TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Eastern Visayas has employed various targeted outreach strategies to engage local professionals, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders in its 147 simultaneous evangelistic campaigns across its territory.
It primarily uses the Moral Recovery Program, an executive directive that directly reinforces Republic Act No. 6713, also known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. LGUs frequently cite both RA 6713 and EO 319 when partnering with faith-based organizations for community values and moral enhancement crusades.
The simultaneous evangelism initiative is part of the East Central Philippine Union Conference’s (ECPUC) ASI-PARL (Ad Pro) Evangelism Month, a union-wide evangelism movement. The campaign officially opened on June 28 and runs through July 4, featuring 86 active sites on opening night.
Leaders and coordinators reported that 23 sites began campaigns ahead of the official start date, with an additional 38 sites scheduled to follow, bringing the total number of active evangelism sites across the region to 147.
Local campaigns across the Eastern Visayas Mission (EVC) territory have tailored their programming to distinct community needs, often collaborating with local government units (LGUs) through civic-focused themes. Some of those areas visited by the team from ECPUC are the following:
The “Discovering God’s Love” health, moral recovery, and gospel seminar launched in Barangay 101, New Kawayan,specifically catering to members of the local senior citizens association.
The event is conducted by Pastor Carl Glenn Morta of the Tacloban Adventist Church and sponsored by the local Adventist Laymen’s Services and Industries (ASI) chapter.
San Juanico District: The Hebron Seventh-day Adventist Church is hosting a crusade centered on the government’s Moral Recovery Program framework. It catered to a mixed audience, including children, residents, professionals, barangay officials, and entrepreneurs.
The speaker is Ervin Mandalupa, associate treasurer of the ECPUC, and his wife, Myrah. Ervin delivers family relationships and gospel lectures; Myrah does the health-related and educational teachings.
Ormoc City (Purok 1 Lawis, Barangay Biliboy): Local government units also back an ongoing crusade centered on moral recovery.
Barangay Coordinator Orbel Junio, a church member employed by a local government office and assigned to the area, suggested the site across the Biliboy River. Facilitators and leaders must cross two sections of the river before reaching the site, which poses challenges, especially on rainy days.
ASI leaders reported this is the first Adventist evangelistic campaign held in this previously unentered area.
Speakers include James Delima, Junio, and Algyr Pol, all of whom were ASI officers.
Biliboy Brgy. Captain, in a welcome remark, said, “We may have different faiths, but we serve and worship the same God. I get so attracted to coming here; in fact, this is already my third night. It’s because I want to understand more about health, the secret to strong family relationships, and why we differ in our doctrinal beliefs.
Ormoc City (Barangay Alta Vista): Following three recent fires in the Albuera-Ormoc district, a moral recovery seminar is held in the area, providing moral and spiritual support to 17 displaced families living in evacuation centers.
Speakers include Dyna Aso and Pastor Jesriel Lucero.
Ormoc City (Sitio Calungsod, San Pablo): An elder-led evangelistic effort held in a community setting, focusing on the themes of “Happy Family” and the “Moral Recovery” program.
Elders Lionel Barrientos and Eleazar Ramirez Jr conduct this evangelistic effort.
This faith-based partnership allows the Adventist Church to address both the spiritual and civic needs of Eastern Visayas, transforming traditional evangelism into a collaborative vehicle for community development, values formation, and disaster relief.
Lyn Lucero ⎸ ECPUC Communications