The Filipino Church-Melbourne: August 2026
God Is Building More Than a Church—He Is Building a Family
There are seasons in ministry when you look back and realize: Only God could have done this.
For The Filipino Church in Melbourne, Australia, the past several months have brought challenges, transitions, unanswered prayers, and unexpected opportunities. Yet through every season, God has continued to faithfully build His church.
People are being baptized. Families are finding a spiritual home. New leaders are rising. Communities beyond Australia are being served.
And through it all, one truth continues to become clearer: God is building more than a congregation. He is building a family.
For The Filipino Church in Melbourne, Australia, the past several months have brought challenges, transitions, unanswered prayers, and unexpected opportunities. Yet through every season, God has continued to faithfully build His church.
People are being baptized. Families are finding a spiritual home. New leaders are rising. Communities beyond Australia are being served.
And through it all, one truth continues to become clearer: God is building more than a congregation. He is building a family.
Pastor Arnold & Cristy Cubos
Pastors Arnold and Cristy Cubos have watched God faithfully lead The Filipino Church through seasons of growth, transition, and uncertainty. Their ministry has been shaped by a desire to see people not simply attend church, but become part of a spiritual family where they can grow in Christ, serve others, and make disciples.
That calling has continued even through seasons when circumstances have made ministry difficult. Through it all, they have seen God's faithfulness in the lives of individuals, families, and leaders.
That calling has continued even through seasons when circumstances have made ministry difficult. Through it all, they have seen God's faithfulness in the lives of individuals, families, and leaders.
What The Filipino Church Does Well
The Filipino Church places a strong emphasis on creating a spiritual home where people feel known, loved, and welcomed. The church's desire is not simply to gather people on Sunday, but to walk alongside them through life.
That heart was captured by Sis. Maribeth, one of the church's newer members, who recently joined the worship team as a keyboardist. She shared something simple that deeply touched the pastors:
“I found a family here.”
That heart was captured by Sis. Maribeth, one of the church's newer members, who recently joined the worship team as a keyboardist. She shared something simple that deeply touched the pastors:
“I found a family here.”
Those words capture the heart of The Filipino Church. They don't simply want people to attend church. They want people to find a spiritual family.
The church is also growing in its ability to develop leaders and serve beyond its own community. As new people come, new leaders emerge. As opportunities arise, the church looks for ways to demonstrate the love of Christ both locally and internationally.
The church is also growing in its ability to develop leaders and serve beyond its own community. As new people come, new leaders emerge. As opportunities arise, the church looks for ways to demonstrate the love of Christ both locally and internationally.
Some Recent God-Sightings
The recent story of The Filipino Church is filled with moments that remind its leaders that God is at work.
Five Lives. One Public Declaration of Faith.
Last March, the annual TFC Converge Australia Family Picnic became an unforgettable celebration as five believers followed the Lord in water baptism.
There is something powerful about watching people publicly declare their faith in Jesus.
For The Filipino Church, these were more than five baptisms. They represented five stories of grace, five journeys of faith, and five reminders that the Gospel is still transforming lives.
The church continues to praise God for every new disciple and pray that each one will grow deeper in Christ.
There is something powerful about watching people publicly declare their faith in Jesus.
For The Filipino Church, these were more than five baptisms. They represented five stories of grace, five journeys of faith, and five reminders that the Gospel is still transforming lives.
The church continues to praise God for every new disciple and pray that each one will grow deeper in Christ.
From Australia to the Philippines
God also opened an unexpected door for The Filipino Church to serve beyond its own community.
For the first time, the church conducted a medical mission in Central Luzon, Philippines, serving more than 250 people in an underprivileged community.
Through one of the church members working in the local health sector, God connected the church with the local government and opened the way for the team to provide:
For a young church, this was a significant milestone. God allowed The Filipino Church to become His hands and feet beyond Australia—and the church believes this is only the beginning.
For the first time, the church conducted a medical mission in Central Luzon, Philippines, serving more than 250 people in an underprivileged community.
Through one of the church members working in the local health sector, God connected the church with the local government and opened the way for the team to provide:
- Free medical consultations
- Free medicines
- Dental services
- Compassion and prayer
For a young church, this was a significant milestone. God allowed The Filipino Church to become His hands and feet beyond Australia—and the church believes this is only the beginning.
When We Had to Leave, God Raised Others to Lead
In the middle of March, visa requirements meant the pastors needed to leave Australia. During that time, they also traveled to Denver to celebrate the wedding of their only daughter.
Leaving a growing congregation for several months was not easy.
But while they were away, leaders stepped forward.
They served. They taught. They worshiped. They cared for people. They kept the ministry moving forward.
For the pastors, seeing this happen became one of the greatest answers to prayer they could have received. God was not simply growing attendance.
He was growing leaders.
Leaving a growing congregation for several months was not easy.
But while they were away, leaders stepped forward.
They served. They taught. They worshiped. They cared for people. They kept the ministry moving forward.
For the pastors, seeing this happen became one of the greatest answers to prayer they could have received. God was not simply growing attendance.
He was growing leaders.
From Persecution to a Place to Call Home
The story of The Filipino Church in Australia has not always been easy.
When the ministry began, the church experienced opposition and persecution. There were moments when the future of the work seemed uncertain.
But what looked like an obstacle became part of God's redirection.
This month, the church is preparing to celebrate one year in its current church building.
For some, a building may simply be a place where people gather. For The Filipino Church, it represents something more. It is a reminder that opposition could not stop what God had started.
The ministry continued. The people remained faithful. And God provided a place where families could worship, children could grow, leaders could be developed, and the Gospel could continue to be proclaimed.
What began through difficulty has become a testimony of God's faithfulness.
When the ministry began, the church experienced opposition and persecution. There were moments when the future of the work seemed uncertain.
But what looked like an obstacle became part of God's redirection.
This month, the church is preparing to celebrate one year in its current church building.
For some, a building may simply be a place where people gather. For The Filipino Church, it represents something more. It is a reminder that opposition could not stop what God had started.
The ministry continued. The people remained faithful. And God provided a place where families could worship, children could grow, leaders could be developed, and the Gospel could continue to be proclaimed.
What began through difficulty has become a testimony of God's faithfulness.
New Leaders. New Families. New Beginnings.
When the pastors returned to Melbourne, they were amazed by what God had been doing.
The church had not stopped growing. New people were coming. Ministries were strengthening. New leaders were emerging.
One of those new leaders is Sis. Maribeth, who has now joined the worship team as a keyboardist.
Her story is one example of something bigger happening within the church: people are finding a place to belong, discovering ways to serve, and becoming part of the life of the congregation.
The church had not stopped growing. New people were coming. Ministries were strengthening. New leaders were emerging.
One of those new leaders is Sis. Maribeth, who has now joined the worship team as a keyboardist.
Her story is one example of something bigger happening within the church: people are finding a place to belong, discovering ways to serve, and becoming part of the life of the congregation.
They Heard a Tagalog Worship Song—and Found a Church Family
Recently, God brought another family to The Filipino Church in an unexpected way.
The family had been attending an Australian church nearby when they noticed a TFC Converge Australia poster displayed in a local Asian store.
Eventually, they came to visit.
They heard praise and worship in Tagalog. They heard the Word of God taught in their native language. But what touched them most was something that could not be printed on a poster: genuine love, warmth, and acceptance.
They have now decided to make The Filipino Church their church home.
Sometimes God uses a sermon. Sometimes He uses a worship song. And sometimes He uses a simple poster hanging in an Asian store to lead a family exactly where they need to be.
The family had been attending an Australian church nearby when they noticed a TFC Converge Australia poster displayed in a local Asian store.
Eventually, they came to visit.
They heard praise and worship in Tagalog. They heard the Word of God taught in their native language. But what touched them most was something that could not be printed on a poster: genuine love, warmth, and acceptance.
They have now decided to make The Filipino Church their church home.
Sometimes God uses a sermon. Sometimes He uses a worship song. And sometimes He uses a simple poster hanging in an Asian store to lead a family exactly where they need to be.
A Family Reunited
Another family in the congregation had been carrying a deeply personal prayer.
Their child remained in the Philippines because of immigration document issues, separating the family for months.
The church prayed with them. They waited. They trusted God.
And finally, the answer came.
Their child is now safely in Melbourne, reunited with the family. With grateful hearts, they too have chosen to become part of the TFC family.
Stories like these remind us why the church continues. The Church is more than a Sunday gathering. It is where people pray together, wait together, celebrate together, carry burdens together, and remind one another that no one has to walk through life alone.
And yes, The Filipino Church is growing—but not simply in numbers.
They are growing in leadership, relationships, mission, and, by God's grace, as a family.
Their child remained in the Philippines because of immigration document issues, separating the family for months.
The church prayed with them. They waited. They trusted God.
And finally, the answer came.
Their child is now safely in Melbourne, reunited with the family. With grateful hearts, they too have chosen to become part of the TFC family.
Stories like these remind us why the church continues. The Church is more than a Sunday gathering. It is where people pray together, wait together, celebrate together, carry burdens together, and remind one another that no one has to walk through life alone.
And yes, The Filipino Church is growing—but not simply in numbers.
They are growing in leadership, relationships, mission, and, by God's grace, as a family.
How You Can Pray
As God continues to build The Filipino Church, there are several important ways we can pray alongside them.
Charity Registration
Pray for the approval of the church's charity registration, an important step toward obtaining sponsorship for their Religious Visa.
Religious Visa
Under their present visa situation, the pastors are required to leave Australia regularly. Pray for the opportunity for them to remain in Australia and serve the ministry with greater stability and continuity.
Financial Provision
Repeated international travel creates a considerable financial burden for the family and ministry. Pray for God's provision as they continue fulfilling the calling He has given them.
Continued Church Growth
Pray for unity, spiritual maturity, new disciples, strong families, emerging leaders, and more opportunities to reach people with the Gospel.
Your Partnership Becomes Part of Their Story
The ministry of The Filipino Church is not happening in isolation. It is happening through people who pray, encourage, give, and stand alongside them.
When five believers are baptized, partners are part of that story.
When more than 250 people receive medical and dental care, partners are part of that story.
When a family walks through the doors and says, “We found a family here,” partners are part of that story.
When leaders rise, children grow in faith, families are reunited, and the Gospel continues to reach people across cultures and nations, partnership helps make that ministry possible.
There is still much work ahead.
There are still people to reach. There are still disciples to make. There are still leaders to raise. There are still communities to serve.
And The Filipino Church believes the same God who began this work will faithfully continue it.
When five believers are baptized, partners are part of that story.
When more than 250 people receive medical and dental care, partners are part of that story.
When a family walks through the doors and says, “We found a family here,” partners are part of that story.
When leaders rise, children grow in faith, families are reunited, and the Gospel continues to reach people across cultures and nations, partnership helps make that ministry possible.
There is still much work ahead.
There are still people to reach. There are still disciples to make. There are still leaders to raise. There are still communities to serve.
And The Filipino Church believes the same God who began this work will faithfully continue it.
Posted in Featured Church