Church | Bahrain Christian Fellowship

our church

history of bcf

It was June of 1984, 39 years ago, when a small Bible Study group started a Filipino church which grew into what we know now as Bahrain Christian Fellowship. It was called Bahrain Fellowship then, which continually spread the Gospel by winning OFWs in labor camps for Christ. Don Whitley, the Gideon International (BH) President, who gave the Bibles, became the pioneering leader the same year. A study series on the book of Revelation was initiated at Juffair Trinity Chapel with an evangelistic approach. As the leaders visited a Filipino labor camp bringing the study series, 47 laborers were won and became the first souls who accepted Christ through this undertaking. By the time the study series reached the 7th part, there were already 78 people who committed their lives to Christ. On October 3, 1984, the study series was introduced to a bigger Filipino camp at Ballast Nedam, resulting in 200 more who accepted Jesus, then the members evangelized more at Bahrain Foam Factory at Sitra. New leaders emerged, gatherings became regular, the structure became more formal, and baptisms were done, led by Rev. Anwar Khan, the Urdu congregation pastor of NEC.

In 1985, the first service was held at a small chapel in Ghufool, then it moved to Holy Trinity Chapel and remained there for four years. In 1989, it shifted to Majilis, to Al Salam Auditorium, then back to Majilis. It was in 1990 when the church moved to the bigger sanctuary of the NEC. Further on, the Council of Elders became the Congregational Committee, wherein the lay members were included in governing the body. The year 1990 was also the time Bahrain Fellowship became known as Bahrain Christian Fellowship, or BCF. The next year, it became affiliated with NEC.

Eventually, there arose the need for a senior pastor. In May 1995, a Pastoral Church Committee was formed, and Rev. Alfredo Cudiamat became the full-time pastor. Also, the membership was divided into 8 areas headed by area pastors. Four years later, in January 1999, BCF became a purpose-driven church, fulfilling the Great Commandments and the Great Commission. In 2006, the governing body was established as the Church Board.

Embracing and fulfilling the commandment to “love thy neighbor” within the command of the Great Commission, in April 2012, the most basic unit of the church called the Life Group (or small/cell groups) had about 55 groups. In January of 2015, the number grew to 90 life groups, and almost 600 life group members. Because of the growing number of memberships, two worship services were scheduled – Friday afternoon, and Sunday evening. By the same year, there were already 12 associate pastors, 17 elders, 17 deacons, 40 deaconesses, and 10 Bible Study centers including church-based Bible Studies.

BCF caters to different age groups - Kids' Church, BCF Youth Group, Knights for Jesus (K4J) for singles, Committed to You (C2U) for married couples, Jewels for women, and Brothers' Keepers (BsK) for men. Equipping workers is also one of the strengths of the church through training activities - Breaking Barriers Retreat for new attendees, Christian Education, School of Ministry, School of Leaders, and Theological Education by Extension (TEE) using the SEAN Curriculum.

Currently, BCF is headed by Senior Pastor Butch Estacio, working together with 9 other associate pastors, church board members, six elders, 12 deacons and 28 deaconesses. It has established nine Bible Study (BS) Areas in Bahrain and two satellite churches abroad, namely, BCF Dubai and BCF Bohol. The church also has 123 Life Groups (small groups) and 17 active ministries. Worship services are held every Friday (1:00pm-2:30pm) and Sunday (6:00pm-7:30pm) at the National Evangelical Church, beside the American Mission Hospital in Manama, Bahrain.

MISSION

Following God's commandment about the Great Commission is the mission statement of BCF: Make disciples. Plant Churches. This requires us to have a deep understanding of how important it is to share God's Word and how we can best equip and disciple believers for their spiritual journey. It also enables us to strategize on how we can effectively plant churches in areas that are underserved or unreached.

Making disciples involves teaching people about Jesus Christ and His teachings, equipping them to live out their faith in their daily lives, while planting churches involves gathering believers together into local congregations that can provide spiritual guidance and support, which includes helping new believers grow in their faith through Bible study, prayer meetings, worship services, evangelism outreach programs and more. Our mission is ultimately about God's glory, not ours, setting aside our own ambitions and desires in order to fulfill this mission with humility and obedience to God's commandment.

VISION

Love God. Love People. This is a simple, yet powerful vision that has the potential to transform lives and society. It is a call for us to put our faith into action by loving God and loving others, encouraging everyone to live out the two greatest commandments of the Lord in Matthew 22:37-40, which states, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind...and love your neighbor as yourself."

We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, showing His love through our words and actions. We strive to live out this vision in all that we do, so that others may see the beauty of Christ's love in us and be drawn closer to Him. Through this, we can make a positive impact on our world and bring glory to God.

Statement of faith

STATEMENT OF FAITH

1. We believe in the sixty-six books of the Bible as the inspired Word of God.

Kami ay naniniwala sa animnapu’t-anim na mga aklat ng Biblia bilang kinasihang Salita ng Diyos.

(2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

2. We believe in one God revealed in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

They are equal in every attribute, executing separate but coordinating offices in the redemption of man.

Kami ay naniniwala sa iisang Diyos na nahayag sa tatlong Persona: Diyos Ama, Diyos Anak at Diyos Espiritu Santo.

Sila ay magkakapantay-pantay sa lahat ng katangian at gumagawang magkakahiwalay ngunit magkaka-ugnay

para sa kaligtasan ng tao.

(Genesis 1:26; Exodus 3:14; Mark 12:29; John 8:58; John 10:30; John 14:16-17a; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Tim. 1:17;

Hebrews 1:8)

3. We believe in God the Father who loves us and sent His one and only Son to die on the cross in our behalf.

We are called His children.

Kami ay naniniwala sa Diyos Ama na nagmamahal sa amin at nagpadala ng Kanyang kaisa-isang Anak upang mamatay sa Krus

para sa aming kapakanan. Kami ay tinawag bilang Kanyang mga anak.

(Matthew 6:26, 18:14; Luke 6:35-36, 12:32, John 3:16, 14:1-2, 16:27; Romans 8:15-16; 1 John 3:1)

4. We believe in God the Son who came in human flesh, born by a virgin who was overshadowed by the power of the Most High.

He died on behalf of sinners and came back to life on the third day, and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father interceding on our behalf.

Kami ay naniniwala sa Diyos Anak na dumako sa daigdig sa katawang tao, ipinanganak ng isang birhen na nilukuban ng kapang¬yarihan ng Kataas-taasang Diyos. Siya ay namatay para sa mga makasalanan at nabuhay na muli sa ikatlong araw at ngayon ay nakaluklok sa kanan ng Diyos Ama at patuloy na namamagitan para sa ating kapakanan.

(Matthew 1;18 & 23; Romans 5:8; Romans 8:34; Philippians 2:6-11; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2)

5. We believe in God the Holy Spirit who baptizes believers in Christ’s universal body.

He distributes spiritual gifts just as He determines for the edification of the church.

Kami ay naniniwala sa Banal na Espiritu Santo na idinadagdag ang mga mananampalataya sa katawan ni Kristo.

Siya ay namamahagi ng espirituwal na kaloob ayon sa Kanyang nais tungo sa ikatitibay ng Iglesya.

(Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Ephesians 4:11-13)

6. We believe in the fall of man resulting from the disobedience of Adam. For a man to be restored to God, he has to be born again.

He needs to have faith in Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord to have everlasting life.

Kami ay naniniwala na ang sangkatauhan ay napahiwalay sa Diyos bunga ng pagsuway ni Adan. Upang ang tao ay mapanumbalik sa Diyos, kinakailangang siya ay ipanganak na muli. Kinakailangan niyang magkaroon ng pananampalataya kay Hesu Kristo bilang kanyang sariling Tagapagligtas at Panginoon upang makamit niya ang buhay na walang hanggan.

(Genesis 3:17-19, 23; John 3:3; John 3:16; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; Romans 6:23; 1 John 5:11-12)

7. We believe in water baptism by immersion and the observance of the Lord’s Supper.

Kami ay naniniwala sa pagpapabautismo sa tubig sa pamamagitan ng paglubog at pakikibahagi ng Banal na Hapunan ng Panginoon.

(Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:1-4; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Colossians 2:12)

8. We believe that heaven is the habitation of God, where the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to prepare a place for the believers.

This is an actual place where the believers will dwell eternally.

Kami ay naniniwala sa langit na tahanan ng Diyos, kung saan ang Panginoong Hesu Kristo ay naparoon upang paghandaan ng tirahan ang mga mananampalataya. Ito ay isang tiyak na lugar kung saan ang mananampalataya ay maninirahan nang walang hanggan.

(John 14:2-3)

9. We believe that hell is an actual place of damnation prepared by God for Satan and his followers.

Those who do not have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will also be thrown into hell.

Kami ay naniniwala na ang impiyerno ay isang tiyak na lugar ng kaparusahan na inihanda ng Diyos para kay Satanas at sa kanyang mga tagasunod. Ang mga walang pananampalataya sa Panginoong Hesu Kristo ay itatapon din sa impiyerno.

(Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4&5; Revelation 20:14-15)

10. We believe in the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Kami ay naniniwala sa ikalawang pagdating ng Panginoong Hesu Kristo.

(Matthew 24:30, 36-37; Matthew 26:64; John 14:2-3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)