In obedience to God’s call, Pastor Gregorio Simpas and his wife Rosario left their beloved homeplace, Iloilo City on February 2, 1994. Their daughter, Micah, was only 3 months old when on the 28th day of the same month they arrived at Tagum, the place where God had called them to start a new church.

Reputed as the center of economic trade in Northern Davao, Tagum was already on its way to becoming a city then. Also known as the Philippines “City of Gold,” this developing and bustling municipality was finally declared a city on March 7, 1998. With over 200,000 population, Tagum was dubbed “City of Gold” because the people’s main source of income in this area is gold mining. There are three big mountains surrounding Tagum that yield very rich supplies of gold – Mt. Diwalwal, Mt. Boringot and Mt. Pangason. Standing on its own feet now, Tagum City prides itself of multi-business establishments, department stores or malls, many hospitals – both public and private and many other notable improvements.

Being the first Ilonggo couple sent by JECPP to this part of Mindanao, they faced the biggest challenge of their lives. They struggled much as they were sent to a place entirely unfamiliar to them. Added to the cultural shock was their general inability to understand and speak the local people’s dialect. Pastor Greg was slightly better equipped as he is able to speak a little Cebuano but his wife Pastor Rosario, was like one lost in a certain jungle tribe.

On the first Sunday service in the new church, Pastor Greg preached and their very first members were Pastor Rosario and their little daughter, Micah. The following Sunday saw God bringing two new contacts to the worship service and on the third Sunday, four more contacts were added to the church.

About 30% of the people in Tagum are Muslims while the majority composed of Roman Catholics who are very staunch and united. The very first Crusade they conducted was an event they could never forget. While the speaker, Rev Roger Fernandez was preaching, a Catholic defender stood in front of the people criticizing and shouting against them for three consecutive nights. But praise be to God that despite the persecution, about a hundred souls accepted Christ through those nightly crusades. The word of God was unhindered amidst persecution!!

There was an instance in their ministry when they felt very tormented. It was when the Catholics put up a cross and an altar for their Holy Week celebration right in front of their house gate. They also experienced receiving threats from people who were not happy with what they were doing, but they always leaned on God for His divine protection.

For the first three to five years, the church was stagnant. There were many thoughts of giving up, of resigning and returning to Iloilo. However, the fear of the Lord was always upon them and they did not want to end up like the runaway prophet Jonah as they realized they also have to take a boat trip when returning back to Iloilo.

In the year 2000, they started to plant their first outstation church in Tipaz. Their meetings were held in an old Land Transportation Office building and the Tipaz church began to experience faster growth as compared to their main church. Through these encouraging signs, Pastor Greg and Rosario felt that God had once again revived their calling to the ministry and soon experienced inner joy and strength to persevere in their work. At that same time, Pastor Wee and Pastor Christine gave them a “trisikad” (a bicycle with small side car) which they would use whenever they visited the outstation. Rain or shine, night and day, together with their growing daughter Pastor Greg and Rosario served the Lord enthusiastically.

Because of the good result of their first outstation church, they felt encouraged to plant more churches in Tagum. In the ensuing years, EFC Bermudez, EFC Mankilam, EFC Pagsabangan, EFC La Filipina and EFC Pangi were added. They were also able to plant churches outside Tagum in areas such as Kapalong, New Santiago, Carmen, Capungagan and Florida. God had seen their struggles and sacrifices and the time had come for them to reap the fruit of their labors. In the year 2001, they were among the six JECPP church planters that Rev. Dr. Robert Lim had awarded with a motorbike.

More recently, EFC Tagum has seen an awakening among the young people as a local “scorpion” gang founder and other key youth community leaders were converted to the Lord. Just last April 2004, they formed a youth organization called “Jhadai” which is committed to reaching out to young boys, especially those problematic ones, in Tagum for Christ. Their strategy is Team Friendship Evangelism. As of today, the Christian youth organization has a 20-strong member and is still increasing in numbers.

Last April 11, 2004, Evangel Family Church Tagum – celebrated their 10th Church Anniversary at Evangel Tipaz grounds, where 150 people came in attendance. Rev. Peter Wee gave a significant message titled “A New Beginning.” For Pastor Greg and Pastor Rosario Simpas, it was indeed a day of new beginnings. All the struggles and vacillations in the past are now behind them.

Pastor Rosario briefly described their experience through the years in the following words:
“If I were to look back on our past 10 years…we cry…words cannot explain the goodness and faithfulness of God to us. My 3 months old daughter is now 10 years old. Our church anniversary theme was “From Shadow to Reality.” God has indeed brought us a long way, our dreams for the past 10 years we have seen come to pass. Some of our Sunday School kids have graduated from college. Some have their own businesses already. Some of our first pioneering members are pastoring and laboring in the Kingdom of God. These were the people that made us cry during those past 10 years. Now they have matured…from Shadows To Reality. From “trisikad” to motorbike, from a container drumset (Combo Lata) to a genuine drumset, from Manila Paper to a projector. God has proved that our labor in the Lord are not in vain.”

In their main church at Assessor Village, Apokon, Tagum City, their average weekly attendance is about 50 every Sunday and their aim is to double their membership before the year ends. One of Pastor Greg’s most cherished dream is to have their own permanent church building and lot in a new place which is accessible to city dwellers. He is also praying for a multicab for greater ministry mobility and other necessary church transportations.

For the time being, they continue to hold on to the promise that God had given to them in Isaiah 54:2-3 and Zechariah 8:20. Truly they are determined to enlarge their tent for the many who are yet to come.

In their own words, Pastor Greg and Pastor Rosario would like to offer their gratutide to those who has been an influence and encouragement in their ministry :

"We are deeply grateful to Rev Drs Robert and Marion Lim for all their unfailing support in our work in Tagum.

Thank you Pastor Wee and Pastor Christine, we are blessed to have both of you as our regional directors. Thank you for mentoring us, guiding us and most of all supporting us. We will always treasure both of you in our hearts. Thank you for teaching us to love the unlovable, the very reason we have pushed on in ministry.

Thank you Pastor Toh Nee and Pastor Lily for your willingness to release us. For the discipline you instilled in us while we were still young in the Lord, it has taught us to be strong in our ministry. Thank you Pastor Andrew and Pastor Rowena for teaching us to always be humble and patient in our ministry. Above all, thanks be to God, it was by the grace of God that we have reached 10 years in ministry. To you our precious Heavenly Father, we give you back all the Glory!"