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Pastor Stephen Salainti, the vice president for leadership of the Southern Asia Pacific Division, was a keynote speaker at the Literature Evangelists Congress held at the Adventist Academy Cebu International Church in Bulacao, Talisay City.

This three-day event took place from August 14 to 16, 2025, featuring the theme "Called to be Faithful: Jesus is Coming, I Will Go!" It gathered hundreds of literature evangelists from across the Central Philippine Union Conference.

During the afternoon devotional, Pastor Salainti presented "Five Principles for Growing as a Literature Evangelist." He outlined each principle with biblical references, aiming to inspire the literature evangelists to be more zealous and enthusiastic in sharing the gospel through printed materials.

1. Read the Bible.

Commune with God and read the Bible every day, whether it's just a passage or a chapter in the morning. Even if you hold morning and evening worship at home together with your family, take time for personal study without fail—where there's just you and God.

2. Pray.

A literature evangelist's success is not based on their charisma, but on God working through them.

Consistent prayer is crucial. "When you are in trouble, pray," said Pastor Stephen Salainti, vice president for leadership of the Southern Asia Pacific Division.

Author Samuel Chadwick once said, "The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray."  

If Daniel could pray three times a day, even in the lions' den, how much more should a literature evangelist? 

Muslims pray five times a day, starting at 5 a.m. Jesus also demonstrated the importance of prayer by often seeking secluded places to pray before daybreak.  

Muslims pray at noon. When it comes to noontime prayer, consider Peter's example. 

Acts 10:9 states, "The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray."

Muslims pray at 3 p.m. Acts 3: 1 says, "Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour."

We could follow these examples above, but the Apostle Paul gave a powerful instruction to the church in Thessalonica, saying, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Pastor Salainti shared a prayer experience when he was elected as president of the Lu Tanya Toraja Mission. Before the pandemic, he and the church held regular prayer meetings via Zoom, even up to this day.

"The mission was poor," he said, "but never faced financial challenges, because of the power of prayer."  

One time, a devastating earthquake struck, causing a church building—seven years in the making and about to be inaugurated—to tilt to the side despite remaining standing. 

People came to Pastor Salainti, filled with grief, questioning why God allowed this to happen and how they could possibly rebuild with scarce finances.  

The pastor then asked them, "What does the government say?" 

  "Demolish it," the church members sadly replied.

  "Then demolish it," he ordered, surprising the people. It sounded so easy for him. 

  "But how can we rebuild?" the members cried. They waited for seven years for it to be completed, only to demolish it without a second thought. 

He then instructed the church members to gather on the site every Sunday morning to pray. They pleaded, "Lord, show Your power in this place."  

In one of those gatherings, he scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony. Some of the members may have been skeptical, but no one voiced a protest.

During the event, he told the members they would inaugurate the building in a year. They cried again, "Where will we get the money?" 

A week later, a wealthy non-Adventist from Jakarta called the pastor. "Is this Pastor Salainti?"  

   "Yes, speaking."  

   "Are you the president of the mission?"

   "Yes."  

   "Pastor, I want to help your church-" Right then, they agreed that every month, the man would send money. He didn't give the entire amount for the rebuilding, but he urged them to start the construction. As promised during the groundbreaking ceremony, the church was inaugurated a year later.

3. Be Obedient. The Bible illustrates several stories of obedience where total trust leads to blessings. Noah was one, Moses was another. 

4. Join Communities.  Be a part of the church and worship with them during the midweek, vesper, and Sabbath services. Join small group activities, and participate in evangelistic programs.

Acts 2:42 states that, "They (church) were devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, and to the breaking of bread."

The work is a ministry to people, not a transaction. Focus on the mission, not the outcome.

5. Bear Witness. Train Others, and Do Evangelism.  Be reminded that the work is not only in the cities. It is also in the rural areas where internet signals can't reach. 

In that distant places, there are lots of people —waiting to hear the good news of salvation.

Lyn Lucero | CPUC Communication Department