News

The Central Philippine Union Conference (CPUC) has released its harvest report for the first quarter of 2025, revealing significant numbers across its various missions and conferences.

The report, covering January to March, highlights all churches' dedication and outreach efforts in response to the Harvest 2025 initiative.

Harvest 2025 is a year-long, large-scale evangelism initiative launched by the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, mobilizing the Total Membership Involvement (TMI), which encourages every Adventist to actively participate in evangelism.

To support this initiative, the SSD sent its directors and other staff members to local churches for various missions and conferences. The goal was to motivate and inspire attendees, as well as to conduct their own evangelistic programs. This is just one of the many ways the SSD demonstrated its genuine commitment to fulfilling the great commission.

The first quarter baptismal report for 2025 reveals a total of 5,515 baptisms. This figure indicates a strong initial push toward their annual goals, reflecting the union's active outreach and engagement efforts.

Notably, the Central Visayan Conference (CVC) led with 1,021 baptisms, followed closely by the East Visayan Conference (EVC) and the Negros Occidental Conference (NOC), both recording 924 baptisms. The Northwestern Panay Mission (NPM) saw 612 baptisms, while the Negros Oriental-Siquijor Samar Mission (NSM) reported 539.

The Samar Mission (SM) contributed 521 baptisms, and the West Visayan Conference (WVC) recorded 869. The Romblon Mission (RM) had 105 baptisms.

Despite the strong first quarter, the CPUC's ambitious annual goal of 30,000 baptisms reveals a current shortfall of 24,485. The monthly breakdown illustrates steady growth, with 1,075 baptisms in January, 1,382 in February, and a substantial increase to 3,058 in March.

This surge in March reflected the concerted efforts and the simultaneous evangelistic campaign for the 1st Quarter Care Group Harvest culmination. Every department was mobilized during this time: elders fulfilled their part in conducting evangelistic outreach, young people with their "Voice of Youth" initiatives, and women and care groups with their unique programs.

As the report says, the geographic distribution of baptisms highlights the Central Visayan region as the focal point for outreach and conversion, with conferences in Leyte and Negros Occidental demonstrating particularly high baptismal rates.

With these impressive results, the CPUC remains enthusiastic and committed to achieving its annual evangelism goal. Plans now lay in wait for their coming schedule of activities, which will culminate in the 2nd quarter of 2025.

The report serves as proof of the church's dedication and willingness to spread the Gospel message and grow its community in the Central Philippines.

In an interview, Pastor Fernando Narciso, the vice-president of the CPUC for the Integrated Evangelism Lifestyle/Nurturing, Discipleship, and Retention (IEL/NDR) expressed gratitude for the succesful turnout.

He stated, "I would like to commend the total member involvement of church members and leaders who have participated in Harvest 2025."

Pastor Narciso also quoted John 4:35 as a reminder, saying, “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest."

He said this command to “look" signifies a call to awareness and vigilance for outreach and evangelism of church members as a whole.

Pastor Eliezer "Joer" Barlizo Jr., the president of the CPUC, expressed his gratitude to God and everyone involved in the evangelism initiative. In a heartfelt post on social media, he shared, "I can't wait to hear Jesus say, 'Well done, good and faithful servant.'"

He said he also eagerly anticipates the moment when Jesus will say, "How good and pleasant it is for you to be united for the task I have given you on earth."