Out of necessity for a job, we reluctantly came to Memphis in August of 2002. My wife, Candy, and I were relatively baby Christians in need of spiritual nurturing. We found Briarwood Church after visiting a couple of other Churches and felt welcomed, at home, and most of all our spirit was filled with Christ-centered messages coming from the pulpit, messages that appeal to my mind that God was renewing and transforming. I am a former agnostic who has witnessed many cults and fake religions back in the Philippines, so I was very picky and critical of the type of preacher I listened to, and God used Briarwood to provide exactly what I needed to mature us in our faith. We immediately joined Briarwood after two Sundays and served in its ministries. In 2002, we were also just starting a family, and being immigrants from the Philippines, we were away from our relatives and friends, but God used Briarwood to fill that need as well. Although we came from totally different backgrounds and cultures, we have developed close friendships with people who treat my children like their own relatives. Briarwood is truly a blessing for my family.

God was working and continues to work in this Church to be a place to feed and nurture Christians, serve the community, to preach the Truth from the word of the One True God, and to share and show the love of Jesus Christ that can save the soul of any man.