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Constituents across the Samar Mission, along with the administrators and directors from the Central Philippine Union Conference, gathered at Catarman Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Brgy. Old Rizal, Catarman, Northern Samar. 

This special constituency meeting on Sept. 28, 2024, was to discuss the long-awaited proposal to relocate the Samar Mission's headquarters.

This historic milestone for the Samar Mission of the Seventh-day Adventists would significantly shift the organization's operations. Since its establishment five years ago in 2019, Samar Mission has been operating from a rented property in Brgy. Payao, Catbalogan City. 

Despite previous plans to build a permanent headquarters on a hilltop in Brgy. Silanga, Catbalogan City, financial limitations have stalled the project. The future of the mission's relocation remained uncertain for a long time. However, in this special constituency meeting, the delegates tackled this issue head-on.

After passionate exchange of ideas, expression of sentiments, and deliberation, the majority of delegates voted to approve the proposal to relocate the Samar Mission headquarters. It was a decisive step forward after years of anticipation.

The breakthrough in this relocation effort is largely due to the generous support of the Abayon family, and specifically, former Congressman Atty. Harlin C. Abayon and former Party-list Congresswoman Daryl Grace J. Abayon.

In a monumental act of support for the church's ministry in Samar, the Abayon family, on Sept. 28, 2024, officially donated the Catarman SDA Central Church building and a 5-story structure behind it. 

Situated at Brgy. Old Rizal, Catarman, Northern Samar, this partially completed 5-story building already has a solid foundation and essential structural elements. With the expansive lot measuring 7,000 square meters,  the donated properties will become the new headquarters of the Samar Mission.

The key leaders from the Central Philippine Union Conference who attended the meeting were Pastor Eliezer 'Joer' Barlizo Jr., the CPUC president; Pastor Calev Maquirang, the executive secretary; and Pastor Renito Inapan, the treasurer, together with Joel Morales, his associate treasurer.

Other CPUC directors also graced the event. They were Pastor Berdandino Maniego, Pastor Toneri Gaa, Dir. Lemuel Banday, Dir. Melodie Mae Inapan, and Atty. Christian Abenir.

Pastor Antonio Gobi, Jr., the Samar Mission president, and other officers expressed their gratitude and optimism for the future. 

"The relocation marks a new chapter for the mission, empowering it to continue serving the spiritual and community needs of Samar Island with renewed energy and resources," Pastor Gobi said.

The Samar Mission administration also expressed gratitude for the constituents' support, especially the Catarman Seventh-Day Adventist Central Church—Samar members, for hosting this big event.

As the mission moves forward, the sense of unity and divine guidance experienced during the constituency meeting bodes well for the future of Samar Mission. It's a promising sign to the constituents that the mission is poised to reach new heights.

The original version of this article was posted by 𝑴𝒓𝒔. 𝑹𝒉𝒆𝒂 𝑵𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝑴𝒂𝒆 𝑪. 𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒈 on the official Facebook page of Samar Mission of Seventh-Day Adventists