Fifty years ago, a small group of members in Glendale came together as the question was asked, “We live in Glendale—why do we have to go far away to go to church when we could have our own church here in Glendale?” The Central Filipino church in Eagle Rock, planted in 1957 as the first Filipino Adventist church in the U.S., had grown to a point where a new congregation in Glendale made sense.
At every step, the Lord provided for the new congregation. After renting a facility on Pacific Avenue for about four years, they began to outgrow it. Then, at a local mayor’s breakfast, Pastor Chua Banaag connected with a realtor who shared about a church for sale in Glendale on S. Louise Street and allowed the pastor to check out the facility to see if it would be a good fit for the congregation. The building was soon purchased for around $500,000 to become the new home to the Glendale Filipino church (GFC), and the congregation still worships there today.
Since then, eight lead pastors have served at GFC, and God has brought GFC to a new chapter as Michael Magdadaro joins the congregation as its new lead pastor this summer.
Members and friends celebrated the 50th anniversary with a special weekend of festivities this May. Sabbath events included the morning church service, an afternoon worship service, and an evening new member welcome party luau. On Sunday, members gathered for food, fellowship, and fresh air at a church picnic.
Magdadaro shared a message on Sabbath morning centered on Hebrews 12:2—encouraging those in attendance to stay committed to the mission with humility and determination. “Friends, family, thank you for responding to the call,” he said as members gathered in response to the closing appeal. “God sees your heart, God sees that we are committed to carry the torch and to light the way for others who are in darkness, to usher in the Second Coming, and to lead people to a living relationship with Jesus.”
On Sabbath afternoon, the Southern California Conference (SCC) leadership commemorated the occasion with a letter read by SCC President John H. Cress. “Since your establishment in 1975, your congregation has embodied the essence of being ‘The Church with His Heart,’ fostering a loving and compassionate community that reflects Christ’s love in every endeavor,” he read. The letter was accompanied by a $5,000 check from the conference to support the continued work of ministry.
As GFC embarks on the next 50 years, they build on the foundations laid in the first half-century of their history as they prepare themselves for Christ’s Second Coming and continue sharing the good news of His return with others.
