More than 4,000 church members and leaders from across 10 districts in Bohol gathered for the annual Bohol Federation of Seventh-day Adventist Association of Churches (BOFESDAAC) General Assembly.
The event, held from April 12 to 18, took place at Valencia Technical-Vocational High School in Valencia, Bohol.
Held annually, this gathering promoted fellowship and unity among all church members across the province of Bohol. Moreover, it aimed to strengthen the mission focus under the theme “Grounded in the Bible, Focused on the Mission.”
Participating districts included Southern, Southwest, Western, Northwest, Northern, Northeast, Eastern, Southeast, Central West, and Central East Bohol District, with guest speakers from the Central Visayan Conference and the East Central Philippine Union Conference.
The assembly opened with a lively welcome program, and participants proudly wore vibrant outfits that celebrated their district identities. After a festive dinner, the participants treated themselves to a night of musical presentation led by the women in each district.
In the following days, this large-scale gathering also buzzed with leadership activities, from project updates and policy discussions to the election of new officers for 2026. Strategic planning for “Mission Reach 2026” and district collaboration took center stage.
But all morning and evening sessions began with a devotional, during which participants said they were inspired by the messages from guest speakers coming from CVC and ECPUC.
As activities continued, organizers held simultaneous departmental, committee, and business sessions. The youth also gained Masterguide training and enjoyed other activities such as sports.
Even with the event’s success, organizers pointed out some logistical challenges. Attendees dealt with limited water, not enough restrooms, and challenges of transporting and housing thousands of delegates on a tight budget.
However, the leaders saw that the spirit of the gathering remained high, aided by favorable weather and strong cooperation among the districts.
“It was a memorable week of spiritual and physical enrichment,” Rummy Amaza, former BOFESDAAC president, said, attributing the success to the support of church members, district pastors, and association presidents. “We are hopeful for even greater growth as we face the challenges of the 2026–2028 term.”
One highlight the leaders saw in the gathering occurred on the Sabbath, when a visitor from Mindanao shared her personal testimony of moving from another denomination to the Adventist faith, a story that moved and inspired many in the audience.
For many who attended, the impact was very personal.
“Attending the BOFESDAAC General Assembly 2026 deeply strengthened my faith in Jesus,” said attendee Gwyneth Segura. “It helped me grow spiritually and allowed me to connect and learn more about God’s love and plans alongside fellow Adventists.”
Audric Clenton Orapa, another participant, called the first federation event “very memorable and remarkable.”
As the assembly ended, church leaders began planning for the future. They hope to strengthen programs for children and youth, expand spiritual development activities, and possibly add sports programs to involve more members and attract more outsiders.
The event led to new commitments to service, with participants returning to their respective districts, looking forward to another similar activity that would strengthen faith and promote unity and cooperation.
Lowill Mark Paghid ⎹ Bohol Adventist Youth Province-wide Association President