About IAFB ChurchFOUNDER, FILIPINO ASSEMBLIES OF THE FIRST BORN, INC.FOUNDER, FILIPINO ASSEMBLIES OF THE FIRST BORN, INC.
Reverend Julian Bernabe, Founder Source: A Glimpse of our Heritage Myrtle O. Agatep, Editor Sometime in the spring of 1933, a young Filipino immigrant had a dream. In his dream he saw the many Filipinos scattered throughout the State of California worshipping in the many different churches. His desire was to have them unified and meet in one general area. This young man was Julian Bernabe – a recent immigrant from the Philippines who had come to America by way of the sugar plantations and other various places of employment in Hawaii.. In his autobiography, he stated that the men who were looking for harvesters in the Philippines would check each volunteer’s palms of his hands to see if those hands were “tough enough” to do the work that would be expected of them. Julian passed the test and was hired to work. He sailed to Hawaii – stayed there a while and then came to California in 1924. It was in the year 1917 that he left his home town of Piddig, Ilocos Norte, Philippines and joined the Hawaiian sugar Planters Association as a laborer. By 1924, Julian Bernabe was a married man and a father of two little children when they arrived in California. They lived in Fresno and he immediately began to share with others his new found faith. Through the personal witnessing of a co-worker in Hawaii, and the faithfulness of some American missionaries there in explaining the plan of salvation, Julian had accepted Christ as his personal Savior, He felt the urge to share the good news of salvation by simply believing that Jesus is the Son of God and He came into the world as a babe, lived to manhood, was crucified on the cross; but He arose from that grave and is sitting on the right hand of the father interceding for us today – to accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Julian would take his children out to the park, street corner, wherever, and would sing and testify about his newfound faith. While he was in the vineyard picking rapes, he met some young people singing the same hymns he had sung in Hawaii. They became acquainted and soon the Bernabe family was attending the Full Gospel Tabernacle (Assembly of God) where they continued to fellowship for some time. Bro. Bernabe continued to minister in his own way, he was anxious to meet more Filipinos and share the Gospel with them. At one time he had tent services and invited friends to come and share their testimony. Other times, they would go out into the labor camps and minister. This is when he had his dream. Through his association with the laborers out in the various camps, he had become acquainted with Emil Liberato, E.C. Lagman, Santos Tuzon, Bob Bautista, etc. They knew other Filipinos all over the state. Bro. Bernabe got the addresses of as many as he could and asked them to spread the word that a meeting was going to be held in Stockton on June 29, 1933. Quoting Bro. Bernabe, “We went to Stockton and because we heard about the Filipino Mission in China Town on LaFayette Street, we called the minister that was there. We met then with Rev. Pedro Collado and told him about our mission. He was more than glad to welcome us for the convention to be held in that church. We set the date for June 29, 1933.” Filipinos from all over the state came – many different denominations – with one goal and that was to unite the Filipinos. An election of officers was held. Pedro Collado was elected Superintendent, Bro. Emil Liberato was elected the secretary-treasurer, and there were twelve presbyters. Bro. Bernabe appointed Bro. Liberator as Chairman of the Constitutional Committee. Bro. A.T. Tenoso was also on the committee, as were several others. It took them ten days and ten nights before the final draft of that constitution was completed. When it was completed and read to the body, there was complete unity. Rev. Collado recommended the name of this body to be, “The Filipino Assemblies of the First Born, Inc.” The work was to include Hawaii and the Philippines. (Hebrews 12:23) Articles of Incorporation were filed with the State of California immediately in 1933. The Charter was granted January, 1934. It was signed by Frank Jordan, Secretary of the State of California. It was signed by P. Collado, J. Bernabe and H. Suan who comprised the Board of Elders. We were granted a Letter of Tax Exemption from the IRS, July 29, 1937. That exemption is in effect as long as we maintain the required standards. This is just a portion of Bro. Bernabe’s autobiography. It is lengthy – 67 pages not counting the index and preface, but very interesting. I trust as you continue to read this information, you will truly have a better idea of what the Filipino Assemblies of the First Born, Inc. is all about and will have A Glimpse of Our Heritage. God bless you. It is a nicer world because of people like you. – Myrtle Agatep
Choose this theme to customize and add content to this page.