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Pastor
Fernando Villicaņa accepted Jesus Christ at age 17 as a senior at North Hollywood high school. For the next four years he
attended church at Sepulveda Christian Center, an Assembly of God church in Sepulveda, CA, Pastored by Samuel Meza. It was
there that he met and married his wife Elizabeth, had three children Vanessa, Aaron and Marie, and now have four grandchildren.
At age 22 Fernando and Liz bought their first home in Downey, CA and would live there for the next 22 years.
In
1980 Fernando began a career in the Los Angeles City Fire Department. During his career in the fire service he served as a
firefighter in high incident areas, an instructor in the Drill Tower, an instructor in the Disaster Preparedness Division
for Emergency Response Teams, and a Fire Safety Specialist for high-rise buildings. During his career he obtained teaching
credentials through Long Beach State College and traveled throughout the United States as a public speaker and trainer in
several fields. Fernando was certified and accepted as an instructor at the National Fire Academy in Emmetsburg Maryland by
the Federal Management Association (FEMA). In addition, Fernando has received personal recognition by President Ronal Reagan,
Mayor Tom Bradley, Fire Chief Donald Manning, Police Chief Daryl Gates, and Los Angeles City Counsel and others for his work
in the above mentioned fields.
The Villicaņa family visited Praise Chapel Christian Fellowship in 1984 under
Pastor Mike and Donna Neville (known as “the mother church”). After a few short years they became heavily involved
in leadership and In 1991 were sent out from a Bible Conference to Pastor a church of their own in the city of Fullerton,
CA. Starting in a small store front facility, with only his wife and three children, the church has since grown to be an effective,
fully functional ministry touching hundreds of new visitors each year. Pastor Fernando has completed over five years of formal
Bible College and holds various certificates/degrees in Biblical Studies. Working on a full time basis, along side his wife
Elizabeth, the church continues to prosper with a strong emphasis on evangelism, discipleship, family and Spirit filled living.
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