Filipino evangelical Christians of Winnipeg 1972-1994 Part 3

by Levy Abad

	Maples Evangelical Church

Tracing the genesis of the Filipino evangelical Churches of Winnipeg was a bit challenging. If I had never immersed myself with the Filipino Seniors, I would never have been able to complete the narrative. So far, my effort has borne fruit. Finally, we have a lineup, which begins with the late Pastor Noel Lapatha, who sowed the seeds of evangelicalism. He pioneered the formation of The Filipino Evangelical Fellowship in 1972 together with his wife, Pastor Rosina Lapatha. By 1983, the Fellowship was transformed into the Filipino Evangelical Community or FEC, which has grown successfully up to the present.

Nineteen eighty-three is a blessed year. Aside from the formation of FEC, another church was formed, the Community Christian Church (CCC) (Churches of Christ) at 235 Andrews Street, headed by Pastor Rolando Paraiso. Eventually, on June 8, 1986, many of the church members would form the Filipino United Community Church (FUCC). By 1991, when Pastor Paraiso left for a new assignment, his brother-in-law, Rod Crispin, would continue the CCC (Churches of Christ) (366 Church Avenue). Simultaneously, in 1983-84, a group of our compatriots would join the Home Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), which by the late 90s would grow and become a multicultural congregation with 90 per cent Filipino members (Source: The History of Broadway Disciples United Church, 10th Anniversary: The Disciples in Winnipeg, p. 8; see part 2).

In part two of this narrative, one will find that in 1986, Pastor Dann Pantoja was instrumental in forming the Filipino Baptist Church, which was continued by Pastor Amor Ruba in 1989. In 1987, Pastor Dave Alvarez arrived in Winnipeg and served as the pastor of FUCC for two years. He was succeeded by Pastor Socrates Herrera from 1988 to 1994 (See part 1 of the narrative). Another pioneer pastor was Pastor Fred Sebastian, who is known in the Filipino community as the first pastor of the Church of the Living Hope. He arrived in Thunder Bay, Ontario, in 1988 and moved to Winnipeg in 1990. Digging deeper into Pastor Fred Sebastian, I learned that before the Church of the Living Hope, he was also the pioneer pastor of the Filipino Alliance Church in the 90s. This was shared with me by Mario “Ka Manny” de Leon, a pioneer of The Maples Evangelical Church or TMEC, who arrived in 1990. According to Ka Manny, the original address of the fellowship was at Maples and Jefferson, specifically at the Drama Theatre of Maples Collegiate, as explained by Ley Navarro. Later, Pastor Fred Sebastian would move on and form the Church of the Living Hope. Pastor Angel Ignacio, who was sponsored by FEC in 1990, would take over the pastoral task in TMEC in 1992. Pastor Wendell Olojan would be the pastor in 1996. The community moved to 397 Dalton Street in 1998 and became The Maples Evangelical Church. Maples Evangelical Church would experience rapid growth by the late 90s under the stint of Pastor Manuel (Ptr. Lito) Gonzales. By September 1, 2000, TMEC will have another home at 1575 Inkster Boulevard (https://maplesevangelical.org/).

Furthermore, Pastor Alfredo Velasco, who helped me with information for this narrative, arrived in 1991 to become the pastor of the Church of the Nazarene (Filipino Evangelical Church of Winnipeg 1972-94 part 1). It was Pastor Velasco who referred me to Pastor Noel Lapatha and Pastor Rolly Vinluan. Interestingly, Pastor Vinluan arrived in Winnipeg in 1967. He would start the Methodist Bible studies in the early 90s and pioneer the formation in 1994 of the First Methodist Baptist Church and by 1998, the Pacific Community Methodist Church.

Some community members might wonder why I never discussed theological matters or the reasons for schisms or fractiousness. My objective in researching this narrative is to develop the timeline. I believe that the whys and wherefores of ecclesial ruptures and continuity are better left to the respective congregations to resolve. If by chance, this three-part narrative becomes instrumental in forging unity, I praise the Lord Jesus for the outcome. As a church-rooted activist, I am cognizant of the fact that we are migrants and dispersed by social policies prevailing on the home front. It is my prayer that we always protect and care for one another in our diaspora and journey. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.