About GCF Pampanga

The Bible

The Bible is the inspired Word of God written without error, so it is our only sure source of knowledge about God and His plans, and is our absolute guide for doctrinal teaching and godly living (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1: 20-21).

God

We worship and serve the only One True God who revealed Himself in the Bible as three persons sharing one indivisible essence in the mystery of the Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19-20).

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the unique Son of God, being fully God and fully man. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life but suffered and died in the place of sinful man, was buried and resurrected, ascended bodily into heaven, and is preparing to return bodily in glory to earth a second time (John 1:1-14, John 14:1-3, 1 Cor. 15:3-6, Philippians 2:5-11).

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is God who is actively at work in the world. He dwells permanently in every Christian, helps us to pray, equips and empowers us to serve God, strengthens and molds us to be more like Christ, and protects us to guarantee our eternal life (Acts 5:3-4, Romans 8:14-16,26). We believe that the sign gifts, especially speaking in tongues and miracle healing, were given to authenticate the Apostles' message and establish the early church (2 Cor. 12:12, 1 Cor. 13:10-11). With the completion of the New Testament, they have ceased in the sense of having them as a spiritual gift today (1 Cor. 13:8). God is Sovereign and may allow a miraculous sign such as tongues, healing or special revelation, particularly where the gospel is forbidden or unavailable (1 Cor. 14:21-22). However this would be counted a miracle, not the norm, and we do not expect or promote such signs (2 Cor. 5:7).

Angels

Angels are the innumerable and unseen creatures who serve the causes of God and His people. Satan and demons are fallen angels who promote wickedness and oppose God's purposes, doomed and awaiting their final judgment (Isaiah 14:12-17, Hebrews 1:6-14).

Man

God created man, male and female, in His image. Man was originally sinless but through Adam, all mankind sinned, became condemned, separated from God, and rendered totally unable to gain God's favor of forgiveness and eternal life (Genesis 1:26-27,Romans 5:12-14).

Salvation

Salvation is God's act of forgiving sins, reconciling people to Himself, and giving a new nature and eternal life to those who put their trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Salvation is not a reward for good works but a free gift of God received by grace through faith in Christ alone and secured eternally by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14, Ephesians 2:1-10, 1 John 5:11-13).

The Church

The church is the universal Body of Christ consisting of all born again Christians united by the indwelling Holy Spirit. A member of a local church must have undergone baptism by immersion, participate in Communion, and help fulfill the church mission to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:41, 1 Cor. 11:17-34, 1 Cor. 12:13).

The End Times

Jesus Christ will come again to reign on earth and to reward God's people with life with Him forever in the new heaven and earth and to judge unbelievers with eternal separation from God and suffering in hell (Revelation 20:1-4, Revelation 21:6-8).

Civil Government and Society

We uphold the separation of the church and state and we affirm the Christian duty to honor and to pray for those in government authority, to pay taxes and to promote the general welfare of society (Romans 13:1-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Marriage, Sexes, and Sexuality

We believe that God creates each person as either male or female, genetically. These two sexes together reflect the image and nature of God. (Gen 1:26-27.) Rejection of one’s genetic sex is a rejection of the image of God. We believe “marriage” as defined in the Bible has only one meaning: the legalized union of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive lifetime union (Gen 2:18-25.) We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb. 13:4.) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual activity, bisexual activity, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God. (Matt 15:18-20; 1 Cor. 6:9-10.) We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31.) Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Greenhills Christian Fellowship (GCF).

The Bible as the Final Authority on Matters of Faith and Conduct

This Doctrinal Statement does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of GCF’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, the Board of Elders, of which the Senior Pastor is a member, is GCF’s interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.

GCF San Fernando Pampanga started in 1998, but was formally launched on January 10, 1999 thru the collective efforts of missionary couple Pastor Love and Sister Racquel Tira; and pioneer members Brother Cesar Ocampo, and the couple Brother Mario and Sister Liz Dabu. In a formal inaugural service conducted at Days Hotel, attended by the leaders of the Conservative Baptist Association of the Philippines (CBAP), GCF-Ortigas, and its then senior pastor Dr. Luis Pantoja, Jr., GCF San Fernando was officially established to be a beacon of the gospel in Central Luzon with a primary goal: to “KNOW CHRIST AND MAKE HIM KNOWN.”

Pastor Love Tira led the church from 1998 to 2003, establishing its strong directional and theological foundation. Also, during that time, the first GCF Center at Lazatin Boulevard was established. When Pastor Love had to move to Bulacan to start GCF Malolos (the first daughter church of GCF-SF), the leadership of the church was entrusted to Pastor Ross Tarroja, who ministered to GCF San Fernando from 2003 to 2009, alongside gifted local leaders. However, from 2009 up to 2010, GCF San Fernando was forced by circumstances to survive without a Resident Pastor when Pastor Ross had to leave San Fernando. But instead of losing hope, the situation strengthened the resolve of the then Governing Board under the leadership of Elder Jun Perez. The GB initiated an extensive search for a suitable pastor, and by faith waited on the Lord to provide the church a new undershepherd.

In June of 2010, after a long period of prayer and deliberations, the GCF San Fernando Congregation through its Governing Board, invited and called Reverend Gerry Oarde, who was then the Regional Chairman of CBAP Region 3A and the Senior Pastor of Christian Evangelical Fellowship in Tarlac City, to be the Resident Senior Pastor of GCF San Fernando. Alongside Pastor Gerry and at the same period, Pastor Joey Melad, an Assistant Pastor at GCF Malolos was also invited and called to be an Assistant Pastor.

Since 2010, Pastor Gerry led GCF San Fernando through many transitions. He restructured the church leadership; strengthened the church’s Bible-teaching ministry; redefined ministry descriptions and goals; implemented effective ministry programs; and conducted administrative reforms. More importantly, he re-emphasized disciple-making and church planting, and provided a new and exciting strategic vision dubbed “VISION 2020.”

VISION 2020 states: “To glorify God and make disciples of all nations: We envision doubling our membership through Church health by 2012, establishing at least 30 multiplying Growth Groups by 2015, and launching 2 local church plants with strategic and significant presence in and around the province of Pampanga by 2020.” So far, GCF-SF is on track with its vision. From a membership of 68 in 2010 to 513 in 2017, it has now more than quadrupled its membership and has established more small groups. Also, it inaugurated its new and larger Ministry Center at Robinsons Starmills in 2013, secured its legal independent church status and SEC Registration in 2014, and launched its Angeles City Church plant also in 2014.

From 2015-2016 GCF-SF campaigned for a more vibrant spirituality and fellowship among its leaders and members, culminating with the theme: “Deeper in the Word, Wider in the World” in 2017. In early 2017, GCF San Fernando started GCF Guagua through the generous support of Deaconess Luz Jingco and family. In the same year, GCF San Fernando re-engineered its church structure, and positioned and renamed itself as GCF Pampanga-Central, highlighting its farther vision to establish and strengthen GCF Pampanga-North (GCF Angeles), GCF Pampanga-West (GCF Guagua & Lubao), and in the near future… GCF Pampanga-East (GCF Arayat & Mexico) and GCF Pampanga-South (GCF Apalit & Macabebe). In 2019, during its 20th Anniversary, the entire church of GCF PAMPANGA focused on putting everyone’s efforts together for its battle cry: “20gether: Victory in Unity!” knowing that our victory is in Christ as we His church unite to follow Jesus and glorify God.

This year, GCF PAMPANGA as one Church is putting all faith and credit to God Almighty in expanding Vision 2020 beyond the numbers and objectives that we targeted ten years ago. The Lord is still at work in our Church and in our individual lives! Let us all work forward towards our future that Christ holds in His hands! Today, GCF Pampanga-Central continues to be a beacon of the Gospel of Christ in West Central Luzon. We will expand our vison for our church to be stronger, larger, and ever attempting to be like its Master in love, service, and purity. It will continuously look forward to a brighter future as it pursues its unchanging mission - “TO GLORIFY GOD BY MAKING DISCIPLES WHO LOVE GOD AND EACH OTHER.”