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By Narayan Mitra
A NEW leader recently marched into the presidential palace in Manila to start a
six-year term.
Meanwhile, Filipinos in Canada have been marching to the drumbeat of Christ in
their adopted land.
It is estimated that more than a million Filipinos live overseas, and help
support the economy of 90 million countrymen with regular remittances from
abroad. Some 200 of them call Kamloops and the surrounding area their home.
Seven years ago, Noel and Josie Pelayo moved their family from Vancouver to the
tiny community of McLure, 35 kilometres north of Kamloops.
Since their escape from the rat race of the big city, they have never been happier.
Leaving behind their healthcare professions did cost them financially and
socially.
But the peace of a rural lifestyle and the lively church fellowship at Kamloops
Alliance is helping them strike deep roots for God and the community.
An accomplished singer, Noel has passed on his love for music to daughters
Karina, Kimberly and Katherine. The family sings regularly at church, school
and community events.
For the last three years, the Pelayos have opened their rancher home and barn
for spiritual retreats, mainly for Filipinos and some local neighbours.
This year saw up to 65 attending the May 22 – 24 event. Some came from Kamloops and Barriere; 18 came from the Lower
Mainland.
“My desire is to serve the Lord and to contribute to our church, along with the
25 or so Filipinos who attend it,” said Noel.
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“Following the regular morning service, we meet among ourselves for over an hour
to fellowship, sing and discuss the sermon.
“More than eating and laughing among ourselves, we want to see who can provide
the manpower and do programming to help the pastors. A committee is already at
work to devise such opportunities to minister to the rest of the Filipinos in
the area.”
Civil engineer Abraham Faliao moved to Kamloops from Ontario two years ago, and
has been leading a weekly Bible study for the Filipinos. Still connected with the Greenhills Christian Fellowship (GCF) in Manila and
Toronto, Faliao would welcome the formation of a GCF group in Kamloops.
“The aggressive church planting goals of GCF have already resulted in
establishing satellites in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.” GCF also want to plant churches in Jerusalem and Samaria. “GCF Canada will oversee all satellite churches . . . Other plants are planned
for Surrey and Coquitlam. All this is in line with GCF’s motto: To know Christ and to make him known.”
The fast-paced Filipino church growth is confirmed by lay pastor Ron de Villa of
Coquitlam, an old friend of Noel and a speaker at the McLure retreat.
“With 40-plus Filipino churches in the Lower Mainland already, we are at the
cutting edge of what God is just starting to do in B.C. and Canada,” said de Villa, a business instructor at Coquitlam’s Douglas College campus.
His church, Word Christian Fellowship in New Westminster, regularly conducts
evangelistic outreach and is affiliated with Word International Ministries.
With such motivation burning in the hearts of Filipino-Canadians, their adopted
country could be in for a revival.
July 2010
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