CEBU, PHILIPPINES – November 21, 2024 – Executive committee members, conference and mission executive secretaries, treasurers, and academy principals of the Central Philippine Union Conference gathered Monday and Tuesday at its headquarters in Gorordo Ave., Cebu City, for the 2024 year-end meeting.
Leaders representing various entities, including missions and conferences, a publishing house, educational institutions, and medical facilities, gathered to provide comprehensive reports. These reports highlighted key achievements and milestones reached throughout 2024 and outlined long-term plans and strategic initiatives for 2025.
In addition, 11 representatives from the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, including administrators and departmental directors, attended the event. Among them was Mr. Edward Rodriguez, SSD associate communication director and the editor of Mizpah.
These SSD representatives were Pastor Wendell Mandolang, executive secretary; Mrs. Sweetie Richil, associate treasurer; Anakul Richel, associate youth director; Pastor Arnel Gabin, Integrated Evangelism Lifestyle-Nurturing, Discipleship, and Retention vice-president; Dr. Irelyn Gabin, assistant to the president for Adventist Possibility Ministry.
Other representatives were Pastor Jibil Simbah, the Stewardship Ministries director; Pastor Felixian Felicitas, field secretary; Pastor Michael Palar, Hope Channel coordinator; and Pastor Roni Manurung, assistant treasurer.
During the event’s opening, Pastor Mandolang stressed the significance of evangelism in the passage he took from Ellen G. White’s book “The Acts of the Apostles,” which says, “The heart of a true minister is filled with an intense longing to save souls. The Spirit of Christ rests upon Him.”
While the executive committee and invitees tackled various meeting agendas, more of them were about God’s faithfulness for 2024 and the plans for 2025.
Spiritual Revival Initiative
Gladly responding to God’s call for a close communion with Him, CPUC embraces the profound significance of spiritual revival initiatives. Thus, all missions and conferences and the rest of its entities reinforce 1-2 annual spiritual revival sessions annually, emphasizing to every individual and the church the importance of restoring personal and family communion with God.
Mission Refocus Initiative
In embracing the ‘Mission Refocus’ initiative, CPUC has collaborated with the Southern Asia-Pacific Division to send missionaries to unreached areas, especially in the 10/40 window.
Pastor and Mrs. Victor Montano, from the Central Philippine Adventist College, now teach at the Faculty of Religious Studies of Asia-Pacific International University, Thailand. Next in line are Pastor Brenda and Mrs. Caroz, who are bound for Papua Island in Indonesia as evangelism coordinators.
More are waiting for the final assignment and departure, such as Pastor Randy Igloso, Pastor Raymun Fajilan, and Pastor Roberto Gedaro. Prayerfully, more will be stepping into these unreached areas.
As for the local Mission Refocus Initiative, the East Visayan Conference, by God’s grace and leading, has successfully penetrated the cities and the ever-challenging, intimidating, and considered impenetrable government platforms and offices.
Pastor Ricardo de Asis, the EVC district pastor, has regularly stood before heroes in uniform, political dignitaries, and government agencies in their session halls and offices, bravely speaking to them about Jesus through mental health topics.
On the other hand, all missions and conferences give more time to prison and city evangelism. At the same time, the West Visayan Conference focuses on Indigenous People (IP) and PWD ministries, winning souls with special needs for Christ.
Key Evangelistic Initiatives
Furthermore, CPUC has engaged in intensive, unified, and simultaneous evangelism across its missions and conferences, mobilizing district pastors, lay workers, church members and leaders, youth, missionaries, and care groups to get involved, resulting in an impressive result.
With every director and officer holding eight or more evangelistic efforts in a year, including the mobilization of care groups, youth organizations, departmental ministries, and organizational ministries like the Adventist Laymen Services and Industries (ASI) and Adventist Professionals (Ad Pro), CPUC has reached a total of 2,637 evangelistic efforts, resulting in 19,180 baptisms during the third quarter of 2024 alone.
Meanwhile, in October 1490 more were baptized, and in November, 760, increasing their number to 21,430. More evangelistic endeavors are scheduled for November and December, thus expecting more for harvest at the end of the year.
With this, CPUC earned recognition as a Top 3 performer in evangelism at the SSD Year-End Meeting held in Silang, Cavite, from November 11-14, 2024.
Multimedia Ministries
On October 28, 2024, CPUC launched AWR Central Philippines, an Adventist radio network, to broadcast the gospel in Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Waray, and other local dialects. Part of a global effort by Adventist World Radio, AWR Central Philippines will connect people across the Visayas with the love and teachings of Jesus in their own tongue.
Moreover, CPUC has also organized “CPUC Digital Missionaries,” currently comprising 500 members from all missions and conferences. They are essential for expanding our radio and digital evangelism programs, helping to boost viewership and stimulate online discussions.
Hope Channel stations across CPUC strive to connect with viewers on their spiritual journey by offering a diverse and evolving range of programs. They are constantly updating their schedules and adding new content and programs to address a variety of spiritual interests and needs.
Organizational and Departmental Initiatives
All departments and organizations have conducted intensive seminars, training, and orientation programs from church levels to union-wide summits or conventions. Each aimed at evangelism programs as well, resulting in a massive number of new believers welcomed into the Adventist faith.
Furthermore, CPUC directors and their counterparts worked together not only in seminars and conventions but also on simultaneous and church-based evangelism programs.
Adventist-Services and Industries/Adventist Professionals
ASI and Ad Pro have strengthened and, together, have organized local organizations for several missions and conferences. The number of business people and professionals who are actively involved in evangelistic endeavors has exponentially increased, including the pledges of financial resources for the ministry.
In total, ASI/Ad Pro has conducted 406 evangelistic efforts, inviting 4 224 to Jesus’ feet from January to October 2024.
Ministerial/Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries
Amicable dialogues with offshoot brethren and their families resulted in rebaptisms, and another five families are now prepared for rebaptism. Books about how to deal with the issues of offshoot brethren are now published and available.
Pastoral ordinations to the Gospel ministry are ongoing, and many more are next in line.
Publishing Ministries/Literature Ministry
The Adventist Publishing Ministries Leaders (APMLs) have conducted 22 evangelistic campaigns, yielding 165 baptisms.
Two APMLs were awarded educational incentive trips, and their total performance sales have multiplied compared to the previous years.
Stewardship Ministries
After several Stewardship Summits (district-wide to union-wide), 189 churches are reported as practicing 5-10% or more, while four churches have confirmed that their tithes are equal to the offering amount.
Youth Ministries
The Youth Ministries Department, aside from widespread training and seminars, has invested 3, 225 new master guides.
One hundred forty-five (145) evangelistic endeavors were conducted, and 752 individuals were baptized up to the 3rd quarter of 2024.
Women’s Ministries
The Women’s Ministries Department has conducted two conference-wide Women’s Leadership Certification Graduation, 16 Women’s Leadership Certifications, and 89 evangelistic campaigns with 433 baptisms up to the 3rd quarter of 2024.
Ellen G. W Research Center/Spirit Of Prophecy
These departments conducted one Spirit of Prophecy (SOP) certification seminar for coordinators and several certification and educational sessions for all ministers, academy Bible teachers, chaplains, CPAC School of Theology professors, and institutional administrators.
Care Group Ministries
IEL-NDR held 840 evangelistic meetings up to October 2024, resulting in 3, 886 baptisms.
The leaders of this have continued mentoring pastors, church leaders, and members on the role of nurturing, reclaiming, disciplining, and evangelizing the truth.
Human Resource/ /Legal Department
Atty Christian Abenir has released the amended and approved 2024 Employee Handbook. Furthermore, he has aided in the amendment of the Constitution and By-Laws of the East Visayan Conference, West Visayan Conference, and Central Visayan Conference.
He has also registered one mission within CPUC as a separate legal entity with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Aside from legal matters, he has conducted eight evangelistic meetings and 153 crusades.
Education
The Education Department, in addition to accrediting and reaccrediting schools, has mobilized teachers to conduct evangelistic campaigns during the summer. This resulted in 52 evangelistic efforts and 635 baptisms up to the third quarter of 2024.
Adventist Possibility Ministries
In addition to APM training, the department has organized retreats for widows, widowers, and single parents, offering support and fellowship during challenging times. Some conferences also focus on PWD ministry.
1000 Missionary Movement
This year’s missionary training program has proven to be a resounding success, exceeding expectations by attracting a total of 72 participants across two batches. Initially aiming for only 30 participants, the program welcomed 41 missionaries for the 62nd batch and an additional 31 for the 63rd batch.
CPUC Treasury 2024
CPUC showed remarkable growth, which is evident in its expanding mission programs, the establishment of new churches, and the surge in evangelism, reflecting God’s grace at work.
Its financial standing in 2024 provides compelling evidence of God’s faithful provision and direction. Tithes and offerings have increased this year compared to the previous three years.
Future Plans In Support of the Harvest 2025 Campaign
CPUC envisions 2025 ablaze with evangelistic fervor across its territory. Pastor Eliezer ‘Joer’ Barlizo Jr., the CPUC president, calls upon every church and district elders’ council to conduct at least one evangelistic meeting.
All academies must engage in at least one evangelism program, including the youth, for their “Voice of Youth” evangelism. All other entities should conduct at least one evangelistic effort.
Women’s Ministries Department will partner with the Ministerial Spouses’ Association and hold at least one evangelistic meeting a year, while all missions and conferences should engage in at least four evangelistic campaigns.
Moreover, all mission and conference presidents are scheduled for the 40-Day Digital Evangelistic Effort, which will run from January 19 to March 2025.
Following this are the simultaneous evangelistic efforts to be conducted by local churches, district pastors, officers, directors, and institutions from April to August 2025.
In October, the officers, together with invited SSD guest speakers, will conduct large-scale evangelism across its territory, including utilizing multimedia platforms.
Goals for 2025
The CPUC is dedicated to expanding its reach by finalizing the Masbate Mission and exploring the possibility of bifurcation in 2025.
Simultaneously, CPUC commits to securing resources to complete headquarters for the Northwestern Panay and Samar Missions.
Strengthening our “Mission Refocus” is a key priority, including the designation of a dedicated director overseeing and reporting ministries to unreached areas such as urban communities and the marginalized.
The “Back to the Altar” initiative will be fully implemented by 2025, aiming for 100% participation and spiritual revival.
Urban evangelism will be expanded.
God’s Faithfulness
The evangelism statistics presented represent just the first three quarters of 2024. With numerous evangelistic activities done in November and planned for December, we anticipate welcoming thousands more individuals into our family through baptism.
Pastor Simbah, in his closing message before the event closed, appealed to all present. “We urge every church administrator, departmental leader, institutional worker, health worker, literature evangelist, educator, pastor, and church member to join us in making revival, reformation, discipleship, and evangelism the most important and urgent priorities of our personal lives and our areas of ministry.”
Overflowing with joy and gratitude, Pastor Barlizo celebrated God’s abundant blessings upon CPUC in 2024. “All glory and honor belong to God for the remarkable achievements we’ve accomplished together,” he proclaimed. “Our unity and cooperation have led to an extraordinary recognition: the SSD has awarded CPUC third place in evangelism across the entire territory!”
With this token of God’s faithfulness, Pastor Barlizo added that the administrators of CPUC sincerely commend and appreciate all the missions, conferences, institution officers, directors, pastors, church elders, and members for their support in spreading the Gospel to fulfill the mission of the Adventist Church.