CEBU, Philippines — At least 84 individuals were baptized after a simultaneous evangelistic crusade conducted by children across Central Visayas from Oct. 11 to 16.
Organized by the children’s ministries department of the Adventist Church in Central Visayas, the weeklong evangelistic event featured child preachers delivering sermons to audiences predominantly made up of their peers.
Michelle Nogra, children and women’s ministries director for the Central Visayas Conference, said she was amazed by the cooperation and massive support during her site visits, which included the province of Masbate.
“It’s so humbling to see how God uses children in the ministry,” Nogra said. “I thought there would only be a few children coming to each site; however, I personally witnessed hundreds.”
The young participants’ dedication was on full display in the Eastern Camotes District, which recorded five baptisms. Despite heavy rain in the municipality of Poro, Cebu, the children remained undeterred and were baptized in an inflatable pool set up at a local residence, officiated by Pastor Gregorio A. Aurestila.
The Eastern Camotes effort assigned six child preachers to deliver the nightly messages. The local district also took a holistic approach to the crusade, holding community feeding programs ahead of the event and conducting health lectures.
Children’s ministries’ leaders also implemented a district-wide ban on commercially packaged tetra-pack juices and overly sweet biscuits, serving only nutritious refreshments to the children.
Other districts reporting successful baptisms include the Northern Island District (11), Chinese Filipino Church (9), Southcentral Masbate and Western Camotes (7 each), Eastern Camotes and Northeast Bohol (5 each), Southeast Cebu, Bantayan Island, and Western Masbate (3 each), and Eastern Masbate and Northern Masbate (2 each).
These simultaneous efforts yielded baptisms across multiple districts, led by Northwestern Masbate with 14 baptisms under Pastor Jimmy Gumop-as and Ticao Island with 13 under Pastor Susano.
Additional baptisms are scheduled in the coming weeks for districts across Bohol, including Eastern, Western, Southeast, Northern, and Southwestern Bohol, as well as the Cebu City District.
Meanwhile, several other congregations, including Capitol Center Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Northeastern Cebu District (NECDAC), are scheduled to hold their respective children’s crusades in November. Upcoming efforts are also slated for the Bulacao and Adventist Academy Cebu International churches.
“Children’s evangelism breaks down barriers, especially in places most resistant to the gospel. Parents are naturally drawn in, because what parent doesn’t want to see their children learning new songs or performing in front of a crowd?” said one church member, who watched several parents standing at the back of the venue to support their kids.
With more child-led crusades scheduled through November, church leaders said they were optimistic about the ongoing initiative. As the recent wave of baptisms shows, empowering the younger generation not only deepens their faith but also serves as a powerful way to reach the wider community.
“Age is never a barrier to sharing God’s love,” said Pastor Eliezer “Joer” Barlizo Jr., the first president of the Adventist Church in the East Central Philippines. “These children have shown us that a simple, pure faith can reach hearts and homes that traditional evangelism sometimes cannot.”
By Lyn Lucero ⎸ East Central Philippine Union Conference