More and more second generation Filipino migrants are attracted to serve in pastoral vocations in the Australian Christian denomination Church of Foursquare Gospel Australia .
They include two young women who left Sydney recently for the Solomons Islands in the Pacific for one year missionary work . They are Ms Valerie Cantre and Nikki Aben, both of Blacktown and members of Come to Jesus (CTJ) Church in Glendenning, NSW.
At least six young Australians of Filipino descent plus two mature Filipino migrants were prayed over for various levels of pastoral credentials at the conclusion of the Connect 2013, the annual convention of some 34 churches belonging to the Foursquare denomination, held at Georges Hall suburb, in NSW on April 17 to 19.
The convention also elected for the first time two Philippine born senior pastors of two metropolitan Sydney churches into executive positions of Foursrquare. Ps Nomer Velasco of Faith in Christ Fellowship in Minto, NSW and Ps. Rudy Tan of FCF Life Centre The Church On The Highway in Minchinbury, NSW assumed the posts of Vice-President and District Supervisor, respectively.
Those appointed as ordained pastors were Mr James Yap and Ms Valerie Cantre, both of Come to Jesus Church of Glendenning, NSW , Rolando Zita, of International Christian Church in Wollongong and Kenneth Cervantes of Faith in Christ Church in Minto, NSW.
Math teacher Mr Cervantes, 25, was earlier appointed as the youngest member of the board directors of the denomination Church of Foursquare Australia.
Ordained pastors are recognised to serve the pastoral ministry for a long time if not for the rest of their working life.
Appointed as Licensed pastors were Domingo de Vera and Susan de Vera who are senior pastors of Jesus Our Banner church of Seven Hills, NSW.
To serve as Interim pastors are Nevin Ross Ramos and Neal Riko Ramos, both of Living Word Church in Belmore, NSW and Nikki Aben of Come To Jesus Glendenning Meanwhile, Mr Brian Riopiro of Plumpton was also accepted as church intern for the FCF Life Centre The Church On The Highway in Minchinbury.
A total of 20 pastors were prayed over and accredited during the conference whilst six couples were given Service Awards for 25 years service in the ministry