A unified effort in global discipleship and evangelism took place in Butuan City from March 31 to April 6, 2024. Simultaneous evangelistic campaigns, organized by care groups from 22 districts, occurred at 88 sites across the area, resulting in a partial tally of more than 700 baptisms. Aligned with the General Conference's Global Disciple-Making and Evangelism initiative, this event aims to win and nurture souls for Christ until His return.

At the event, there were 16 administrators from the union, missions, and conferences. Among them were several union directors and NEMM directors. For instance, Southwestern Philippine Union Conference (SwPUC) President, Pr. Jerry Patalinghug, was assigned to Butuan City Seventh-day Adventist Church. He delivered a speech on health and family life, emphasizing the importance of practicing biblical principles for maintaining successful health and family relationships.

Pr. Jeramil Pamunag, the SwPUC Vice President for NDR-IEL, expressed hope for improving future campaign programs and thanked all administrators for their support, especially financially; moreover, Pr. Patalinghug hopes that the church members in Butuan City will continue to nurture the newly baptized souls, remaining steadfast in their faith journey within the church.

Throughout the week-long event, the union administrators and directors shared heartfelt personal stories and expressed deep gratitude for its remarkable success. Their appreciation for the event's positive impact was evident as they praised the divine role in its fruition and commended the unwavering commitment of the local brethren who volunteered tirelessly. The community's collective efforts in spreading spiritual enlightenment and enriching their surroundings were truly commendable. The care groups within the churches, which hosted nightly gatherings, played a vital role in extending invitations and laying the groundwork for attendance. In addition, each church ensured the comfort of attendees by providing complimentary meals and diligently following up after each session, fostering a sense of warmth and inclusion within the congregation.

A person who was recently baptized in Bangonay SDA Church shared that she had attended three separate evangelistic meetings in the past held in her area. It was very difficult for her to decide to be baptized. However, during the recently concluded evangelistic meeting, which was her fourth, she found it hard to resist the power of the messages delivered by the speaker at the church. The nightly messages resonated with her and helped her make the decision to get baptized. “This time, the power of the message has overwhelmed me.”

This collaborative effort extends beyond NEMM, as similar caravan events are also scheduled to take place in CMM, WMC, and ZPM in 2024.

By Quin Salarda, News Reporter
SwPUC Communication Department