DEDICATED TO A MAN OF GOD AND HIS FAMILY
“God uses ordinary people…”, so the song goes. This fits our honoree and his family as well. Here is a man with destiny and commitment, whose labors in God’s vineyard have resulted in the furtherance of God’s Kingdom under his no-nonsense leadership style.
"Pat", as he is fondly called by all, became an orpan during the war. After the war, he served as a houseboy of an Evangelical Minister in Maasin, Leyte. One of his duties as a houseboy was to clean the church. This church is the largest parish in Southern Leyte. One of the minister’s son invited him to Sunday Church Service and thus began his exposure in the things of God. He got saved while serving as a houseboy after a few months. He served in this capacity for three years without receiving a salary. His only request was that he be allowed to study. One night, he found himself praying and crying behind the pulpit, asking God to make him one of His Ministers in the future. In His mercy, God honored and answered Pat’s prayer.
In 1960, he finished his Bachelor of Theology degree at Far Eastern Bible Institute and Seminary (now FEBIAS College of Bible). That same year, he married Ester Tejada Lacanilao. On August 10, 1960 he was taken in as Pastor of Sambahan sa Nayon.
In 1964, Bishop Maximo Industan, who was instrumental in his seminary education, invited him to be his co-worker. In 1975-79, he became Bishop Industan’s Assistant Bishop. Later, while working as Assistant Bishop to Bishop Industan, he was tasked to do revival meetings in the Leyte churches, in Mindanao and also pioneered some churches in Luzon. His leadership skills were further enhance by various trainings he got abroad, namely; Advance Leadership Training in Evangelism at Haggai Institute in Singapore in 1982; Itinerant Evangelistic Conference in Amsterdam in 1983; and other seminars here and abroad.
1978 was a productive year for him. He was invited to preach in Illinois, USA. Again, in 1986, he was invited to preach in four different States in America. His fiery and dynamic preaching skills made him a much invited speaker not only here but also abroad. He has also preached in Geneva, Switzerland where his children, Pat Rei, Carl and Anna, Judith and Romy were attending.
In 1990, he founded Christian Church Fellowship International (CCFI) with now 84 churches all over the Philippines and 9 International churches. He became CCFI’s first General Bishop.
On December 19, 2000, Bishop Pat went to the Lord and his second son, BISHOP PAT ALFRED succeeded him and now serves as the second General Bishop of CCFI. Sis.Ester, the beloved wife of Bishop Pat, also went to the Lord on June 8, 2009.
Indeed, the legacy of Bishop Pat in serving the Lord continues through generations as all his children; Pat Rei and wife, Nona; Bishop Alfred and wife, Dolly; Ester Judith and husband, Ptr. Romy; Pat Carl and wife, Anna and all grandchildren; Ester Rhodora, Alfred Martin, Andrea Rhodora & husband, Jack; Alfred Benjamin, Carl David, Carl Timothy and Cshanna are serving the Lord.
Truly, an ordinary life given to the Lord, becomes extra-ordinary… TO GOD BE THE GLORY!