08 March 2009
City evangelism reaps 121 in southern Philippines
City evangelism is taking many strides as church members proclaim the good news of salvation in cities and urban places. The city evangelism program conducted at Dipolog City in southern Philippines proves these feats as church members, lay pastors and church leaders work together to share Jesus’ love to the city populace.
The public meetings, which were held on March 8-14, culminated the two-month ground work of house visitations and Bible studies, at the Zamboanga del Norte Convention Center in Dipolog City. The nightly meetings which had an average attendance of 400 people ended up on Saturday, March 14, with 121 people accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior through baptism.
Dr Jonathan C Catolico, communication and public affairs director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the southern Asia-Pacific region, led out in the 7-day reaping series. He was assisted by Pastor Nelson D Paulo, communication and public affairs director for southern Philippines. Coordinating this ground preparation for the said public meetings was Pastor Adellano Casiong with his team of nine dedicated and committed lay workers and pastors.
“I have seen the result of a united church that works for the salvation of people to Jesus Christ. The dedication of the lay leaders and church members were potent ways to bring people to Jesus who desires that everyone must find hope amid the challenges that the financial and moral breakdown bring to his doorsteps,” said Catolico, when asked of his comment after the evangelistic series.
“People everywhere are wary of the meltdown in the financial markets but the impact of a message of hope from the word of God overwhelms this uneasiness and hopelessness,” rejoined Pastor Paulo. “Our church members are happy that the nightly messages of hope cushion the impact of financial recession that is happening worldwide. ‘There is hope after all, they say’,” said Pastor Casiong, Dipolog Church pastor and seminar coordinator. [AND Staff]
