Evangelical Fellowship of Tagum, Inc
Church History
A spark…a glow…a light illuminating, giving radiance…What? A number felt its not yet Gods time… Others saw the need for one… Some fought to make it come true. Few years back, a vision was given by God to Evangelical Free Church leaders to start a pioneering work in Tagum. In response to this vision, a team composed of Pastor Reuben Quijano and Fortunato Bubod came to Tagum to survey the place and its populace. The very first persons contacted were Boy Angcos, Ging-ging Angcos, now Mrs. Lita Yec-yec, all Evangelical contacts while they were in Cebu. The evaluation - it’s not yet God’s time. This happened more than nine (9) years ago. EFCM was captured by its “radiance”. So by September 1989, the mission send Reverend Earl and Angie Miller to initiate pioneering work here in Tagum. The Miller’s involve themselves in some civic community activity. Both with their helpers Lina Canque and Marife Seguros saturated the community with thousands of pocket scripture calendar. The group also faithfully distributed “Our Daily Bread” to contacts and maintain a column in Davao Observer, a Tagum local daily. Soon the couple started to have a Bible sharing group at the Angcoses in Canocotan and at Capitol Building every Tuesday since August 15, 1990. Miller have her Bible study at Pelaez residence and children’s class with the assistance of Lina and Marife. She also conducts regular lecture at the Municipal Health Center every Wednesday. Middle of 1990, another missionary arrived in the person of Ronald Gustafson to help the “groundwork”. The team didn’t seriously consider starting a worship service without the help of a Filipino pastor. After much prayer and waiting, God answered this prayer by using Lahug Evangelical Free Church of Cebu City to send their young committed Pastor Peter Merced on April 17, 1991 to help the team. The newly arrived Pastor Peter prayed and briefed the importance of DVBS children’s ministry which the team embraced and blessed by the Lord with many potential contacts in which some families are incorporated to the church. The team continue the groundwork and intensify the follow-up while more homes open for bible sharing. This time we are not only engaging the children of DVBS but also their families. The Magadans, the Alfantas, the Neos, the Fadrequillos and lately the dela Peña and the Moraleses families welcome the word of God in their home. The team prayer to start a worship service was finally answered on September 1, 1991 at Magnolia Kiosk, Tagum. Pastor Peter Merced preach the word, Ron Gustafon presides, Marife Seguros accompany the songs with her guitar, Reverend Miller leads the discussion group while Mrs, Miller have a special time with the children. Because of the very high rental fee, the team decided to transfer at the Miller’s residence in Visayan Village. It was here where the church were able to buy properties needed to congregate such as chairs, whiteboard, sound system, songbooks and many more. In the midst of the fellowship, an unexpected announcement came for the Millers early home assignment due to Mrs. Miller’s health. Four months later, April 1992, Ron Gustafon also left for the States. During the first six (6) months of 1992, the church experienced severe shakening but God was totally in control. The weight of the fulness of His presence before the midst of His people becomes the ultimate source of strength, joy and encouragement. He even used some people, Boy and Teri Angcos who now joined the church by giving encouragement to continue and hang on in His faith. Another couple, Ramon and Ging-ging Garcia also joined in last June 1992 and aside from the Alfantas, the Magadans, Atty. Petalcorin who is always on the resue when it comes to legal matters and the indefatigable teacher Ronilo Aniñon, the dela Peña, the Bajala family, Lita Yec-yec and Luven Gamones. The church is also blessed with young people, Jocelyn and Bella Morales, Rebecca Samuya, Paul Penecious, Dennis Nunag, Roger Cuba, Alma Magadan, Zeeb Bajala and Raquel Alfanta. Because of the many church concerns a need of transportation for the ministry arise. God in His faithfulness used Ron Gustafon to donate a big amount which was much by the church. By June 28, 1995, a 50 cc motor scooter was bought for ministry use. After 'fellowshipping' together for nine months and in Gods time, leaders emerged in our discipleship class and in July 5, 1992, Sunday, Pastor Peter Merced briefed the persons in attendance about why we are here and the joint church planting agreement with EFCP and EFCM. This leads the very church to appoint members a core group who will pray and discuss together with the Pastor and at the same time would serve as an avenue by which problems encountered may be discussed. This set-up would have the core leaders as well as the Pastor the task of overseeing the work entrusted by the Lord at this early stage of the church planting work in Tagum. Many EFCM missionaries assigned in Davao City also helps Pastor Peter in Preaching , Teaching Sunday School and Conducting Small group Ministries in the Persons of Keith and Jo Amunson, Roger and Sandy Webers and God used them of building up people in the church. In 1996 another couple Missionary Neil and Anne Jentink from the Free Church International Mission came to stand along side with Pastor Peter in engaging the saints for maximum impact through Biblical leadership. The church leaders together with the couple missionary spent quality time together digging deeper from the Scriptures for timeless principles to live by in how to become an engaging church for the 21st century. Today the church is blessed with many faithful, available and teachable insiders who together with Pastor Peter (the church pastor for almost 20 years) helps one another equipping other saints in their respective sphere of influence for a much even bigger work that is before us and in obedience to the great commission. Today, the Evangelical Fellowship of Tagum stands in a spacious crossroad properties donated by a couple member of the church in Garciaville, serving the Lord together with its light of commitment to God to go on… “for the harvest is plenteous but the laborers are few.”
