Church Evangelizes Philippine Business Center

Makati City, the hub of business in the Philippines, is an urban metropolis deserving the focus of church leadership on evangelistic outreach.

This focus engaged the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Central Luzon to a day of consultation with its pastors in Metro Manila on how to do evangelism work in this urban center. Thirty-six pastors responded to the call and convened at the headquarters of CLC, August 15, to map direction on implementing “a healthy, strong and growing church” project. Pastor Benjamin Casimiro, CLC executive secretary, presided over the meeting.

Abraham Carpena, health director of the church in the southern Asia Pacific region (SSD), delivered a message to jumpstart the said meeting. “What ministry is most effective in your community?” asked Pastor Carpena. “If you want your church recognized in your community, let it do something for the community.” He cautioned, though, that the church can never be an effective vanguard of truth unless it follows Jesus’ method of reaching out to the community. “We go with compassion and pray with faith. These are the effective ways in reaching people.”

Pastor Casimiro introduced ways for outreach. Among these were: (1) Forming 25 small groups in the business area of Makati and equipping its leaders with materials necessary to implement the work, (2) Conducting weekly small group meetings, (3) Convening all Adventist professionals practicing in the area, and (4) Culminating all missionary activities with an evangelistic outreach on May 3-16, 2009.

To achieve these goals, CLC decided to make September 13 as a day to gather Adventist professionals for organizational fellowship. A week later, on September 20, the training of small group follows.

“The meeting was so successful that it revitalized each participant’s missionary spirit to penetrate the urban jungles of Metro Manila,” participants said. It ended with a commitment prayer led by Pastor Carmelito Galang Jr., CLC president. [Gerry Cajobe]

Dynamic Youth Team Up with Dynamic Living in Church’s Television

More than a century ago, Philippine national hero Jose Rizal made a pronouncement, “The youth is the hope of the fatherland.” But many generations later concerned citizens asked, “Has that passion died?”

Varied answers to this question show different views and interpretations. “It was just a piece of literature reality never caught up with.” “Really, the idealistic youth lost sight of it when he moved beyond his age.”

These and many other reactions led the producers of Hope Channel Philippines to come up with the program “Dynamic Youth.” The program is a monthly one-hour episode shown live at Hope Channel Philippines Gateway TV 25 in Cagayan de Oro City, where many young people converge to respond to various issues they grapple with from day to day.

This show started airing in June and young people tackled issues dealing with Youth and Leadership and how to harness their potential in public governance. The succeeding month’s Youth and Adolescent Sexuality showed their interest on issues that adults often withhold discussing with them.

The August episode, Youth and the Generation Gap had the adults and counselors come to grips with the reality of existing gaps between parents and children on many issues. This misunderstanding, according to them, stems from advances in technology, fashion, language, and many others.

Topics in the pipeline included Youth and Local/National Issues with Global Implications; Youth and Identity; Youth and the Environment; Youth and Spirituality; Youth and Dreams, Aspirations and Resolutions; Youth and Relationship; Youth and Careers; Youth and Culture; and Youth and Heroes.

The success of the weekly Dynamic Living television program produced and hosted by Dr Mary Jean Loreche made her produce the Dynamic Youth monthly live show. Dynamic Living has gained viewers through its two years of continued production with all costs shouldered by Dr Loreche herself. Of international quality as evidenced by its regular telecast at Hope Channel International, Dynamic Living goes into its third year of programming. These two programs have teamed up to spread the good news of health and wholesome youth life not only in southern Philippines but worldwide. [Jonathan C Catolico]

Charged-Up on Philanthropy, NMC Looks to Greater Prosperity

In a desire to strengthen the program of philanthropy, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in northern Mindanao (NMC) hosted a three-day seminar-workshop on Building a Successful Annual Fund Program, August 11-13 in Cagayan de Oro City, southern Philippines. Eighty-seven participants representing various schools, pastoral districts, and hospitals filled to capacity the NMC conference room which was expanded purposely for this occasion.

Resource speakers were Joel Habaradas, director of philanthropic services for the church in the southern Asia-Pacific region (SSD) and Dr. Abdul Rajagukguk, marketing and fund development director of Manila Adventist Medical Center.

The three-day event focused on the importance of annual giving as a basis of support for mission, goals and other fundraising efforts, the objectives and benefits of an annual fund program, and planning and implementing the annual fund program through a seven-step process.

Samuel Galarpe, Sr., NMC president, delivered the opening message, sharing the conference’s vision of building new and appealing churches in strategic and prominent locations all over the territory.

Varied questions and discussions heightened the daily sessions as the participants discovered new opportunities to strengthen their respective institutions as a result of the presentations. One of the topics that generated interest among the participants was on how a well-planned yearly program can help meet the annual budget requirements in an institution with limited and traditional sources of income. “This seminar has opened our eyes to the many things we can do, in close partnership with our constituency and the community, to fulfill our mission,” says Dr. Alberto Gallao, Jr., president of Gingoog Sanitarium and Hospital.

The plight of many church schools was also highlighted because of the insufficiency of funds to sustain their continuous operation. A number of concepts and approaches were suggested to help small institutions improve their support system. “I’m so happy to attend this seminar because I finally understood what philanthropy is and what it can do to help our school. But why only now?” commented a church’s head leader and school board chair.

Clearly, the future for NMC is bright as its leadership and constituents collaborate to pursue a progressive and mission-driven program of philanthropy to expand God’s kingdom. This passion for success was aptly interpreted by Max Bareng, NMC treasurer. “We are committed to spending—to investing in development projects. We have big dreams so we have set aside a substantial budget for the purchase of lots in prime locations on which to build new churches and other facilities,” he stressed. [AND]

SADFree Gains Adherents; Anniversary Declared Holiday

Smoking, alcohol and drugs are making the life of many Filipinos, mostly young people miserable and out of control. The Seventh-day Adventist Church, a strong advocate of total abstinence from the use of these debilitating substances, must show the way to every Filipino to follow a simple yet happy lifestyle.

SADFree (Smoking, Alcohol, and Drugs Free) program made a stride among advocates of a healthy environment, both private and government sectors, as the Adventists introduced the said program to them. On August 6, the municipality of San Indefonso in Bulacan, in Central Luzon, declared it a day to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the founding of SADFree in the town. A non-working holiday, thousands joined the parade that kicked off the celebration. Government dignitaries officially supported this big event.

Among the dignitaries that attended the event and endorsed the program were Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III, a former senator of the Philippines and at present chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB); and Bayani Fernando, chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority.

“Building a Healthy and Model Community” – the theme adopted by the municipality for its celebration as private and government organizations joined the march to liberate the people from the shackles of societal diseases brought about by smoking, use of alcohol, illicit drugs and other unhealthy practices.

Besides Chairman Fernando and his wife Lourdes Fernando, mayor of Marikina City; and the officials and staff of the municipality of San Ildefonso led by Mayor Edgardo Galvez, non-government groups (NGOs) joined the march. They were: the Federation and Association of Senior Citizens of San Miguel, Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association, San Ildefonso Cycling and Development Group, Midtown Rotary Club, Rotary Club of San Ildefonso, Knights of Columbus, Kabayan Traffic Enforcers, Bulacan Army Reservists 304 Company and the Association of Baranggay Captains, Baranggay Health Officers, San Ildefonso local agencies, Philippine National Police, Sangguniang Bayan, Banda Kabataan of Baranggay Lapait, Association of Baranggay Tanod, Rural Health Units, all public and private high schools of San Ildefonso and The Lord of Lords Ministries School.

The Seventh-day Adventists were represented by the administrators and staff of the Church in Central Luzon (CLC) headed by Pastor Carmelito Galang, president; and the Adventist Community Services Chapter of San Ildefonso.

The parade, which exhibited streamers and banners, showcased the church’s advocacy of a SADFree community and the government and other private sectors’ adoption of the said lifestyle. As the participants approached the gymnasium, they were cheered and applauded by about 5,000 people.

“Let’s fight drugs the way the Bulacaňos fought the imperialists during World War II,” challenged Chairman Tito Sotto, to the cheering crowd of youth during the rally.

He was joined by the Honorable Tita Lorna Silverio, congresswoman of the province, who said that “while it is true that Bulacan is fast improving, it would be a waste if the people living here are hooked on vices. Let us not get hooked on drugs, but get hooked on God!”

Chairman Bayani Fernando caught the crowd motionless when he disclosed that he smoked at an early age, believing that smoking would make him “man enough.” But he said he was thankful to quit smoking “or else I could have been dead like some of my ‘barkadas’ because of vices.” He counseled the youth: “If you want to live happily, don’t smoke.”

On the part of the church, Pastor Galang commended the full support of the municipality of San Ildefonso. He encouraged the leadership of San Ildefonso to “hold tight the string that flies the kite high so that SADFree will continue its noble goal to save the Filipino youth.”

During the program, the emcee acknowledged the Adventist Church’s efforts of spearheading the movement.

Such efforts were traced back to few years earlier when Ronnie Genebago, former pastor of the area, introduced the program through the office of the Mayor. Mayor Galvez accepted the proposal and made it a priority project for the young people of his town. He rallied every citizen, regardless of religious affiliation, to support the SADFree Project. Immediately, the concept gained adherents in schools—private and public.

Upon Pastor Genebago’s appointment as communication director for CLC, the SADFree movement was continued by Rolly Cimafranca, Vicente Adriano, and the leaders of San Ildefonso SDA Church through its Adventist Community Services.

Responses were heard from several participants.

“Let us continue this movement until we reach the victory of an environment free from smoking, alcohol and drugs,” remarked Delma Jimenez, principal of the high school department of Bulacan Agricultural State College, while Olga Patawaran, a teacher of The Lord of Lords Ministries, said, “Because of SADFree, my students became more aware of the ill-effects of drugs.”

A fourth year high school student, Michelle Lopez, concluded, “Malaki ang naging tulong ng SADFree sa akin. Mas lalo kong naunawaan ang kahalagahan ng kalusugan.” (SADFree helped me a lot. I understood better the need for a healthier life.) [Geronimo Viernes, Jr/AND]

Church Opens as Community Health Center

In its effort to attend to the health needs of the community, the Petaling Jaya English Seventh-day Adventist Church in Peninsular Malaysia accepted the challenge to become an Adventist Community Health Center (ACC).

This action went in line with the program of the health department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the southern Asia-Pacific region (SSD) to make “Every Church a Community Health Center.”

The current move was supported by the Health Ministries department of the Adventist Church in Peninsular Malaysia (PEM).

Headed by the church pastor, a team lined up a series of health activities, the first of which was the kickoff event in mid-July showcasing a demonstration on vegan cooking and community exercise at the park using the CHAROBICS, an exercise activity that featured ‘chacha’ music. Adventists and their friends attended these demonstrations.

“This is an opening wedge for the gospel ministry,” said Marcia Rajakumar, PEM health director. ”And we can only pray that the Lord will work in the hearts of those people who attended. More importantly we established friendship.”

Upcoming activities of the health center include the following:

1. August 16 (6:00-7:30PM) health lecture on stress management, a 30-minute stress test followed by a light snack. Topic: “Help, I’m Under Stress!”
2. August 24 (4:00PM): Vegetarian Cooking Demo. Topic: Going Thai
3. September 14 (12:30-2:00PM): Buffet Lunch
4. September 20 (6:00-7:30PM): BMI Screening, Health Lecture—“Am I Obese?” and light refreshment
5. September 28 (4:00PM): Vegetarian Cooking Demo “D-I-Y Breakfast”
6. October 12 (9:00AM-5:00PM): NEWSTART
7. October 18 (6:00-7:30PM): Health Lecture “Love Your Heart” to include BP screening, light refreshment
8. October 26 (4:00PM): Vegetarian Cooking Demo—“Fast Food Dinner”
9. November 15 (6:00-7:30PM): Health Video—“Your health your choice” and light refreshment
10. November 16 (9:00AM-6:00PM): Mini Health Expo
11. November 23 (4:00PM): Vegetarian Cooking Demo—“Back to Basics”
12. December 20 (6:00-7:30PM): Health Lecture—“Get in Shape.”

CHAROBIX is held at Taman Jaya Park every Sunday at 6:00pm

For further information call: 03-77 821478 [Jane Yap/AND]

AUP Marks 91st Foundation Anniversary, Invests New President

A very appropriate way to start the weeklong celebration of the 91st foundation anniversary of the Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP) was the investiture ceremony of its 16th president, Dr Gladden O Flores.

AUP had its beginnings when A.G. Daniels, a missionary, visited the Philippine islands in 1915. With a throng of ‘service-oriented’ youth in his mind, Daniels engineered the establishment of Philippine Union College on June 12, 1917 and commissioned A Steinel and O F Sevrens as pioneer teachers with 36 students.

What AG Daniels did not know was that today AUP has more than 500 faculty and staff and 5,000 students, 600 of whom representing 45 countries of the world with a variety of course offerings from preschool to graduate school.

“Welcomed warmly by the faculty, staff, and students during the ceremony, Dr Gladden O Flores commands respect, trust, and support of this academic community,” observers said.

Held at the Philippine International Church of Seventh-day Adventists on AUP campus, July 31, Dr Flores was officially presented by Pastor Abner S Roque, president of the North Philippine Union Mission (NPUM) and chair of the Board of Trustees; while Dr Isabel F. Inlayo, director of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) at Region IV-A, administered the oath of office.

Dr Flores was associate director of education for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the southern Asia-Pacific region (SSD) when elected AUP president last May 13. He started his denominational career as Bible teacher at Matutum View Academy in southern Mindanao in the early eighties, became AUP assistant dormitory dean, theology professor from mid-80s until towards the end of that decade.  After his doctoral studies, he was guidance counselor and human resource director of AUP until he was called as academic dean and Bible instructor at MSH-College in Iligan City, southern Philippines.

AUP is the only autonomous university among private higher educational institutions in Region IV-A, a grant under CMO 21, Series of 2003, vested by the Commission on Higher Education of the Philippines to deserving tertiary educational institutions. “This autonomous status made AUP a pioneer in voluntary accreditation,” said Dr Epistacio S Palispis, president of the Federation of Accrediting Association of the Philippines (FAAP) and Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities-Accrediting Agency (ACSCU-AA). “In fact, it is one of the most highly accredited universities in the Philippines as evidenced by the high quality education that centers on Christian formation,” Palispis added.  Many programs offered at AUP were also accredited by the Accrediting Association of Seventh-day Adventist Schools, Colleges and Universities (AAA).

One of the several government and private sector dignitaries who delivered their felicitations to Dr Flores was Dr Stephen Guptill, president of the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS).  Dr Guptill was Dr Flores’ director at SSD until the former was elected to head AIIAS, Adventist world church graduate institution located in the Philippines. [Johnny G Guyo]

For more information visit http//www.aup.edu.ph.