In a strategic move to localize the global mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, summarized by the theme “I Will Go,” Irelyn Gabin, women’s and family ministries director for the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD), launched the “I Will Go Reach Our World (GROW) initiative at the East Central Philippine Union Conference.
The initiative is a collaborative effort to bridge the gap between church leadership and the community by focusing on the holistic needs of women and families.
The two-day intensive training, held at ECPUC headquarters on Gorordo Ave, Camputhaw, Cebu City, from April 10–11, gathered over 40 leaders and their core team from the four missions and conferences across the territory.
Supporting the “I Will GROW” launch and onboarding were ECPUC’s own departmental heads: Melodie Mae Inapan, women’s and children’s ministries director and Ministerial Spouses Association coordinator, and Pastor Gaudencio Buque Jr., ministerial association secretary and director for family, chaplaincy, and Adventist Children’s Ministries.
Direction Setting for Women’s and Family Ministries
The event opened with Gabin’s direction-setting for women’s and family ministries, with the core purpose of transformation over attendance. She emphasized its organizational and spiritual benefits, including burnout prevention, clarity of purpose, and increased confidence and decisiveness.
She explained that the launch of the “I Will GROW” Series is part of a long-term strategy known as REAPS. (2026 Mission Reach, 2027 Mission Expand, 2028 Mission Advance, 2029 Mission Proclaim, 2030 Culmination of the five-year journey)
Gabin also elaborated on the significance of women’s ministries. “Women constitute 57% of our church membership globally, positioning them as a vital force in the mission,” she said, citing further that women comprise the teen girls, single women, mothers, professionals, widows, senior women, and women with special needs.
There are also six critical issues facing women today that can be actively addressed as focal points of the ministry. Among them were health threats, abuse and violence, poverty, and livelihood, lack of training, illiteracy, and excessive workload.
Moreover, Gabin focused on equipping the participants with the tools and mindset necessary to strengthen families within the church. Among them were standardizing pre-marriage counseling, resource management, and active outreach.
She meticulously walked attendees through the departments’ special days and events, their yearly resource books, tools, and action plans, providing a clear roadmap for ministry from 2026through 2030.
She also introduced the 2026 Resource Book, Family, Faith, and Focus in a Digital World. Leaders were equipped not only with content and sources but also with practical strategies to address real-world challenges, including building faith-based resilience in a technology-driven society, nurturing mental and emotional well-being at home, and empowering women to take on leadership roles in community outreach.
Interactive Learning and Core Team Synergy
Moving beyond traditional lectures, Gabin utilized creative activities to make the learning process immersive and engaging. These sessions promoted an environment of open discussion and idea-sharing.
Core teams from various missions were given the floor to discuss specific local situations that require urgent leadership attention. This “bottom-up” approach allowed leaders to troubleshoot challenges while brainstorming innovative ways to implement the GROW pillars: Nurture, Empower, and Outreach.
Blessing of Inspirational Messages
The initiative’s impact was enhanced by attendees’ perception of the powerful, inspirational messages shared throughout the event. Among those inspirational messages was Inapan’s encouragement, drawn from the life of Esther. In her topic, she uplifted and encouraged leaders by reminding them of their divine purpose and the significance of their service.
She pointed out that leadership is providential, further dismantling the idea that one must be highly skilled, famous, and perfect to be used by God. It is because, as she said, God’s favorite is to use ordinary but willing children like Esther to serve His purpose, and that His appointments are never accidental.
“You may not be wearing a crown like Esther, but remember, you carry influence. You carry responsibility. You carry purpose. God has placed you here, not yesterday, not tomorrow, but now, for such a time as this, regardless of how you feel, regardless of how your life is running right now. You don’t have to be famous. You don’t even have to be powerful or perfect.”
She reiterated that God uses ordinary people and that what is required is faith, courage, and a willingness, even when a situation feels scary. In addition, she stressed that a leader’s influence matters first and foremost in his family, his church, and the community—that even his small, but faithful, actions can make a difference.
Furthermore, the leaders were reminded that “reaching the world” does not always begin across an ocean; it begins across the street and within the family circle.
“The GROW initiative is more than a program; it is a movement to reclaim the home as the primary mission field,” Gabin emphasized. “When we empower a woman, we strengthen a family. When we nurture a family, we reach a community.”
The event concluded with a commitment service done by Pastor Buque. Before dedicating the leaders and core team to the ministry, he called them to intentional and spiritual growth. Then he outlined several essential components for achieving balanced, holistic growth.
As the delegates return to their respective missions and conferences, they carry not only the physical manuals and action plans but also the decision to disseminate the initiative and disciple more people.
“How I wish the training days were longer. The time is enough, and I still want to learn more,” one participant says, voicing out the desires of most participants.
A leader also proposed sitting down to discuss more plans, but the time wasn’t enough.
Finally, the onboarding at ECPUC earned commitments from the leaders and core teams to help equip every family and woman to say, “I Will Go Reach Our World.”