HISTORY of ANCHOR BAPTIST CHURCH—LEGAZPI
Just 4 months after Vanni Solares and Geraldine Sambo got married, they decided to get out of their comfort zone and followed God’s calling for them to start a mission work in Legazpi City.
This missionary couple was commissioned by International Baptist Church, Naga City, under the leadership of Salvador Nava, and was officially sent out for Legazpi last April 2005. Thru the mission supports of Anchor Baptist Church, Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, other churches, and some individuals, Pastor Vanni and Geraldine started Anchor Baptist Mission Legazpi. Legazpi City is the business hub and houses the regional offices of Bicol, and is located near the famous perfect-coned Mayon Volcano.
On May 10, 2005, they moved to Barangay San Roque, Legazpi, a place where most of the people are religious, fanatic, devout Catholics, sincere, but are lost headed towards eternal destruction. They started the feeding program for children to have some connections to the people of the community. During the first months, they had a lot of struggles in dealing with indifferent people in the place. The preaching of the Gospel was not easily received by the people. There were troubles side by side, persecution was normal, and situations were discouraging, such as destructive typhoons and floods. But those things did not hinder this young couple to continue on serving Christ where they were called to go.
On June 2005, evangelistic crusade in the open field of the community was held, where more than seventy people came to know Christ. Almost every month, they schedule an evangelistic crusade to keep on telling to this people that Jesus loves them, and that He wants to save them from their sins.
On July 2005, the first Sunday worship service was held, and the mission church was born. There were 6 people who attended that service. Since then, services were continued until this time.
Last October 2005, Pastor Vanni baptized two(2) young people. They were Jun Celadina and Jerry Sambo. These two are now enrolled as Bible students.
On September 2006, the second batch were baptized by Pastor Vanni and Dr. Duain Whittemore. They were four who were baptized that time.
One by one, the Lord added souls who got saved into the church. Most of the members then were young people. And then as months passed by, the Lord added parents and families to the church.
Pastor Vanni and Geraldine also were able to bring young people to youth camps during summer time, gaining professions of faith from them, and commitments toward the work of the Lord. Because of those camps, four(4) of their young men surrendered to enter in the Bible College in Naga City, where Pastor Vanni was appointed as the Dean of Bible College for the school year 2007-2008.
Pastor Vanni won Leticia Artiaga to the Lord, and then later her whole family. The Lord used this mother to open up Prison Preaching Ministry because her husband is imprisoned in Legazpi City Jail for a case which the court hasn’t settled yet. Also, she was instrumental in starting a feeding ministry in a remote community of Maslog, Legazpi City where she has many relatives, and her own family used to lived there years ago. Now, these faithful sister in the Lord allowed them to build the church hut and feeding center right there in their house compound. Sunday School for children is being held on this family’s small living room. It’s amazing how God moves in the hearts of people like this woman and her family.
After three(3) years, Anchor Baptist Church Legazpi has now 30 to 40 regular Sunday service attendance. There are now more than 10 families in the church. Slowly but surely, God is adding many parents, mostly mothers, to the church. Parents of those children in the feeding programs are being encouraged and invited to attend the Sunday Services so they can listen to the preaching of Christ’s salvation to sinners.
ABC-Legazpi had moved three times already to different rented places within the city. That’s why there’s a big and urgent need for a property where the church building will be built. To build it as soon as the Lord allows, and as near as possible to church members will be a great blessing! A parsonage within the future property is also a great consideration and prayer.
MISSIONARY BACKGROUND
GIOVANNI M. SOLARES, Vanni as many calls him, came from a poor family. He grew up in Sunday School in a Bible Church, but came to accept Christ as Savior when he was already 17, when his family moved to attend International Baptist Church, Naga City. Vanni’s father is secular musician, and his mother is small-scale businesswoman but a devoted Christian. He finished a college course in Computer and Education in the Philippines, and studied two years and finished “Graduate of Missions” in Anchor Baptist Bible College in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, USA last December 2002. His birthday is June 22. Vanni married Geraldine Sambo last December 29, 2004.
GERALDINE SAMBO-SOLARES. You can call her Ghie. She also came from a below-average family. Her parents are farmers in a remote town neighboring Naga City. She first heard the gospel when she was in College, in the school campus. After getting saved, she became very active in her church, Grace Baptist Church in Pili, Camarines Sur. She graduated with Bachelor of Elementary Education and is a licensed professional school teacher. She met Vanni in a Christian School in Naga City, where they became best of friends, and after a year of waiting and prayers, they got married.
This missionary couple is blessed with their first child, EVANGELINE DORISSE SOLARES. “Dorisse” or “Vanna” as many calls her, was born July 21, 2006. She was born while Mayon Volcano was spitting off tons of lava flowing from its mouth. She will be turn two(2) years old this coming July 21st.
