GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines — Hope Channel leaders visited media studios across Southeastern Philippines recently, expressing appreciation to church administrators, media personnel, and volunteers for their continued support of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s media ministry in the region.
Dr. Michael Palar, Hope Channel Coordinator for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Southern Asia-Pacific region, together with Pastor Johnster Joe Calibod, President of Hope Channel Philippines, visited Hope Channel and Adventist Media studios in Davao City; Tagum City, Davao del Norte; Matalam, North Cotabato; and General Santos City.
They were joined during the visits by Rhoen Catolico, Communication and Media Director of the Adventist Church in Southeastern Philippines.
More than a tour of facilities, the visits provided an opportunity for the Hope Channel leaders to personally meet with local church administrators, media personnel, and volunteers and thank them for their commitment to using media as a platform for sharing hope and advancing the mission of the church.
(A courtesy call to the Officers at the Southeastern Philippine Adventist regional headquarters.)
Palar emphasized the important role of media ministry in helping advance the proclamation of the gospel and hastening the Lord’s coming. He encouraged church members to recognize that the work is worth supporting and that everyone can have a part in spreading the message.
His message carried a sense of both urgency and invitation: media ministry is not simply the responsibility of those working inside studios or operating cameras and equipment. It is a mission in which every church member can participate by using available opportunities and platforms to share the gospel.
One of the most meaningful moments at each stop came through prayer.
Palar intentionally prayed for each studio and the people serving there. Rather than offering only a general prayer for the ministry, he mentioned media missionaries and leaders by name, lifting them before God and asking for His continued guidance, strength, protection, and blessing upon their lives and ministry.
For those serving behind the cameras, microphones, computers, and production consoles, the prayers offered a personal reminder that media ministry is ultimately about people called to serve. By mentioning them by name, Palar acknowledged not only the work being accomplished through the studios but also the individuals whose commitment and often unseen service make that ministry possible.
The moments of prayer also underscored the spiritual purpose behind Hope Channel. Technology, equipment, studios, and digital platforms may provide the means to communicate, but the ministry remains dependent upon people who have dedicated their gifts to God.
(The visit to the Hope Channel Northern Davao studio)
Calibod, meanwhile, emphasized the relationship between technology and personal ministry. While recognizing technology as a powerful tool for spreading the gospel, he reminded media missionaries that technology alone cannot replace genuine human connection.
He highlighted the importance of “mingling”—meeting people, building relationships, listening to them, and allowing the message communicated through media to be reinforced through personal interaction.
His emphasis served as a reminder that media ministry should not end when content is broadcast, streamed, or posted. Digital communication can open doors and reach people across distances, but personal relationships remain essential in leading people from simply receiving a message to experiencing a community of faith.
(The visit to the Hope Channel Davao studios)
Meanwhile, Catolico urged media missionaries and church members to see gospel sharing through digital platforms not merely as a funded program or occasional campaign, but as a lifestyle.
He emphasized that digital mission should not depend solely on the availability of budgets, equipment, or organized projects. With social media already woven into everyday life, every believer with access to a digital platform has an opportunity to intentionally share faith and hope.
“If we are able to share secular content on digital platforms, there is no reason for us not to share the most important content there is!” Catolico said.
The challenge calls for a shift from simply being consumers of digital content to becoming intentional digital missionaries—using everyday online presence to share messages that point people toward Christ.
(With the South Central Mindanao personel)
At each stop, Palar and Calibod also recognized the important role of local studios and their personnel in bringing Christ-centered content closer to communities. The studios serve as ministry hubs where local stories, programs, testimonies, and other faith-based content are produced and shared through broadcast and digital platforms.
The visits highlighted the partnership between the different levels of the church—from local fields and the Southeastern Philippine territory to Hope Channel Philippines and the Southern Asia-Pacific region.
And amid the packed travel schedule, there was room for fellowship—and a taste of the region.
(A most-needed roadside stop for that iconic Durian!)
No journey across Southeastern Philippines seemed complete without a roadside stop for one of Mindanao’s best-known fruits—durian. Between studio visits and hours on the road, the visiting team took a break at a local fruit stand to enjoy fresh durian and other tropical fruits.
The informal stop offered a lighter moment in an otherwise tight itinerary—a chance to share stories, laughter, local flavors, and fellowship beyond meeting rooms and studios. It was a simple reminder that ministry partnerships are strengthened not only through programs and formal conversations, but also through relationships built along the journey.
The visit covered Hope Channel studios serving Davao, Northern Davao, South Central Mindanao, and Southern Mindanao. A visit to the Southeastern Caraga studio is scheduled for next week, completing this round of visits to Hope Channel and Adventist Media facilities across the Southeastern Philippine territory.
(At the Hope Channel Southern Mindanao studio)
From the studios and digital platforms to personal encounters in communities, the visit carried a common message—the tools may change, but the mission remains—and everyone has a part to play.
Through technology, personal relationships, intentional digital witnessing, and prayer, Hope Channel leaders and local media missionaries reaffirmed their shared commitment to spreading the gospel and helping more people encounter the hope found in Jesus Christ.
