Situated on the northwestern coast of Luzon, La Union is the gateway to the Ilocos Region, where the late President Ferdinand Marcos came from. San Fernando City is the capital of the province of La Union, where JECPP started a church less than two years ago. With its strategic location, the province has become the business, education, and government center of the Ilocos. Not only is La Union the region’s center for trade but also of religious devotees who flock to one of the country’s popular pilgrimage destinations, especially during the Lenten season. Agoo, the oldest town of La Union, was once the site of the much publicized divine visitations of the Virgin Mary. The Agoo Apparition Site in San Antonio has established the town as a destination of choice for Marian devotees. Agoo comes alive most on Semana Santa, or the Holy Week, which is the week before Easter.
Every year, the townspeople bear witness to ardent devotees relentlessly pulling life-size statues depicting the 14 Stations of the Cross along the processional roads in Agoo during the Good Friday procession on Semana Santa. This Holy Week festivity in La Union has become one of the tourist attraction places, which the government of Philippines regularly promotes. Recently Discovery channel visited San Fernando City during Santa Semana witnessed devout devotees parading the main road, whipping themselves until blood oozes from their back and some devotees literally crucifying themselves with real long nails. It is with this strong catholic background that Pastor Jethro Novera with his wife Ann and son pioneered the work less than two years ago.
Location of EFC San Fernando (left) and a typical Sunday worship service
I made a visit to San Fernando City on the month of March, 2004 to find out how Pastor Jethro was doing in the ministry and this was what we heard from him. Pastor Jethro related from his own newsletter, which he created for his people. ‘Our joy of serving the King of kings and Lord of Lords cannot be replaced with anything in this world. Especially so when we see the miraculous hand of God working in and through us. After a year of pioneering work, we realized that there were a number of people who experienced miracles and freedom through Christ. In our first Bible Study group, one family experienced freedom from idolatry. After a series of Bible Studies, they surrendered 3 sacks of graven images and then smashed the grotto in front of their house. This act of obedience to the word of God resulted to an answered prayer. Now, he’s working overseas as a seaman.’
Personally I was also able to fellowship with some of Pastor Jethro’s church members. One of them was Carlos, whom I found to be quiet but a fervent supporter of his pastor. He is working as a panaflex and signboard designer who puts up billboards for business all over San Fernando City. It was later that I learned that Carlos is a 60-year-old man who was among their first bible study group member. At that time he was a hurting man, and hidden within him was an unforgiving spirit. His wife left him for another man even though he has faithfully provided for the family all those years. Because of the bitterness that he had harboured, he could not walk properly and was troubled for many years. After series of bible studies, he humbled himself before the Lord releasing forgiveness. As a result of his obedience, he experienced healing and today, he is able to walk properly and even work. I found Carlos a man with a wonderful spirit, looking pretty healthy. When I reached San Fernando City, one of the wonderful things that caught my attention was the beautiful and captivating signboard of Evangel. I found out that he was the one who designed and put up the signboard free of charge for the church. I also heard that God has blessed him well and he intends to sell a plot of land to purchase a jeepney so that he can help fetch people to church.
Ann Novera leading in worship (left) during their first anniversary celebration
I was encouraged to hear wonderful testimonies of how God changes people’s lives from rags to riches. There were these three women whose previous lives and source of income were taken from nightlife as prostitutes. They came from Mindanao and Visayas to work as waitress but sold to ‘kabarities’ (pup houses) as ‘Panandali-angaliw’ (prostitutes). In order to survive they had to continue this kind of life. 
Ann met them in one of the bible study groups, simply showed the love of God to them, sacrificing part of their financial resources for them. Little by little, they are being ushered into the fellowship. Other testimonies included juveniles who used money given to them by parents for tuition, for drinking and coming late home received Christ and become lovers of God; God performed miracle for a boy considered hopeless by doctor by completely healing him; When a town councilor (a government official) whose 9-year-old son was suffering from a very serious dengue fever, Pastor Jethro just happened to pass by the hospital at that time, received an impression from the Lord and prayed for the boy. Early the next morning he received a text message from the town councilor thanking God for that miracle that took place that night because one hour after the prayer, the child’s temperature dropped and the fever was gone and the boy need not go for blood transfusion but instead went home.
A newly established cell group (left) and a member taking the step of water baptism
We give God for all the glory knowing that God is always with us when we start new works proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. Before leaving San Fernando City, I noticed a big apparition of the Virgin Mary built on a hilltop facing Evangel Family Church, San Fernando City, La Union. But hearing all the wonderful works that God has done, I know that with faith and faithfulness God will perform more wonderful miracles in the midst of idolatry.