THREE HUNDRED THREE pastors and church leaders from the Southeastern Philippine Union Mission (SePUM) have returned home spiritually renewed and missionally inspired after joining more than 3,200 delegates at the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) Ministerial Convention and Stewardship Summit, held July 28 to August 2 at the Basilea Convention Center in Banten, Indonesia.
Centered on the theme "Building Up His People," the summit gathered pastors, ministerial secretaries, stewardship leaders, and church administrators from across the Southern Asia-Pacific Division's 11-country territory for six days of biblical preaching, spiritual renewal, leadership development, and collaborative planning for the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
With the church leaders from the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
Representing SePUM were delegates from its five administrative fields—Davao Mission, Northern Davao Mission, South Central Mindanao Mission, Southeastern Caraga Mission, and Southern Mindanao Mission—together with leaders from Adventist Hospital Davao and South Philippine Adventist College.
Throughout the week, General Conference and Division leaders repeatedly emphasized that effective ministry begins with a pastor's personal relationship with Christ and is reflected through faithful stewardship, servant leadership, continuous spiritual growth, and wholehearted commitment to God's mission.
Opening the convention, General Conference Ministerial Secretary Ramon Canals reminded delegates that pastors are first called to seek God before leading His people. He challenged ministers to pursue a deeper experience with Christ, emphasizing that genuine ministry flows from personal spiritual revival rather than professional ability alone.
Other keynote presentations reinforced the biblical foundations of stewardship, discipleship, pastoral leadership, holistic ministry, child protection, storytelling for mission, technology in ministry, and the Division-wide OneVoice27 initiative, which calls every church member to unite in proclaiming the everlasting gospel through coordinated, Christ-centered witness.
Dr. Gugun Gumilar, Special Staff to the Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs, whose presence reflected the Indonesian government's recognition of the positive role that faith communities play in society. He emphasized that interfaith harmony remains a key pillar of Indonesia's national development, noting that the country's diversity of ethnicities, languages, and religions has become a unifying strength rather than a source of conflict. His remarks echoed principles long upheld by the Seventh-day Adventist Church through its Public Affairs and Religious Liberty ministry, which promotes religious freedom, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence.
For many in the SePUM delegation, the summit became more than a leadership conference—it was a renewed call to serve God's people with greater faithfulness and urgency.
Dr. Ilde Brian Faigmani, a church pastor in Davao Mission, described the gathering as a deeply personal experience that rekindled his commitment to pastoral ministry.
"The summit renewed my passion for mission, especially in serving my church. Every message met the needs of pastors and our churches, keeping us focused on God's calling. While I'm grateful for this gathering, my greatest hope is that Jesus will come soon, and that we will all be found faithfully serving until He does."
Prof. Alfred Labadisos, Dean of Theology at the South Philippine Adventist College, shared that one of the convention's most memorable messages reminds ministers that effective leadership begins with guarding their own spiritual lives."It is possible to become so busy doing the work of ministry that we neglect the Lord of the ministry. We may devote ourselves to caring for other families while failing to nurture our own. Our outward ministry may appear successful and fruitful, yet our inward spiritual life can slowly decline. This reminder challenged me to keep my relationship with God and my family as priorities, even while serving others."
The reflection echoed one of the convention's recurring themes—that pastoral effectiveness is rooted not merely in ministry activity, but in a vibrant relationship with Christ, a healthy family life, and a heart continually surrendered to God's calling.
The summit's stewardship emphasis likewise resonated strongly with the SePUM delegation. During his presentations, General Conference Associate Stewardship Director Aniel Barbe reminded pastors that stewardship is fundamentally about leading people into a deeper relationship with Christ rather than raising financial resources.
Reflecting on this message, Dr. Dante Dabucol, Stewardship Ministries director of the Adventist Church in the Southeastern Philippines, said the convention reaffirmed stewardship's true biblical purpose.
"Stewardship strengthens the church by raising faith, not funds. As Pastor Aniel Barbe emphasized, 'You were not called to fundraise. You were called to grow the faith of God's people.' As believers grow deeper in their relationship with Christ, faithful stewardship becomes a joyful response, strengthening disciples, families, churches, and the mission throughout the Southeastern Philippine Union Mission."
The convention also challenged pastors to embrace lifelong growth and collaborative ministry as they shepherd God's people in an increasingly complex world.
For Pr. Baby Larry Labang, Ministerial Association secretary of the Adventist Church in the Southeastern Philippines, the summit clearly defined the kind of leadership needed for the years ahead.
"Inspired by the 'Building Up His People' theme of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division Ministerial Convention and Stewardship Summit, SePUM pastors return with renewed commitment to Christ-centered leadership, faithful stewardship, continuous growth, and collaborative mission. Rooted in a deep love for Christ, they are called to build God's people through faithful preaching, servant leadership, and unwavering dedication to proclaiming the everlasting gospel until Jesus comes."
As the delegates return to their respective districts, churches, institutions, and communities throughout southeastern Philippines, they carry home more than conference notes and presentations. They return with a renewed commitment to nurture spiritually vibrant congregations, strengthen discipleship, cultivate faithful stewardship, and lead God's people with humility, biblical conviction, and a steadfast focus on Christ's mission.
For the Southeastern Philippine Union Mission, the summit serves as a reminder that the Church's greatest strength is not found in its programs or institutions, but in pastors and leaders whose lives are deeply rooted in Christ and wholly committed to building up His people until the soon return of Jesus.
Pr. Paul Douglas, speaking during the Divine Worship on August 1,
As the summit drew to a close, Pr. Paul Douglas, Treasurer of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church headquartered in Maryland, USA, reminded delegates of the urgency of God's mission. Preaching from Revelation 14 during the Sabbath worship service, he declared, "The angel is flying in the midair because the mission is urgent!"
His message served as a compelling challenge to the 303-member SePUM delegation and the thousands of pastors and leaders gathered from across the Southern Asia-Pacific Division—to return home with renewed commitment, faithfully proclaiming the everlasting gospel with urgency until Christ comes.
