Honoring Pastor Roldan Abello: A Lifetime of Leading Souls to Christ

After 24 years of dedicated ministry in the Central California Conference, Pastor Roldan Abello is entering a new chapter—retirement from official pastoral duties—but not from his lifelong calling to serve.

Pastor Abello began his ministry journey in 2001 as a Bible worker at the San Jose Fil-Am Church. A year later, he was called to serve as the pastor of Fresno Fil-Am Church, where he ministered for four years. In 2005, he accepted a pastoral call to San Francisco Central Church, where he has faithfully served for nearly two decades.

When reflecting on his greatest joy in ministry, Pastor Abello did not hesitate.

“Bringing precious souls to the feet of Jesus is my greatest joy,” he said. “Baptisms are always emotional for me because they remind me of my own calling and the day I accepted Christ as my personal Savior. It’s a mixture of joy and gratitude that I can’t fully explain.”

Though his official last day at San Francisco Central Church is Oct. 31, Pastor Abello sees Nov. 1 not as the start of retirement, but as the beginning of a new mission season.

“Retirement is just from the payroll, not from the ministry,” he shared with a smile. “I plan to continue helping small churches, supporting mission projects, and focusing on ministry opportunities in the Philippines and other parts of the world—especially in places where the church needs encouragement and growth.”

Pastor Abello expressed deep gratitude for the support he has received from the Central California Conference throughout his ministry.

“Since I started in 2001, I’ve felt 98 to 99 percent supported by the conference,” he said. “I’m especially grateful for our leadership. My request to all of you is to continue praying for me and my family as I step into this next phase of mission work. Someday, I hope to invite some of you to join us in ministry in the Philippines.”

As Pastor Abello transitions into retirement, his heart remains steadfast in the work he loves most—leading people to Christ. His passion for soul-winning continues to inspire, and his legacy will live on through the many lives he has touched.

We celebrate Pastor Roldan Abello’s faithful service and pray that God will bless his next chapter with fruitful mission work and abundant joy.

Written by Justin Kim