After an eight months training in Iloilo City, a young missionary, Bro. Alberto Poliño was sent back to Gensan, his native land, commissioned to shepherd a flock that is yet unseen. Determined with his calling, he pioneered the ministry in Phase 3B Doña Soledad renting a small house where his potential contacts could get to know God more. On November 12, 2005, six people gathered and held their first Sunday worship in that place and thus paving the way to the birth of EFC-Gensan.
Amidst the trials and difficulties of a pioneering church, regular Sunday worship and midweek gatherings for prayer and empowering continued. Church pillars started to look for potential contacts through tracts distribution, evangelism and bible studies. One or three area gradually added to every Sunday service. Most of these people are from Lanton, a nearby barangay. Plans were drawn then to look for a wider place of worship, where new contacts can enjoy singing and jumping for God. With first attendance doubled, the church moved to Purok 5, Lanton, Apopong where the contacts reside. An abandoned Multipurpose Coop Building was changed into a house of praise for EFC Gensan for four months. Taking on the task God entrusted, the church was able to conduct her first Evangelistic Crusade on April 2006, first water baptism on June 2006 and Young people fellowship in the same month.
Church growth was really visible as attendance increased from Sunday to Sunday and God’s work could no longer be contained in our small dwelling place. There are still more people joining the Sunday service and by God’s direction, the church moved again to a more spacious house that the Lord provided. The Lord moved mightily and the church continues to cater to more souls bringing them to a deeper experience of God’s empowering and goodness.
With the move of the Holy Spirit, more spiritual gifts among the members were revealed, and EFC Gensan established their praise and worship team. God’s divine purpose for this church continue to move to greater heights as she invades the city of Gensan.
Last November 26, 2006, EFC Gensan celebrated her First Thanksgiving and Anniversary. It was a day of rejoicing for all of us as we marveled at God’s faithfulness all through the first year of fruitful ministry. The celebration was attended by well over a hundred members and visitors. The wide lawn beside the rented house-church was transformed into a temporary sanctuary for the afternoon. Everyone was filled with magnificent smiles as the program started with a choir rendered by the young people.
The spirit of excitement continued as Pastor Albert introduced Pastor Jordan Kintanar as the guest speaker that day. His anointed message kindled a fire in every heart and soul that was there. He ended his message by a prayer for the young church pastor and the members sealing their commitment to serve God through the ministries of the church.
Truly God is good! His faithfulness was manifested in the lives of God’s people in Gensan, from just a few small steps to a big leap for God, an ordinary people who sought fully and wholly consecrated to Christ, join God in making extraordinary things happen as we accomplish God’s wonderful plan for His land.