The Southwestern Philippine Union Conference (SwPUC) recently launched an impressive wave of evangelistic meetings from April 4 to April 12, 2025, reaching out to diverse communities across five key missions. With a total of 1,067 sites and 3,364 speakers participating, the initiative showcases a powerful model of church involvement and engagement. The first wave of the Harvest 2025 program has emphasized total member participation, primarily featuring church elders as speakers.

The innovative approach allows church elders to take an active role in sharing messages of hope and spirituality within their communities. Along them, department directors and officers from the Southwestern Philippine Union Conference and Southern Asia-Pacific Division provided support by visiting locals, mentoring speakers, and reinforcing community ties. In the Zamboanga Peninsula Mission, elders shared their strategies for attracting attendees, revealing that personal invitations, often made through house-to-house visits, played a crucial role.

In other missions and conferences, some congregations even organized basic medical outreach initiatives to raise interest. One elder from Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay, remarked, It was hard at first, but later it turned out to be effective in bringing them to nightly meetings. This grassroots effort emphasizes the power of personal connections in fostering attendance. The enthusiasm of the elders radiated throughout the event, with many expressing a desire for more opportunities to engage in public evangelism. They noted that this experience not only empowered them but also provided a clear vision for future outreach efforts.

Prior to the meetings, SwPUC administrators and directors hosted a three-day training for elders and church members across all missions and conferences. This preparation, a key aspect of the Harvest 2025 vision, aimed to equip participants with the tools needed for effective evangelism. Pastor Jerry Patalinghug, President of SwPUC, expressed joy in witnessing the commitment of elders and church members. I’m so happy to see how our elders got involved in these evangelistic meetings with great enthusiasm, he said. Further, Pastor Jerrymil Pamonag, Vice President for NDR/IEL, echoed these sentiments, describing the results as truly inspiring and overwhelming, highlighting the collaborative spirit that made the event a remarkable success.

As the numbers continue to roll in, the early figures are impressive: over 10,536 individuals baptized during this campaign alone, with many more still being counted from previous months. Outpouring of faith marks a hopeful season for the Southwestern Philippine Union Conference, setting the stage for future evangelistic initiatives. This united effort not only reflects the spreading of the good news within the region but also strengthens bonds within communities, making a lasting impact powered by faith and collaboration among church members, pastors, directors, and administrators of five missions and conferences within the Southwestern Philippine Union Conference.

By Roxie Pido
SwPUCComDept.