News

March 22, 2025, Cebu City – The Adventist Academy Cebu Gymnasium was abuzz with the spirit of joy and unity as the Central Visayan Conference (CVC) hosted its much-anticipated care group event — the 1st Quarter Care Group Harvest Celebration 2025.

The event brought together directors, pastors, church leaders, and hundreds of members from various churches within the Central Visayan Conference, creating a lively and uplifting atmosphere.

This year's theme, centered around the call to engage in soul-winning and discipleship, resonated throughout the day. It reaffirmed the Adventist Church's commitment to the global mission of spreading the Gospel.

The celebration saw the presence of the key figures in the church, including Pastor Hesbon Buscato, communication director for the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD), and Bro. Jay Salcedo, an international evangelist who recently concluded a weeklong preaching series at the Cebu City Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

It also featured other distinguished guests, including Pastor Sherman "Bong" Fiedacan, president of Hope Channel Philippines, and Edward Rodriguez, assistant communication director for the SSD.

The event was organized by Pastor Jomar Campuesto, field secretary for the Integrated Evangelism Lifestyle/Nurturing, Discipleship, and Retention of the Central Visayan Conference. It was made even more special with the presence and the remarkable performances of the Panimbaya sa Kabuntagon World singers from Cagayan de Oro City.

Pastor Charles Nogra, president of CVC, shared an impactful message encouraging Adventist local churches worldwide to embrace the disciple-making strategy outlined for Harvest 2025.

"This is a divine assignment," Pastor Nogra stated, emphasizing the importance of prayer, preparation, and active participation in evangelism. He encouraged the congregation to work together for the harvest, stressing that each person is called to be a part of this sacred mission.

Richard Tobias, a lay Bible worker from Faith Church, also shared his reflection, praising the success of the program leading up to the Harvest 2025. He emphasized the importance of soul-winning, calling it "the highest form of duty, the foundation of true happiness, and a testament to being saved by the blood of the Lamb."

The event reached its peak with a powerful sermon by Bro. Salcedo titled "The Parable of One Talent." He urged the congregation not to be passive in their faith but to take action in the work of the church. "No one is to sit down," he challenged, calling everyone to invest their talents in God's work and become active participants in the mission field.

The harvest celebration also featured a significant event—the simultaneous baptism across all missions and conferences in the Central Philippine Union Conference. However, due to ongoing data collection, the final baptism numbers were still unavailable at the time of this report.

From CVC alone, 474 individuals were baptized into the faith. With 185 baptisms from Metro Cebu and 289 from the entire CVC, the day was a clear testament to the power of evangelism and the commitment to spreading the Gospel message. Each new believer received a Bible and an inspirational book by Ellen G. White to guide them on their spiritual journey.

The afternoon program continued to inspire, filled with stories, music, and testimonies of faith. Many attendees, especially those facing discouragement, were uplifted and renewed in their trust in the Lord. The celebration also included the 11th anniversary of Panimbaya sa Kambuntagon World, which featured a live global concert.

Panimbaya sa Kabuntagon World is a local morning program of the Hope Channel South Philippines from the Southwestern Philippine Union Conference.

As the day came to a close, the 1st Quarter Care Group Harvest Celebration 2025 highlighted not only the results of dedicated work in evangelism but also served as a powerful reminder of the strength found in unity and faith. Through music, preaching, and baptism, attendees were encouraged to continue collaborating in God's mission for the Central Visayan Conference and beyond.

Leah Salloman, Adventist Academy Cebu Faculty