DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — Adventist Possibility Ministries (APM) coordinators from 22 districts across Negros Oriental-Siquijor Mission (NSM) gathered at the NSM Conference Hall in Tubtubon, Sibulan, Negros Oriental on Feb. 28 for an orientation program aimed at transforming the church’s approach to members with diverse needs.
The NSM-wide APM Orientation Program also brought together district presidents, officers, pastors, and their spouses, who learned afterwards to shift the focus from physical or mental limitations to the inherent value of every individual as a child of God.
Pastor Eliezer “Joer” Barlizo Jr., president of the East Central Philippine Union Conference (ECPUC), commended the initiative for its alignment with the biblical mandate to care for the vulnerable.
“They are the group of people for whom God died,” Barlizo said in a sermon during the divine worship, specifically mentioning the care of widows, widowers, and orphans. “They are part of our mission.”
The program also served as a strategic briefing for Mission REACH 2026 participation. Guest speakers emphasized that the “seven pillars” of APM—which include ministries for the blind, deaf, physically challenged, and caregivers—are not isolated groups but are integrated into the wider church’s goal of reaching untouched communities.
Ana Liza Facon, ECPUC education director and APM coordinator, encouraged leaders during her lectures to look past medical diagnoses.
“God sees potential where others see problems,” Facon said. “When others saw in David a shepherd boy, God saw a king. When others saw in Moses a stuttering fugitive, God saw a deliverer. When others saw Paul as a persecutor, God saw an apostle.”
APM leaders must resist labeling people by their condition. “Diagnosis is not destiny,” she added. “Because when we see through God’s eyes, limitation is not identity. And God never introduces His children by their weakness. He introduces them by their purpose.”
Facon emphasized what 1 Samuel 16:7 states: “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Then she reminded that the ministry’s goal is not merely to accommodate weakness, but to awaken potential by creating access and releasing people into active church service.
Pastor Nijel Galve, NSM education director and APM coordinator, shared his impressions of the event, noting that the atmosphere went beyond a typical administrative gathering.
“From the moment people started arriving, you could feel it wasn’t just another meeting on the calendar,” Galve said. “There was a quiet sense that God was bringing hearts together for something bigger than plans and reports.”
He also noticed that while some attendees arrived weary from travel, they remained eager to engage with the program’s objectives. In addition, the orientation helped participants realize that APM is more than just an advocacy group or a support system.
“It is a ministry that brings awareness of real needs, acceptance of differences, and the courage to move from sympathy to action,” Galve said. “It challenges us to stop asking only, ‘What can the church do for them?’ and begin asking, ‘How is God calling us to walk with them, include them, and lift them up in Christ?'”
Moreover, Frannie Pabayos, recently reelected as NSM APM president, announced an ambitious plan to establish APM chapters in every district, aiming to expand the ministry’s reach and impact. She also revealed that April 18 has been officially designated as “APM Sabbath,” a day for the initiative to celebrate and dedicate the ministry.
“I am deeply motivated, empowered, and inspired to continue this ministry,” Pabayos said. “I am so grateful to God for the gift of this ministry where we are given more chances to live our lives for others.”
The orientation concluded with a call for “One Voice” in ministry, ensuring that those with disabilities are fully involved in the spiritual and social life of the Adventist community.
Lyn Lucero ⎸ ECPUC Communication Department Staff