On February 14 Sabbath, the overflowing South Philippine Adventist College (SPAC) Alumni Church gathered 1,277 official delegates from two missions for the Bi-Union Mission REACH26 Orientation Seminar, launching the newest strategy to strengthen the unity of believers across the Southeastern Philippine Union Mission (SePUM) and beyond with the supervision of Pastor Rene Rosa, Vice President for Evangelism /NDR-IEL.
Davao Mission (DM) sent 512 lay delegates representing 322 churches and companies in 50 districts, assisted by 56 field pastors. Their mission administrators, directors, and staff, 31 Spirit-driven individuals, joined them.
South Central Mindanao Mission (SCMM), a two-year-old territory comprising the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, and Tacurong, as well as the provinces of Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and a large portion of Sultan Kudarat, had a total of 613 delegates: 538 lay members, 45 field pastors, and 30 mission workers, including administrators, directors, and staff.
Pastor Danielo D. Palomares, SePUM President, led all 42 co-administrators with directors and staff in attendance, preparing for the NDR-IEL gathering, which involved all the ministries of the church working as a cohesive team.
Regular churchgoers from the campus and neighboring communities had the option to join the large throng at the venue or attend the culmination Sabbath of the Student Week of Prayer at the College Gym—both truly rewarding experiences that day.
Pastor Raul Emnace, Sabbath School/Personal Ministry Director and ASI Coordinator of SePUM, opened the informative series of lectures on Global Total Membership Involvement (TMI) as a biblical strategy for disciple-making and evangelism. He explained: “It is a call on every church and member to become actively involved in making disciples using Christ’s method.” He emphasized that success in God’s vineyard depends on the number of workers, not just baptisms, since “every true disciple is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary” (The Desire of Ages, p. 195). Practical applications include establishing new congregations in unentered or underserved areas, mobilizing members in health ministries, literature distribution, digital evangelism, community service, and personal witnessing.
In the afternoon, Pr. Emnace supplemented his thoughts on community service by demonstrating how to actively show God’s love and build relationships—connecting people with their community, family, and ultimately with God. By empowering members to focus on others’ physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being, the church can minister holistically and introduce people to Christ through compassionate service.
Christ’s method alone will bring true success in reaching people: “The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 143).
Pr. Arnel Gabin, SSD NDR-IEL Director, explained that Mission REACH26 is not a new ministry but the first step in the REAPS Discipleship and Mission Strategy, which aims to reach unreached places and people groups. In the coming years of the quinquennium, the mission will expand, advance, proclaim, and disciple. Part of the theme song crafted by Pr. Gabin declares: “We will reach, transforming communities across every land, till the harvest is gathered, the message will preach. For Jesus our Saviour, we will reach.”
In harmony with Jesus’ words: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations” (Matthew 24:14), Ellen G. White explained: “His kingdom will not come until the good tidings of His grace have been carried to all the earth. Hence, as we give ourselves to God, and win other souls to Him, we hasten the coming of His kingdom” (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, p. 108). She further emphasized: “It is the positive duty of God’s people to go to the regions beyond.” (Evangelism, p. 60). Thus, entering unentered villages, towns, cities, people groups, and digital spaces is the specific goal of every believer.
On reclaiming inactive members, Pr. Gabin highlighted compassion as the best approach: “Inactive members are not hopeless cases. They are wounded stories waiting to be heard. They did not walk away from God; they stepped away from pain, pressure, misunderstanding, burnout, or broken relationships.”
The keynote message during the hour of worship, along with two separate Sabbath lectures, emphasized the biblical basis of the strategy. He pointed to John 4:35: “Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest… that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.”
He stressed that “making disciples is a continuous process by which a person becomes a disciple of Jesus Christ, matures as His disciple, and makes more disciples” (Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual, 21st Edition, p. 46). Baptism, while essential, is not the end result of discipleship.
The Spirit of Prophecy reminds us: “Of all professing Christians, Seventh-day Adventists should be the foremost in uplifting Christ before the world. The proclamation of the third angel’s message calls for the presentation of the Sabbath truth.” (Gospel Workers, p. 156). It also says: “It is at the cross of Christ that mercy and truth meet together, and righteousness and peace kiss each other. The sinner must be led to look at Calvary.”
To culminate the gathering, Pastor Palomares, as head of the SePUM family, shared a powerful commitment message, quoting Dr. Clinton Wahlen: “Salvation is Christ’s work from start to finish—for us and in us. Thus, by gaining Christ, we have everything we need.” He reinforced this with Ephesians 2:8–9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” He reminded everyone that this training will continue across other missions with a deep desire to engage all.
The pledge of each attendee to remain “grounded in the Bible and focused on the mission” was highlighted in the candle-lighting ceremony. Music from Advent Harmony of Digos Central Church, SPAC Mass Choir, Heavenly Strings, SCMM Choral, and several soloists multiplied the inspiring effects of the gathering.
Finally, a solemn reminder was shared: “Satan is working with great diligence to compass the ruin of the souls of men. He has come down with great power, knowing that he has but a short time to work. Our only safety lies in following closely after Christ, walking in His wisdom, and practicing His truth” (Our Higher Calling, p. 16).
