Our Journey

The Birth of a Mission to a Bigger Church

In 1985, four Christian Overseas Contract Workers (OCWs) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, began gathering for prayer and Bible study. Among them was Pastor Lorenz Mapa, who later became a bishop. Their small group quickly grew as they reached out to fellow Filipino workers, leading to the formation of Shalom Outreach Ministries International (SOMI). As more believers joined, worship services were established, reaching approximately 70 attendees. With the increasing number of worshippers, SOMI secured a gathering place in an abandoned palace before later moving to a rented villa.

Trials and Tribulations

As more Bible study groups were planted across Riyadh, the church expanded significantly. However, in 1992, a crackdown by religious authorities (Mutawas) led to arrests and deportations, forcing Pastor Lorenz and his family to relocate to the United States, where he established a new church under the same name, SOMI, in New Jersey. Following Pastor Lorenz’s departure, leadership transitioned to Pastor Buddy Aquino. However, in 1993, he too was deported. Pastor Pete Azurin succeeded him, and in 1996, in further efforts to expand the church, he and Pastor Roel decided to meet with Pastor Buddy, which led to the establishment of a church in the Philippines. In compliance with legal requirements, the church was registered under a new name, Resurrected Christ Christian Ministries International (JRCCM). Pastor Pete continued serving the Lord through JRCCM until the last quarter of 1998, when he was diagnosed with cancer and eventually passed away, being taken by the Lord. Pastor Rene Caraan then took over leadership but faced another raid in 1999, which led to the imprisonment of six church elders and their deportation after 23 days. Despite these hardships, the church remained steadfast in its mission, continuing its ministry both in Riyadh and the Philippines, where new congregations were forming.

Expansion and Growth into a New Chapter

In the early 2000s, leadership challenges arose within the church, but Pastor Roel Tiongco stepped in to stabilize and unify the ministry. By 2007, he relocated to the United States, where he established a new church in New York under the SOMI name. The church continued to grow in Riyadh, the Philippines, and beyond, including the establishment of an outreach in Doha, Qatar, in 2014.

In 2023, a division occurred within the church due to new teachings that emerged in some outreaches in the Philippines. As a result, the majority of the congregation chose to part ways with JRCCM and founded Gospel Hope Church, Global (GHC). Since then, GHC has expanded, establishing multiple outreaches in the Philippines and other countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United States (New York), and Canada.

Today and Moving Forward

GHC is led by an Executive Council comprising Senior Pastors from various locations, including the Philippines, Riyadh, Toronto, Doha, and two from New York. Under the leadership of the Executive Council, chaired by Pastor Dan Caballero, the church continues to grow and fulfill its mission.

Today, GHC is actively expanding, with plans to purchase land and build a church center in the Philippines to support its rapidly growing congregation. The church remains dedicated to spreading the gospel, strengthening its members, and advancing its global outreach efforts.

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