A slide presentation during the Central Filipino church's 50th anniversary celebration traced the congregation’s journey from its beginnings as a branch Sabbath school at the 54th Street church, to a company at Central church on Figueroa, with charter members at Wilmington. It continued through Compton, Highland Park and finally to its present location in Los Angeles. Throughout the weekend event, the congregation’s involvement with evangelism was evident.
Karen La Madrid narrated a presentation of slides emphasizing the evangelistic and medical missions of the church in the past few years. “Imbibe the spirit of Elijah in witnessing to the world,” senior pastor Simeon Rosete exhorted the congregation.
“Currently, we have three small-group Bible studies meeting in our members’ homes in Glendale, Eagle Rock and Los Angeles,” Rosete explained later. “Up to 20 individuals attend each of the three groups, which are a long-term outreach. This year, we are working hard to increase the number of small groups, which elders and other church leaders conduct.” And church members once again plan to participate in public evangelistic series in the Philippines during February and March of 2008.
Members’ involvement was reflected in the event’s music. The worship hour featured sacred classical numbers, including a theme song composed by Dr. Ulysses Carbajal and sung by the Bridges Singers. The sanctuary choir sang the anthem, “Bless the Lord, My Soul,” composed and directed by Nestor Zamora and accompanied by a string ensemble led by Bangele Alsaybar, Jr., and other instrumentalists. Member Ray Puen penned the lyrics, which portrayed through vocal solos the growth of the church from a branch Sabbath school to the final retiring of the church mortgage.
Speakers included General Conference Vice President Ted Wilson and SCC President Larry L. Caviness.
During the afternoon program, Rosete briefly reviewed the early evangelistic effort of the first minister, A.A. Alcaraz, and the construction and community projects of subsequent pastors George Atiga, VicLouis Arreola III and Simeon Rosete. Several choral groups, led by the Brown Brothers quartet, sang contemporary songs in concert.
The church recognized Dr. and Mrs. Carbajal for their “visionary leadership, pioneering spirit, and outstanding guidance,” that led to the organization of the first Filipino Adventist church in America in 1957. Dr. and Mrs. Eliseo Bautista, Fe Asuncion and previous pastors were also cited for their strong support.
A colorful and lively Filipiniana program on Sunday afternoon, consisting of musical renditions and a fashion show, concluded the three-day celebration.
