CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Chinese-Filipino Seventh-day Adventist Church hosted a five-day evangelistic event that attracted over 250 attendees, with guests from the Chinese community making up more than half of the audience.
Themed “The End Time Seminar: Prophecy Again,” the event ran from Oct. 12 to 16, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., at the Casino Español de Cebu.
Running nightly, the seminar featured Dr. Samuel Wang, director of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division for the SSD Interfaith for Chinese, Hindu, and Buddhist Relations, as the main speaker.
Focusing on eschatological themes, Wang guided attendees through Seventh-day Adventist interpretations of final earthly events.
The nightly sessions opened with “Biblical Prophecy for the End of Time,” highlighting the church’s historicist view of Daniel and Revelation, and the belief that humanity is living in earth’s final epoch following the 1844 investigative judgment.
This topic led to discussions of “The Last Window of Mercy,” emphasizing the current period of Christ’s intercessory grace before the imminent close of human probation.
The seminar also explored “The Most Solemn Warning,” a teaching rooted in the Three Angels’ Messages of Revelation 14 that warns of the prophesied global enforcement of false worship.
In contrast, the biblical seventh-day Sabbath was presented as a protective seal and “A Foretaste of Heaven,” offering believers weekly spiritual rest and a joyful anticipation of the new earth.
The biblical teachings culminated in “The Blessed Hope,” focusing on the literal, globally witnessed Second Coming of Jesus Christ to resurrect the faithful and eradicate sin forever.
Recognizing the vital connection between spiritual readiness and psychological well-being, the seminar integrated a nightly, practical mental health advocacy segment titled “Nu Mind: A Mental Health Awareness.” Pastor Glenn M. Lagabon, a pastor serving at the Manila Center SDA Church in Quezon City, served as the speaker.
A church member also added a thought on the significance of combining the topics with the spiritual aspect: “The church has long recognized a holistic approach to human life, viewing mental and emotional resilience as essential components of a thriving spiritual journey.”
Lagabon provided attendees with actionable insights on how to cope with anxieties, stress, and emotional challenges, perfectly complementing the theological reassurance offered in the prophetic teachings.
The inclusion of this series connected strongly with the audience, who expressed significant interest in the discussions, demonstrating a clear demand for faith-based psychological support alongside traditional biblical study.
Pastor Robert Gedaro of the Chinese-Filipino SDA Church shared his impression of the event.
“Dr. Samuel Wang opened the minds of the people to look for the truth in the Bible,” Gedaro said. “It gave them a good impression of Christianity when they learned that the ancient Chinese people worshipped God long ago.”
Gedaro also shared that many in the audience committed to continue studying the Scriptures in their homes. Moreover, many attendees availed of acupuncture treatments from Wang himself and were very satisfied with the care.
Following the seminar, church leaders are coordinating ongoing Bible studies to support attendees’ continued interest in the Scriptures. The Chinese-Filipino SDA Church plans to maintain its community outreach, continuing to combine biblical education with holistic health initiatives.
By Lyn Lucero ⎸ East Central Philippine Union Conference Communications