In September 1975 regular Sunday services were held at the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) building at Km 5, La Trinidad. The said building was known as the “Baley ni Girl Scout” then. Sis. Teresa Soliweg, one of the original members of LTAG, vividly recalls that the first offering collected was P 90.00 – this amount is rather generous at that time.
Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) Building
There were more or less 30 church members who gathered every Sunday. In 1979 the Women’s Ministry was organized and headed by Mrs. Luz Esperanza, wife of Rev. Alejandro Esperanza. Bible studies and fellowships were held in every household of all church members every Wednesdays or Saturdays.
Rev. Rufino Hipol Jr.
The church was led by several pastors. Rev. Rufino Hipol Jr. served from 1975 to 1977; he was the General Secretary of the Philippine General Council of the Assemblies of God (PGCAG) that time. He went abroad in 1977 and stayed there for good. At present, he is the pastor of the San Jose, California Assembly of God in the United States of America (USA). Together with Rev. Hipol, Rev. Alejandro Esperanza served from 1975 to 1979.
On April 25, 1979, pastors Justino Manglicmot Jr. and Walter Caput were appointed by the District to take charge of the La Trinidad Assembly of God Church. Pastor Manglicmot served for 10 months only after he felt the calling of the Lord to start a work in Philex Mines. Pastor Walter Caput stayed behind and served the LTAG church up to present.
Pastors Justino Manglicmot Jr. and Walter Caput
In 1977 interns from the Bible School who were also considered as pioneer church workers helped the LTAG church in the persons of Sis. Janet Igualdo-Singh, Sis. Myrna Gamiao and Ptr. Tap Dayaoen. They would often conduct bible studies in houses of members in La Trinidad. The first two church elders then were Pastor Samuel Galang and Pastor Menzi Taguda.
Rev. Walter Erola and wife Lucille
Several Missionaries helped in establishing and sustaining the church. American Missionaries Rev. and Mrs. Curtis Butler served from 1976 to 1977 and eventually retired in the USA. Rev. Walter Erola, Finn by birth but an American Citizen, helped the church together with his wife Lucille from 1979 to 1984. They had important role in the construction of the first church building. Rev. Walter Erola died last 2006 at the age of 96.
The GSP building was used for five (5) years however problems set in when the management of the GSP was infuriated by the destruction of their plants by children attending the Sunday services. This was remedied by the church leadership and the congregation was encouraged to pray for a more convenient place of worship.
In 1981, Rev. Antonio Caput Sr. was instructed by Rev. Leonardo Caput Sr. to look for a place of worship for the La Trinidad Assembly of God Church. He started walking from Bell Church at Km 4 until he reached the Capitol and found none.
Then the Lord instructed him to walk straight up and he shall find a school where he would talk with the principal who will give permission for them to hold Sunday services there. Indeed he reached the Central School and the principal willingly allowed the LTAG Church to hold Sunday services in one of their rooms. Rev. Antonio Caput Sr. then was the Sectional Presbyter when the Central and Southern Cordillera Sections was still under one roof. Rev. Leonardo Caput Sr. then was the District Superintendent.
La Trinidad Central School
The Central School was used for two (2) years but problems were encountered whenever the teachers complained of their visual aides and plants being destroyed by the church members’ children. There was even one Sunday when they held their service outside the schoolroom since the management deliberately locked the room. Again, the church searched for another place to hold their Sunday services.
Benguet Provincial Capitol
In 1983 the Benguet Provincial Capitol auditorium and courtroom were used every Sunday for the services. The utilization of the courtroom was made possible after Ptr. Walter Caput negotiated with the clerk of court, Mr. Agapito Bolislis and Judge Nicodemo Ferrer who gave permission to use the courtroom free of charge. Not every Sunday, however, was the capitol available so they would often look for places in La Trinidad to hold their services.
They have used the open gym of the Mountain State Agricultural College (MSAC), now the Benguet State University (BSU), the grounds of La Trinidad Municipal building and Puguis Elementary School. Some of the members felt as though they were like “chickens” being driven out, always moving around looking for a place to settle. The church felt the dire need for a permanent place of worship and so they fell on their knees in prayer for God to provide this need.
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