UCCP Agdao History

Beginnings
Seaside UCCP in Salmonan

1976

On June 07, 1976, the SEASIDE - UCCP building at Salmonan, Davao City was burned. All the properties and records were burned except the Organ and a Bible. Members of the Church were scattered. Fire victims at Salmonan where the Seaside Church was located, were relocated at Mlntal, Davao City. Majority of the members of the Seaside Church whose houses were also burned, were included in the relocation. Only thirteen families (Hernani, Fuentes, Diaz, Dacanay, Arapan, Nacario, Estelito Buena Sr., Emeterio Buena, Bacarro, Adlawan, Ricaforte, Gentendatu and Estrada) were left and held temporary services at the residence of Mrs. Isabel Diaz at Jacinto-Gomez Streets, Davao City. With the guidance of God, these church members decided to build a Church in the SMDC-UCCP lot at R. Castillo St., Agdao, Davao City.

1979

Burned but full of hope

The fire that burned the church building did not weaken the faith of the 13 families. They planned to raise funds to build a new church building. On May 23, 1979, the building permit for the new church building at R. Castillo property was approved. To identify the property lines, concrete fence was then set up and earth fillings were poured in.

With the initial amount of P20,000.00, the skeleton of the Church building and earth fillings of the 400 square meters lot were accomplished. In order to save money, the construction was done through a BAYANIHAN system with the personal supervision of Pastor Orlando Hernani, Sr. Mr. Estelito Buena Sr., Mr. Estelito (Boy) Buena, Jr., Mr. Arapan. Members of the United Church Youth (UCY) offered their labor for free. Engr. Orlando Hernani, Jr. donated three (3) truckloads of sand and four (4) bags of cement for the construction work. The Diaz, Gentendatu, Hernani and Tidalgo families together with other church members offered cash and construction materials.

With an additional amount of P6,000.00 the Church building was enclosed with concrete walling except at the side of the chancel. Due to limited funds, the construction work was stopped.

1981

Daring decision to make new strides

Although the church building was not yet finished, the members agreed to transfer the holding of the worship services from the residence of Mrs. Isabel Diaz to the newly constructed church at R. Castillo St., Agdao, Davao City. On October 11, 1981, Rev. Claudio Lobaton, the Conference Moderator, dedicated the newly constructed church in Agdao. Rev. Crispin Faune was the Conference-assigned Pastor when the members transferred to the new Church.

In December 1981, Rev. Crispin Faune openly declared his Intention to retire from the active ministry. In his stead, Rev. Faune recommended Pastor Orlando Hernani, Sr., to serve as Pastor of Agdao UCCP. The congregation unanimously approved a resolution calling Pastor Orlando Hernani, Sr., as their Pastor. The resolution was endorsed to the Executive Committee of the Southern Mindanao District Conference (SMDC) and subsequently approved during the succeeding annual conference.

1982

Rev. Claudio Lobaton, the Conference Moderator, officially installed Pastor Orlando Hernani, Sr. as Pastor of Agdao UCCP on January 10, 1982. With the newly installed Pastor, and the help of some Elders, Bible studies started in different places around the church of Agdao.

On February 14, 1982, Dionisio Baracol, Elvira Dacanay, Narcisa Baracol, Daniel Hernani, Orville Bacarro, Nelly Adlawan, Rendel Dacanay and Tabitha Hernani were baptized through immersion at San Juan Beach, Agdao, Davao City. More members were added to the congregation especially those transferring to the church who were coming from the municipalities of Davao del Sur, del Norte and Davao Oriental.

On April 15, 1982 the construction work resumed. Employing the Bayanihan system, the CWA, UCM and UCY members joined hands and worked together. To economize expenses, only one carpenter was hired. The wall of the chancel was completed with an additional fund of P2,000.00.

On August 15, 1982, the pulpit was constructed with the cash raised from the church members and the construction materials which were donated by Engr. Levy Abul, Engr. Orlando Hernani Jr., and Mr. Dionisio Baracol. With P6,000.00 raised through donations, the Chancel and the flooring were all cemented.

The first church anniversary was celebrated on the third week of October 1982. Visitors were received from other churches within the Central District Convention. Different activities were done in the afternoon. The celebration of the first church anniversary was successful.

Empowering the members

Pastor Hernani empowered the Building and Grounds Committee to continue the construction of the Church. Bro. Dionisio Baracol, Chairman of the Buildings and Grounds Committee led in the work spending about P3,000 for the right wing of the pulpit. After the benches were manufactured, the total cost of church building since the construction started amounted to almost P50,000.00.

1983

Per church registry, the membership as of Dec. 31, 1983 was 130.

1985

Membership rose to 232 as of October 20, 1985

1986

On December 28, 1986, Mr. Roberto Atabelo was baptised by Pastor Orlando Hernani, Sr. Beginning that day, Agdao UCCP was blessed with the help and support of the Atabelo family, led by Bobby and wife, Rose. Joining them in the work to finish church construction were the families of Fred Malompong, Estelito Buena, the Tidalgo's and the Arapan's.

1988

Pastor Orlando Hernani, Sr. was ordained on May 18, 1988 by Bishop Lorenzo Genotiva with Rev. Bernardo Fernandez, Sr. as Conference Moderator and Rev. Jeremias Anifion as Chairman of the Examination Committee. His ordination took place in Toril, Davao City during the Annual Session of SMDC.

With the total cost of P85,000.00 the church building was certified completed by the City Engineer on August 30, 1988.

1992

Rev. Orlando Hernani, Sr., retired as Administrative Pastor of UCCP Agdao on September 17, 1992. The registry book registered a total membership of 348.

After the retirement of Rev. Orlando Hernani, Sr, Agdao UCCP continued to do the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ through the able leadership of the following Church Pastors serving according to the terms granted to them by the Southern Mindanao District Conference (SMDC).

Rev. Bevenio Galve
Rev. Allen Amada
Rev. Sarly Rhaman Templado
Rev. Fernando Padillo, and
Rev. Palpito D. Dumanig

2002

New beginnings, new strides in faith

While serving as Corporate Chaplain of RJ Homes the Appliance Plaza, Inc., Rev. Palpito D. Dumanig assumed the work in Agdao on the first week of August 2002 after he was installed to office by SMDC Conference Minister, Rev. Socrates Idul. The following month, the newly assigned Pastor began conducting planning meetings for the celebration of the 21st Church Anniversary, thus the congregation began to dream.

We dream anew

During the celebration of our 21st Church anniversary on October 20, 2002, we laid the cornerstone of our dream-church: a 2-storey with roof-deck Agdao UCCP.

Then, we went through series of prayers and planning sessions among our church membership of about a hundred people.

Determined to build a new church complex, we called on every member to take part and actively involve in a weekly "bayanihan", a cooperative venture, where children, young people and adults helped to demolish the old church building and In hauling construction materials from the R. Castillo highway to the church site and to demolish the 20 year old church structure.

2003

Our construction work began

Because of limited funds, our Church Building Committee implemented a new building design for Agdao Church. On July 28, 2003, 10 months after we laid the cornerstone, the construction work started bearing the new name of Agdao UCCP: AGDAO COMMUNITY CHURCH-UCCP: A Joyful Church Faithful to the Mission of Jesus Christ. During the constructed phase, our rallying call was "FAITH WORKS! Pressing On Toward the Goal"

By the Grace of God, the church project continued uninterrupted until its completion. During those days of work, we never failed to do our share. Every Monday at 8 to 8:30am, we had our Devotional with the workers. During our week-day worship services, we sought God's leading for all of us.

Agdao Community Church Now

Inspired by the saying, "Work hard, Pray hard", the joyful people in Agdao Community Church, have seen the fruits of their labors fulfilled. While we planned to have the new church sanctuary (a 200 sq meter area located in the 2nd floor), used on December 24, 2003, God has miraculously allowed us to use the said area on December 21, 2003 for the Kids Church. For this activity, we had served 168 children from the neighborhood of Agdao. True to our prayers, we had our Christmas Eve Service and our Thanksgiving Worship Service done on December 24 and 28, 2003, respectively, in the new Sanctuary.

2004

In January 2004, we considered setting up the ceiling a top priority. Painting works followed in April. The Mezzanine was completed in May. Aluminum jalousies, glass blades and ceramic floor tiles were all installed in June and July of 2004.

The Offices of the Pastor and our Support Staff, the Power Room, the 3 teaching rooms for Sunday Church School, Daily Vacation Church School and Week-day Pre-school for indigent children, all in the first floor of the Church Complex were completed in time for the 23rd Church Anniversary in October 2004.

All in God's hands

Finally, we affirm to build the BEST for the Lord and His ministry in Agdao Community Church! Thus, air-conditioning units for the Worship Centre were installed during the Holy week of 2005. The project seems to be impossible to think about, yet we kept our faith burning, continuously seeking for God's wondrous purpose, everything is in the Hands of our Miracle-working God.

2005

Praise and thanksgiving to God

On April 23, 2005 at 11:00 in the morning, we had our thanksgiving service through Joyful Melodies with the delegates and guests of the 28th UCM-CWA SMDC Annual Convention. On that day we declared: FAITH WORKS: Celebrating God's Faithfulness.

On October 16, 2005 the whole community of faith—Agdao Com¬munity Church-UCCP celebrated 24th Church Anniversary with Dr. Jonathan Alegre, Jr. as honored preacher. It was indeed a celebration in thanksgiving to God's abiding presence for 24 years.

The work continues

With the completion of our 2-storey with mezzanine air-conditioned church building, our opportunity to serve the Lord of the church has been enlarged! Like Jabez we pray: "Lord, in your Name, enlarge our territories of service."

2008

Enlarging the territories of ministry

The completion of the church building and structures of UCCP Agdao left the incoming pastor for the ecclesiastical year 2008-2009 an opportunity to focus the church ministry in enlarging the territories of service through the clustering of it programs around seven thrusts --- Worship & Music, Fellowship, Evangelism, Stewardship, Discipleship, Service and Ecumenical Relations.

Under its Discipleship program, Bible Study was started in Purok Salvacion and are held on different households, both of member families and non-member families. In 2008, 12 new members, mostly residents of Purok Salvacion, received water baptism. Then after the Easter Sunday of 2009 another 12 were baptized, again mostly came from the neighboring community of the church. And just a week before the 28th Church Anniversary Celebration, 10 new members were baptized.

With the help of the elders and the renewed commitment of the Board of Christian Educators more children of the community were encouraged to attend Sunday Schools and regular Worship Services. This resulted to the staging of a Christmas Musical Play entitled “Operation Christmas Child” whose cast was mostly composed of non-member children of the community. The play was shown during the Christmas Junior Worship of 2008 which was attended by 300 children of the community.

In preparation of the upcoming 28th Church Anniversary, the Church Council approved the immediate renovation of the sanctuary. In just three weeks this was completed and now, the church will be celebrating in a newly renovated sanctuary with the theme “Living Together in the Household of God; becoming a household of love, faith and hope”.