SAN MIGUEL, Philippines — A municipal-wide simultaneous evangelism campaign has been launched across San Miguel in the province of Leyte, demonstrating powerful community collaboration between church leaders and local government.
The initiative comes in direct response to the Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty, and Adventist Professionals evangelism month.
Led by San Miguel Mayor Norman Sabdao, the local government unit has systematically established 12 strategic evangelistic meetings across the municipality’s 21 barangays. This wide coverage was made possible by intentionally aligning the church’s spiritual mission with existing government mandates, specifically the state-directed Moral Recovery Programs required at the barangay level. By combining these efforts, organizers created a strategy that benefits both sides: the government provides important health and moral services, and the Adventist church reaches a steady, engaged audience.
This wide coverage was possible by aligning the church’s spiritual mission with government requirements, especially the state-directed Moral Recovery Programs at the barangay level. By combining these efforts, organizers created a strategy that benefits both sides: the government provides important health and moral services, and the Adventist church reaches a steady, engaged audience.
“The primary vision behind making the movement municipal-wide is to ensure that every barangay resident has the opportunity to hear the gospel. Two barangays for one evangelistic meeting,” a facilitator shared. “By strategically pairing adjacent communities, we created 12 sites that serve two barangays each, maximizing both geographical reach and resource efficiency.”
This means that in every evangelistic meeting, residents of two barangays are attending.”
Adding to the momentum, organizers noted that perfect timing aligned two major free medical missions with the evangelism schedule. Before the specific dates for the evangelism month were chosen, the medical clinics had already been scheduled, facilitating the spread of the gospel and drawing large crowds.
An international mission featuring a 35-member medical volunteer team from San Diego, California, successfully cared for 2,000 recipients across San Miguel.
A second local collaborative effort between the government and the Adventist church provided comprehensive care to an additional 250 recipients in Brgy. Libtong, San Miguel. The missions provided extensive free services, including medical and pediatric consultations, minor surgeries, optical checkups with free reading glasses, vital signs monitoring, and dental extractions and cleanings.
The overall campaigns in San Miguel use a highly strategic logistical layout that leverages existing local government infrastructure to maximize outreach. Barangay health workers took the lead on the ground by handling invitations and conducting door-to-door outreach, while local government medical personnel served as the official health lecturers for the nightly meetings.
The strategy has also successfully engaged local leadership, with numerous barangay officials actively attending the sessions. Additionally, a specialized meeting was held at the San Miguel municipal gym to reach the working class among municipal employees.
The speakers for this event include both denominational directors and well-known Adventist professionals. Leading the meetings are respected legal leaders such as Sabdao, Atty. Sunny Cientos, and Atty. Henry Inopiquez.
“By working together in healthcare, governance, and biblical preaching, San Miguel is showing how churches and local governments can join forces to improve both the physical and spiritual well-being of the whole community,” Mayor Sabdao shared.
Pastor Eliezer “Joer” Barlizo Jr., first president of the ECPUC, said, “I really appreciate Mayor Sabdao’s dedication to evangelism and his strategic ways in mobilizing resources for effective gospel reach.”
Lyn Lucero ⎸ ECPUC Communication Department