It was in 1986 that the Greater Boston Baptist Association planned on starting a ministry among Filipinos in New England. On April 22, 1988, this dream was realized when Willy and Julie Marquez arrived in Boston to help start this ministry.
On May 15, 1988, a Bible Study group of 8 people gathered in a Brookline apartment. The next week, the first evangelistic meeting was held featuring Fred Galang. Two months after on July 24, the very first church service was held to formally launch the Massachusetts Bible Fellowship, which was to later be the Philippine International Church. On August 1, the church moved to meet at the Ruggles Baptish Church in Boston.
The church presented the gospel using different occasions through various methods such as the "Autumn Lives" concert held on October 14-15, 1989 with guest, Reuben Barruel..
On May 1990, the church was finally incorporated in the state of Massachusetts as the Philippine International Church, Inc. This has been the church's official name until now. A month later, the fellowship relocated to Newton Corner Baptist Church (now known as the Hellenic Gospel Church).
On September 10, 1990 the very first baptism of our dear sister was held in Walden Pond.
One of the many ways we bonded was through church retreats. The first church retreat was held on June 1991 at a small Christian guest motel nestled in the White Mountains, NH.
In the fall of 1991, the church called in a new pastor, Shawn Bennett. A ski trip was held that year and many young joined the church.
In 1992, Pastor Willy was called back as interim pastor and the church relocated to Brookline's Holiday Inn suite. That summer, the very first "Unity in Diversity" rally was held at Boston Common. Pastor Willy coordinated this event among various local churches and the PIC members were actively involved in this community outreach.
In the spring of 1993, the church participated in the "Boston Against Drugs" march and in June of that year, PIC sponsored various concerts featuring Jackie Kookooritchkin. Later that month, the church participated in the first Boston "March for Jesus" worldwide outreach event.
God brought many people to the church bearing God-given talents. On June 1994, the Tambourine ministry was formed. This brought a unique and very meaningful dimension to the worship service. That same month, the church participated in the second "March for Jesus" with the Tambourine team.
The church baptized 6 new believers on July 1994 at Houghton's Pond. On August that year, the church sent 9 delegates to the Filipino Christian camp in West Virginia. The Tambourine team performed at the camp and later that fall, performed at the second "Unity in Diversity."
On September 18, 1994, the church relocated to the town of Quincy. A year later, PIC baptized 4 believers during its annual church camp at Peter's Pond. That fall, Ken Villaluz was installed as the church's third pastor. Under his leadership, the church music ministry flourished and attendance increased. In addition, PIC sponsored the formation of an Indian fellowship.
In 1997, Pastor Willy returned as the interim pastor. Later, PIC moved back to Holiday Inn and then back to the Hellenic Gospel Church. Pastor Willy served until his death on August 19 that year. Despite the loss, the church retreat proceeded that weekend and was a source of God's strength, comfort, and healing.
In the fall of 1998, PIC installed Keith Lawrence as the pastor. The church has not only grown in numbers but also in spiritual maturity.
Philippine International Church will be a fellowship of spirit-filled servants committed to SHARE God's love to the world.