Dante and Marilyn De Villa

Prior to joining Faith Baptist Church, Dante has served as an elder, a deacon, and church treasurer of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Sydney. He also taught Sunday school for children and Christian living lessons for adults at Emmanuel. Dante married his high school sweetheart Marilyn, and the Lord has blessed them together with 3 wonderful children. Before completing his Master of Theology (ThM) at Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas Texas, U.S.A. Dante completed a bachelor’s degree in accountancy in the Philippines and a few master’s degrees in commerce, finance, and business including an MBA at Macquarie University in Sydney. Dante also spent two years in law school training to become a lawyer until the Lord re-directed his path. Dante is a qualified CPA and has held executive roles in the commercial world for many years.

To stay physically fit, Dante likes to walk, run, lift weights, swim, and play some tennis whenever he can.

Dante is passionate in walking alongside followers of Christ to help them grow deeper in their love for the Lord and His word. Dante highly values the verse-by-verse exposition of God’s word with the aim of always preaching it truthfully, clearly, relevantly in an engaging fashion.

Update – Our previous pastor John Wickline and his wife Annette have retired as of 31 May 2026. They were fondly farewelled on 30 May 2026, celebrating and honour their thirty and a half years of faithful ministry in Faith Baptist Church.

Elder: elected to serve indefinitely

Deacons: each deacon is elected to serve a two year term