Dr. Fritz Cobrado, known in the 1980s as Pastor Fritz Cobrado, was a young university student who answered the call to preach the Gospel. He started ministering in their home through a house church, which eventually grew and moved to a large building—an old cockfighting arena ("bulangan") in Jimenez. This place was transformed into a church building and became widely known as the Praise and Worship Cathedral.
It all began in 1984 when Pastor Fritz joined a campus ministry at MSU-IIT, led by the Berian Church in Tibanga, Iligan City. Through the ministry of Jerry De La Cruz, an Industrial Education student, Pastor Fritz came to know the Lord and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. From that moment on, he actively participated in campus Bible studies. Once a radical activist protesting tuition hikes and opposing the Marcos Sr. administration, he experienced a life transformation—from being a radical activist to being radically committed to Jesus.
One unforgettable moment in Pastor Fritz’s journey was when he returned to his hometown of Jimenez ,Misamis Occidental during the Christmas holiday of 1985. There, he met Sis Elvie Banluta, who invited him to join an intentional discipleship Bible study. The first home Bible study was held in the house of Mr. and Mrs. Ruby Angus, using an old piggery behind the house. That moment became a major turning point in Pastor Fritz’s life. Through Sis Elvie’s strong leadership in prayer, worship, and discipleship, the home of Tatay Ruben and Nanay Pablita became a house church.
On September 20, 1986, the first historic Sunday service was held at the Cobrado Residence in Taboo. Three years later, the fellowship moved to the old cockfighting arena in Rizal, Jimenez, which was purchased and donated by Bro. Robert Chan. It officially became the Praise and Worship Cathedral – Christ-Centered Christian Fellowship. The name was inspired by their daily practice of praising and worshiping Jesus at the Jimenez port and in their homes.
Every September 20, the church celebrates its Anniversary and Thanksgiving. Over the years, the Lord has added many souls to the church and opened outreach ministries in Matugas Alto, Aquino, Gata, Nacional ,Butuay, Also in Mt. Malindang Area (Mansawan, Gandawan, Penasyo, Lake Duminagat), and Matol during the time of the late Cesar Quimbo. The church also established its first island outreach in Balas, and church in Cabgan in Panguil Bay.
Dr. Fritz initiated the Champions for Jesus Christ Evangelistic Campaigns, led by Elder Eufemio Dagandan, which reached all 24 barangays of Jimenez. Outreach Bible studies were conducted and distribution of every home for Christ gospel tracts in Taboo, Palilan, Corales, Gata, Macabayao, Sibaroc and to many barangays and extended even to San Vicente and Katipunan in Sinacaban, and Evangelistic campaigns in Brgy Patudan and Bualan in Tubod,Lanao del Norte and to Pitogo Zamboanga del Sur.
Dr. Fritz also served as Vice President of Jesus for All Nations in Cagayan de Oro and spearheaded the Church Multiplication Coalition (CMC), starting in Bangkok, Thailand, and expanding to Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, and parts of Southeast Asia, Nepal, and Dubai, UAE/Middle East.
In 1989, he co-founded the Revival Youth Movement (RYM) Misamis Occidental with Bro. Popoy De Los Santos, which expanded across Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Butuan City, and Bohol.
He also organized the Jimenez Ministerial Fellowship (JMF), which later became JPATS (Jimenez, Panaon, Aloran, Tudela, Sinacaban Pastors Association), where he served as founding president. He was also the provincial chairman of MOCMA (Misamis Occidental Churches and Ministers Association) and helped organize CAPOLC (Church Army Police Liaison Committee) with Rev. Robert Bendoy—a peacebuilding and moral recovery initiative in partnership with LGUs. Pastor Fritz and Pastor Bendoy even received an award from President Fidel Ramos at Malacañang Palace, with support from the-Governor Benito Chiongbian.
