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If
there is any institution that stands as a testimony to the
magnificent work of God, it is the International Bible Baptist
Church. Throughout
the years of her existence, one can find the fingerprints of
God’s handiwork in all facets of the ministry of IBBC.
It was in the year 1987 when the Lord led the then
Assistant Pastor and Music Director of Bible Baptist Church in
Marysville, CA, Rev. J. Hernes M. Abante, to the San Francisco bay
area to canvass for a place to start a Church.
Through the Lord’s guidance, Pastor Abante was led to
Bro. Paul Kellogg who later consented to have a Bible Study in his
home with his family and friends.
The Lord blessed that night on September 13, 1987 with 8 in
attendance and 2 persons saved.
Immediately, the following Sunday, these 2 converts
followed the Lord Jesus Christ in water baptism in Marysville, CA
which is 76 miles north east of Pastor Abante’s residence.
The Lord continued to bless the weekly services which was
later moved inside the garage of Pastor Abante in his residence in
the city of Suisun, CA. The weekly services produced a good
harvest of souls, one of whom was Danny Decena who also became
instrumental in the salvation of Dr. Agnes Decena, a dentist.
This couple later became instrumental in establishing IBBC
in Alameda County.
On January 2, 1988, the Decenas invited the Pastor to
preach in a Bible Study in a
house in the city of Alameda owned by a friend, Gil Toribio,
a strong Catholic. More
than a dozen attended that night and at the invitation about 10
individuals received Christ, including Gil Toribio and his family
plus his other relatives. That
was a glorious night. With obedient hearts, all ten followed
Christ and were baptized at the Fellowship Baptist Church in
Vacaville, CA. Through
this core group of God’s people, the Alameda congregation was
born, which later became the Main congregation of the
International Bible Baptist Church. Both congregations continued
to increase in number and in God’s grace.
On February 7, 1988, the International Bible Baptist Church
was formally established as an independent Church with 103 in
attendance and Dr. Brad Weniger giving the challenge while
representing the Mother Church, the Bible Baptist Church in
Marysville. Thirty-five
adults signed the Charter as IBBC pioneers and members of the
newly born Church.
With the birth of the Alameda congregation, Pastor Abante
found himself commuting to two locations, Fairfield and Alameda.
For nearly 2 years, the Abante family commuted and
ministered to these two congregations until a decision was made to
have joint services on the first Sunday of each month at the
Filipino Community Center in Vallejo, CA.
The greatest challenge that IBBC encountered was not having
her own Church facility. The
Church which had her humble beginning inside a garage in Suisun
city relocated more than 10 times.
From the Pastor’s garage and Bro. Gil Toribio’s living
room, the Church also occupied a Senior Center, Community Center,
Country Club facility, another rented garage, and the facilities
of Calvary Baptist Church, San Lorenzo Baptist Church, Evangelical
Church and finally a rented store-front in San Leandro, CA.
The last location proved to be a blessing despite the
difficulties it brought. After renovating the whole place to make
it fit as a place of worship, Pastor Abante received a letter from
the city of San Leandro requesting to cease from occupying the
property because it was not “zoned as a Church”. Threatened
with a suit and possible jail term, the Church took the risk by
continuing to meet in this location.
The city backed off when Pastor Abante warned that if ever
the Church was forced out of the facility, the people would be
having the worship services in front of the city hall every
Sunday. This
experience challenged the hearts of the people that within 2
months the Church was able to find a property to purchase.
With the people’s faithfulness in giving and the Martinez
family’s help in providing money for down payment, the Marcella
property was purchased and the Church eventually occupied the
property in May, 1996.
The trials of faith and persecutions made the members of
IBBC more faithful and committed.
IBBC continued to grow steadily as the Lord continued to
lead. More souls were
added and baptized that led to increase of Church workers and
leaders. Lifting higher the banner of the cross, IBBC continued to
conquer other cities. Currently,
IBBC has other congregations in Sacramento, Las Vegas, Virginia,
Fairfield, Panorama, National City and the Philippines. IBBC
National City, San Diego and IBBC Panorama, Los Angeles have been
organized as independent Churches, currently led by Rev. Benjamin
Plata and Rev. Ador De la Cruz, as Pastors, respectively.
By God’s grace, if the Lord tarries his coming, it is the
desire of the founding and Senior Pastor, Dr. J. Hernes M. Abante,
to start more IBBC congregations in other states and foreign
lands. “To God be the glory. Great things He hath done.”
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