A changed man: From Marxist rebel to Senior Pastor and missionary

Rev. Angelito Alid and his wife

Long before serving the Lord, Angelito Alid was a Marxist rebel in the New People’s Army on the southern Filipino island of Mindanao. One day, his comrades were killed in an encounter with the government forces, and he was left alone and later became seriously ill to the point of death. While resting in a house for several days, he evaluated his life and eventually said a prayer of confession, making a commitment to serve God. He was healed miraculously and left the house just before the military encircled the house. Angelito feels that God saved him from a most certain death for the purpose of serving Him.

He went to Bible school and became a pastor before pursuing further training at OC partner Alliance Graduate School (AGS), Philippines. Without any financial support, Angelito went without food many times but always trusted that the Lord who saved him would provide for his needs. Finally, some of his needs were met through an OC scholarship, and Angelito graduated in 2003 with a Master of Divinity degree in Pastoral Studies.

He considers his studies to be one of the greatest blessings he could receive as a minister. “The seminary equipped and trained me in…ministry,” Angelito says. “AGS has also made me humble myself before God and rely on His empowerment for the ministry He has entrusted to me. I am more confident that God will continue using me mightily in His vineyard.”

Today, Angelito and his wife are missionaries in Japan and serve as leaders of the Japan Filipino Alliance Mission Team. Some plans for 2009 include holding another Pastors’ Conference, a Praise/Worship seminar, a sports evangelism festival and reaching out to unchurched Filipino communities in Japan. The team has planted two churches, one in Anjo City and another in Yatchimata City, with hopes to baptize 200 believers by 2010 and plant 30 churches by 2020. Previously, Angelito served as Senior Pastor of the Garden Village Alliance Church in Santa Maria, Bulacan, Philippines.