The history of New WMC Filipino-American SDA Church is a story of faith, determination, and courage. Since its founding in October 2012, it has stood as a pillar of faith and a testimony of God's sustaining grace. Through the years of its existence, our dear New WMC Church has undergone difficult tests, ups and downs, and challenging situations. But our members bonded into a unit of believers focused on Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and inspired by their hope and prayer to grow in spirit and in number.
Foundation
The WMC Fil-Am SDA Church was founded by 28 church members who, coming from Morton Grove SDA Church, agreed to form a small congregation 13 years ago. Eleven of them are presently active members: Dinah Asumbrado, Mercia Catulpos, Primitiva Lecias, Estelito Roa, Charita Roa, Alfredo Ruedas, Clester Ruedas, Joyce Ruedas, Marl Winky Ruedas, Ryan Ruedas, and Starlette Ruedas.
Before the founders formed themselves as a congregation, the group attended church worship at different churches or places for around one year. On October 6, 2012, the group officially started as a congregation when they found a rented church for regular Sabbath worship services — the Korean Methodist Church, located at Mt. Prospect Heights, Illinois. On this date, WMC Fil-Am SDA Church was born, an event we celebrate for the past 13 years of its existence.
In 2013, inspired by the Holy Spirit, the congregation held its first election of church officers, conducted its first child dedication, and witnessed its first wedding service in the church.
By 2014, another milestone stood in the history of WMC Church: the congregation was officially recognized as a Mission Church (company) by the Illinois Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The Lord continued to lead the founders to fulfill the great commission of Jesus Christ outlined in Matthew 28:19–20:
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19–20
On May 8, 2016, by the grace of God and to the glory of His name, the church held its historic first baptism for two souls — Monina Calasang and Elena Ramos — officiated by Pastor Reinante Gomez.
Pastoral Leadership
From its founding in 2012 up to 2021, the pastoral leadership of the church was handled by volunteer ordained ministers who were invited by the WMC church to help the little and growing congregation.
- 2015 – 2017 — WMC Company invited Pastor Reinante Gomez to serve as their part-time pastor.
- 2017 – 2019 — Pastor Howard Faigao, a retired pastor from the General Conference, was also invited to assist in the administration, organization, and training program of the church.
- 2017 – 2021 — Pastor Samuel Barrios was invited to help the church in pastoral work.
Church Organization
In April 2020, the church moved from Mt. Prospect and rented another church — the Ascension Lutheran Church, located in Niles, Illinois, where it is now. Sensing the need for nurture of the growing congregation, and motivated by the Holy Spirit to engage in evangelism within the framework of its cultural setting, the church requested the transfer of church affiliation from the Illinois Conference to the Lake Region Conference — a request that was approved by both conferences and granted by the Lake Union Conference.
The divinely-ordained growth of the church in different areas inspired our church leaders and members to apply for official church organization. That prayer and desire were granted by our Lord through the approval of the Lake Region Conference.
So, on February 2022 — exactly the 10th year of the church's journey with God — WMC SDA Church was officially declared an organized church and accepted into the sisterhood of churches by the Lake Region Conference. That was a day of thanksgiving and rejoicing for the church members. Pastor Samuel Barrios was employed by the conference as the first official part-time church pastor, serving until the end of 2024.
In April 2023, the church sponsored its first full-scale evangelistic series with Pastor Paul Young as the evangelist, when 10 precious souls were added to the membership roll.
In July of that same year, in His divine providence, God allowed the church to experience expansion when about half of the WMC church members moved and formed another congregation named the International Fil-Am SDA Church.
At the beginning of 2024, the church again invited Pastor Howard Faigao and his wife, Jasiel, to help the mother WMC church, serving as a Lay Administrative Pastor on a voluntary basis. As a result of the church's bifurcation, WMC church was reorganized and adopted a new name — New WMC Fil-Am SDA Church — with a new set of leaders. The chosen elders were Seth Calasang, Mark Ruedas, and Solomon Lecias. Church strategic plans were developed in the areas of church structure, worship services, church finance and stewardship, leadership development, and evangelism.
Church Growth
At the time of its reorganization, at the beginning of 2024, New WMC Church registered 35 active baptized members. Since then, by God's divine providence, 26 new members were added to the little flock through transfers and baptisms. We have witnessed the guiding hands of our heavenly Father. All glory to His name!