The City of Kidapawan is the capital city of North Cotabato province and currently the seat of the Provincial government. It is situated at the Southeastern portion of the Province of North Cotabato. It is almost midway between the cities of Davao and Cotabato at a distance of 110 and 120 kilometers, respectively. It is bound in the East by Davao del Sur, in the West by towns of M’lang and Matalam, in the North by the town of Magpet and in the South by the town of Makilala. The city’s total land area is 34,000 hectares comprising 40 barangays with approximately 160,000 populations as of 2021.
Kidapawan City plays a pivotal role in the economic development of the province. It serves as the commercial and trading center of the adjacent municipalities. Kidapawan City’s land is primarily agricultural area with 56% (19,000 hectares) of its total land area devoted to agricultural production. With that, the city prides itself as the “Fruit Basket of the Philippines” where various varieties of exotic fruits thrive in its barangays such as rambutan, durian, mangosteen, marang and banana. Located outside the typhoon belt, the city is blessed with favorable climate characterized by wet and dry seasons.
EFC – KIDAPAWAN
In November 3, 2005, Pastor Tony J. Angelias and wife Pastora Liza were sent by God to Kidapawan to pioneer the planting of Evangel Family Church (EFC). The couple started the ministry at the heart of the city. Equipped with the vision of Jireh Evangel Church Planting of the Philippines (JECPP), Pastor Tony and Pastora Liza persistently devoted themselves to prayer, house-to-house evangelism, crusade and prayer walk.
With the financial assistance of JECPP through Rev. Peter Wee and Rev. Christine Wee, Regional Director of Southern Mindanao Region, EFC Kidapawan was able to conduct the first church service in a small building at Apo Sandawa Homes with five families attending. A month after, Pastor Tony with his flock moved to another rented building located along National Highway, Quezon Blvd. The church stayed there for three years and eight months. In 2009, EFC Kidapawan moved again to another building located near the market at Labastida St., Kidapawan City. The Church continued to pray hard, spending time to midnight prayers and prayer chains. God opened doors for new contacts and breathe new victories.
Due to its growing number of members, the church rented spaces at the Senior Citizen Hall and Landmark Pavilion restaurant for its morning services and conducted evening services Labastida St. The church had to keep up with the hardship of transferring equipment from place to place. Pastors Tony and Liza prayed for one big place of worship that can accommodate members and guests. They would have wanted to conduct all services at Landmark Pavilion, but the church needed to pay for a much higher rent. Believing for God’s financial provision, all church services were held at Landmark Pavilion. As of 2015 first quarter, the attendance for two Sunday services is averaging to 100 adults and young people.
As year passed by, God’s faithfulness never ceased to amaze EFC Kidapawan. By year 2019, they were able to transfer to a new rented building at National Highway, Saguing, Makilala, Cotabato. The place can hold more people to worship inside a comfortable building with air conditioning. It also has a room office and three more rooms which serves as children’s classroom.
Amidst the treat of pandemic, Pastor Tony and Pastora Liza did not lose the passion in winning more souls to Jesus. They initiate online meetings in order to continue to train leaders and hold discipleship class every Saturday afternoon. Sixteen leaders join the iTIM or Institute for Training in Ministry tool provided by JECPP. At present, there are nine cell church leaders holding 15 cell churches. There are also online small groups every Friday.
Hearts on Fire continues to shake and unite young people every Wednesday night through Google online meetings. Consequently, God graciously adds new young faces in the crowd. Sincere and talented young people are given the chance to be trained and be part of the ministries.
The birth of a radio program namely ‘GOOD NEWS with TONY and LIZA’ officially started on January 19, 2020. The program live-streams on Sundays at 7:00 -8:30 AM. The good thing about this station, Ronda Teleradyo, is that it is reachable via radio and local cable T.V. throughout North Cotabato province as well as through their Facebook live account. This also provides variety of programs to reach out different kinds of people. Through adopting technological advances, learning videos for children are made by the Sunday School Teachers called Evangel Kids Online Ministry (EKOM), Sunday Life Goals where young people shares what they have learned from the word of God and Kwentong Blessings that gives life’s testimonies about how great is the Lord.
Throughout sixteen years, EFC-Kidapawan has experienced both trials and triumphs. But praises be to God for the battles were His. Furthermore, Pastor Tony was appointed as Section Leader for North Cotabato and Davao del Sur in February 2012. In March 29, 2012, he was ordained as a Reverend and currently the Deputy Regional Director for Southern Mindanao. Pastora Liza, on the other hand, was also ordained as a Reverend last April 17, 2017. Both are working hard to continually preach the Gospel of Salvation to the lost.
As EFC-Kidapawan continues to walk her journey, the church believes for greater things to come, and greater works are still to be done for our Lord Jesus Christ. As the church continues to testify the mighty works of the Lord, healing and miracles continue to happen in the ministry. From day to day, lives change and faith increases.