Leaders from the publishing ministries of the missions and conferences under the Central Philippine Union Conference gathered for the Publishing Ministries Leadership Summit at the Faith Village Hotel in Boracay, Aklan.
The summit, held from Aug. 17-18, 2025, carried the theme “Jesus is Coming: I Will Go.” With the united goal of strengthening the church’s publishing work, this event served as an opportunity to inspire, train, and equip leaders to carry forward the mission of spreading God’s message of hope through literature.
Over the two-day event, participants engaged in a series of lectures, discussions, and inspirational messages that focused on strengthening their faith and reigniting their passion for spreading the gospel through literature.
Each day’s program emphasized the urgency and importance of literature evangelism in preparation for Christ’s return. The event was also live-streamed, allowing for broader participation.
In one of his lecture topics, Pastor Stephen Salainti, vice president of the Southern Asia-Pacific for leadership programs, appealed to the leaders. “You are leaders,” he said. “If you spend time with a potential leader, it is an investment. Grow a leader, and you are growing an organization.”
He then elaborated on effective strategies for leadership development, emphasizing that leaders should invest time in one-on-one mentorship and coaching, while also delegating responsibilities to empower emerging leaders with practical experience.
He further stressed the importance of providing a clear vision and mission to enable new leaders to make sound decisions,and creating a culture where they are accountable for their actions.
He stressed that a leader’s success is ultimately determined by their ability to train their followers. “They can either make you or break you,” he warned. The quality of a leader’s disciples, he explained, directly reflects the quality of their leadership. A well-trained follower can become a powerful asset, extending the leader’s influence and ensuring the continuity of the mission. On another hand, a poorly trained follower can become a liability, hindering progress and even undermining the organization’s goals.
Training followers can determine your success. “They can either make you or break you.”
This summit preceded the “Literature Evangelists Congress,” which took place at Adventist Academy Cebu in Bulacao, Talisay City. During the event, Pastor Ferdinand Esico, the CPUC publishing ministries director, and his associate director, Pastor Toneri Gaa, along with Pastor Howard Faigao, the former publishing director of the General Conference, and the SSD directors, held a special recognition ceremony for the top performers of 2024. This ceremony celebrated their dedication and outstanding contributions.
The following were honored for their achievements:
Top Conference/Mission Sales for 2024:
- 1st Place: Central Visayan Conference (CVC) – ₱23,749,018.00
- 2nd Place: West Visayan Conference (WVC) – ₱15,780,758.00
- 3rd Place: East Visayan Conference (EVC) – ₱15,272,250.00
Top Directors of 2024:
- 1st Place: Daniel G. Trazo (CVC)
- 2nd Place: Edwin P. Gonzaga (WVC)
- 3rd Place: Nicanor M. Buo Jr. (EVC)
Top APML Sales for 2024:
- 1st Place: Ferdinand Cabatac (NPM) – ₱4,832,406.00
- 2nd Place: Devy H. Cervantes (CVC) – ₱4,477,861.00
- 3rd Place: James Q. Arevalo (CVC) – ₱4,241,323.60
Top 10 Literature Evangelists (LEs) for 2024:
- 1st Place: Joel Lademora (NOC) – ₱1,031,963.00
- 2nd Place: Jonathan Lamorin (CVC) – ₱1,001,098.00
- 3rd Place: Hanah Perla Abayabay (EVC) – ₱1,000,034.00
Top 10 LEs in Soul Winning:
- 1st Place: Godfrey Carillo (EVC) – 116 souls
- 2nd Place: Marissa Per (EVC) – 112 souls
- 3rd Place: Estoy Roque (CVC) – 109 souls
Following these successive events, the literature evangelists and their leaders departed with a renewed sense of purpose. They were more inspired and eager than ever to continue their sacred commitment to the Lord, dedicating themselves to sharing the gospel through His printed words.
Pastor Ringo Star Forcado | Negros Occidental Conference Communication Director