Retirement of Bermie Dizon

Throughout these years, I also served as S.E.P. camp director and festival coordinator every year. During our last year in Davao, we had our fourth child, David. I mention our kids because they were a part of our ministry. They were involved in our worship team, S.E.P. camp, and missions in other countries. For many years, Carmelita was a part of the worship team as a guitarist, nurse at S.E.P., and children’s church teacher.

There were moments that will stay in my memory. In 1990, a powerful earthquake, on a Richter scale of 7.0, hit the island of Luzon. A year later, only a few miles away from where we lived, Mt. Pinatubo exploded. It was considered one the most powerful eruptions in history. In both calamities, many members lost their livelihood and were evacuated. These terrible events showed me the faithfulness and generosity of our members. Most donated food, money, and clothing. Some opened their homes so others can stay temporarily.

In 1996, I was transferred to the U.S. to work with Filipino members. I served with Pastor Curtis May for five years in the Ambassador Auditorium. I planted the Pasadena NewLife Fellowship congregation in 1997 and later served the Los Angeles congregation until 2019. I continued to serve NewLife Fellowship and the Beaumont congregation until these churches were merged into Glendora, now including the Monrovia congregation.

Those times we opened our church facilities for neighborhood events, interacting and building relationships, have been one of the joys I will remember. I will not forget how we cooked and served hot meals for people without shelter for five years.

I was privileged to finish my Master of Arts in Christian Education at Azusa Pacific University in 2007. Because a regional director saw potential in me that I didn’t see, he empowered and encouraged me. I came to see that my role as pastor is both equipping people for ministry and pastoring. I’ve sought new emerging leaders. Several have become elders and leaders. Eugene Guzon and Jillian Morrison are two examples who I’ve had the privilege of working with.

I retired from full-time pastoring on January 21, 2024, after 40 years of full-time ministry and 50 years as a GCI member. I like considering my life not as my own but a journey together with God and those whom he has chosen. Whatever success I may have experienced it is all because it is God in the first place who took the initiative and brought success. It is also a journey with fellow saints, each contributing, sharing, praying, and working in obedience to the lead of our Lord Jesus.