President of Church Foursquare Gospel of the Philippines CFGP) Pastor Val Chavez thanked the members of the FCF Life Centre The Church On the Highway in Minchinbury, NSW for its continuing support to Christian ministry work in the Philippines including FCF’s assistance to CFGP churches affected by Super typhoon Haiyan in the Visayas.
CFGP is one the largest Christian Pentecostal church in the Philippines. Along with Church of Foursquare Gospel Australia, CFGP is a member of the International Church of Foursquare Gospel which originated in Los Angeles, USA.
Pastor Chavez was the guest speaker of FCF Life Centre during its August 10 Sunday Service, highlighting the church’s celebration for its 26th church anniversary this month of August at its sanctuary on 111 Eskdale Street, Minchinbury. The Philippine denomination president also spoke at the evening Sunday Service of the Essington Christian Church in Westmead, NSW.
FCF Life Centre started as a small group home fellowship in 1981 in Riverwood, NSW and was formed as a church in 1988 in Westmead. It grew in membership since then to the present congregation of 600 members. It moved to its present sanctuary in Minchinbury in 1995. Its senior pastors are Pastors Rudy tan and Marion Tan, of Bossley Park, NSW.
In the process, FCF Life Centre gave way to five other outreaches with mostly Filipino members under the Foursquare denomination, fourin Greater Sydney area and one in Wollongong.
These five churches are the Living Word Christian Church in Belmore, NSW; the Faith in Christ Fellowship in Minto, NSW; the International Christian Church in Wollongong; the Church of the Living God in Arndel Park and the Come To Jesus Church in Glendenning. These churches are now fully chartered churches separate from FCF Life Centre, but affiliates of the Church of Foursquare Gospel Australia.
Aside from its mission support to Foursquare Gospel Australia, FCF Life Centre also send missions support to Foursquare Gospel Philippines. During his visit in Sydney, Pastor Val Chavez thanked the FCF Life Centre congregation for its ongoing church planting partnership in the Philippines.
Western Sydney has a vibrant group of Filipino Christian churches that remain in close contact with Christian congregations in the Philippines, including those under the Foursquare denomination.
One annual mission impact group which is funded by proceeds from a yearly bowling tournament among Christian churches bowling enthusiasts goes to the Philippines almost every year to minister in medical and dental missions.
The FCF Life Centre itself regularly sends volunteer mission impact teams every year usually composed of youth volunteers who joins “immersion” missions in Metro Manila and the provinces. FCF Life Centre is also actively involved in the cause of Gawad Kalinga community building initiatives in the Philippines.