Corona International Christian Fellowship

Also known as CICF
Member: Converge Southwest, Converge Worldwide (formerly the Baptist General Conference)
Senior pastor: Ed Dacio
Associate pastor: Alan Llavore
Youth pastor: Alexei Agdigos
Elder: Manny Quintans

We meet 1:30 p.m. every Sunday at 1114 W. Ontario Ave. in Corona, CA.

In 1989, Pastor Sam Lacanienta who was then the Director of Church Planting for Filipino churches of the Southwest District of the Baptist General Conference, was given a vision by God to start a Filipino-American church in the City of Corona. Several years went by as Pastor Sam searched and tried out several possible Church Planters to head the Corona Ministry. After several starts and stops and a lot of prayer, through the recommendation of Pastor Charles Patam of Living Stone Church in Long Beach, Pastor Sam appointed Ed Dacio who was then a Master of Divinity student from Talbot Theological Seminary at Biola University, to be the Church Planter and First Pastor of The Filipino-American Church of Corona (FILACOR).

With only their faith in the Lord and their zeal to serve Him, three families set out to glorify God by planting a church in Corona. These were Ferdinand and Lilian Cancino with their two sons J.R. and Archie; Peter Lacanienta and his wife Kynna; and Pastor Ed and his wife Cory, with their son Myles. With only 6 adults and three children, their first Sunday Service was held on May 4, 1997 at the Faith Baptist Church.

During the January 1999 Church Planning Meeting, a unanimous decision was made to change the church name from The Filipino-American Church of Corona to the name Corona International Christian Fellowship (CICF). This name change was done to ensure that everyone and anyone would never feel excluded but welcome to worship the Lord at CICF - no matter what their cultural background or national heritage was.

The story of Corona International Christian Fellowship is a testimony of the Grace and Faithfulness of God. There is still much work to be done in Corona and the surrounding communities, so the story of CICF goes on - and will keep going on until the Lord’s return. Until then, may God continue to use Corona International Christian Fellowship as a light to spread the Gospel of Christ, and as a vessel to expand His Kingdom.