Our Humble Beginnings
‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.’
– John 15:16
March 4, 1962
Maranatha Baptist Church was founded by the late Pastor Samuel Irving Colinco, Sr. who completed his Master of Divinity Studies at Tennessee Temple Seminary in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The First Service of the Maranatha Gospel Center was held at a rented hall on the second floor of Urbanoso Building, at Galo-Lacson Streets, Bacolod City. There were 47 people who attended, eight of whom made public professions of faith in Christ, later on to be baptized at the Sta. Fe River.
November 4, 1962
Gospeltime Radio Broadcast was initiated when the Maranatha Baptist Church moved to the Capitol Shopping Center. The Broadcast aired over DYRH and heard in places as far as Puerto Princesa, Palawan and Malaybalay, Bukidnon. It was the very first daily Gospel radio Broadcast in the city initiated by a Filipino.
July 1, 1963
Maranatha Baptist Church again moved to the ground floor of a residence in Ylac St. in Villamonte. It was at that time that the Maranatha Bible School, now known as Maranatha Baptist Bible College, was set up. The college emphasizes a Filipino approach in equipping and preparing men and women for the ministry. The Bible College has been producing effective laborers for the Lord’s harvest. Starting off with a few students back then, the institution has in recent years been able to enroll its highest number of student enrollees-all 109 of them. Now, there are more than 40 students currently enrolled. Maranatha Baptist Church initiated church plantings all throughout the province of Negros Occidental.
November 1965
The first Missionary Conference was held at Maranatha Baptist Church and the Lord indeed sustains; last 2015 the church celebrated the Golden year of the Missions Conference.
September 9, 1966
The church was incorporated as Maranatha Baptist Church, Inc., mainly through the efforts of the late Atty. Abraham Caña, then the Chairman of the Board of Deacons. On November 25, 1966, a ground breaking ceremony was held in this place, with construction on the first church auditorium starting on February 1967.
May 1969
The First Bible Conference was held with the late Rev. Bob Hughes, pastor of Bible Baptist Church in Cebu City, as main speaker.
June 19, 1972
Maranatha Baptist Bible College held its first graduation exercises with 6 graduates.
July 1972
Bible classes begun in various high schools in Bacolod City.
February 1973
The first High School Fellowship was held with students from different High schools attending. Recently, the church hosted 46th High School Fellowship which was attended by more than 700 students and 20 teachers from various high schools.
October 20, 1973
The Ford Fiera was acquired for Php 14,000.00 with Mr. Serapion Tupas as the first official driver.
1976
The Open Air Evangelism was introduced through the Sowers Program.
1977
Maranatha Baptist Church actively reached out and evangelized to the deaf through sign language, with Ms. Ruth Santos as the 1st Deaf Interpreter.
1983
The Maranatha Child Care Center was opened in partnership with AMG or Advancing the Ministry of the Gospel, to minister to needy families in the community-their physical, intellectual, and spiritual needs. MCCC continues to feed and provide quality Christian education to less-privileged students, as well as ministering to parents through regular Bible study. We also have MCCC-Handumanan. That same year, 1983, the school’s secondary curriculum was recognized by the government as the Maranatha Christian College, Inc.
By the matchless grace of God, the school has now become one of the premier Christian schools in Bacolod and throughout Negros. It now caters to more than 500 students and will offer the Senior High School students the General Academic Strand next school year in adherence to the K-12 curriculum.
Maranatha Baptist Church has more ministries: the Sunday School; the MBC Juniors Chapel with Pastor Lowell Arbolario preaching to the much younger generations of our church. During summers, Daily Vacation Bible Schools and Camps are conducted by auxiliary groups from the Juniors up to the Ladies and Men, in cooperation with other churches-all of which are a means of fostering Christian brotherhood.
The Maranatha Christian College, Inc.
1984
A change of leadership took place as a result of the resignation of Pastor Colinco, for two years the church prayed and searched for a pastor who will heed the call of God to minister at Maranatha Baptist Church. Mr. Rolando Aggabao, in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Deacons, handled the administrative matters of the church for the time being.
July 13, 1986
Pastor Mozart C. Bangilan, then an evangelist working as Regional Director of Open Air Campaigners Philippines, was installed as MBC’s second pastor.
1986
The Maranatha Christian Academy, which uses the Accelerated Christian Education Curriculum was opened and has grown even better as it was recognized by the Department of Education last April 9, 2013. Currently, Maranatha Christian Academy has 94 students enrolled.
1987
“Tuburan sang Buhing Tubig” began airing over DYVS which is still heard every Saturday and Sunday.
December 31, 1997
Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the construction of this new building – one of the erstwhile dreams of Pastor Colinco realized under the leadership of Pastor Bangilan.
November 1998
The first Joint Thanksgiving Celebration of the Maranatha Gospel Fellowship was held.
2010
A change of leadership was seen when Pastor Mozart C. Bangilan resigned as Pastor of MBC. On April 1 of that year, the church then prayed for a new Lead Pastor. On October 3, 2010, Pastor Jun D. Oguilla, heeding the call of God and the congregation of MBC, was installed as the newly Lead Pastor. Over the last six years, God provided for the improvement and reconstruction of the church building and facilities such as the balcony, the pews, and the stage. Moreover, starting last year the Lord opened more opportunities to minister in Negros through Bible studies and God’s News Class in the following Haciendas: Hacienda Teresita, Hacienda Bagacay, Silay, Hda. Lulubkon, EB Magalona, Hda. Sta. Ana, Manapla, Hda. Ma. Fe, Cadiz.