EXPLORE THE JOURNEY OF WWCF - CEBU
FROM A HOUSE
It all started when several businessmen, hungry to know God’s word, came to Brother Gerry Holloway, an American missionary, for Bible study. After several weeks of study, these men were eager to bring their wives also, leading Brother Gerry and Sister Sue to open their home for a weekly Bible study. For two years this group met each week at their house in Bel-Air, Makati to worship and study God’s Word.
TO A HOTEL
As the group increased, it became evident that more people wanted to know about Christ, so the leaders decided it was time to start Sunday worship for people who loved God’s Word. From the first service, the only name lifted up was Jesus. Since every group needs a name, Word for the World Christian Fellowship was chosen. The name was neutral, non-threatening, not confined to one locality; the world was their mission field.
In November 1980, a group of 40 people met in the Skytop at the Hotel Intercontinental –Makati, rejoicing as people came forward to be ‘born again’. After several months of growth, WWCF moved to the Grand Ballroom. There was such excitement to worship God and to learn from His Word. If the Grand Ballroom was not available, the Where Else Disco became a holy place on Sundays and Thursdays, with wall-to-wall people singing songs of love to God.
TO A SANCTUARY IN MAKATI CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
Outgrowing the Hotel Intercontinental, WWCF moved to the Rizal Theater. Soon every seat, and even the steps, were filled to capacity. People were hungry to worship and hear God's Word. When the Rizal Theater was demolished, WWCF was led to build its own house of worship and the new Word for the World’s Sanctuary in Salcedo Village, Makati was dedicated. The Word for the World family was together again under one roof!
TO AN OUTREACH CHURCH IN CEBU
In 1987, with the seed of vision planted in the heart of Bishop Gerry Holloway, he brought Pastor Alberto “Chito” Cordero and his wife Sis. Tess Cordero to establish a church in Cebu. The first sanctuary was located in a rented place in Cherry Court where God raised up businessmen, teachers, housewives, artists, students, Chinese, Filipinos… people from different backgrounds who sought to serve Him at all costs.
In 1988, WWCF-Cebu moved its sanctuary to a renovated building in Limkakeng Compound. Once a storehouse for pineapples, the building actually smelled of sweet pineapples—an apt symbolism of how the fragrance of His children’s worship would soon fill the place.
By 1995, WWCF-Cebu extended its outreach churches to Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu City. Services were divided into Cebuano services and English services. By this time, the English services were held in a rented theater in Ayala Mall.
In 1997, three council members shared to each other their burden to build a church building. But by this time, WWCF-Cebu had no land and not enough financial capital. A member of the church discovered WWCF-Cebu’s interest in purchasing its own land so he offered his property to the Church. Within one year, the property was paid. In 1998, God planted in the heart of a building contractor owners a gripping desire to build His church sanctuary. The couple offered to build the church at cost. By 1999, WWCF-Cebu’s very own church building was completed.
It has been years since WWCF-Cebu was founded. A church with a humble beginning but with a great God, WWCF-Cebu has birthed many souls and has planted churches in Mandaue, Lapu-lapu, Calajoan-Minglanilla, Camarin-Minglanilla, Bonbon Cebu, Poblacion San Isidro Leyte, Bunacan San Isidro Leyte, Ormoc Leyte, Bantayan Island, and Bohol. Word for the World Christian Fellowship remains above all else a local church of Christ-followers – a place where people matter to God and where together it lives out God’s vision of bringing God's Word to the world.