Pantukan, Davao de Oro – Ministerial spouses from the Northern Davao region gathered for a spiritually enriching two-day retreat at the serene Bong Lantaya's Haven of Rest from November 10 to 11, 2023. The event featured distinguished lecturers, including Ma'am Victoria Besin, WMC MSA Coordinator, Ma'am Glen Lagunday, CMM MSA Coordinator, Ma'am Zenaida Necesario, NDM MSA Coordinator, and Ma’am Jill Palomares, SPUC MSA Coordinator who shared their expertise as Children's Ministries Directors and Ministerial Spouses Association Coordinators from various Missions and Conferences.

Organized by the Children's Ministries Department and Ministerial Spouses Association of the South Philippine Union Conference, the retreat was spearheaded by Ma'am Jill Palomares, a key figure in ensuring the event's success. It provided a platform for ministerial spouses to engage in spiritual nourishment, personal growth, and professional development.

The retreat featured insightful lectures and communal activities and concluded with a stirring message delivered by Pr. Danielo Palomares, the President of SPUC, during the Divine Worship Service. His message provided a compelling challenge to the attending ministerial spouses, encouraging them to take an active role in deepening their spiritual journey and embracing their vocational responsibilities.

Beyond spiritual nourishment, the retreat fostered a sense of community and mutual support among the ministerial spouses, underscoring their crucial role in nurturing the spiritual well-being of their congregations. This meaningful gathering underscored the ongoing commitment of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to invest in the well-being and empowerment of its ministerial spouses, recognizing their invaluable contributions to the ministry.

By Roxie Pido and Jill Palomares