The first IEMELIF congregation outside Philippine shores, officially established on MAY 26, 1985, PASADENA IEMELIF CHURCH was pioneered by Rev. GEORGE CRUZ. The group meetings started as weekly Bible studies, which later evolved into formal Sunday worship services. Present at the inaugural Worship service were: Pastor GEORGE and his wife CARIDAD, both of Tanong, Marikina; the Rev. PIO PARAISO, SR. from Aniban, in Cavite; ALICE POLK of Banlat, Quezon City; and EDWIN CADORNIGARA, from Imok, Calauan, Laguna. This initial group was later joined by others who came to settle in Southern California. Past and present members of the church include transplants from the Philippines as well as from a number of different other countries, and from a myriad of faiths including Methodist, Catholic and Baptist, among others. To this day Pasadena IEMELIF remains a vibrant and strong congregation of believers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, with a fervent mission to introduce the un-churched into a personal relationship with the Lord. A number of present Fil-Am churches in the Greater Los Angeles area can trace their roots from this local church in Pasadena.