The Agdahon Seventh-day Adventist Church in Brgy. Agdahon, Passi City, Iloilo, reopened its doors as a sanctuary during the recent Typhoon Tino. This initiative, which began after Typhoon Yolanda, has become a vital refuge for families seeking safety during severe weather conditions.
During Typhoon Tino, the church provided shelter to approximately 30 families, totaling around 80 to 100 individuals, including children and infants. This compassionate response continues the church’s long-standing tradition of supporting the community during times of crisis, initially driven by the Galido Family. This is later embraced by the church board as a ministry of hope and refuge.
Inside the church, evacuees found not only physical shelter but also community and spiritual support. With the support of barangay officials who provided relief supplies, the church members worked hand in hand to ensure that every family had food, dry space, and comfort.
In the evenings, Anelene Galido and Elder Donald Gardoce led worship and devotional messages that reminded everyone of God’s abiding presence. These quiet moments of prayer and reflection allowed many to process their fears, find strength, and hold on to hope.
For many of the evacuees, the experience was even more meaningful. They expressed deep gratitude not only for the physical refuge, but for the peace and encouragement they received during the storm.
On Nov. 5, 2025, as the skies cleared and families began returning home, the remaining relief goods were repacked and distributed once more—this time to sustain them as they rebuilt and recovered.
What the Agdahon SDA Church demonstrated is more than just preparedness—it is compassion in action, a living testimony of the Gospel. Their doors were not merely opened; their hearts were.
For the entire Adventist Church of the Western Visayas, this story stands as an inspiring reminder for churches everywhere that a place of worship can also serve as a sanctuary, offering solace and support to those in need.
It emphasizes that a community of faith is not just a space for spiritual growth but can also be a powerful community of healing. In times of distress, these spaces can provide comfort, connection, and compassion, offering an opportunity to encourage refugees to stay hopeful and maintain a spirit of resilience.
A church member said, “May more churches follow the example of Agdahon SDA Church—turning their sanctuaries into shelters of love, their worship into comfort, and their fellowship into hope that restores as calamities continue to come and go.”
“For in every storm,” he continued, “God plants people who become His hands. And in Agdahon, those hands were ready—open, steady, and warm.”
Geric Von De La Cruz/ Head Writer/ West Visayan Conference
The original version of the article was published on the official Facebook page of the West Visayan Conference.