The “Jesus Saves Series 3” digital evangelistic campaign, hosted by the Adventist Church in the East Central Philippines from October 25 to 31, culminated in resounding success, drawing a sweeping 1, 233 baptisms across its territory.
The Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) and Adventist World Radio (AWR) sponsored the initiative under the leadership of Pastor Robert Dulay, SSD AWR Center for Digital Evangelism director, and his associate director, Pastor Jeter Canoy.
The online evangelistic effort featured Pastor Eliezer T. Barlizo, Jr., first president of the East Central Philippine Union Conference (ECPUC), as the principal guest speaker. He spoke nightly from October 25 to 29 at the ECPUC headquarters and delivered the divine service message on October 31 at the Adventist Academy-Cebu Gymnasium. Meanwhile, Pastor Canoy spoke for the vespers and Sabbath School programs.
Thematically, the “Jesus Saves Series 3” explored the multifaceted nature of salvation. The campaign highlighted how Jesus saves through the transformative power of His Word, the redemptive sacrifice of His blood, and the depth of His love. It also emphasized the anticipation of His second coming and the spiritual rest the Sabbath provides, culminating in messages focused on deep spiritual renewal and the promise of a firm foundation where true hope begins.
Streamed live via the Facebook and YouTube channels of Hope Channel Central Philippines and the East Central Philippine Union Conference, as well as official social media sites across the union’s territory, the Western Central Philippines, and Mindanao regions, the broadcast drew massive engagement.
Nightly viewership ranged from 12,000 to 17,000 active online viewers. The digital footprint was unprecedented; over the seven-day campaign, the series accumulated 148,576 social media engagements. Viewers actively participated by leaving 81,262 comments, 43,062 reactions, and sharing the broadcast 24,252 times across their personal networks.
This extensive network of localized viewing sites initially included 82 from the Central Visayan Conference (CVC), 53 from the Negros Occidental Conference (NSM), 137 from the Samar Mission (SM), and 187 from the East Visayan Conference (EVC). However, an uncounted number of additional sites joined from the West Central Philippine Union Conference, Southwestern Philippine Union Conference, and the South Eastern Philippine Union Mission.
However, the campaign’s true reach extended far beyond digital analytics. It gained immense momentum through in-person gatherings of church members and their invitees to watch the nightly episodes together.
“The support was overwhelming, and I couldn’t thank God enough for all the outpouring of those blessings. Who would have thought these media sites outside our union territory would make personal calls, informing us of their desire to partake in the initiative,” Pastor Barlizo said.
Grassroots support for these watch parties was immensely astounding. Viewers gathered not only in churches but also at home watch parties, in gymnasiums, on basketball courts, and in offices, clinics, and restaurants. Viewers came not only from the union’s territory but also from Luzon, Mindanao, and other countries.
School administrators even gathered students and faculty to watch the livestream together, providing free meals for everyone. Because of these localized gatherings, the actual viewership was much higher than what met the eye.
Among the thousands of viewers was one child diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a severe genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscular degeneration that has left him unable to walk. He faithfully watched the online evangelism each night, hoping that the God he believes in—the same God frequently mentioned by the speaker—could restore his health.
For the leaders, stories like this proved the powerful impact of combining digital evangelism with traditional community methods.
On the culmination Sabbath, 1, 233 precious individuals across the East Central Philippines accepted Christ through baptism. The initial geographic breakdown includes 504 individuals in Central Visayas, 413 in the broader East Central Philippine territory, 135 in the Samar Mission, and 181 in the Negros Oriental-Siquijor provinces. Notably, in Bogo City, six longtime radio listeners also decided to get baptized.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Southern Asia-Pacific Division leadership who made this massive campaign possible,” said Pastor Barlizo. “To Pastor Robert Dulay and Pastor Jeter Canoy, thank you for your immense support and expertise in pushing this digital initiative forward. I also extend my sincere thanks to our SSD president, Pastor Roger Caderma, for his visionary leadership and massive and indefinite support for this initiative.”
He also mentioned Pastor Jacinto Adap, SSD treasurer, for donating the LED wall used during the event, which, according to him, significantly elevated the visual presentation and provided a dynamic backdrop for the nightly messages. “This victory belongs to the Lord, but it was built through your faithful partnership.”
Witnessing the huge impact of combining digital broadcasting with localized community gatherings, church leaders are already eager to keep the momentum alive. Inspired by the thousands of lives touched and the 1, 233 new believers joining the fold, plans are officially underway for the “Jesus Saves Series 4.”
For leaders, the massive success of this digital evangelism campaign powerfully demonstrates OneVoice27’s core vision: Mission for All—that digital strategies can reach far beyond the limits of traditional methods.
By Lyn Lucero, East Central Philippine Union Conference Communications