WELCOME TO

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WELCOME TO
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BIBLE BAPTIST CEBU
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Bible Baptist Cebu
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• Bible Baptist Church began in the heart of a
  young missionary just fresh from Bible College in
  Springfield, Missouri, USA. Bob Hughes was born
  August 8, 1932 to Theron and Thelma Hughes on a
  farm near Center, Texas. He was their fourth son
  in a family of nine boys and one girl.
• At 17 years old, Bob joined the U.S. Air Force
  and found himself in the Philippines stationed at
  Clark Field for about two years. Bob was not yet
  a Christian, but started seeking the friendship
  of Baptist missionaries Frank Hooge and Joe
  Vella. He often attended the church of Frank
  Hooge in Sta. Mesa. Bob received the Lord a few
  months later after Brother Vella had witnessed to
  him.

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• After being discharged from the U.S. Air Force in
  January 1953, he entered Baptist Bible College in
  Springfield, Missouri. It was there that he met
  and married Helen Johnston. In April of 1956,
  Bob, Helen, and their first daughter, Cindy,
  arrived on Philippine soil to begin their first
  term as missionaries of the Baptist Bible
  Fellowship. Bob pastored the Baptist Bible Church
  in Sta. Mesa, Manila in the absence of Brother
  Hooge.

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• After one year in Manila and after the birth of
  Karen, the Hughes family moved to Cebu City to
  begin what is now Bible Baptist Church. They
  planted the seed of the Word of God through
  personal contacts and witnessing. These efforts
  resulted in regular services held in a small
  apartment space situated at Jones Avenue. The
  first service held the last Sunday of March in
  1957, saw 14 people present, Before long church
  attendance increased and the services were held
  in a larger house on Mango Avenue. The whole
  downstairs of that house served as auditorium and
  Sunday School rooms for the growing congregation.

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• Another transfer had to be made and this time the
  Church rented a second story building on Espana
  Street, close to downtown. In 1964, Pastor Bob
  Hughes led the Church to purchase an 800 sq.
  meter property in Tres de Abril where a two-story
  concrete building was constructed. For nine
  years, Bible Baptist Church was to hold services
  there. By now attendance steadily increased to
  600 every Sunday and every available space in the
  building was occupied by people.

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• With God's blessings, coupled with a people
  determined to reach even more people for the
  Gospel, missionary Bob Hughes, and Dr. Armie F.
  Jesalva, by now the Pastor of the congregation,
  led the Church on another building program on a
  new property on Katipunan Street. In 1972, the
  new 3,000 seat auditorium was dedicated. This is
  where they continue to hold services. In
  September, 1975, Pastor Bob Hughes was diagnosed
  with cancer and was said to have only a few
  months to live. The Hughes family said goodbye to
  their friends in Cebu and went to the States to
  seek further medical help. Pastor Bob Hughes died
  and went

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• home to be with the Lord, August 22, 1976 in
  Dallas, Texas. However, his loss didn't prevent
  the Lord's work from continuing.

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• PASTOR JESALVA AND MRS. JESALVA TOOK OVER THE WORK