Stories | NAFAUM

Stories of Faith

Welcoming New Pastors

Rev. Edna R. Andres

I was in my office in the Silicon Valley, on the eve of September 11, 2001. The vice president came to see me and asked that I joined him in a meeting in the conference room. It was there that I was told I was being laid off because of the effects of industry recession. I thanked everyone and packed my things. I was not worried because I know I could find another job in no time. Then, 9-11 came. Everything changed not only for me, but also for the entire country and the world.

It took me nine months to find a job. When God wants to give us a message, He uses a messenger. And he used the rector of an Episcopal Church in Fremont, CA to give me a chance. I worked as the church secretary, and one of my tasks was to prepare a simple fellowship for the mid-week church worshippers. The other task which I know prepared for me for a bigger mission was to manage the food pantry for the homeless in the community. I became a friend of the homeless single mother, and the elderly man whose only family died. Suddenly, I found myself praying for those who came to the mid-week service and the homeless who came to fill their bags with groceries and bread.

The Superintendent of San Jose District, Cal-Nevada Conference heard about my employment with the Episcopal Church, and how I was making new waves for the church. He called me one day and said that I should come see him soon before I move to the Episcopal church. By then, I just completed the Conference Lay Ministry training, and was about to be commissioned by the Bishop. I went to the District office and met with the DS and the pastor of a local UMC. The two of them offered me a position in the local church – Assistant of the Pastor. I would be handling the pastoral care ministry of the church. That meeting was the beginning of the few chapters in my life.

The Senior Pastor discerned my call to the ministry and suggested that I check out Pacific School of Religion that coming summer. I told him that I would not be accepted because my college degree was chemical engineering and would not be a qualification for seminary education. He told to just try. And I did send my application, without any expectation at all. Then the letter from PSR came saying I was admitted to the Master of Divinity program. I called my husband, Joshua, who was travelling at that time with a singing group. When I told him the good news, he said, “That is really great! Congratulations! But where will we get the money?” I will not forget my response to him, “God will provide”. And God did provide. Several scholarships sustained my study and I graduated without a student debt.

However, it was not an easy road to travel; deciding to follow God’s leading came with various challenges that seemed to be following me ever since the Senior Pastor who discerned my call was transferred somewhere else. It was during this trying period that I discovered that I could give my setbacks to God, and time and time again God gave me his strength. I was ordained as an elder in full connection and God showed me different avenues of ministry. When I was called to minister to a dying member of the church, I witnessed how during death, God used this event to open my heart to the
Other Ministry: that of being a Chaplain. I completed several units of Clinical Pastoral Education. I took clergy coaching courses and became accredited with the International Coaching Federation. I had mentors who took me under their wings and did not diminish me for the choices I made.

Working as a chaplain of a Life Plan Community, doing the work of a pastor, preacher, counselor, spiritual director, teacher, guide, and advocate for those who are not able to speak up for themselves do not seem to be enough. God has been giving me gifts and graces and I utilize them to reach people in need. I worked as a hospice chaplain for seven years, and had the privilege of knowing many patients, families, and colleagues. To this date, I am confident that God is pleased with the work that I am doing. For eleven years now, the Terraces at Los Altos in Los Altos, California has been my special appointment from the Central Luzon Annual Conference. Every year, my special appointment is read, and I have God to thank.

I never stop learning. I took a course in Grief Education, and now I am a Certified Grief Educator. I created a program that supports people who are experiencing loss, grief, and in despair of ways to fix their brokenness. In a few years, I may retire but I plan to continue to use God’s whispers of wisdom to serve those in need of God’s love, compassion and understanding.

Pastor R. John C. Santillan

In February 2007, I migrated to Canada under the family reunification program. While adopting the Canadian culture, I met fellow Filipinos who are likewise members of the United Methodist sharing the same passion, commitment, and dedication to the ministry to make disciples of all nations. Three (3) families including mine started its first ever Sunday Worship service at a park in Red Deer, Alberta last June 2, 2024 which eventually known as Alberta United Methodist Fellowship (A Ministry of the the United Methodist Church) with an average of eleven (11) members every Sunday.

Our Mission Field Goal is to reach out the Filipino community and make them deeply committed Christians and be the hands and feet of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

As our way of commitment to our church, my wife Jean and 3 children namely: AJ, Love and Andrew undergo a four-hour drive from our home in Brookside to Red Deer and vice versa every Sunday.

As member of the United Methodist, we believe and we quote, “The World is Our Parish.”

We fervently hope and pray that The United Methodist Church in USA and First United
Methodist of Canada, will set forth their blessings in this Ministry.

Alberta United Methodist Fellowship

Pastor Johan Lhoyd Ferrer

Currently, Johan is involved in a radio ministry at a local station in Viroqua, where he shares daily devotionals, offering spiritual encouragement and guidance to the community.

Hello, I’m Pastor Johann Ferrer, and I’m excited to share my journey with you. My path has led me from the beautiful islands of the Philippines to the serene town of Viola, Wisconsin, and it’s been a journey of faith, growth, and deep connection. For 20 years, I served as an Elder in the Pampango Philippines Annual Conference. My ministry there was vibrant and varied, working with people from all walks of life. This experience equipped me to connect with diverse communities and understand the nuances of different cultural backgrounds. I felt that this experience could be of great value here in the United States.

When the opportunity arose to move to the U.S., I saw it as a chance to contribute something meaningful. I believe that my diverse cultural perspective and extensive experience in ministering across different age groups can offer a unique and enriching dimension to the spiritual community here. That’s why I’m now serving at a United Methodist Church in Viola, a small town that has warmly embraced me and my mission. In Viola, my ministry has a special focus on our elderly members. Many of them are in their golden years, and I am committed to providing support and spiritual nourishment tailored to their needs. My background in the Philippines has taught me the importance of connecting deeply with each individual, and I strive to bring that same level of care and understanding to my current congregation.

I envision a ministry that not only welcomes diversity, but celebrates it, fostering a sense of unity and compassion among all members. My dream is to build a ministry that truly connects with every individual, meeting their spiritual needs and enriching their faith journey. One of my greatest passions in ministry is to create a space where everyone—regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or cultural background—feels included and valued.

Looking to the future, I see myself continuing to make a meaningful impact in Viola. My goal is to establish a robust and responsive ministry that can effectively address the evolving needs of our community. To achieve this, ongoing learning and professional development are essential. I am grateful for the support from organizations like the North American Federation of Asian United Methodists (NAFAUM). Their seminars, workshops, and training sessions are invaluable resources that help me and others like me to enhance our ministry and better serve our diverse congregations.

I am deeply thankful for the opportunity to share my story and to contribute to the spiritual growth and well-being of my community here in Viola. My journey from the Philippines to the United States has been one of profound learning and growth, and I am excited to continue this path, fostering unity and nurturing faith in every generation. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my story. May we all find ways to bridge divides and build connections that enrich our shared spiritual journey.

First Fil-Am Church of Greater Dayton

First Fil-AM Church of Greater Dayton livestreams a nightly devotion via Facebook. Visit their Facebook page HERE.

We are a new Christian church in the Greater Dayton, Ohio area on fire for our Lord Jesus! To proclaim the Good News of Christ to ALL, live the truth of the Father’s love, and partner with the Holy Spirit in the healing and transformation of the world is our mission. For the good news of salvation to reach the ends of the earth, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and that every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

We offer a blended Filipino-American worship service. Ours is a “family worship” where the family worships together. Our worship services are followed by a “fiesta,” a festive fellowship meal where people get to bond as they share a table. By the Father’s grace, and the Holy Spirit’s guiding under the banner of Christ our Lord, the church presses on in making a difference in the lives of hundreds in the city and millions around the world through its work of worship, discipleship, and evangelism.

In the spring of 2014, as he was having his regular Sabbath with the Lord at the Five Rivers Metropark, the Lord gave Pastor Nitos Suarez Dobles a vision-mission to minister to people in the US with a mission to bring souls of all colors to Him, Jesus Christ our Savior. On fire for the Lord, and with intense intentionality, he and his wife, Apple (Layug-Isip) reached out to Filipinos in the city and brought them to Christ through Bible studies and house worships.

On October 7, 2018, World Communion Sunday, was held the historic first-ever Filipino worship service at Fort McKinley UMC in the city of Dayton, thus founding the very first Filipino worshiping congregation, the First Fil-Am Fellowship. Come celebrate with us our 6th founding anniversary this October!

Pursuing the vision God gave Pastor Nitos, he and his co-church planter, his beloved wife Apple, partnered with Fil-Ams in Dayton, Christ Church Kettering, and Mosaic Church, and worked with the Miami Valley District (now Greater Miami River) and the West Ohio Conference for the fellowship to be adopted as by the UMC.

On June 28, 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, God made a miracle in birthing in the heart of the metropolis, the First Fil-Am Church of Greater Dayton: the very first Filipino-American Church in the city and the first Filipino UMC Church in the state of Ohio. The First Fil-Am Church is proud and very blessed to be one of the five (5) campuses of our big church family composed of Christ Church, Mosaic, The Point, Refresh, and us, First Fil-Am.

We had our Inaugural Worship Service as a UMC on August 2, 2020 at Christ Church, 3440 Shroyer Rd, Kettering, OH 45429. One hundred two (102) adults and young people and eleven (11) children attended the monumental service, reaching 13,000 souls online.

The church serves the community through its Mothers on Mission and Service (M.o.M.S.), D.a.D.S., and C.A.R.E., a weekly visitation ministry where we share Panera Bread, flowers, small gifts, and homemade food in the community, covering a 50-70-mile radius from the church. 500+ families/homes have been blessed with bread through our CARE ministries (Indianapolis to Columbus, Lima to Cincinnati).

We have a vibrant children’s ministry. Kids take an active part in our worship services. They are taught to play the piano (for free) by our volunteer Worship and Music Director, Apple Dobles, through our thrice-weekly Music Ministry and who are now offering their talent to the Lord on Sundays.

Yearly, we have benefit concerts and talent shows. Twice yearly, we do mission work in the Philippines. In 2023-2025, 2,500 students in the Philippines were fed and blessed with slippers and school supplies. We have weekly prayer meetings, Bible studies, learning Tagalog as a second language, annual retreats and camps, sports fests, and a twice-weekly badminton ministry.

Nightly, without fail, since March 2020, we have our Family Devotions streamed live via Facebook. On July 4, 2020, our volunteer music director, Apple, began a weekly Music Devotion with “What A Friend We Have In Jesus!” Since then, our online devotions have become our flagship ministries.

In 2023, 135 MILLION+ people in 244 countries and dependent territories (“the ends of the earth”) were reached by the good news of Jesus through our online platforms. We celebrated our 1,000th Family Devotion on December 27, 2023. We have our Family Devos at our small apartment... or wherever 9 pm will find us... happy to serve... to praise... to pray... to comfort... to sing... to celebrate... to love... to gather all people to sit at Jesus’ feet... to rest... to be fed... to hear His word, the Gospel... to be satisfied... to encounter Christ, to be transformed... to be His witnesses here to the earth’s ends!

We are a growing congregation, “as the Lord keeps adding to our number those who are being saved.” (Acts 2:47). Our most fervent desire is to bring our Kababayans to Jesus Christ our Lord, and for us to love with His love, grow in His likeness, and serve cheerfully together. Since our inception as a Church up to August 2024, the Lord has blessed us with 112 Baptisms, Affirmations/Professions of faith, and we were received into the Church as Members. We give praise and thanks to God for all that He has done in and through us!