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In 1936 Bishop Antonio C. Nava returns to Los Angeles
to begin a church in the L.A. area. He had been preaching the Apostolic
Message since his Baptism in 1916 later was Founder, Vice-President and
later President of the Apostolic Assembly from its conception.
This work began as a Mission out of the home of the
Nava’s on Decota Street in Los Angeles located near the original Sears
Store. Later, around 1937-38, the Lord opened the door to purchase a
church building in the downtown area. This was when the church became
known as El Siloé. This would be the building a center of Revival and
the presence of God for the next 17-18 years. In this building the early
Apostolic Assembly would hold Conventions and many great anointed
services and activities. People from all parts of our Assembly will
still remember the famous corner of “14th & Birth” where God moved so
wonderfully in those times.
In 1954, Pastor David Pantages of “La Hermosa” (an
Apostolic Assembly church working in the area known as “Maravilla” in
East Los Angeles) purchased a Church Building from the Presbyterian
movement. This building was located in the very heart of the East Los
Angeles community. Its address and cross-street was going to soon become
very well know by a thriving community of a growing Apostolic Oneness
Movement. The corner of Ferris & Hubbard or 701 South Ferris was soon to
become hub of Apostolic activity. Pastor Pantages’ great vision was and
is to be always commended for it was almost unheard of in that day to
purchase a $29,000 property.
In the following year, the congregations of El Siloé
and La Hermosa united to become a more financial strengthen church and
it was then that the property of “14th & Birth” was sold and the El
Siloé congregation moved to their new home of Hubbard and Ferris. Pastor
Nava continued as the Pastor this newly united congregation. (Note that
Pastor David Pantages moved to help the Work in “Jimtown” or West
Whittier. He later returned to El Siloé till the early 1970’s when he
took on the Pastorate of the First Apostolic Church in Fresno,
California when God used him in a great way till he was called home to
be with the Lord.) During the years to come El Siloé would be used for
many District services, conventions, meetings, and even as the General
Offices for the Assembly.
Pastor A. C. Nava continued as Pastor of El Siloé till
the mid 1960’s when his responsibilities as Presiding Bishop President
of The Apostolic Assembly moved him to pass the anointing of Pastor over
to his long time Assistant Pastor John Salazar. Pastor John Salazar
served faithfully as the Shepherd of El Siloé for a brief period of
time. He had the huge task of assuming the church which now had the
reputation of being the “Mother Church” of the Apostolic Assembly.
In 1968 Pastor Lorenzo Salazar became Pastor of El
Siloé which was now one of the largest and most prosperous churches of
the Apostolic Assembly. Pastor Lorenzo Salazar had earlier in his
ministry been one of the many individuals who have been commissioned
from the El Siloé church and served in the foreign mission field. He
served faithfully as a Missionary in Central and South America. When he
returned he also was the Pastor of an Apostolic Church in Oakland,
California until he accepted the calling of God to move his family to
serve as the First Family of El Siloé. Pastor Salazar was a very gifted
song writer, musical composer and singer who was very well known for
both how God used him in the ministry of music and song and especially
as a Preacher of the Word of God. Under his watch as Pastor, El Siloé
entered a new era of Ministry and a very powerful choir known as the
Apostolic Voices began to minister locally, in Sector and District
Services and also in Conventions. The “Voices” were one of the
originators of the early “Singsperations” holding their first at the
Garfield High School Auditorium under the direction of Paul Ares. Pastor
Lorenzo Salazar became President of the Apostolic Assembly in 1968.
Bishop President Lorenzo Salazar remained Pastor of El Siloé until 1971.
The Pastorate of the El Siloé congregation was then
placed upon the shoulders of Pastor Stanley Rodriguez. He was baptized
under the ministry of Pastor Vazquez in Oxnard, California. He was
quickly ordained to the Ministry and assisted Bishop Benjamin Cantu in
an evangelistic crusade in the Crescent City communities of Texas where
a young minister, Pastor Guadalupe Vasquez was beginning a new work for
the Lord. While attending a large District Service at the old Siloé he
met a young sister of that church. She was the very well know pianist,
composer, song writer and singer, Sis. Sarah Hernandez. They were
married in September 1954 and in mid 1955 moved to the Los Angeles area
and became members of the 14th & Birth congregation. Both Bro. Stanley
and Sis. Sarah served the Apostolic Assembly at the Sector, District and
National levels. From 1971 until his death in March 1989, Pastor Stanley
Rodriguez faithfully held the watch of Pastor of the “Mother Church”.
Upon the sudden death of Pastor Stanley Rodriguez the
church was now given to the co-pastor of the congregation. In March of
1989, at the age of 34, Minister Abel E. Rodriguez would then become the
youngest of all the Pastors of El Siloé. He, along with his wife Corrina
and their children Kristie and Andrew were installed as the first family
of El Siloé. They are the first ‘home grown’ to minister and pastor this
great church. Both have been part of this church since their birth.
Pastor Abel Rodriguez assumed the huge task of completing the
construction of the Educational Building. This building is now used by
our Sunday School Department and also our Christian School, Apostolic
Christian Academy. Under the watch of Pastor Abel Rodriguez, the church
has expanded its ministry to encompass both and English and Spanish
Ministry. El Siloé has on many occasions sponsored many community events
such as Holiday Dinners to the less fortunate, toy give-a-ways, food
donations, and more. Pastor Rodriguez shares a community vision and has
invited our facilities to be used for Parenting Classes, Election
Polling locations, Social Services community events, University
satellite seminars locations and much more. He is a graduate of the
Latin American Theological Seminary and has served the Apostolic
Assembly in the Sector, and District Ministerial Boards.
Under the vision of Pastor Abel Rodriguez, the church
has taken on a very compassionate direction. Currently Pastor Rodriguez
is being acknowledged as having a Shepherd’s Heart and the ministry of
what the Bible refers to as a Teaching Elder. We know that there are so
many more triumphs and victories in the Lord that God will give to our
church.
Not only is El Siloé a place where you can come and
received Truth, but it truly has become a place of Healing, Restoration
and Salvation. In the Gospel of John, Chapter 9 we find that Jesus
healed a man who was blind while at the pool of Siloam (Siloé) which
means Sent. From that record we find the purpose of our Church. Our
Church has been “Sent” to this community of the Lord to bring clarity
and vision. It is here at El Siloé where you will find true healing for
your Soul, Body, Emotions, Spirit, Relationships and Heart.
Over the years El Siloé has preached the message of
salvation and has been used to administer close to 2000 baptisms in the
name of Jesus Christ. There have been many powerful moves of the Holy
Ghost and countless records of miracles. There has also been a great
many men and women for have come forth from El Siloé and into the ranks
of the Apostolic Assembly. It is unfortunate that a complete and
detailed list has still yet to be compiled, but the following list will
give an idea of just a few of the great leaders, teachers and pastors
that have been shaped and shared part of the El Siloé legacy.
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