History of Central Baguio Church of Christ

BCF, Room E-208
Governor Pack Road
(Venue)

Our Mission Effort

The denominational groups in the Philippines are greatly multiplying. Many
of them are very persistent in their evangelistic activities, gaining
support from other countries, employing lots of personnel and supporting
full-time preachers. Compared with our own evangelistic and church planting
efforts, they do so much better.



This is not to say, however, that not much evangelism has been taking place
among us; it is to say that a greater effort needs to be done in this area.



Salvador Cariaga

We thus find it inspiring that, from time to time, God raises up brethren
with heavenly fire in their bones enough to feel the urgent need for a more
organized church planting effort and initiate the establishment of
self-surviving, self-replicating and spirit-filled mission teams and
churches. We count it an honor to have found such spirit also in brother
Salvador Cariaga, a Texas-based Filipino missionary and editor of
Philippine Christian Chronicle (PCC). Finding success in helping establish
strong churches in Mactan, Babag, Iloilo City, Barili and Baguio City.



Yes, brother Salvador Cariaga was the one who encouraged brother Alex B.
Coloma last May 2002 to plant a new congregation at the Central Business
District (CBD and be with his family as well.

Alex B.Coloma

Starting a new local congregation was then a prime difficulty but with a
courageous spirit, brother Alex Coloma began organizing men with trusted
abilities and sense of purpose.



He has been in the ministry since 1985. Just after his graduation from the
Philippine Bible College (PBC-Baguio), he began working as a youth minister
to various local congregations in Mindanao. Later, in line with his dream
to become a church planter, he took advance Biblical Studies in Mission at
Four Seas College in Singapore from 1993-1995 where he was additionally
equipped in mission work. Upon his return to the Philippines, he plunged
into church planting endeavors including the establishment of the Cabatuan
church in Iloilo Province, Visayas island.

The Baguio Mission Team

The team he organized included a variety of local talents who shared his
vision and possessed the passion for soul winning. This was in line with
his belief that a church planting team can be effective and cost-efficient
only when its members have adequate Bible knowledge, organizational skills,
teaching abilities, work ethics and commitment. The months of May to July
2002 saw a slow process and adjustments towards the formation of a new
mission team. The full-blast preparations for church planting began on
August 2002 when Emmanuel and Jennifer Layco decided to join the team. The
couple was followed by Marlon S. Walang, Joel Laplana and Narciso Insas
sometime in June 2002. A month later, Samuel and Lolit C. Seridio pledged
their commitment to be a part of the team. September 2002 saw Aurelio delos
Reyes also joining the group, followed by Scott and Miriam Ann Saboy a
month after.

Visionary Christians

This group of dedicated Christians envisioned a vibrant and viable
congregation right in the CBD of Baguio, one that can, in three year's
time, be self-sustaining and self-replicating. With this vision came a
realization of the need of mission partners in terms of resources,
ownership and responsibility. God supplied this need through brethren
Cariaga and John Carlos Bailey, Jr., who were able to convince the Legacy
Church of Christ of North Richland Hills, Texas to take part in this
mission and to temporarily sponsor the Baguio Mission.



Establishment of CBCOC

By God's grace, the Central Baguio Church of Christ (CBCOC) was inaugurated
last February 9, 2003 with more than 260 brethren and visitors in
attendance. To date, the CBCOC continues to grow with its vibrant and
edifying Sunday worship, regular midweek house-to-house fellowships,
sustained day-to-day Bible studies, Saturday park ministry, World Bible
School (WBS) campaigns, Campus ministry, and other activities. Its various
committees exhibit its commitment to pursue the Biblical principle that
every member of the Lord's church is a worker in the Lord's vineyard. The
CBCOC attributes its inaugural success to the grace of God, the members'
commitment to and fellowship with one another and to the Lord's work, and
to the selfless sacrifices of other brethren.



The Name of the Church

The BMT chose the name Central Baguio Church of Christ in reference to its
main target mission area (i.e. Baguio's CBD), and to its commitment to
reproduce the purity and simplicity of the New Testament Church. "Church of
Christ" is not to be construed as an exclusive, denominational title but
simply as a description of the fact that this congregation belongs to
Christ and to no other.



The CBCOC continues to labor as a team to be worthy of her calling even
amidst criticisms and other challenges, knowing that in her hand lies the
gospel of enlightenment and salvation. It pledges to serve and pursue a
system that leads to fruitful church planting efforts, well-organized
programs, dynamic preaching, proactive leadership, and effective soul
winning.