FULLNESS OF CHRIST INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES
Our History
The Roots
The Fullness of Christ International Ministries traces its roots to what was then the Roosevelt Memorial Church at Bagac Street, Manuguit, Tondo Manila, founded in 1946 by Bishop Matias Cuadra, a Muslim who was converted to Christianity by American missionaries, together with the church elders that included the families of the Songsong’s, Guerrero’s, Mendoza’s, Apostol’s and other pioneer families.
The church formally started in 1986 when a group of elders chose to follow God’s leading to a new recognition of God’s mandate upon His people and to a new form of worship and praise. Among the elders included the families of the Abad’s, Arteta’s, Ganal’s, Guerrero’s, Guinigundo’s, Marcelo’s, Panlilio’s, Ramos’, dela Rosa’s and Yangat’s.
Upon its formal incorporation in 1987, the Church, whose faith was founded on the full counsel of God, initially chose to call itself Gospel Faith Christian Church (GFCC).
Leadership
In the beginning, the pastoral leadership and doctrine were handled by Bro. Diwa C. Guinigundo and the late Bro. Camilo Yangat. The following year, the late Pastor Bonifacio Ormeo came to the picture as church pastor and in the 1990’s, Pastor Jess Penoso took the mantle until he was released to the body of Christ. Thereafter, Pastor Bong Guerrero and Bro. Diwa oversaw the church as resident pastor and administrative pastor, respectively. Bro. Diwa was ordained senior pastor and primary apostle of the church in 2003. Pastor Bong passed away in 2009.
The Spiritual Growth
As the church grew, Outreach ministries were founded in Karuhatan and Gen. T. De Leon, both in Valenzuela, Metro Manila. Medical missions were dispatched to both Tondo and Valenzuela.
The church’s involvement in the body became more and more pronounced in 1991-1992. Bro. Diwa became the secretary general of the Philippines for Jesus Movement (PJM) until he was seconded to work in Kuala Lumpur where he also became an associate pastor of the Jesus is Lord Fellowship and SS2 Methodist Church. Pastor Jess became a member of the executive committee of the PJM and head of the pastoral movement in Manila. GFCC was truly an active participant in the emerging prophetic wave in the Philippines.
Several churches were also a part of the history of the church. The Christ Charismatic Fellowship Incorporated (CCFI) worship ministers under the leadership of Sis. Cleo Aguila introduced the church to a more powerful ministry of praise and worship.
Bro. Eddie Villanueva of the Jesus is Lord Fellowship presided over the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the church and provided venues in Bulacan for the church’s couples, young people and children’s camps and conferences.
Bro. Roly Blas’ Take the Nation for Jesus dispatched preachers to the church. The late Bro. Ronnel Gabriel’s Love of Christ International Ministries also provided speakers during special occasions of the church. Through Bro. Bing Guerrero’s involvement, Sis. Dette Sayson’s Victorious God’s Army, affiliated with the Morris Cerrullo Ministry, also became an important partner of the church in prayer and special activities.
Special Blessings
From 1986 until the mid-2000 the Church had been the recipient of the kindness of Bro. Fred and Sis. Iluminada Guerrero who allowed the Church to use their garage and part of their open space to the Church for free. The sanctuary expanded year after year until 1999-2000 when it finally became a full-fledged sanctuary.
As a step of faith and in obedience to God’s challenge through a word of prophecy: to relocate, build and expand, the Church transferred to the Eastgate Building in Mandaluyong City in 2004. Four years later in 2008, the church finally took over the 3rd floor of the PBJ Building along Laurel and Shaw Boulevard, built the sanctuary and started to hold worship there. All told, the church spent 40 years in the premises of Roosevelt Memorial Church, 18 years in the home sanctuary, four years in Eastgate and so far, three years in the PBJ sanctuary.
The Prophetic and Apostolic Moves of God.
As the Church flowed with the prophetic move of the Holy Spirit, the elders in 1993 decided to rename the Church: Fullness of Christ International Ministries With the late Pastor Bong and Bro. Diwa as spiritual leaders, Bro. Bing was Chairman of the Board of Deacons.
Over the years, the Lord also raised three additional pastors: Sis. Shirley So is now pastoring the Quezon City outreach while heading the administration staff; Sis. Hilda Lactao is in charge of home churches in Manila and Mandaluyong; and Bro. Rey Borille who is an understudy in Quezon City. Old pastors included Bro. Nelson and Sis. Flor Arteta who used to handle the Bagong Silang outreach which had become independent. Bro. Boy Bolo had been heavily involved in supporting the music ministry and various home churches.
As the Lord’s hand continued to move, He wanted to put the Church to a higher calling of apostleship. Bro. Dexter and Sis. Lily Low, the spiritual heads of Malaysia’s Latter Rain Church and beloved friends of the Church, introduced the apostolic move of God. God’s prophetic word that the church would serve as a lampstand was declared by them.
A series of consultations and seminars was conducted by God’s apostles: Tagaytay in 1999, Caliraya in 2000, Baguio in 2001, Tondo, Manila in 2002 and NIV, Quezon City in 2003. A ministry team aspiring to be God’s apostles in the Church came into being. Bro. Diwa and Sis. Apple were raised as primary apostles while Bro. Bing and Sis. Sophie were anointed as secondary apostles of the Church. To complete the team, all the pastors, elders, workers and selected leaders were integrated into the ministry team of the Church that is to provide leadership in doctrine, in worship, and in prayer.
As it was in the book of Acts, our God, who is a God of Restoration, brings back to this Church the mighty move of the Holy Spirit through the formation of home churches. At present, FOCIM holds 14 home churches in different parts of Metro Manila.
FOCIM’S 25 Years
The next 25 years were marked with God’s victorious moves. A complete takeover by and the Church’s submission to the Holy Spirit have resulted in a resounding and deafening and anointed worship in the Church. Teachings on the prophetic and apostolic moves of God were stressed in both the Sunday School and the Sunday messages which are all integrated with the devotion materials for each and every home church of FOCIM.
Fathering is heavily practiced in both the families and the church to ensure that each member of the Church does come to his God-ordained destiny, regardless of whether he is widowed or fatherless. Marketplace involvement is linked with nation transformation, a nationwide cause that has been pursued with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Christian Fellowship under the umbrella of “Touching Heaven, Changing Earth.”
