New Church Region in the Philippines Is Making the Most of Digital Evangelism

Adventist World Radio (AWR), the radio ministry arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, along with its Center for Digital Evangelism (AWR-CDE) volunteers, organized simultaneous evangelistic meetings in eleven locations across the province of Agusan del Sur, in the Southeastern Caraga Mission (SeCM), Philippines, May 19-24. During these meetings, 412 people chose to accept Jesus as their personal Savior and were baptized in a series of ceremonies.

The SeCM is one of the newly organized entities in the region, following the bifurcation of two missions in Mindanao — the Northeastern Mindanao Mission and Southern Mindanao Mission. This decision resulted in the creation of the Northeastern Mindanao Mission and the Southeastern Caraga Mission, in a move that, church leaders say, enhances the church’s presence and impact in the area.

Digital Ministry in Action

During the evangelistic initiatives, a dedicated team of AWR-CDE volunteers spearheaded a series of evangelistic meetings across various locations in Agusan del Sur, sharing Bible truths and the end-time message. This initiative marked the beginning of a significant outreach in the province, regional church leaders said.

AWR-CDE ministry highlights the power of using mass media as a powerful tool in sharing the gospel in this modern generation. In relation to this initiative, the team also empowers everyone involved by reminding them that while digital evangelism is important, personal evangelism is still essential in building lasting relationships and in bringing people to a realization of who Jesus is.

AWR-CDE leaders also participated in the initiative of reaching out to Agusan Del Sur. AWR-CDE director Jan Elexis Mercado and assistant director Jeter Canoy joined the meetings, immersed themselves in the community, and helped people learn the Bible together. 

In one of his worship messages, Mercado presented three important points for strengthening the Christian life. “Believers will certainly suffer, but they can endure every hardship because they know Christ,” he said. “They must stand firm, as they will no longer be ashamed of the good news of the Lord. And finally, they must sacrifice for Jesus, offering of their time, treasure, and talents to the faithful God.”

A Story of Conversion and Commitment

Rhoen Catolico, communication director of the Southeastern Philippine Union Mission (SePUM), emphasized the importance of media ministry involvement. Citing 1 Corinthians 16:9 and its reference to an “open door,” Catolico shared the story of Emma Blas, a house helper who frequently listened to AWR HopeRadio. Although not an Adventist at the time, Blas regularly contributed offerings to the media ministry. Her dedication led to her receiving a Bible and ultimately deciding to be baptized. This story highlights the significant impact of sharing God’s love through media.

During a commitment service, SeCM president Jemsly Lantaya expressed gratitude for the congregation’s faith and prayers. He referenced the biblical account of the healing of the paralytic in Mark 2 to illustrate the importance of empathy and cooperation. Lantaya compared the congregation’s efforts to the four men who lowered the paralytic through a roof to reach Jesus, leading to his forgiveness and healing. This story underscores the commitment to helping others and working together in faith, he said.

The media ministry in this new mission territory is experiencing significant growth, regional leaders reported. “Through various programs aired over the airwaves and the collaborative work of care group members, evangelists, lay workers, and ministers in the 42 districts of the mission field, many hearts and minds have been opened to the message,” they said.

The original version of this story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division news site.