Dr. Sam R. Evangelista, Executive Director (USA)

Dr.  Sam Evangelista was born and raised in northern Philippines. He migrated to Hawaii in December 1981.  He has four daughters:  Grace, Faith who is married to Subash Patel with one son, Mercer;  Ruth married to Michael Kervin with two children: Reagan and Rowan, and Rachel who is married to Cory Freston. 

He started and pastored churches in Hawaii, Atlanta, and in Houston from 1987 to the present. He was ordained to the ministry in 1987 while serving as pastor in Hawaii.  He earned his Master of Divinity degree at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary of North Carolina in May 1992; and his Doctor of Ministry degree at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary of Louisville, Kentucky in December 2012. His loving wife, Virginia faithfully served the Lord alongside with him until she passed away in April 2006. Pastor Sam currently serves as the pastor of International Bible Church in Stockbridge, Georgia.

In view of his roots in the Philippines, and whose parents were engaged in serving the Lord as pioneering Pastors during the 1950s to 1970s, Dr. Sam has the ardent desire to carry on with his parents’ legacy by assisting Filipino youth who have the passion to serve God in various capacities.

Pastor Lester John J. Evangelista was born and raised in Valenzuela City, Philippines. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Theology degree at FEBIAS College of Bible in 2006, majoring in Pastoral Studies. He is married to Emerald Hope Capaque, with one daughter, Psalm.

Pastor Lester was exposed to pastoral ministry at a young age. While in Bible College, he assisted his parents with their pastoral ministries, leading a good number of youth to Christ. He served as a Youth Pastor and Senior Pastor to various churches in Metro Manila and Bulacan province since 2005. He is currently the Christian Education Director of a church in Pasig City and the Character Formation Department Head of the Aeronautical and Technological College in Caloocan City, Philippines. Pastor Lester also serves as the Coordinator of Campus Ministries in various churches of Metro Manila.

God has implanted in Pastor Lester’s heart a burden for underprivileged youth who are committed to serving the Lord. His ministry exposure and experiences through the years gave him the vision to carry on with the legacy of preparing other youth for the ministry.

Romy, as relatives and friends fondly calls him, received the Lord Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior on May 16, 1970. He entered Febias College of Bible in 1972 and graduated in Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Theology in 1976. After graduation, he served the Lord as an assistant pastor of Bo. Obrero Baptist Church in Tondo, Manila, working especially among the youth. 

In July 1977, Dr. Faustino Ruivivar of Every Home for Christ hired him to draw the map of Metro Manila in preparation for the Billy Graham Crusade that will be held in October. After the Billy Graham Crusade, he was invited to be come full time worker of Every Home for Christ as a Follow up and Visitation Representative. 

Romy became the pastor of Singalong Evangelical Church in Manila. Then later he and his family were involved in the ministry of Meycauayan Bible Church. He was ordained there in 1992 before he and his family migrated to California, USA. He started a local church In Christ Fellowship in San Diego in 1994 and later became the pastor of Love of Christ Fellowship for 15 years. He retired from his pastorate but still active in the ministry – having a regular weekly Bible study, mentoring young pastors and filling in the pulpit when pastor friends go for vacation. 

Romy is married to Chona Angeles. They have two children. Rodney is married to Kimberly and they have a daughter, Samantha (9 years old). Kristen is married to Jeffrey and the have a daughter, Naomi (4 years old).

Bishop Persus D. Gadon was born in the province of Romblon but grow

up in Metro Manila, Philippines. He is married to the former Dr.

Yolanda Griarte, president of Valenzuela Technological College. They

have three children: Jedidiah PY (born:1992), Von Jireh PY (1994), Jan

Rae PY (1996), and Pauline (daughter-in-law); and blessed with two

grandchildren: Kendrick Lian (2019) and Caden Lian (2021).

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree at Far Eastern

University in Manila (1990) and his Master of Divinity degree at Asian

Theological Seminary in Quezon City (1999) and was ordained to the

ministry at Meycauayan Bible Church of Bulacan province where he

served as the pastor (1991-1996).

Pastor Persus started the Cross Over Christian Ministry (COCM) in

1996 and serves as the Senior Pastor. As an ordained Bishop, he

supervises the COCM churches in Metro Manila and other provinces.

His other ministry involvement includes: Every Home for Christ, Staff

(1981-1990) and as a Treasurer (2019-present); Christian Literature

Crusade, Board Chairman (2006-2018); Valenzuela Christian Ministerial

and Social Concern, Chairman (2010-2012); Christian Churches Credit

Cooperative, Chairman (2016-present).

Bishop Gadon’s broad ministry exposures, involvement, and leadership

gave him greater wisdom and passion to serve the Lord, to mentor and

enable others to follow his footsteps, and to encourage younger

generation to step up to the plate.

Ruth  was born and raised in Hawaii and is the third daughter of Dr. Sam and Virginia Evangelista. She graduated from Gardner-Webb University (Boiling Springs, North Carolina) with a Bachelors of Business Administration and Marketing degree in 2005. Ruth has a diverse professional background including pharmaceutical sales, volunteer management and referral development. She currently works for a behavioral health care provider in Atlanta. 

Ruth’s earliest and most vivid memories of the Philippines are from a church youth mission trip in 1996. The experience left a profound impression on her that continues to impact her today. Ruth’s husband Mike along with their two young children share her passion in doing all they can to equip the future generation of pastors and church leaders.