Featured News Link 
 
  Leadership Retreat
  Evangelism Seminar Speaker and Messages
  Church' Plans for 2009
  18th Church Anniversary Celebration
  Reaching Out
  Men's Ministry

Health Fair
August 22, 2009. The Health Ministry of the Vancouver Filipino SDA Church opened a health fair and awareness drive to the public. Located at the front lawn of the church a booth was set up for all to enjoy the cool strawberry-melon shake and vege-dog subs all for free. Health information were prominently posted and healthful lifestyle magazines and pamphlets were available. But the main attarction was the free blood pressure and blood sugar level checks. Passers-by got to know not only their health condition but also got acquainted with church members and the community efforts the church has launched. Thanks and appreciation are extended to all who made this event a powerful witnessing activity. Praise be the Lord!

Church member nurses take the blood pressure and blood sugar levels of participants.

Sabbath at Central Park
Augst 8, 2009. Amidst God's creation, church members gathered under the canopy of lofty trees at Central Park in Burnaby to celebrate the Sabbath and worship God the Creator. Pastor Roque shared an amazing personal testimony of how God saves His people from their unique situations. As part of Sabbath School, participants strolled around the park gathering objects of nature to draw lessons from and share with others.

Nature sights around Central Park.

Worship service with light showers.

Preteens with Shine during song service.

Mobbed by eager kids, Pastor Andrew shares more of his inspiring testimony.

BC Camp Meeting
July 24 - Augst 1, 2009. "Growing God's Kingdom", this year's Camp Meeting theme brought new highlights into the week-long event. Among them was the visit of Jan Paulsen, President of the General Conference, the maiden address of Pastor Estores at Camp Meeting during a morning devotional, and the delivery of God's messages through child preachers Ella Ongyiu and Ralph Magsalin on Wednesday.

Ralph, one of the child preachers.

Parade of the nations.

The traditional Filipino potluck

Filipino Camp Meeting
June 26-28, 2009. The annual Filipino Camp Meeting held at the Mountain View Camp & Conference Centre at Hope, featured Pastor Abel Cordero and family of Moreno Hills Church speaking on "Connecting to Share". Well-planned, intentional efforts are to be conducted in reaching even the unreached. Challenged to take the step away from our comfort zones, we are to do so in faith and connect with fellow believers to unite in finishing the gospel work.
 

Pastor Abel Cordero


Surrey Filipino Church Choir


Full grown dolls during Socials

Soup Kitchen
Every 3rd Sabbath of the month. The soup kitchen ministry is one of the long-standing ongoing projects of the church. Headed by the Community Services team, it provides the homeless and street persons around Vancouver's downtown eastside a hearty meal once each month. The project is funded by generous donors and participated by volunteers of all ages from primary school children all the way to the elderly seniors, with the core team composed of dedicated adults, youth and young adults. Jesus said, "Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." (Matt. 25:40).

Pathfinder Night Out
May 16-17, 2009. Fifteen excited kids with adult escorts spent a day at 2400 Motel at Kingsway, Vancouver as part of their Pathfinder curriculum. The 24 hours were packed with activities including learning about health and safety, Christian dating, decisions and choices, making friends, drilling & marching basics, crafts, physical exercise and more. Youth Pastor, Andrew Roque, shared memorable illustrations and life experiences with the kids during the devotionals, while Loveza Tarango, Family Life Ministries leader, led in the fun activities and some discussions. Melanie Penson, Adventurers coordinator presented "Play Education". The event was put together by Pathfinder coordinator Rachel Pedernal. Just before bedtime, the kids reminised the past five years through a slide show. Aside from having less hours of sleep, and lots of learning, the Pathfinders bonded well and greatly enjoyed their night out together.

Motel Frontage


Time with Auntie Loveza


Morning exercise


Breakfast at the motel

"You're Not Alone" Series
May 8-10, 15-17, 2009. The first evangelistic seminar series led by Senior Pastor Levi Estores provided the opportunity for Bible interests to come together and attend the simple yet powerful presentations. The series focused on Jesus as our Best Friend who loves all unconditionally, is coming back, has prepared mansions for His loved ones, and has prescribed the Sabbath to remedy our restlessness. Already, five precious souls have publicly confessed Jesus as their personal Savior through baptism.

Pastor Levi Estores presenting the seminar


Kids presentation during Sabbath School


Ladies quartet during the series

Pathfinders Do Street Cleaning
March 19, 2009. The Pathfinder Club, headed by Rachel Pedernal, ignored the cold, drizzle and clouds and went ahead and cleaned up East 15th Avenue from Main Street to Sophia Street and also the adjoining parks. Thrilled at having a spring break activity with each other, these church kids came off with both loot and tales from their 'treasure hunting' experience. These kids can grow up knowing that God is pleased with orderliness and cleanliness and will endeavor to live out those qualities in their lives. Our thanks goes to Mr. Steve Drake, Clean Street Program Coordinator of the Solid Watse Management Branch, City of Vancouver, who has lent us the city's street cleaning tools and equipment for one year. We also thank all the parents and volunteers who made this event possible.

Clean up at East 15th Avenue and Main Street (north side)


South side of East 15th Avenue and Main Street


Park clean up by the hooded Pathfinder kids


Street cleaning at East 15th Avenue and Sophia Street


Park cleaning at Sophia Street and East 15th Avenue


The Pathfinders pick up whatever litter they can find
and become friends of the environment


Pathfinders cleaning around church premises (February 14, 2009)


Posing at church front with street cleaning equipment (February 14, 2009)
 

Leadership Retreat
March 6-8, 2009. The members of the Church Board spent the weekend at the Lodge in Camp Hope building the Leadership Team, learning leadership principles and setting the goals and direction of the church for the next few years. With the guidance and initiative of Pastor Levi Estores, the Leadership Team dreamed on and set its sights on building an Adventist Centre that will include the sanctuary with a seating capacity of 500 where members will congregate for worship, a gymnasium with separate basketball, volleyball and tennis courts and multi-purpose rooms to serve the community, an evangelistic centre where major evangelistic efforts can be conducted regularly throughout the year, and other amenities all under one roof. A minimum lot size of 5 acres will be chosen on which the Centre will be built with lots of parking space and provision for pastoral and support staff housing and guest rooms. A lofty and huge vision indeed! We can accomplish this only through God's power and our faithfulness, cooperation and sacrifice.

 
Multiple sessions on leadership presented by Pastor Estores
were enlightening, inspiring and hands-on


Simple, nutritious, delicious--typical meal during the Leadership Retreat


Fruits galore - a feast for both the eyes and mouth


Cash, cheques, credit cards, debit cards -
instant seed money for the proposed Centre came to over $1,000


Leadership Team posing around the project seed money


Despite the snow on the ground, the Leadership Retreat built a warm
bond among the Team members brought by having a common direction
 

Plans for 2009
December 28, 2008. The pastoral staff, elders, department heads and ministry leaders met at the Laddaran's residence to envision what is to take place in 2009 and lay the foundational plans to achieve these goals. Several ideas were recorded as a result of the brainstorming that will be later evaluated, refined and prioritized.

Pastor Estores' First Sermon
December 27, 2008. Despite the unprecedented circumstances surrounding the Sabbath services, Pastor Levi Estores, the new senior pastor preaches with passion and ignites the imagination of everyone in attendance to do what each can because the little things count and one person's words and actions goes a long way. Earlier, brethren were contacted not to risk travelling in the icy and thick snow that prevails across the Lower Mainland. Nonetheless, about a hunderd, including guests and friends from other churches, showed up to worship and fellowship together and celebrate God's creating and redeeming power during the Sabbath hours.

18th Church Anniversary Celebration
December 19-20, 2008. With the theme "Quintessential Christianity" the church celebrates its 18th year of foundation at Deer Lake SDA School in Burnaby. In line with the theme, the various program parts, decors, food and organization for the 2-day highlight all had the touch of excellence manifest. The chosen guest speaker, Dr. Rex Diamante, professor from AUP (Adventist University of the Phiilippines) not only has excellent credentials but excels in delivering God's messages of excellence in simplicity and in depth, stirring hearts to attain not only the better but the best for Christ through His grace. In attendance for most of the celebration, Elder Gordon Pifher, BC Conference president, speaks to the church of its accomplishments and its mission, challenging the members to rally unitedly and fulfill its role, especially with regards to the tremendous opportunities presented by the coming 2010 Winter Olympics.

  Elder Gordon Pifher addresses the church                                       Ladies Harmony leads the song services


Offertory music by Karel & Michelle Diamante                            Dr. Rex Diamante addresses the congregation


Pastor Levi Estores leads marching during social night                            Elegant tables set for the anniversary meals

Senior Pastor Arrives
December 16, 2008. Amid what is to be Vancouver's heaviest snowfall period since many years, the long-awaited senior pastor, Pastor Levi Estores arrives and warms the hearts of members and friends, just in time to grace the 18th Church Anniversary with his presence. Mrs. Esther Estores will be following later in the new year.

Reaching Out to the Suffering
November 15, 2008. Pastor Andrew Roque with his wife Jennifer; Rachel and a bunch of children visited with, sang to, and prayed for a sister admitted at Vancouver General Hospital who was involved in a car accident. It is a miracle that she does not have any trace of paralysis inspite of the injury to her spinal cord.

Pastor Andrew and company encourages car accident victim

Men's Ministry at Camp Hope
October 31-November 2, 2008. Our church sent the largest number of delegates (over 30 men) to the Men of Hope Convention, held at the Lodge at Camp Hope. This year's BC Men's Ministry weekend retreat's theme is "Fully Alive". Randy Skeete, former medical director at the University of Michigan, outlined how men can attain to become really alive. Known as a man who has memorized the entire Bible (KJV), his presentations both inspired and challenged the men in attendance to once more dedicate and commit themselves to the Biblical roles of men.

Delgates with BC Conference Men's Ministries coordinators


Afternoon walk in the woods with Brian Wahl


Men's talk around the lunch table


Larry Tarango, paramedic, the Men's Ministry leader