Alabama Baptists reached a historic milestone Feb. 9 with the ordination of Pastor Fernando Ruelo, the first reported Filipino pastor to be ordained in Alabama.
Ruelo serves as pastor of the Philippine Globe Mission Baptist Church, which is the first Philippine Baptist church in Alabama.
The church was organized in September 2000 and held services in residences.
Today the church meets in Tuscaloosa Association’s Hopewell Baptist Church in its educational rooms and has been doing so since March 2001.
Approximately 20 members attend the Philippine church. Ruelo was ordained by Hopewell Baptist Church.
Ruelo was born in Caramuan, Camarenes Sur, Philippines, in 1949. He served as a pastor in the Philippines from 1984–1999, and during this time he attended International Baptist Theological College in Manila. Ruelo came to the United States in 1999.
He is married to Estrella Estor, and they have six children: three boys and three girls.
Two of their sons serve as pastors in the Philippines. Of their other four children, three live in the Philippines, and one lives in Tuscaloosa. (TAB)
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