Blessed Hope Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Blessed Hope Story
by Hope F. Sigua
"Where there is no vision the people perish…." Proverbs 29: 18.
The work of the Lord will go on and will progress as the Spirit will lead. With these inspirations, in January 2003, a vision from the Lord led to the formation of a cell group in western Mississauga.
It started with six baptized members and their children. Led by Pastor Joseph Batiancila and his wife Gem, with their children Neal Aldrich and Naomi Gem, they were joined by brother Jaime Sigua, and sister Hope Sigua, with their children Jonathan James and Katrina Joy and brother Luis Gloria. An addition to the Batiancila’s was Nahum Joseph who became our youngest attendee.
Though small in number, the group continued to meet every Friday. As the weeks rolled on, brother Heman Gubaton joined the group, followed by brother Abdony Ramos. Patience and perseverance works, so they say, that finally sister Myrna Gubaton wife of brother Heman and sister Matilde Gloria, wife of brother Luis and their daughter Roschelle joined the group. It was also around this time that sister Glenda Ramos, wife of brother Abdony and their two children, Adonna Gail and Alyssa Sarah decided to be part of the group. Sister Elisa Pagana, mother of Glenda, joined too and is one of our source of encouragement and care.
Soon brother Allan Berosil followed by his wife, Amy Jane Berosil and their two children Alana Jane and Amie Leajn, together with sister Rona Gubaton and her daughter Abigail and brother Reinhard Gubaton joined the now growing group.
As we see and experience the leadings and blessings of the Lord, brother Fersando Javier came and followed by his wife, Elynore Javier and their two children Danielle and Joshua.
The group was now on its second year, when brother Raymond Rodriguez and wife sister Joselle Rodriguez with their two children Beatriz Samantha and Justine Lourdes joined in. The group was every now and then visited by brother Fred and sister Remedios Semella, who later affirmed their intension to be part of the group. It was this point in time that the group decided to meet one Sabbath of each month. It was requested and was approved, that the Fil-Can SDA church is to be the mother church since most of the members are from that church. So in January of 2004 the group first met at the Meadowvale West Recreation Center.
It is a joy and relief to be able to praise and worship the Lord on Sabbath, closer to home. Thanks for the support of the Fil-Can Seventh-day Adventist Church! At this time brother Valentino Delavin and wife, sister Phoebe Joy Delavin and their children Rainier, Erick and Joval were added to the group. A few months later brother Carlo Sigua came and joined the congregation and later his sister Jamie Hope Sigua followed.
The group continued to grow in number and the brethren have slowly but surely been trained and equipped to participate and lead in the programs. In late September of 2004 it was decided with a vote of majority, that the group, as suggested by Pastor Batiancila be named the Herald Seventh-day Adventist Fellowship. It was also decided that the group will meet every Sabbath starting October 2004. Despite all the difficulties, discouraging words and non-support of some brethren the decision was carried on.
It was at this point in time that some brethren who some have come to worship with us for some time, left and went back to their mother churches. But thanks and praise be to our GOD, for the determination and holy desire of the remaining brethren, to be a light to where they are for their God. The group with a name of its own, now meets every Sabbath at the Gateway center For New Canadians. Due to the fact that the former name is already being used by another organization, that the group has now a new name, The Blessed Hope Seventh-day Adventist Fellowship. A name suggested by brother Jaime Sigua and chosen by a great majority of the brethren. It is a name that will constantly remind us of the soon second advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. The group is still growing with the addition of brother Allan Aspilla and sister Debbie Aspilla with their child Nathan. Sister Florida Iglesia, our first precious fruit was baptized after the bible studies and the satellite meeting held by Pastor Doug Bachelor. Our latest addition is sister Donna Manong from the Philippines.
With the belief of one Faith, one Doctrine, one LORD and one Baptism, the group now reviews the SDA fundamental beliefs and doctrines. With the goal of achieving the same interpretation and application of the doctrines, the group believes that they can move forward in unity in all its endeavors to serve the Lord according to His will. This is also for the strengthening of each and every member.
As we await the coming of our Lord and Savior, the group is engaged in different activities to use their talents for Him. A Bible marking class was initiated by Pastor Batiancila to help the brethren have the confidence of sharing the word of God.
Through the leadership of brother Allan Aspilla, the AY department, with the support of its members and parents, was able to host a sports night with the participation of youth from other churches, in April of 2005. The Pathfinder and Adventurer clubs were formed with the leadership of sisters Hope and Glenda respectively. It is for the purpose of helping our youth and children to be intact in church and to train them for leadership and to help them get involved to the task that God has set for them. A choir has also been started, and practicing, with the leadership of sister Gem Batiancila, and by God’s grace is going to sing during the organization in December 2005.
God willing, we look forward for more souls as we plan to host the Shawn Boonstra satellite meetings, comes September 23, 2005. Bible studies and sharing are being done with some Muslim, Hindu and Filipino friends. An effort to restore lost members is also on going and with the God’s providence bring more souls to His feet. This part of the history was written by sister Hope Sigua on September 12, 2005.
Not long after, Sister Shyrilde Tuburan joined the group and was a blessing, serving as the pianist, just in time for the upcoming organization of the group as a Company. She has helped the group in their Christmas carols which has added funds for church building.
Indeed we give praise and glory to our GOD, when on December 10,2005, Blessed Hope SDA Fellowship was organized as a Company! This was a joyous celebration of GOD’s blessings and guidance. We thank GOD for helping us reach an important milestone in our Christian journey.
In the beginning of 2006 brother Mervin Sison and his wife sister Ester, and their two children Kenneth and Kristian, who came from the Philippines, were added to the company. In that same year four precious souls, children of our own brethren, were baptized and added to our church roll. It was also about this time that, brother Sanh Le, his wife Grace and three children Elizabeth Tam, Vinh Dinh and Anita Mae, brother Glady Junsay and wife Vyrna with their children Kimberly, Ethan, and Benjamin, joined the company. They were followed by brother Jesse Edurise and brother Jess Aspilla, his wife Susan and their daughter Raizelle, and sister Carmelita Silorio. Not long after sister Helen Boughton and brother Efren Enriquez and wife, sister Violeta became part of the company. Latest additions were brother Vic Inocencio and wife Venus with their daughter Ann and sister Rosalinda Borja mother of sister Venus.
On March 1, 2007 Pastor Batiancila wrote a letter of request for the company to be in church status. Unfortunately the request was denied on March 7, 2007 through a letter from the president of the Ontario Conference, Pastor Derreck Nichols, stating that Blessed Hope needs to have at least one hundred (100) members and at least seventy five thousand dollars ($ 75,000.00) in tithes and offerings. Nevertheless the company did not lose hope but continued with faith in their Christian journey.
Since its humble beginning brethren came and go but we trust that the LORD will always be with His people. At present Blessed Hope SDA Company have 52 baptized members and 18 children. There are some brethren who are now attending church with us and we look forward for them to be members of the company. This part of Blessed Hope Company was written in November 2008.
At this point in time, the brethren after being nurtured, trained and equipped, are all excited and willing to do their share in God’s service. Oh what a joy and inspiration to see GOD’s people, united, in harmony, uplifting, edifying and encouraging one another as they serve HIM! The spiritual growth of the members was coupled with growth in number with the addition of brother Roger Siglos Jr., husband to the then Rhona Gubaton, and brother Juden Sibulangcal, husband to the then Shyrilde Tuburan. The BH Company was also blessed by sister Luz Macaraeg joining, and the arrival of brother Samuel Manong, husband of Donna, and their daughter Jewel. Praise the LORD!
In late 2009 a new pastor for the group was installed in the person of, Pastor Charles Ojano. Since then, he and his wife, Elvira, are serving and sharing their talents to the company. The brethren are ever willing and inspired working with them.
The church has supported their Youth group to participate on mission trips, for further training and to gain experience working with other youth groups, one in 2007 and one in 2011. Church and youth camping have been done since the group became a company, so the brethren can have a closer, stronger bond with each other. Bibles studies are still going on, on regular basis to members of families, friends and relatives in fulfillment of GOD’s great commission. An on- going marriage counseling seminar is being given by Pastor Ojano, for young couples and newlyweds, to guide them as they establish their home and to strengthen their relationship.
After eight years of congregating together, the brethren are eagerly looking forward with joy in their hearts to the time they will be organized as a church, come May 26, 2012. BEHOLD, WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE! This is the theme chosen by the brethren, for this momentous event.
It is our prayer that the Lord will continue to keep us worshipping and doing God’s will in one accord, all for HIS glory. May our GOD find us all faithful as we look forward to the soon appearing of HIS SON, our LORD JESUS CHRIST. This part of the history was written on May 14, 2012.