Evangelist Pastor Wilde Almeda of the Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry (JMCIM) has passed away on October 19, 2024 at the age of 89, his family confirmed Tuesday (Oct. 22).

Almeda was among the 12 Filipino evangelists held hostage by Abu Sayyaf Group rebels for several months after they were allowed to pray over 21 other hostages captured by the terrorists in Sipadan Island, Malaysia in 2000.

On Friday, the Regional Trial Court of Taguig City sentenced to life prison term the 17 Abu Sayyaf leaders and members who were found guilty of staging the kidnapping of the Sipadan tourists.

“While we grieve at this moment, we greatly rejoice and we take solace in knowing that our Dearest Papa has fulfilled his sweet longing to be with our loving God and Savior Dearest Jesus Christ,” the Almeda family stated in a Facebook post.

The family asked the public for prayers for the evangelist.

Almeda, together with wife Lina, founded the JMCIM on February 14, 1975 in Novaliches, Quezon City. Known as the Jesus Church, the JMCIM is a Oneness Pentecostal denomination in the Philippines.

The late religious sect leader rose to fame in the late 1990s but kept a low profile after he and 11 other JMCIM faithful were rescued from an Abu Sayyaf lair in Talipao, Sulu where they were held hostage for a few months.

The rescue was preceded with massive military operations that reportedly resulted in the death of 117 ASG members and the capture of 53 more terrorists guerrillas.

Almeda was reportedly ailing when military rescuers took him and his followers out of the ASG lair.