In February 2005, a small group
Filipinos began to gather together to hear the vision of opening a JIL Church in Nanaimo, BC. It will be another location
in the Vancouver Island north of Victoria, BC. In spite of apprehensions from some attendees, there were those who received
the news with gladness and expectation for a new church in the city- Jesus Is Lord Church.
The bible study initially
began with seven (7) people meeting every Friday in one of the homes of one of the attendees. Thus, JIL Nanaimo officially
began on March 2005. Support came from JIL Vancouver as week after week, a pastor and few workers were sent to assist the
new work of God in Nanaimo.
There was an intense desire and passion to bring more souls from the JIL people. Seminars
were done to strengthen the initial members of the JIL Nanaimo. Thereafter they began their Sunday gathering that gave way
to establishing of the Sunday Service. One of the means to carry on the growth of the new church was through the JIL 12 Vision
and System.
There were seven people who initially involved in the JIL 12 P.E.P. program but only four successfully
completed the whole JIL 12 program offered until School of Leaders 3. They became the key people that helped fill up the leadership
positions in the organizational structure of JIL Nanaimo. It was time well spent and a sacrifice worth doing. Over-all, the
JIL people in Nanaimo became resilient in their commitment to fulfill God’s purpose and agenda for Nanaimo.
A Thanksgiving celebration for its first year was held in Hope Lutheran Church in April 2006 supported by the different
JIL Churches from mainland Vancouver. The place was abuzz with joy and gladness for what God has done in the first year.
The following year, cell groups began to start and different ministries started as well to fill up the need of a growing
congregation. Although majority of the membership was women but slowly, men were added to the church.
Then, the
appointment of JIL Nanaimo Leadership Management Team (LMT) was instrumental in managing the church affairs even without an
assigned Church Pastor. Yet there were assigned Pastors visiting weekly to strengthen the church through preaching, teaching
and training.
JIL Nanaimo was born from a vision and it will continue to have a vision for other cities also. It
has declared that it will become a partner in fulfilling the JIL MVV for God’s glory alone!
