News

The Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) midyear meeting is fast approaching, and Adventist leaders from many organizations and institutions are preparing for what is sure to be a significant event. The meeting is set for May 2-3, 2023, at the Life Hope Impact Center in Silang, Cavite, Philippines, and will bring together Adventist leaders from across the division's culturally diverse region to discuss plans, strategies, and realignments aimed at furthering the church's mission.

The midyear meeting is an annual convention of Adventist leaders that brings together various groups to unify their programming, share best practices, and explore new opportunities to further the church's mission in the Southern Asia-Pacific Division territory. The gathering this year will provide a venue for leaders to explore and implement realignments of various Adventist organizations in order to better serve territories and meet community needs. Focusing on the worldwide church's theme, "I Will Go: Be His Witness," leaders seek every chance to declare the gospel mission in their different regions.

The Adventist Church is committed to supporting communities all throughout the world, and the Southern Asia-Pacific Division is no exception. The division's programs attempt to improve the quality of life for people in the region, with the Adventist presence in 14 nations. These projects range from social outreach and community development to healthcare and education.

"Learning new strategies through collaboration and field experiences enables leaders to view the mission from a variety of angles and discover innumerable ways to adapt each strategy to their own spheres of influence," said Pastor Roger Caderma, president of the Adventist Church in Southern Asia-Pacific.

At the midyear meeting, leaders from Adventist organizations and institutions will share their ideas and experiences in order to ensure that the church continues to serve the community in the most effective and meaningful manner possible. With a focus on realignments and implementation, this year's meeting is certain to be action-oriented, with attendees departing with concrete strategies to move forward and make a significant difference in the lives of those they serve.

"Part of our response in the Mission Refocus program is to maximize our resources to ensure that the gospel reaches more people in this territory," Pastor Jacinto Adap, treasurer of the Adventist Church in Southern Asia-Pacific, explained. "Our mission is to equip every leader and member of the church to identify the most promising opportunities for sharing the gospel in the challenging mission field," Adap continued.

From an Adventist perspective, all of this activity is significant because it highlights the necessity of serving others and living in accordance with God's teachings. For Adventists, church work is more than a profession or a responsibility; it is a vocation founded on a strong sense of faith and a commitment to making the world a better place. This dedication will be on full show at the midyear meeting, where leaders will look for fresh ways to live out this calling and achieve the mission of the church.

"The church's mission will be accomplished through faith and submission to the guidance of the Holy Spirit." "This is a call to all church members to engage in mission and see it as a way of life," said Pastor Wendell Mandolang, executive secretary of the Adventist Church in Southern Asia-Pacific.

Edward Rodriguez, SSD Communication Department