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1984 – 1995

In the summer of 1984, 11 children with their mothers sat in the living room of Mrs. Aurora H. Cimagala in Montenegro Street, Quezon City to attend a Bible study group led by Pastor Mario Francisco who was part of an independent Charismatic church. These seekers met regularly because they wanted to know about God and even though the teachings were new to them, they considered them worthy of consideration because the focus was the biblical Jesus they hardly knew. 

Eventually, the Bible study group went on to meet at the house of Mr. and Mrs. Alberto Bulatao. More seekers joined, some of whom were scorned and disdained by their families. From 11 attendees, the number increased to 20. That was in 1985 when "easy believism" was at its height. And yet the complete turnaround in their lives was a fine witness to other seekers. The further increase in number opened the opportunity to name the young congregation as Christ’s Flock Fellowship (CFF), an independent Charismatic group. 

Pastor Francisco saw promising leaders from the group, manifesting proofs of conversion. Among them were Bro. Bert Bianzon and Bro. Diego Bulatao. The latter almost left CFF to join Cathedral of Praise under Pastor David Sumrall when he was a student in their Bible school.  In God’s providence, this did not materialize.

In 1986, the fellowship transferred to a bigger venue at the Gonzales Building along Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue (EDSA), Quezon City through the initiative of Mr. Alberto Bulatao. They were able to accommodate the influx of visitors, some of whom came from the Bible study group of young CFF leaders. The number of persons regularly attending the services had now increased to 30.  

Pastor Francisco then left the care of CFF to the church next door in that same building, God’s Servants Ministry, under Assemblies of God.  He did this so he could concentrate as the pastor of Bacood Bread of Life in Sta. Mesa, Manila.  For a few months CFF was under Pastor Alfred Jose, but a split was underway since there were some teachings the church would not accept in the light of the truths they had received from their previous teacher. The time was ripe for Bro. Diego Bulatao to lead CFF. He was ordained as pastor on June 1996.

CFF practiced what other Charismatic churches did – singing songs that touch the emotions deeply during worship, led by a musical band playing at full blast almost deafening while dancers whirl around with tambourines, flags, banners, and so forth. CFF also got involved with Arise and Shine Evangelistic Association, becoming somewhat radical and unorthodox in its manner of evangelism.  It adopted some excesses that to this day, is a cause of embarrassment.  In 1995, during Pope John Paul II’s visit to the Philippines, CFF participated in what Philippine media was quick to pick up as an anti-Pope rally. In truth, all CFF was up against was the overly iconic, worshipful adulation of the people towards the Pope. The slogans in the placards caused Pastor Diego Bulatao and Pastor Bert Bianzon (new co-elder) to re-evaluate the doctrines they were holding on to.  Since their conversion, both men have been with this Pentecostal-Charismatic movement, which focused on experience and emotion but lacked in biblical depth and substance. Yet both pastors had a love for the Word of God. They knew genuine salvation; there was a complete turnaround in their lives, and yet they felt there must be something more to the teachings they had received.

1996 – 2002

God in His providence caused the paths of these pastors to cross with Pastor Brian Ellis of Cubao Reformed Baptist Church (CRBC) and Pastor Steve Hoffmaier of Moonwalk Community Bible Church (MCBC) in two separate occasions. Both were their first contacts in the Reformed Baptist movement which was still young in the Philippines then.  Pastor Bert Bianzon met Pastor Brian Ellis in a Christian Bookstore where, upon noticing the former's interest in doctrinal books, Pastor Ellis approached him, gave him his card, and told him that he might be of help. Pastor Diego Bulatao, on the other hand, was invited to attend a modular course at MCBC by a Charismatic pastor friend. This was their first exposure to Reformed theology.  

With their hearts and minds craving for more doctrinal knowledge, the two pastors enrolled at the Grace Ministerial Academy in Cubao under Pastor Noel Espinosa, the academy’s principal. During this time, CFF started to embrace the Regulative Principle of Worship. They discontinued the musical worship band, dancing ministry, musical solo numbers and other external add-ons from their worship services.  As a result, the number of attendees whittled down from around 150 attendees to just about 15.