DM and SePUM Ordain Pastor Jeby Vinzon
After serving the church in various ministries starting his completion of AB Theology degree from Mountain View College (MVC) in 2001, Pastor Jevy Vinzon was ordained at Nazareth Seventh-day Adventist Church, Nangka, San Miguel, Digos City on a rainy afternoon of July 19, and baptizes 11 precious souls after the ordination ceremony.
From the progressive town of Tinongan, Isabela, Negros Occidental, Jeby was born as the 8th child to parents Mr. & Mrs. Agustin Vinson, Sr., on December 11, 1974. Having 14 siblings in the family, the young Jeby faced so many challenges in life. His educational journey began at Upper Tupi Elementary, and he finished high school at East Visayan Adventist Academy.
Becoming a pastor was not one of his childhood dreams. Still, after gentle persuasion from elders of Crossing SDA Church of Tupi, South Cotabato, he ventured to Mountain View College as a working student. It took him six years to finish his Theology degree in 2001. He has experience working in the barn and farm, doing janitorial services, and working as a guard. He also worked as a student literature evangelist and found the experience rewarding and beneficial for Adventist students.
Life became more challenging after graduation as I became one of the family’s breadwinners. While waiting for the call to pastoral work in the church, I worked hard to sustain a living. “I always worry about our family’s situation, so my concern for the welfare of my parents and siblings always comes as a priority,” explained Pastor Vinzon during an interview before his ordination.
Before being enlisted as a Davao Mission worker, he happily married Ma’amMa’am Melvie Joy Lobino, a church school teacher. Their children, Rainbow, an incoming nursing student of MVC, and Sunny Jan, a grade 10 student of South Philippine Adventist College (SPAC), proved to be collaborative partners for the ministry as a singing duo and efficient youth leaders.
In 2019, Pastor Jeby demonstrated his commitment to his faith and community through his teachings, guidance, and organization of ministries in the Malalag and Sta. Maria districts as an associate pastor. From 2019 to 2022, he served in the district of Matanao, where he and his fellow believers constructed their first church building in Dongan, Pekong, Davao del Sur.
From 2022 to the present, his selfless service for the Lord has evolved around Digos City Urban District. Filling his heart and mind with the fire to win souls, he has become instrumental in winning 920 precious souls.
The speech by Elder Danielo Palomares, SePUM President, before granting full ecclesiastical authority to the ordinand, emphasized the key qualities for pastors as outlined in Isaiah 6. These include humility, encountering God, acknowledging vulnerability, and maintaining pure speech and demeanor.
Mrs. Ellen G. White, an Adventist writer, deeply reflected on pastoral ministry: “The ministers of the Word, and others who fill important positions, as well as the body of the Church, need the spirit of humility and contrition.” Review and Herald, December 16, 1890.
Conducting the charge and ordination vow for this noble ministry was Pr. Reynald dela Cruz, SePUM Ministerial Secretary, also accepted him to the fold and the unified Ministerial Association with Pr. Lito Magsico, Ministerial Secretary of Davao Mission (DM), and her wife to the Ministerial Spouses Association (MSA), by Ma’amMa’am Jill Magdadaro (MSA President, SePUM) and Mrs. Emilyn Merin, (MSA President, DM) The dedicatory prayer and laying of hands was officiated by Pr. Edwin Magdadaro, Executive Secretary of SePUM.
The ordinand responded with a song in SATB, which he sang with his wife and siblings. The song reverberated inside the church, which was coldly ventilated by 6 inverter air-conditioning units. The temperature was cold, yet the expression of faith was warm in the midst of the rain pouring hard.
“We chose Nazareth Adventist Church to be the venue of this anointing and ordinance since it can provide comfort for the guests, and this congregation can provide lessons of generous giving and unity,” Vinzon confided.
He continued, “One generous couple, Mrs. Elvie Palma and her husband, Brother Michael, a Singaporean national, shared their blessings for the construction of this church building, fences, benches, and additional lots with expanded wings, estimated at about 5 million pesos.”
Pr Vinson, who shed tears several times, relayed a straight-from-the-heart response: “I thank the brethren from the former districts I served for coming here, for my siblings who shared funds from their almost empty pockets to provide my educational needs. I am shedding tears of joy for the impossibility of making this happen, but God made it possible. All I can do is cooperate with the Holy Spirit to hasten Jesus’ second coming.”
The newly ordained pastor baptized 11 precious souls right after the ordination ceremony, while Pr. Dela Cruz gave church hymnals to the young and older believers. Pr Jeby whispered to this writer secretly after the prayer near the baptistry: “God is very good, Sir. I am thankful because I can feed you well at Galor’s Restaurant today. The one who built this church sponsored a banquet for all of us tonight, indicating that God answers prayers.”
“If all would reveal the unity and love that should exist among brethren, the power of the Holy Spirit would be manifest in its saving influence. In proportion to our unity with Christ will be our power to save souls.” Ellen G. White, “One, Even as We Are One,” Bible Training School, February 1, 1906, 130. (SePUM Communication)
Photo Credits: Dan Florante Vacalares Callo