Baltazar A. Montajes Jr.

Rev. Baltazar A. Montajes, Jr. (aka Pastor Jun), 69 years of age, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, January 31, 2016 at Living Hope Christian Assembly church in Las Vegas, NV. He was found in prayer posture, on his knees by some of the church members. His cause of death was hemopericardium and ruptured myocardial infarction, also known as heart attack. Pastor Jun was born on June 17, 1946 in Santo Nino, Samar, Philippines. He was the son of Baltazar Daguhoy Montajes, Sr. and Olympia Armidilla Montajes. He was raised surrounded by his siblings, Alberto, Patrocina, Camila, Angela, Rebecca, Samuel, Ruth, Sarah, Elizabeth, David, Susan, Melchor, Ana, Gaspar, and Rhoda.

When Pastor Jun was 12 years old, his mom’s dying wish was for him to become a pastor. He made a promise to her that he would, before she died. In his teenage years, he became worldly and forgot about that promise. One day, he went to visit his sister Camila in Olongapo, Philippines. He went to church and the pastor asked him to give his testimony. He was so ashamed because during that time he did not have a good testimony and he was a chain smoker. After church that day, he threw away his cigarette pack and quit smoking. He remembered his promise to his mom. He went back to his sister Pastora Pat Duenas in Taguig, Philippines and told her that he will be going to bible school. He attended Bethel Bible Institute by faith, without any money he enrolled and by God’s grace someone sponsored him. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Far East Advance School in Theology, Bachelors in Theology, Bachelors in Religious Education, and Bachelors in Biblical Studies. He was an effective one-on-one minister, counselor and pastor. The first church he served in was Napindan Church in Taguig, Philippines. He also served at Manila Faith Assemblies of God, Caloocan Bethel Temple, Living Faith Fellowship, Nasipit Assembly, Golden Harvest, and Holy Spirit Divine Ministry. He was the Senior Pastor and Founder of Living Hope Christian Assembly.

On June 15, 1974, Pastor Jun married Aida M. Padrelanan in Manila, Philippines. With this union of marriage, he became the father of La Donna, Barry, and Bless. He was blessed with 7 grandchildren: 5 from his daughter La Donna M. Galang and her husband Ferdinand Galang and twin granddaughters from his son Barry Montajes and his wife Bernadette Montajes. Pastor Jun’s grandchildren are Brianna, Bethany, Sofia, Skyler, Shalom, Jewel, and Ferdinand, Jr. His family is thankful to the Lord for the godly legacy he left them. They shared many happy and precious moments together. They remember him as a man of faith and a man of prayer. He taught his family not to be ashamed of the gospel message of the Lord Jesus Christ. They know him to be a man who was not afraid to share the gospel with anyone he came in contact with. Pastor Jun was a kind, gentle, patient and loving man. He was a faithful pastor who lived by the Bible verse, “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58.

Pastor Jun is survived by his loving and devoted wife: Aida P. Montajes of Glendale, CA; two daughters and son-in-law: La Donna and Ferdinand Galang of Santa Clarita, CA, and Bless Montajes of Glendale, CA; son and daughter-in-law: Barry and Bernadette Montajes of Sun Valley, CA; seven grandchildren: Brianna, Bethany, Sofia, Skyler, Shalom, Jewel, and Ferdinand, Jr.; eleven siblings: Camila, Angela, Ruth, Sarah, Elizabeth, David, Susan, Melchor, Ana, Gaspar, and Rhoda; Step-mom Rosita; Living Hope Christian Assembly church family; host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Acknowledgement:

Words of thanks seem so inadequate for all of the kindness that has been bestowed upon our family. We thank you for the encouraging Scripture verses, comforting calls, the lovely cards, the beautiful floral arrangements, and the sincere words of solace and prayers. We are finding strength in knowing our hope is in the Lord, not the human side of hope but a LIVING HOPE through the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST from the dead. Therefore, “if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” Romans 14:8