Dr. Isabelo F. Magalit, the immediate past president of Asian Theological Seminary (ATS) for the past 16 years, was installed as the senior pastor of the Diliman Campus Bible Church (DCBC) at a special service on Sunday, February 26. Pastor Bel, as he is fondly known, was also staff of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) for almost twenty years and succeeds DCBC's 2nd senior pastor, William B. Girao (Manong Willie), who retired in 2000. Manong Willie is an OMF Literature author of note, who shepherded the DCBC flock from 1983 until his retirement 17-years later; he also lectured at ATS sometime after.

The term of office of the DCBC Senior Pastor is 4 years; Pastor Bel has agreed to pastor DCBC for three years (renewable thereafter upon mutual agreement). He will provide leadership for growing the church within the UP Diliman Campus, witnessing to the community at large, by effectively communicating, relevantly teaching and meaningfully interacting with the university and graduate-level congregation that DCBC tends to be.

Bishop Cesar Punzalan III, OIC President of ATS led the installation service, prefacing the formal rites with personal insights and anecdotes from his long friendship with Pastor Bel. "You are fortunate to have a pastor as learned and accomplished as Pastor Bel. Aside from his being a medical doctor (UP College of Medicine, 1964), he is also a "spiritual" doctor, and so is well qualified to look after the health of your congregation." Bishop Punzalan then called upon the Church Elders to each in turn, affirm their support and commitment to uphold Pastor Bel in the discharge of his new duties. The Elders responded accordingly and the congregation prayed over Pastor Bel and his wife, Manang Lety, with outstretched and prayerful hands.

Bishop Efraim Tendero, National Director of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, likewise a long-time friend and colleague of Pastor Bel, mentioned that DCBC's new pastor has authored many of the official statements issued by PCEC, being a highly regarded member of the evangelical community. In the ensuing sermon, Bishop Tendero pointed out, "a growing church not only needs a good pastor, it needs the right pastor. Pastor Bel, with his long and esteemed service for the Lord, will be a tremendous help in steering DCBC to where the Lord wants the church to be."

Manang Lety was joined by a number of the Magalits' friends and relatives, as well as their four grown children, daughters-in-law, and two grandsons, who, quite understandably are the focus of her "apo-stolic work." As with most DCBC events, a special Love Feast followed the main event with over two hundred people sharing in the potluck array of home specialties of the congregation.

Certainly, God has brought Pastor Bel and DCBC together for a distinct purpose. It is exciting to contemplate what God has in mind for this new ministry partnership. God knows each half of this partnership best and will surely channel the potential of such a collaboration, to advance the great cause of God's work in the UP Community.

Editor's Note: We at DCBC are filled with a humbling sense of God's loving providence with having a senior pastor of Manong Bel's stature … what a wonderful 30th-anniversary gift for DCBC!