Saipan churches, groups unite for dead pastor

At least 15 local churches and 16 groups and individuals joined hands in helping repatriate the remains of the late God’s Victorious Army pastor Augusto “Boy” Felia to the Philippines.

Felia’s remains reached his hometown in Romblon, the Philippines Friday last week. Immanuel Methodist Church pastor Jimmy Sembrano confirmed yesterday that the late pastor is with his family now. Felia will be interred in his hometown next week.

Sembrano said church mate and officer Brendon Perez and senior pastor Danny Ibanez escorted Felia’s remains home. Both are expected to return to Saipan today.

Sembrano expressed his thanks to the community, especially the Philippine Consulate General and the Overseas Workers Welfare Office, for extending their assistance in collecting funds for the late pastor.

“What they did is truly proof that, no matter what happens, we can count on each other for help,” he said in Filipino, adding that, even though Felia was not an OWWA member, the office still assisted them.

“On behalf of Boy’s [Felia] church and his family, we are grateful to Consul General [Wilfredo] Maximo for his help,” Sembrano said. Although the Philippine officers have no legal responsibilities over Felia due to his missionary status in the CNMI, both offices helped in their own way, he added.

A total of $7,226 were collected through public donations for the late pastor, said Sembrano.

The churches that helped God’s Victorious Army Church to raise funds for the pastor were Jesus is Lord Fellowship, Upper Room International Church, Saipan Christian Church, Saipan Bible Fellowship I, II and III, Cornerstone Church, Association of Filipino Pastors on Saipan, Huge Rock Church, Immanuel Methodist Church Filipino Congregation, Mission Connection Church, and Saipan Naos Japanese Church.

Individuals and groups that also extended assistance for the late pastor’s repatriation were OWWA Support Groups, MOVER, Sue Corp., Michelle Corp., LVP Pacific, Golden Harvest, Jin Apparel, Barney’s Pizza, Sam Kwang Corp., KIMCO, Chinese Filipino Community Church, Kabalikat, Sis. Rose Kaisuku, Kwan Leung, and Joe Digno and family.

God’s Victorious Army is a small 12-year-old Christian church in the CNMI with a total membership of 40. Robert Lacanilao, a member of the church, earlier said that Felia, 54, passed away on Jan. 30. Felia, he said, died in his sleep. His lifeless body was discovered by one of the church members inside his room.

The pastor was immediately brought to the Commonwealth Health Center, where he was declared dead on arrival. Felia was a missionary with an accompanying missionary resident status in the CNMI. He didn’t have any employer who would take care of the hospital bills and his repatriation. Moreover, he also didn’t receive any salary as a pastor when he was alive.