Ellen was born, in Zambales, Philippines. She started attending ECC in 1994, where she prayed to receive the Lord Jesus at the leading of an Evangelism Explosion team and was discipled by a kind-hearted spiritual mother. She was later baptized and began attending the Filipino fellowship meetings at the YMCA. She sensed God's calling right after conversion. In response to God's call to fulltime ministry, she enrolled at Asian Theological Seminary, in Manila Philippines. She finished her Master of Arts in Christian Education. In 1998, she joined the ChinaTEAM staff and in 2000, became the first Filipino Ministry associate director at ECC. She returned to the Philippines in 2006, married Salvador, and joined him to start Bago Aplaya Community Ministries (BACM) in Davao City. Ten years later, she is back at ECC with her husband, Salvador, and only son, Matthew Adrell, who is 9 years old.
Our Staff
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Ellen Ibarra
Pastoral Care Associate for Filipino Ministry
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Gregory Ng
Worship Associate
Born in sunny California, Greg spent much of his early life moving around the world, living in Amsterdam and Jakarta for a few years before his family settled in Hong Kong in 1995. After discovering his love for worship, he first joined his church band as a drummer, and was eventually lead by the Lord to pursue worship leading as his calling in life. Greg joined the ECC team in the fall of 2013 on a part time basis and now has been working full time since December 2015.
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Sarah C
Ministry Support Associate
Sarah joined the ECC staff team as ministry support staff in June 2017. She was born in Virginia, but grew up all over the world, with a significant amount of time spent living in China, Macau, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. She graduated from City University of Hong Kong with a bachelor’s degree in international law in 2009. She then spent several years working in various roles in corporate setting in southern United States. In 2016, she returned to Asia and ministry. She enjoys reading, cooking, and kayaking.
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Iris Wong
Children's Ministry Coordinator
Iris joined the ECC staff team as the Children’s Ministry Coordinator in October 2017. She grew up in Hong Kong and have also studied abroad in Australia. During her time in an international church in Australia, God has deepened her faith and she has since then developed a closer walk with Him.
Upon returning to Hong Kong in 2012, Iris has started going to an English-speaking church. She enjoys walking alongside and praying for people in her community, and found the growing calling to disciple for younger generations in her heart. "To grow and journey with younger counterparts in love and Truth" is the primary passion that Iris has for them to the glory of God.
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Nikky Sepnio
Youth Ministry Coordinator
Nikky joined the ECC staff team as the Youth Ministry Coordinator in March of 2017. She was born and raised in Hong Kong, and moved to Canada at the age of 13, where she completed high school and university there. Although she was not raised in a Christian home, God has begun His good work in her life since childhood as she attended a Christian school and learned about the faith.
Through her teenage years, despite claiming to be a Christian herself, her heart and desires were far from God. She was simply concerned with her own agenda and how to achieve a ‘successful life’. By God’s grace, He drew her back and gripped her heart with the Gospel during her second year in university. Having wrestled through the pressing issues that youths often face, she’s since then loved to serve and walk alongside with these young people, desiring for them to come to a living faith in Christ, and to see for themselves the glory and beauty of the Gospel.
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Fenella Chu
Interim Director of Operations
Fenella was born and raised in Hong Kong. She went to the United States to pursue higher education. After graduating with the MBA, she worked for an American corporation in the capacity of global sourcing. During her stay, she received the most precious Gift in life - committed herself to Christ in 1995. In 2004, Fenella returned to Hong Kong and worked in supply chain operations. Nurturing the next generation has been rooted in Fenella’s heart. After receiving her Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from City University of Hong Kong, she joined the teaching team as Adjunct Professor in mentoring and coaching students.
Fenella has been with ECC 13 years. Since then, she is deeply attached to it. She has served in technical support, HR committee, hospitality, and small group ministry.
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Loretta Tsang
Office and Operations Manager
Loretta joined the ECC staff team as the Office and Operations Manager in March 2017. She was born in Hong Kong and moved to Canada in 1982. She graduated from University of British Columbia with a Bachelor degree of Science. Then, she received her CPA in USA. In 2000, she returned to Hong Kong. She enjoys swimming, tennis and hiking. She finds joy and peace in God, and she is eager to learn the Word of God.
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Connie Lam
Accounting & Administration Officer
Connie joined the ECC staff in March 2016, after 15 years in the publishing industry. Searching for the truth and the meaning of life, she came to Christ in 1998 and began attending ECC since January 2016. She is eager to serve and work with the team.
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Cheng Wai Ling
Office Assistant
Ling joined the ECC staff in 2000. She provides clerical and administrative support to the staff, assists with supplies purchasing and ensure cleanliness of our office and the ministry centers!
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Salvador Ibarra
Part-Time Technical Coordinator
Salvador was born and grew up in Manila, Philippines. He began searching for the truth at the age of 9 and finally received Jesus as his personal Savior, King and Lord on July 22, 1984 during his high school days. He started his ministry through music as a member of the worship team in the church. He plays guitar and other musical instruments. God called him to become a pastor when he got married to Ellen. And together they became the founding ministers of Bago Aplaya Community Ministries in Davao City, Philippines.
