Bethany Baptist Church believes on the church’s chain of authority from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as He started His church at Jerusalem.
The Bethany Baptist Church at Masinloc, Zambales, Philippines, was planted and established in January 1967 by the authority of Bethany Baptist Church at Makati City, Philippines. Obeying the great commission of the Lord Jesus Christ, Bethany Baptist Church Masinloc continued steadfastly preaching the word of God and winning souls for salvation by the grace of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This church led by her Head the Lord Jesus Christ had consistently maintained to be a blessing unto God and unto others. The church had been and always has the burden to support church’s ministries at home and abroad under the pastorate of the faithful and Bible fundamentalist pastor Rev. Eugenio Lingayon, Jr.
In January 2003, Mr. Lito Catubag and his family moved to reside in Masinloc, Zambales, Philippines. They were then member of Moriah Baptist Bible Church in Marikina City, Philippines from August 1996 until August 2004. As an independent Bible-believing Baptist they expressed their desire to transfer their membership and become member of Bethany Baptist Church at Masinloc, Zambales in January 2005. By the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they were unanimously and gladly received by the church, Rev. Eugenio Lingayon, Jr. being the Pastor of the Church.
During the period from 2005 to 2006, Bethany Baptist Church Masinloc, Zambales, Philippines had seen evidence in the life of Mr. Lito Catubag that God had called him into the Gospel Ministry and in August 2005, the church issued him a license to preach the gospel. Ten months later from August 2005, the church had sent him out for a gospel mission to the United Arab Emirates(UAE) on May 14, 2006 with authority to preach and baptize believers. As he was on contract employment in the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Lito Catubag started the church’s work by having Bible Studies in accommodations of contract workers. He had the burning desire to bring the unsaved people to Christ. The big burden in the church’s work was the required place to gather the prospects, invitees and those people who professed faith in Jesus Christ that needed discipleship and edification. The need was to rent a place that cost a minimum of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dirhams (Dhs. 2,500.00) a month.
The burden in the ministry in Sharjah, UAE was also the burden of the church at Masinloc, Zambales, Philippines. The church at Masinloc had not failed to pray to God for the success of the ministry in UAE. They consistently prayed that God will provide a place for the church ministry. There were some places like hotels and inter-denominational church buildings available for rent but due to no sufficient fund, no place was rented for the purpose of gathering people to let them hear the word of God. The rented accommodation of the Missionary was not enough to bring in more than five people for a Bible Study. Starting from 2006 to the end of 2010(more than four years), the ministry experienced the real ups and downs in the Lord’s work. The missionary was in a test of faith whether to continue or stop serving the Lord.
The missionary with his family was financially troubled but by the grace of God he continued the work of soul-winning despite all the trials and tribulations. Many have been witnessed, won to Christ but had not gathered them for lack of place. They were all gone either back to their old religion or to other Christian churches.
In the month of November 2010, God miraculously brought someone to be of help in the church ministry. Mr. Trip Singer and his wife Mrs. Donna Singer came through internet electronic mail(e-mail) asking the missionary to meet one Mr. Ajay Sargunar. He provided the contact details and the missionary called Mr. Ajay. Missionary Lito Catubag met personally Mr. Ajay Sargunar in his apartment at Ajman, UAE. Mr. Ajay professed his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, however, not so long he went back to his old religion. The Missionary continued to communicate by emails with the Singer’s. They were informed about the situation of the church work in Sharjah, UAE. And in reply the Singer's had expressed their willingness to help financially in the Lord’s ministry. Before the end of December 2010, they sent an offering and it was a blessing in the ministry of the Lord. It was a boost to continue in the work of the Lord and that brings the Missionary to remember God sovereignty in the life of a believer.
In March 2011, the missionary moved to another accommodation- a rented room a little bit bigger enough to accommodate at least 10 people in Bible Study/Worship Service. There and then the Lord had given a place to gather people in his accommodation. Trip Singer a brother in the Lord, a fundamental Baptist from Stowell, Texas, USA, continuously sent offerings for the church ministry at Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. God had blessed the Singer's and God used them as a blessing to this church. They have supported financially the first Bethany Baptist Church’s work in Sharjah. Not only financial offerings were given, but their consistent and persistent prayers were brought to the throne of God to bless this church work.
As the Lord did not leave nor did he forsake His ministry, more and more people were invited and attended the preaching of the gospel. On June 3, 2011, there were believers called, saved by grace of the Lord, scripturally baptized and assembled unto the Lord by the missionary pastor and the church “called-out assembly” (ekklesia) was formed; right on this date June 3, 2011, the first Bethany Baptist Church was born and existed in Sharjah, UAE. The Lord increases gradually the number of believers-members and attendees in the worship service and the church decided to rent a place at Citymax Hotel, Al Wadha Street, Abu Shagara, Sharjah-United Arab Emirates. The Singer’s have provided a part for the rent of the worship place. On September 2, 2011, the church had their first worship service in that rented function room at Citymax Hotel. The first Bethany Baptist church moved on by the grace of God spearheaded by the Missionary Brother Lito Catubag until further notice from the Head of the Church the LORD & SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.
This church by the grace of God, stood and continued to stand and contend for the faith, working for the LORD JESUS CHRIST, independent from other Baptist churches in the United Arab Emirates.
On November 30, 2012, the members (Leonito Catubag “Bro. Lito”; Valentin Flor Jr “Bro. Val”; Joselito Valencia “Bro Bong”; Rogelio Consejo “Bro Rohel”; Lalaine Catubag “Sis Lalaine”; Grace Flor “Sis Grace”; Aerol Johanan Catubag “Bro Aerol”; Zenilaine Catubag “Sis Shien-Shien”; Gina David “ Sis Gina”; Marriane Gabrillo “Sis Ianne”; Rodelyn Valencia “Sis Rodz”; Jeshua Clark Valencia “Bro Bojo”; Rhodalen Aguilando“Sis Rhoda”; Elaisha Jehiel Catubag “Bro Ejay”) convened, set up and organized themselves into a local independent New Testament Baptist church, and recognized God’s call to Bro. Lito as their pastor. The church members adopted their Articles of Faith and Constitution & By-Laws manifesting their unity in the faith with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The members selected from among themselves Sister Ianne as Church’s Clerk, Sister Grace as Assistant Clerk, and Sister Rodelyn as Bookkeeper of the Church.
The First Bethany Baptist Church was organized having a covenant with God to carry out the great commission of the Lord Jesus Christ.
On November 29, 2013, the sending church “Bethany Baptist Church” Masinloc, Zambales, Philippines, came over to Sharjah, UAE, represented by her Pastor Gilbert Samuel E. Lingayon, and recognized and confirmed the First Bethany Baptist Church as scripturally established local, independent Baptist church in Sharjah, UAE, ordained Brother Lito Catubag and installed him as pastor of the First Bethany Baptist Church Sharjah.
Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.