Church steps up relief operation

Tropical typhoon Ondoy, which killed 337 people in and around Metro Manila and displaced 4.1 million others three weeks ago was likely the costliest natural disaster to hit the country since the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, reported the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
It had also devastated homes, properties, and livelihood of more than 4 million people. As of press time, relief operations by government and non-government organizations, including those organized by television giant companies and those of local and national Adventist Church organizations were on-going.

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency(ADRA) and the Adventist Community Services (ACS) of Central Luzon Conference (CLC) had join hands with the Southern Asia Pacific Region (SSD) in outsourcing relief goods, food stuff, and other necessities to relieve the basic needs of thousands of families since September 28.

ADRA Philippines, working with CLC ACS and other Adventist local churches, had already distributed relief goods to thousands of families living in greatly devastated cities in Metro Manila and nearby provinces of Rizal and Laguna and other provinces that were also devastated by the subsequent floods brought about by typhoon Pepeng that stubbornly stayed longer in the northern part of Luzon. These typhoons left many towns and cities still submerged in water—inviting more people to open their hearts to giving what they can to alleviate their suffering countrymen.

In an earlier report issued by CLC, more than 5,000 Adventist families were not spared from the calamities, “in fact, more than 10 Adventists died,” said Pastor Jose Zabat, Jr., ADRA/ACS director for CLC.

On October 10, church members, professors, and students from the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS) continued their efforts to help flood victims in nearby town of Biñan, Laguna to distribute relief goods and food stuff. “We are still doing our best to gather basic goods to augment the supply that we need to distribute as long as there are needs,” said relief organizers. [CLC Website/AND/photos by Adventist Photography Club]

Participants ‘discover’ self at Youth Alive camp

While Malaysia was celebrating the month of Ramadan, 131 young delegates including 37 youth and adult facilitators and camp leaders converged at the College General in the panoramic island of Penang, Malaysia. They came to attend the Youth Alive Camp, mainly dedicated to help the youth live a positive lifestyle—Jesus’ lifestyle, September 18-21.

Third in three years row, this event organized by the Adventist Church in Peninsular Malaysia (PEM), had chosen “WHO AM I?” as its theme. Its main speaker was Pastor Erickson Fabien of the Adventist Community Church (SDACC) in Singapore. He shared God’s unfailing love to the young people alongside informative health messages from Ms Jane Yap, PEM health director; Dr Dicky Ng; Dr Edward Nathan; and Dr Yen Ang, all of Penang Adventist Hospital Church’s Wellness Clinic.

The young people’s joys were full as they participated in family groups led by Marvin Marcelino, guidance counsellor at Bangkok Adventist International School. “Finally, I know who I am…I am yours Lord!” posted Cindy Lim, a 15-year-old participant from Penang, on her Facebook. She described the overwhelming benefits derived from attending the youth camp. [AND]

Hundreds of baptisms—‘a big paycheque’!

The Country of Golden Pagodas—Myanmar—has again took to heart the role of maximizing satellite evangelism throughout the country, September 13-October 3. At the culmination of the Happy Family Forever series conducted by Pastor Alberto C Gulfan, Jr, president of the Adventist Church in southern Asia-Pacific region (SSD), and broadcast worldwide through the facilities of Hope Channel International from the southern Philippines, 88 people accepted the Lord through baptism.

Initial reports coming from Maung Maung Myo Chan, communication director and satellite evangelism coordinator for the church in Myanmar (MYUM), indicated that the baptisms were from the mission fields and educational institutions throughout the country and those baptized had the privileged to listen to the nightly messages through the 15 downlink sites.

The Series were translated into Burmese language by Brother John Gavins, global mission coordinator for MYUM, who went to the Philippines, along with other translators from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and from the three regions of the Philippines, for the 20 nightly events.

“The nightly meetings at the 15 sites had an average attendance of 4000 church and non-church members” said Myo Chan.

Paying visit to all downlink sites located in southeast, central and southwest Myanmar, Pastor Muller Kyaw, MYUM president, and his party were very happy to see the excitement on the face of every attendee as they listened to Pastor Gulfan in Burmese language.

Attending the baptism rites were Pastor Caleb, Paw, MYUM ministerial secretary; Nang Do Dal, treasurer, and Gavin Johns. “We have been longing to see God’s word preached in our language through the satellite broadcasts and we are glad we had it. How we wish, though, that we shall have our own Burmese preacher regularly broadcasting hope at Hope Channel,” said church members and media leaders.

In Bangladesh, several downlink sites also accessed the HFF series. Initial reports from Milton Das, communication director and satellite coordinator for the Church in Bangladesh (BAUM) indicated they had 11 baptized on October 3. Subsequent baptisms will be reported here at our website.

Kandus Thorp, vice-president for International programming of the Hope Channel, upon learning of the hundreds of baptisms within the SSD territory sent in an email message saying, “This is a big paycheque!” Indeed, the time, money and effort put forth in this satellite evangelistic project were overwhelmed by the hundreds of baptisms done region-wide. [AND]

Ondoy fails to dampen spirits of CLC media enthusiasts

Metro Manila still under water caused by typhoon Ondoy was enough reason to cancel the flights of 22 delegates to Cagayan de Oro City for the five-day TV production workshop held October 4-9.

Consisting of administrators, department directors, pastors and media volunteers, these delegates came from the Adventist Church in Central Luzon (CLC) to fulfill their commitment to learn skills that would make them better communicators of the gospel through the media ministry.

Held at the Hope Channel Philippines studio located at the headquarters of the Church in Southern Philippines (SPUC), the workshop was first to be conducted after the HC studio was established, and this was organized mainly for the CLC participants.

Pastor Benjamin Casimiro, executive secretary; and Pastor Ron Genebago, communication director, heading the group, took the one hour and 15 minutes flight out of Metro Manila to the City of Golden Friendship in southern Philippines with the aim of fulfilling their resolve to become media specialists for the Lord.

Pastor Carmelito U Galang, Jr, CLC president, who was to leave with the group, decided to stay behind to lead out in the church’s continuing relief operations for the typhoon victims in his constituency. But he gave a send-off message to the group: “We have a goal and this goal is to share the gospel through the media ministry. Your attendance to this seminar is a clear sign that we are achieving this goal.”

As soon as the group was settled for the event, Pastor Nelson Paulo, SPUC communication director and Hope Philippines Project director, told the participants: “While your place is still the focus of the world’s attention due to the damages brought about by Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana by its international name), you bravely curtailed your emotions to come here and learn about the importance of the TV ministry.”

Seminar organizer, Dr Jonathan Catolico, communication director and Hope Channel coordinator for the Adventist Church in the southern Asia Pacific region (SSD), welcomed the group at the opening ceremony. “Our church has acquired the means to proclaim the everlasting gospel through television in the Philippines and to the rest of the world. And we thank you for taking to yourself the role as evangels of the media ministry.”

Pastor Albert Regoso, a retired administrator and pastor who serves as consultant to the CLC administration, voiced his delight for the excellent training the group got from the presenters—the television studio personnel of Hope Channel Philippines—consisted of Johnster Joe Calibod, multi-talented production specialist; Jade Yero-Soreño, HC International scriptwriter and producer; Nuelinl Sanes, HC Studio manager; and the production crew. “This is worth the cost in coming here because the training was superb and much more—we were overwhelmed by the lavish hospitality given to us by SPUC. The food consisting of abundant fruits and palatable dishes is beyond our words to appreciate,” said Pastor Regoso.

During the training participants also discussed the role of media in relation to the church’s mission, do hands-on production work: scriptwriting, hosting, story boarding, camera and audio technicalities, light and fixtures, set designs, field work, editing and post-editing details. It has also updated the participants about copyright laws and the strict adherence to these laws, more importantly as Christian communicators.

“We came here to fulfil three objectives: Bonding, Equipping, and Nurturing; and we believe we have achieved all three, in fact, even much more,” said Pastor Casimiro and were confirmed by the participants. [CLC participants/AND]

AWR listener accepts baptism in Myanmar

The Adventist World Radio (AWR) has been harvesting success stories with many listeners accepting Jesus through baptism every year in Myanmar.

One of these success stories was that of A-Po-Pu, who turned 70 this year. His was a story most interesting to AWR and its listeners.

The old man who lives 26 miles from the City of Yangon in Myanmar, invited his neighbors to listen to AWR broadcasts. Besides encouraging them to listen to AWR, he also persuaded them together with some college students living near educational institutions in Ywa-Thar-Gyi, to attend evangelistic meetings held at the Yangon Adventist Central Church during week-ends. These events led his neighbors to join the baptisms held earlier in the year.

A-Po-Pu wanted very much to attend the baptism of his neighbors and friends but his illness prevented him to join the first group. However, on September 19, he and his wife, also 70 years old, experienced the happiest “time in our life as we accepted Jesus as our personal Savior,” through baptism.

“Our joys are overwhelming. We did not only find our Lord and Savior ourselves, we also had the privilege of introducing Jesus to many who also accepted Him through baptism,” A-Po-Pu exclaimed. “And we thank AWR for helping us find Him!”

Commenting on these baptisms, Ms Hla Hla Myint, program coordinator for AWR Myanmar, said: “This elderly man was the ambassador of AWR that allowed us to make friends with others. It was through his introduction of the programs of AWR to his neighbors that we conducted Sabbath School programs in their locality. Now, there are more than 20 baptized members in Ywa-Thar-Gyi whom we want to provide a house of worship.”

“While it’s a big challenge on us to provide these brethren a place of worship, we are not worried because out there reached by this newsletter can provide support our project,” said Maung Maung Myo Chan, director of AWR-Myanmar. [AND]