DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — The Negros Oriental-Siquijor Mission has launched localized evangelistic campaigns across 46 sites as part of a broader, simultaneous evangelism initiative spanning the East Central Philippines.
The multi-site campaign is organized under the “ASI-PARL (Ad Pro) Evangelism Month,” a collaborative effort by the Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries, the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty department, and Adventist Professionals. The initiative runs from June 28 through July 4, though local scheduling adjustments have distributed the meetings over several weeks.
Of the 46 designated sites across the Negros Oriental and Siquijor provinces, 45 target a general audience, while one specialized campaign targets the working class.
Pastor Heshbon Buscato, youth director for the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, conducted the aforesaid evangelistic campaign for the working class. “It is a great privilege alang nako nga mamahimong dakung kabahin niining pag implement sa simultaneous evangelism sa ASI-Ad Pro sa tibook East Central Philippinnes,” Buscato said. (It is a privilege for me to be a part of the implementation of the simultaneous evangelism initiative across the East Central Philippines.)
Buscato’s evangelistic event for the elites and the working class took place at Bethel Guest House in Dumaguete City, under the theme “One City, One Hope.” It attracted more than 50 guests, many of whom were professionals, government workers, and business people.
To explain the different schedules of some evangelistic meetings across NSM, Pastor Nijel Galve, stewardship director of the Negros Oriental-Siquijor Mission, shared, “Due to prior commitments, we have structured the campaigns in phases,” Galve said.
As an example of this phasing, Paster Ely Abejero, NSM president, completed his own weeklong crusade on June 26, alongside two other speakers who launched ahead of the official start date.
According to Galve, three sites have concluded their programs ahead, 22 campaigns launched on the official June 28 opening day, and 21 remaining sites are scheduled to begin in the following weeks.
Lay members and professionals from the joint ASI-PARL (Ad Pro) network are leading 11 of the 22 active campaigns. Brigido Enquilino, ASI NSM president, shared, “There were challenges since we are not as active as the rest of the missions and conferences. But we stepped up by organizing a few districts at a time.”
On the other hand, a communication team from the East Central Philippine Union Conference traveled across the sites to monitor five ongoing meetings. The team included Atty. Christian Abenir, ECPUC legal, human resource, Planned Giving and Trust Services director, and PARL coordinator.
They visited sites, and their featured speakers include:
- Palinpinon, Valencia: Windhel Anciano, associate publishing ministry leader
- Candau-ay, Dumaguete City: Pastor Fermin Olila, local church pastor; two missionaries
- Bethel Hotel, Dumaguete City: Pastor Heshbon Buscato, SSD youth director
- Zamboanguita: Keith Nemenzo, associate publishing ministry leader
- Maloh, Siaton: Pastor Jimmy Guma, stewardship, legal, and trust director for the Negros Oriental-Siquijor Mission
The remaining 21 campaigns will roll out over the next few weeks to complete the regional initiative.
Galve called for united prayer for the initiative’s success. “Please continue to pray for this evangelism initiative to be successful, most especially for the harvest of souls that many will be brought to Jesus’ feet,” Galve said.