News

"Participants are so blessed because they have received very informative lectures and training that they will be equipped and inspired—ready to engage in the proclamation of the good news in these last days,” said Pastor Bernie Maniego, communication director in the Adventist Church in Central Philippines (CPUC), during the Adventist Internet Network (AIN) and Adventist World Radio (AWR) Conference held Aug. 22-24 at West Visayan Conference headquarters in Iloilo City.

With the theme “Wired for Mission,” specially chosen participants coming from various Adventist organizations from the provinces of Romblon, Northwestern Panay, Negros Occidental, and West Visayas gathered to learn about the role of media ministry in fulfilling the gospel message of salvation. 

Moreover, delegates learned essential skills such as adopting the AWR 360 perspective, news and scriptwriting, TV hosting, radio broadcasting/preaching, audio sweetening, video editing and videography, digital evangelism, and social media evangelism.

Recognizing the utmost importance of the program, CPUC president Pastor Joer Barlizo expressed his all-out support, saying, “We hope and pray that by God’s grace, at the end of this seminar, when they go back to their respective churches, they will engage themselves in digital evangelism.”

During the three-day conference, attendees enjoyed plenary lectures from resource speakers working in various Adventist media ministries in the Southern Asia-Pacific region. Breakout sessions were also introduced, enabling the participants to select topics aligned with their interests or professions. These learnings will develop, harness, and improve their special skills, which will prove useful and significant when they return to their missions and conferences. 

“It has been a true blessing to participate in this AIN & AWR Conference. One of the most memorable insights from a breakout session I attended was the realization that no endeavor can truly thrive without the guidance of our Heavenly Father. This resonated deeply with me, as I understood that without God, we cannot genuinely succeed, particularly in the media ministry,” shared Laika dela Vega, a delegate from Romblon.

Pastor Heshbon Buscato, who leads the communication department in the Southern Asia-Pacific region (SSD), also graced the event. Buscato introduced strategies aimed at accelerating the fulfillment of the gospel commission. He challenged everyone by saying, “Keep working for the Lord in whatever avenues, capacity, or opportunity that you have—all in order to help spread the gospel of the Lord even to the ends of the world. Let’s give it back to the Lord, who is our Savior and Master.”

Plenary and devotional speakers who contributed to the program's success included Pastor Bong Fiedacan, Hope Channel Philippines president; Anthony Stanyer, SSD assistant director of communication and media; Pastor Elexiz Mercado, AWR Center for Digital Evangelism director; Ivetta Inaray, AWR Asia-Pacific creative content and video manager; Johnster Calibod, SWPUC Hope Channel Station manager; and Pastor Rhoen Catolico, SePUM communication director.

Towards the end, during the commitment program, participants were gathered and commissioned to use digital technology in fulfilling the mission God has given to His children.
As a community of Adventist communicators, technologists, and media professionals from the Central Philippine Union Conference, the work of sharing the everlasting gospel with “every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” will continue to advance, eventually reaching even the unreached, and then the Lord will come.

Geric Von Dela Cruz, Head Writer, Hope Channel Western Visayas

The original version of the article was published in the Central Philippine Union Conference Social Media page.