Young Missionaries for Christ of Central Cebu District Association of Churches (celebrated its 29th anniversary at Banilad Seventh Day Adventist Church on Nov. 30, 2024.
YMC is an organization that helps mold the youth to be the next church leaders by exposing them to ministry work. The organization was established on Nov. 19, 1995, under the leadership of Norman Perez, the first YMC president.
Founded with a passion for youth ministry, YMC was built on the foundation of evangelism. Through spiritual activities and training, it nurtured young people, equipping them for a life of service and ministry. Three decades after its pioneering evangelistic efforts in Umapad, Mandaue City, Cebu, YMC continues to burn its flame brightly, carrying on its legacy of faith and dedication to the ministry.
The worship service was filled with motivational messages and songs. It also engaged the audience with a video presentation showing the different activities YMC has done for the year and from the day it was organized.
The guest speaker, Bro. Shamgar Dean Sandalo, former MOISSA Mactan-Olanggo Island Soul Saving Association youth director, had three focal points in his message. Christ, mission, and being young. Shamgar started the message by rasing the question, “Do you know why you are a Seventh-Day Adventist?” He then emphasized the profound significance of a name and how the person bearing that name lives their life in accordance with its meaning.
He said being an Adventist is also a challenge that everyone has to live up to. One needs to constantly show people that he or she is an Adventist and dwells on Jesus Christ every single time. Moreover, as young people under Young Missionaries for Christ, the youth must also live up to the challenge. They need to focus on Jesus Christ as they fulfill the mission.
Sandalo quoted a passage that said, “Leading young people into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, help them embrace His call to discipleship.”
In the afternoon, the Adventist Youth program started by presenting the nominees of YMC officers for the year 2025. While the election of officers began on the 2nd floor of the church, the Adventist Youth programs carried on. It was filled with songs of praise, messages, and reminiscing of the memorable activities and experiences of the organization throughout the year.
One of the YMC pioneers, Marilyn Lucero, CPUC news writer, conducted group dynamics. Before the activity, she talked about the “Law of Connections,” which defines the characteristics of a good leader and how it affects the people under him or her. Participants were then divided into groups, and each group was tasked with selecting a biblical leader whose leadership traits they would discuss. Each group presented their findings, answered questions from the audience about their chosen leader, and closed their presentation with a song.
Before concluding the Adventist Youth program, the nominating committee presented the YMC officers for 2025. Mon Andrew Retuya of Banilad SDA Church emerged as the new YMC president for 2025.
Joel Lucero, one of the YMC pioneers, then dedicated the new leaders to God through prayer.
The 29th YMC anniversary was made possible by the efforts of the incumbent YMC President Sivan Vios, other officers, local church youth leaders and elders, and Banilad SDA church members.
By Emmee Jane Espinosa, Young Missionaries for Christ
The original version of this article was posted on the official Facebook page of the Central Visayan Conference.