The Wesleyan Church of the Philippines convened its ninth General Conference on June 1-3, 2022, in San Mateo, Rizal, after a 14-month delay in schedule due to COVID. It was here that the General Conference elected and transferred leadership from former General Superintendent Rev. Dr. Johnny Guillermo to Rev. Amos Anteg. Rev. Dr. Dennis and Rev. Gwen Jackson attended as representatives of the North American General Conference of The Wesleyan Church.
When accepting his election to General Superintendent, Rev. Anteg stated, “I love The Wesleyan Church. I praise God for calling me in the pastoral ministry under this holiness preaching organization.”
Rev. Anteg has served in ministry for 34 years as church planter, pastor, district superintendent of the Central Luzon District and general director of the Department of Evangelism and Church Growth, Philippines. He was born in Labayug, Sison, Pangasinan to Christian parents who were members of the Pilgrim Holiness Church (now The Wesleyan Church of the Philippines).
Despite his exposure to the church and Christian faith, Dr. Anteg’s own faith did not fully take root until he was preparing for pastoral ministry at Wesleyan Bible College, Rosales, Pangasinan. It was there, on October 26, 1986, that he felt his true spiritual rebirth began as he totally surrendered to full-time ministry. There has been “no turning back since then,” he reflects.
Rev. Anteg is married to Lourdes Laygo. They have four children.
When asked about his goals for his new role, Rev. Anteg desires to carry through with the work he has already been engaged in in the Church Growth Department. He desires to see multiplication rippling across “Wesleyan churches, the multiplication of followers of Christ that make new followers of Christ.”
Rev. Anteg’s vision is a revitalized “Trajectory 2022-2023” with the aim of reaching 1,000 churches with 80,000 to 100,000 church members by 2032. This ten-year goal is looking ahead to the centennial celebration (1932-2032) of The Wesleyan Church of the Philippines.
And it would appear the Philippine General Conference has a good start toward that vision.
“There was a very missional spirit in the conference,” shared Dr. Jackson. Over the past five years the Philippines have “launched three new mission fields … in Italy, the UAE and Japan,” and are extending their reach to Singapore and Hong Kong. Additionally, 42 churches have been planted across the 23 districts — totaling 768 churches — between General Conferences with no end in sight.
Rev. Angela Alvarado is the assistant editor of Communication and Administration of The Wesleyan Church and a graduate of Wesley Seminary, Marion, Indiana.
*Cover image: Executive cabinet of TWC of the Philippines
