Two hundred seventy pastors, not including preachers, workers, Bible students went to Bible Baptist Church, Katipunan, Cebu and elected the new officers of the Baptist Bible Fellowship of the Philippines, Inc (BBFPI). It was the biggest meeting in ten years by the Fellowship. The election of the new set of officers and members of the board of directors was conducted after the pastors met and amended the constitution and bylaws of the organization. It was 50 years ago, in 1953, that the BBFPI was registered before the Securities and Exchange Commission and this year, the organization is celebrating its golden anniversary.

The amendment to the constitution and bylaws paves the way for a more responsive BBFPI to the challenge of missions, the training of preachers and the strengthening of Bible Baptist churches, especially in the provinces. The new set of officers of the BBFPI are:

President : Ptr. Jun Lumagbas - Bible Baptist Church, Cebu City

Vice-President : Ptr. Reuben Abante - LBBC Tatalon, QC

Secretary : Ptr. Ros Orolfo - LBBC Iriga, Cam. Sur

Treasurer : Ptr. Joey Sauco - Bible Baptist Church, Pasay City

VP NCR : Ptr. Joselito Santiago - LBBC Marikina City

VP Luzon : Ptr. Edwin Alvarez - Olongapo Sunbeam Bible Baptist Church, Olongapo City

VP Visayas : Ptr. Jether Jimena - Berean Bible Baptist Church, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental

VP Mindanao : Ptr. Jon Coronel - Liberty Bible Baptist Church San Isidro, Gen. Santos

The four national officers sit as members of the Board of Directors of the organization along with the past presidents and additional members elected from the three main islands of the archipelago. The other members of the board include:

Ptr. Benny Abante, Jr. - Chairman of the Board, MBBC Sta. Ana

Ptr. Armie Jesalva - Bible Baptist Church, Cebu City

Ptr. Abraham Vallega - Blue Ridge BBC, Blue Ridge, QC

Ptr. Primo Tabanda - Bible Baptist Temple, San Joaquin, Pasig

The rest of the newly elected members of the Board, and representing the three main islands of the archipelago are:

Ptr. Efren Padua - Moriah Baptist Bible Church, Marikina

Ptr. Arnold Arellano - Cavite Bible Baptist Church, Cavite City

Ptr. Gerry Nable - Bethany Baptist Church, Makati City

Ptr. Renato Rebaton - New Life Bible Baptist Church, Manapla, Negros Occidental

Ptr. Winefredo Biernesa - Liberty Baptist Church, Lapu-lapu City, Cebu

Ptr. Elias Mahinay - Bible Baptist Church, Surigao City

Ptr. Elijah Alvaro - Bible Baptist Church, Buhangin, Davao City

The Baptist Bible Fellowship of the Philippines, Inc. remains to be the largest single group of independent Baptist churches in the country. It is estimated that there are more than 4,000 independent Bible Baptist churches in the Philippines and only about 10% are considered active in the BBFPI. If the majority of these churches will come together and help actively, there is no telling how effective they can be in the work of evangelism and missions.

Source: LBBC-Tatalon