplay of earthly and divine events, Bible Baptist Church coincidentally celebrates its golden anniversary simultaneous with the European Union. While the first service of Bible Baptist in Cebu was held on March 25, 1957 with 14 people present, the Treaty of Rome was also signed on the same day by 27 nations which laid the foundation for today's EU.

While the European Union commemorates its 50th birthday toiling to win back public confidence in its policies, its ambitions and who should be allowed into the 27-nation club, Bible Baptists celebrate their 50th birthday winning souls, expanding its multi-dimensional ministries and starting more missions. In 2007 alone, more than 125,000 souls were won province-wide during a three-month period.

While the EU bloc is holding glitzy concerts, exhibitions and sporting events, Bible Baptists hold simultaneous anniversary services in extension churches all over the province.

Beneath the veneer and despite serving a model of integration to the world, EU leaders are battling to conclude a declaration that can mark past achievements and reassure citizens about the future. Without need for deceptive veneers, Bible Baptists are mapping out game plans in a battle against Satan and re-invent the spiritual fiber to Christian-based living where salvation from sin is assured.

Just one man.

How Bible Baptist Church reached this far, this long and this big started with one man. It was in 1957 when American Pastor Bob Hughes started Bible study groups in homes. He met Fortunato Estillore who became the first convert in Cebu.

In the same year, Pastor Hughes founded the Bible Baptist Mission where he put up the first church along Jones Avenue at the upper portion of the Alfafara Press. Also in the same year of 1957, the church held its first service on the last Sunday of March or to be exact, March 25 with 14 people in attendance. It was in 1961 when Dr. Armie F. Jesalva and his wife Liberty joined the Bible Baptist Church that had transferred to Mango Avenue. The church was built on a property that the Unchuans owned. Recalls Mrs. Liberty Jesalva, "we would be going out and visit all over the city - walking and visiting - bringing souls to the Lord through the Word of God."

The walking, visiting and winning souls were showered with blessings as God gave the church an 800-meter property along Tres de Abril in 1964.

In 1969, Pastor Hughes, who left for the US on furlough, endorsed Dr. Jesalva to become pastor of the church. It was under the watch of Dr. Jesalva that the property along Katipunan was purchased in 1972 and where the 5,000-seater church facility stands today.

Says Mrs. Jesalva during the dedication of the newly-built church building in 1973, "while the dedication program was going on, a Roman Catholic priest used a loudspeaker screaming that the Bible Baptist Church was the church of the devil." In the aftermath, the priest was reportedly transferred to an out-of-town assignment because of his frequent meddling with Baptists.

Through 50 years, Bible Baptist Katipunan has ministries for Sunday school, youth, In-touch or married men, Gracious Ladies, music, campus and career, among others. There are also jail, jeepney and children extension ministries. The missions ministry support 226 pastors nationwide and 83 missionaries in foreign lands including Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, East Timor, Russia and Tanzania. Three missionary teams are laboring in Ethiopia and Mongolia and one in Congo. Bible Baptist operates two educational institutions. There is the Bob Hughes Christian Academy for primary and high school levels and the Bible Baptist College where some 70 percent of foreign and local missionaries were trained.

Where Satan's thrones are built on sinking sand, no barrier is too daunting or impediment too heavy for Bible Baptists who build churches on rock. From 14 people to 10,000 average attendance on Sunday service, from home-based Bible Studies to multi-dimensional and far-reaching ministries, there burns a zealous desire to spread the Gospel in real-time, responsive application to win more souls. Where the EU may disintegrate, the Bible Baptist Church reverberates God's Word as it has done 50 years back and onwards to the century.