Like most of us, Alexander Ocampo of Batangas was born in a Catholic family. He recalls practicing his former religious belief a notch higher than his peers, serving as altar boy when he was only 10 years old. But that’s all there was in his former self. His knowledge about the one, true God was vague. He was ignorant of God’s words and wisdom and this became apparent in his lifestyle and choice of friends. He sought company with people who did not fear nor cared about God’s righteousness and standards. For this, he became easy prey to people that engaged him to drugs, gambling and other vices. A major highlight of his wild, juvenile years was his passion for break dancing, a dangerous dance genre he was so good at it made him an icon in his local town. Not content with merely showing off his dance wares, he organized Something More Unique Rather than Funk (SMURF) Breakers Club in Batangas.

But God had set His eyes on Alexander. He did not want him to remain a mundane, wasted, and aimless break dancing fellow. God wanted him for a much nobler calling to fulfill His works. Alex, as he is fondly called, was 21 years old when he responded to God’s call for salvation. He received the Lord Jesus Christ as personal savior on January 12, 1987 in a Bible study initiated by Rev. Rusty M. Ocampo, his older brother. Two days after, Rev. Rusty M. Ocampo baptized him in Lemery, Batangas.

There was no turning back from then on. He went through rigid discipleship program under the hands of Ellen Ocampo, his elder sister by enjoining him to Bible studies, good news classes, visitation, and other ministries. To strengthen his knowledge on God’s word and works, he studied Theology at Baptist Heritage Bible College (BHBC) in San Pedro, Laguna. He zealously studied God’s Word while simultaneously carrying out his evangelism and preaching ministries. During his last year in BHBC, he started mission work in Cuenca, Batangas. He finished Degree in Theology as Cum Laude and served the institute as faculty for two (2) years.

God’s plan for Alex to serve full time finally came upon his commendation as missionary in July 7, 1994. Together with his family, he presented himself to their home church, Heavenly Bible Baptist Church in Lipa City where he labored for six (6) years, to be the missionary representative in Zion Hill Bible Baptist mission, an outreach work in Cuenca, Batangas.

On October 14, 1995, Zion Hill Bible Baptist mission was organized as Zion Hill Bible Baptist Church (ZHBBC) simultaneous with his ordination as pastor. Looking back, Pastor Alex is grateful to the Lord for the church’s 600 members, 250 of which are active and faithful.

Complacency is not accepted in Christian service. Sometime in 2007 while pastoring ZHBBC, Pastor Alex Ocampo envisioned that God wanted him to start mission work in Manila, particularly in Sampaloc area. The plan seemed strange because the traditional pattern of planting churches initially emanates from Manila to the provinces, and Manila is already saturated with Christian churches. But God’s work defies patterns. Pastor Alex Ocampo sheepishly obliged to the call, approached his church elders in ZHBBC-Batangas to give him the go signal, and on January 2008, off he went to Vicente G. Cruz, Sampaloc, Manila. February 10, 2009 was his first Sunday evening service in that mission house. After few years starting from June 2014 up to present the ministry has been entrusted to his second son Pastor Alex Ocampo Jr., in many months had passed since that time, and to date, the Lord has consistently blessed the church-mission with 125 attendees per service, the fruit of his, Pastor Aljay and fellow brethren’s hard work, prayer and evangelism efforts.

It is with pleasure that Pastor Alex Ocampo has been serving ZHBBC in manifold ways. His tasks involve preaching, teaching the Word of God, soul-winning and discipleship through missions and community service (He is the Provincial Director of Task Force Tagaligtas in Batangas that opens doors for soul winning through police and campus ministry Resource speaker in FDS), music (instrumentalist and soloist), down to cleaning and maintaining God’s temple by sharing janitorial tasks with his brethren.

God has blessed Pastor Alex with a God-fearing, happy family. His marriage to Ma'am Nellie Hernandez now on its 30th year has been blessed with four children. Mark David serves as music director and assistant Pastor; Alexander Jr. As Mission Pastor and area leader; Jehanareh is Sunday School teacher, Auditor and Music Coordinator, and the youngest Naomie Ruth, as Sunday school teacher, violinist and serves in the choir.

Despite persecutions and severe trials, Pastor Alex remains steady in serving the Lord, eagerly giving and sacrificing with joy for the love of God’s work. He knows that God is faithful and true.