After long trips from Davao City to Tagum and Kidapawan, the communication team of the Southeastern Philippine Union Mission (SePUM) returned to Davao City to digitally broadcast the 6th and 7th episodes of the Discover Your Way with God (DYWG) Online Series. These episodes featured Pastor Reynaldo Merin, President of Davao Mission, as the fourth speaker, delivering Spirit-driven messages from the pulpit of Adams Center Seventh-day Adventist Church at Bajada, Davao City.
The SePUM’s DYWG Mobile team—comprising technical and creative crew—faced various challenges. Managing audio-visual controls in church-based live streaming meant balancing changing resources with the need for seamless transitions, clear sound, and synchronized visuals. Despite unpredictable on-site conditions, the volunteer tech teams, collaborated with mission, church, and institutional communication teams, and it worked wonders in preserving a reverent worship amidst changing audio-visual relays.
On the first night, Pastor Merin tackled “Secrets for a Healthy Lifestyle.” He unpacked timeless Adventist principles rooted not only in physical wellness but also in spiritual vitality and mission readiness. Drawing from Scripture and reliable references, he reminded listeners that caring for the body is a sacred act of stewardship.
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 says: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.” Pastor Merin emphasized that our bodies are vessels for God’s Spirit.
He revisited the Adventist health pillars: nutrition, exercise, water, sunlight, temperance, air, rest, and trust in God. These are not mere lifestyle tips—they are divine provisions for holistic healing. A vibrant life testifies to God’s restoring power. As 3 John 1:2 affirms: “Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.”
He also enumerated prohibited foods in Scripture and urged rejection of harmful habits like smoking and alcohol. Embracing self-control, he said, “is not just about longevity of life span, it’s about obedience to God, readiness to serve, testify, and uplift others.”
On September 13, during his second DYWG message, Pastor Rey—fondly called by many—delivered a powerful sermon titled “Entering the Christian Life.” It pierced through tradition and invited listeners into a deeper understanding of Christian identity. The message centered on baptism—not merely as ritual, but as divine command and spiritual rebirth.
Pastor Merin affirmed that baptism is a biblical ordinance instituted by Jesus. Quoting Matthew 28:19–20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” Jesus Himself accepted baptism at the Jordan River before He started His prophecy-destined ministries.
He emphasized that this command is not optional. Baptism is the gateway into Christian life; a public declaration of faith, repentance, and surrender. It symbolizes death to sin and resurrection into new life, echoing Romans 6:“We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death… that we too may live a new life.”
Pastor Merin also addressed a crucial concern: the difference between biblical baptism and common practices in many churches today. He gently but firmly explained that biblical baptism is by immersion, representing full burial of the old self. This method was practiced by Jesus (Matthew 3:16) and upheld by the early church.
In contrast, sprinkling or pouring, though widespread, lacks biblical precedent. Pastor Merin clarified that while sincere faith is honored by God, obedience to His Word must guide our practices. He quoted Mark 16:16 to underscore baptism’s spiritual weight: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be condemned.”
Throughout his message, Pastor Merin’s tone was pastoral and invitational. He did not condemn, but called. He did not debate, but illuminated. His appeal was clear: to enter the Christian life as Christ intended—through faith, repentance, and baptism by immersion.
The CONVERSATIONS segment, a supplemental discussion on previous topics, featured Pr. Ralph Reymund Indino, Pr. Ilde Brian Faigmani, and regular host Pr. Louwayne Van Magdadaro. All three as Hope Channel Davao hosts with their deep theological insights, wit, and vibrance, God’s wisdom was reflected throughout the dialogue.
The episodes were hosted by Ma’am Ivan Mae Flores, SePUM Media Production Head, alongside Dr. Byne Basa–Guingging of Let’s Pray Pilipinas Davao and Pr. Ralph Reymund Indino of Youth Talk.
Affirming the church’s identity as one whose lifestyle is rooted in Scripture, Elder Erton Köhler, newly elected president of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church (General Conference), reminded: “We preach the book, we teach the book, and by God’s grace, we live according to the book.” AMEN.
