It has a friendly, family atmosphere, compassionate vision, and strong commitment to Bible truth. In May 2010, a church was started in the heart of Makati under the ministry of Abiko Baptist Church, Chiba, Japan, led by Dr. Shinji Amari. The work of the Lord was named as Makati Missionary Baptist Mission then, and Pastor Emmanuel “Jun” Tejada, Jr.’s pastorate was short lived at about a year and a half. In November 2011, Preacher Agot, a Bible College student from local Missionary Baptist seminary in Luzon, along with his family, was asked by Pastor Tejada to lead and minister to the growing flock of Makati MBM. However, series of events turned out at the mission work, thus the people have come together to pray for a pastor. In the mid-year of 2012, Pastor Oliver Viloria visited the mission work in Makati, who was then leading a work in Hinunangan, Southern Leyte with his family. After several weeks of pleading from the Lord, he accepted the call from the church to lead. Months after, the work transferred its location to Santa Rosa, Laguna, having Pastor Viloria and his family as ministers. With the blessing from the Lord and help of Abiko Baptist Church and Dr. Shinji Amari, Fortress Baptist Church was organized on November 14, 2015. On that day, baptized believers organized the Fortress Baptist Church with Oliver Viloria as their pastor. By the grace of God, since that special day of the church’s organization, the church has grown both spiritually and numerically. The people are energetic and excited about the Lord’s work and are always welcoming to new visitors around the church. In January 2018, Pastor Viloria had been contemplating with a burden from the Lord to start another mission work. In the last service of December 2018, he expressed his direction from the Lord to obey his new calling in the ministry. By the grace of God, Ken Saavedra became the interim pastor. In April 2019, the Lord led the church through Pastor Saavedra to pray for a new sending church. God answered the plea in June, when Pastor Ramon Navarro, Jr. of Metrolight Gospel Baptist Church was invited to be the speaker at the Family Conference. Since then, much prayers were contributed from both ends. On the 16th day of November 2019, Fortress Baptist Church was re-organized, and Pastor Saavedra was ordained by Metrolight Gospel Baptist Church to lead the congregation of Fortress. Our desire is to continue to influence the community and the world through outreach, Christian love and spiritual growth. While our history has been very special, we are very excited about all that the Lord has in store for us in the future. As an independent, fundamental, Baptist church, Fortress Baptist Church puts a strong emphasis on the preaching of the infallible Word of God, the edifying of the Christian, and the reaching of lost souls for Christ.
