ABSOLUTE joy and celebration filled the halls of Gango SDA Church, Ozamis City, as the Western Mindanao Conference (WMC) leaders, participants, and candidates for ordination, together with their families, made their entrance to the pulpit and the front row seats during their hour of worship and pastoral ordination service last July 24, 2021. 

With the theme “Serving God, Serving People”,  the program was graced by the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) Executive Secretary, Pr. Rudy Baloyo, who served as the speaker of the momentous  occasion via Zoom. He shared his wisdom and encouragement to the candidates as they tread on this bigger path of responsibility in the ministry. He emphasized that these candidates are worthy to be called into the service because they have shown evidence of their spiritual experience, knowledge of the scriptures, and competence for the task of the ministry.

In the presence of their sponsors, families, and church leaders, these four candidates were ordained into service. They are the following: Pr. Jomar Lamit Fuentes. He graduated in 2007 and hails from Jagdong Dueñas, Iloilo City. He has been serving the church since  2016 and was previously assigned in the districts of Malabang and Maranding. He is currently serving in Kapatagan district together with his wife, Malou Canopin Fuentes, and their four children. Throughout his service, he has baptized 429 souls. He was sponsored by Pr. Dolman and Luz Prieto. Pr. Lonny Boy Yosores Luib. He graduated in 2008 and he comes from Manganoy, Bislig Surigao del Sur. He has served in the districts of Oroquieta Central and Clarin, and is currently serving in Oroquieta Suburb District. He is married to Merline Supat Luib, with whom he has two children. He was Sponsored by Pr. Arnel and Girlie Benasahan. Pr. Luib has so far baptized 569 souls for Jesus. 
Pr. Rico Palaran Villa. Born in Kinangay Sur, Clarin, Misamis Occidental, he graduated in 2003 . He is Married to Jewelyn Villa and they are blessed with one child. He has been serving in Bonifacio district since 2016. He Baptized 527 souls for the Lord and he was sponsored by Pr. Edgar and Mrs. Inocencia Balansag. 

From Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, Pr. Abraham Sango Piloton Jr. graduated in 2005 and considers Bislig City, Surigao del Sur as his hometown. He has been serving in the ministry since 2015 together with his wife, Lelibeth Macarae Piloton, and their two children. He Baptized 548 souls into God’s Kingdom. He was sponsored by Pr. Junifer and Mrs. Sheila Mae Colegado. 
Led by Pr. Roger Caderma, president of SPUC, the newly ordained pastors were prayed over by their fellow ministers. Prayers were uttered on their behalf, asking for the Lord’s blessings to be upon them and their families as they face new challenges and bigger responsibilities in the Lord’s work. Finally, Pr. Danielo Palomares, the SPUC Executive secretary confirmed their ordination. 

The Lord’s work has gained new momentum with the addition of these ordained ministers and the church could look forward to the ushering of more souls at the foot of Calvary through the ministry of these inspiring and humble workers of God’s vineyard.

By Raisa Cabahug