Celebrating The Life of DR. Pastor Richard A. Mirpuri

Born in the Philippines of an Indian father and a Filipina mother, Rev. Dr. Richard A. Mirpuri, D.D., or “Pastor Dick” as he is fondly called by his congregation, came to the United States in 1991. He came as a missionary to the Filipino-American community for the Christian & Missionary Alliance (C&MA) – USA, aworldwide evangelical organization based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His first assignment was as the Director for Filipino Ministries of the Central Pacific District of the C&MA covering Northern California, Utah, Nevada, and Hawaii.

In Daly City, Northern California, he founded the Jesus Prince of Peace Christian Fellowship (C&MA) which he pastored for 7 years. He was then called to serve by the late Bishop Valmike Apuzen, who was then the President of CAMACOP, in a concurrent capacity as the International Director of Worldwide Filipino Ministries of the C&MA Churches of the Philippines (CAMACOP) while based in the Bay Area.

This appointment was reconfirmed by Bishop Rodrigo Tano when he became the president to succeed Bishop Apuzen. In Chicago, Illinois, under the Midwest District of the C&MA covering Illinois and Indiana, and in Mandaluyong City, under the Metro Manila District of CAMACOP, he was the Founding Pastor of the Word of Grace Family Christian Fellowship of the C&MA which he pastored for 13 years until 2015.

Pastor Dick is an ordained minister of the C&MA both in the U.S. and in the Philippines.

In Chicago, he wrote a gospel column for “God’s Economics – Biblical Principles for Financial Prosperity” for VIA TIMES monthly Filipino newsmagazine.

Prior to his coming to the U.S. with his wife Lillian and their children, Pastor Dick was the Founder and Spiritual Director of the Philippine Evangelical Alliance for Christian Endeavors (PEACE), Inc. One ministry endeavor he has been involved with as a Founder of PEACE, Inc. is that of ministering to artists, movie stars, and political figures who have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

He was selected by a search committee for induction into the Chicago Filipino American Hall of Fame. Pastor Dick was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2005.

In 2009, Pastor Dick received the “Gintong Pamana & Prism Award” for Gintong Puso for Humanitarian & Spiritual Service given by the Gintong Pamana Awards Foundation, Inc. in Chicago.

On April 10, 2023 Rev. Mirpuri passed away in his sleep during a missions trip with his wife Lillian, in General Santos City, Philippines preaching the Word of God in a week-long series, where he spoke his last sermon on Easter Sunday. His legacy of sharing God’s love, spreading the Word of God through church planting, and offering the love of God for people to choose to change their lives will live through generations in the lives of the people and his family, whom he served.

He is survived by his wife Lillian Mirpuri; his children, Nadja Mirpuri, Johanna Mirpuri, Jotham Mirpuri and Jerusha Panganiban, married to Bryan Panganiban; his grandchildren, Elijah Tanedo-Mirpuri, Sofia Cook, Samantha Cook, Gabriella Panganiban and Gianna Panganiban.

Dr. Pastor Mirpuri loved and respected by his loving family, Church of Grace members, and by so many people. He wll be missed!