About Us
Meet our family!
1 Corinthians 15:10 - "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."
Japheth -
I was born in the Philippines to Christian parents and raised in church from a young age. At age 11, my brother and I moved to New York City to join our parents. The transition from Christian school to public school was difficult, but God kept me in church through my family’s faithfulness.
On August 11, 2011, at a midweek service then in my pastor’s home, I realized that although I had grown up in church, I was not saved. That night, while sitting on the green couch in his living room, I trusted Christ as my Savior and received the free gift of eternal life.
At 16, while visiting a Bible college, the Lord clearly spoke to my heart, and I surrendered my life to Him. Though I was willing to serve in any way—even as a church janitor—the Lord began to burden me about starting a church. After years of wrestling with this call, I finally surrendered, and in the fall of 2024, I answered God’s call to plant a church.
Brianna -
I wasn’t raised in a Christian home, and for most of my life God and church were not a priority. At 16, my world was shaken when my mom suddenly passed away. The loss left me broken, fearful, and searching for answers. During this time, my father gave me my first Bible and encouraged me toward the Lord. Not long after, I visited a church service where, for the first time, I clearly understood the gospel. That same night, I repented of my sin and trusted Jesus Christ as my Savior.
From that moment on, God began to change my life. Though it wasn’t an overnight transformation, He gave me peace, hope, and purpose through His Word. In August 2023, the Lord led me to Bible Baptist Church of Jackson Heights, where He grew me in my faith, strengthened me through fellowship, and allowed me to serve Him in new ways. It was there that I also met my husband, Japheth, who has been one of God’s greatest blessings in my life.
Today, I am amazed at what God has done—saving me, leading me into ministry, blessing me with marriage, and now calling us to plant a church in New York City, specifically, Sunnyside, NY. This neighborhood holds a special place in my heart, as it is where I was saved. My prayer is that God will use us to establish a strong, gospel-preaching church that will reach others with the same life-changing message that transformed me.
Sending Church - Bible Baptist Church of Jackson Heights
We are both thankful for the privilege and blessing of calling Bible Baptist Church of Jackson Heights our home church—and now our sending church! Under the leadership of Pastor Stephen Taala, I came to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ, was called to preach, and received abundant training in the ministry. God used Pastor Taala and the church greatly in my life, guiding me through Bible college and providing countless opportunities to serve.
I am grateful for the ministries in which I was able to lead and learn—Children’s Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Bus Ministry, and Youth Ministry. In addition, the Lord allowed me to serve as Missions Secretary, coordinating with missionaries around the world. I cannot thank God enough for allowing me to grow and serve under the leadership of a faithful man of God, Pastor Taala.
It was also at Bible Baptist Church of Jackson Heights where I met my wife. We count it a joy and privilege to have served together in the ministries of our home church.
To learn more, click on this link to visit their website!