Joining the simultaneous evangelism initiative scheduled from May 18 to 24, 2025, the Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries – Adventist Professionals (ASI-Ad Pro) of the Central Visayas ignited a powerful evangelistic collaboration across 42 simultaneous sites in Central Visayas.
These simultaneous events resulted in the baptism of 450 individuals. Additionally, another 177 individuals accepted Jesus through baptism during the culmination of evangelistic meetings planned a week to three weeks after the simultaneous evangelism initiative. This addition brought the total number of baptisms from the ASI-Ad Pro initiative to 607.
Pastor Lelord G. Arranguez, the communication director and ASI-Ad Pro coordinator of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Central Visayas, emphasized that the true success of the crusade extends beyond the number of baptisms.
“What truly matters is the increasing number of Seventh-Day Adventist members who are courageously sharing Christ in their workplaces, marketplaces, and communities,” Arranguez stated.
He also highlighted the ministry’s unique outreach among business people, professionals, and working-class individuals who are not Adventists, showcasing a mission that integrates faith with everyday life.
This courageous effort to share Christ in challenging environments such as the corporate world, academic institutions, government platforms, and other workplaces has yielded significant results as many professionals and businesspeople have embraced the faith. As a result, they have joined the ranks of the 452 newly baptized individuals welcomed into the Adventist community.
One of the most remarkable outcomes was the conversion of the entire True Vine Baptist congregation in Lapu-Lapu City. Led by a church leader, this community attended one of the ASI Ad Pro evangelistic meetings. With their ongoing conviction from regular Bible studies before the event, they ultimately surrendered their lives to Christ, experiencing a profound newfound faith.
In a video presentation by Hope Channel Cebu, Tommy Obregon, one of the church elders of True Vine Baptist Church, shared his story and said, “Ako, isip usa ka lider ug elder sa iglesya, akong gidawat ug gihangop kini nga pagtulon-an ug desisyon nga modawat sa bawtismo kay mao kini ang kulang nga nagkompleto kanamo.”
Grateful for God’s providence and leadings, Arrannguez encouraged ASI-Ad Pro leaders to enhance attendance and engagement for next year’s event, expressing hope that the crusade will continue to be a vibrant and enduring movement “until Jesus comes.” (As a leader and elder in the church, I accept and embrace this teaching and decision to receive baptism because this is what was missing that completes us.)
For every ASI-Ad Pro member or leader in Central Visayas driven by passion and purpose, the partnership is a shining beacon of hope, inspiring communities to embrace Christ’s love and live out their faith with courage and conviction until Jesus comes.
With each baptism and every new witness sharing their faith in workplaces and marketplaces, this annual event promotes a movement that will continue to grow and impact future generations.
By Maricel Mahinay Bojos / CVC Writers’ Guild