The one-day second constituency meeting of the Southeastern Philippine Union Mission (SePUM) opened not with grandeur, but with a quiet dignity that set the tone for the hours ahead. As dawn broke at South Philippine Adventist College in Matan-ao, Davao del Sur, delegates began arriving for registration—an orderly process carefully ushered by the technical committee and dedicated staff of SePUM. Their efficiency ensured that every participant felt welcomed and prepared for the sacred responsibility of the session.
Inside the SPAC Church, newly constructed and with its cemented perimeter roads and nursing school newly inaugurated nearby, the atmosphere was one of reverence and readiness. Delegates, both regular and at large, were guided to their seats by clear signage and thoughtful arrangements. Each carried an official identification card and an envelope containing essential materials for the plenary and voting process. The gathering a symbolic gesture of undivided attention to the mission at hand.
The assembly was composed of regular delegates—officers, ordained ministers, and lay members representing five missions and two institutions within the territory. Alongside them were the delegates at large, distinguished leaders and staff from the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD), the governing body overseeing eleven countries across Asia. Their presence underscored the weight of the occasion, as in unity and through the mandate of the Holy Spirit, to chart the course of the Union’s future by choosing the directors of SePUM and presidents, executive secretaries and treasurers of the five unions within its territory: Southern Mindanao Mission (SMM), Davao Mission (DM), Northern Davao Mission (NDM), South Central Mindanao Mission (SCMM) and Southeastern Caraga Mission (SCM).
What began in simplicity unfolded into a moment of collective purpose—a gathering where faith, leadership, and mission converged to strengthen the work of the church in the “half of Mindanao territory”. The devotional session started while the prayer bands by pair started as pre-assigned as the result of this gathering should be Spirit-led.
Pr. Jacint Adap, SSD Treasurer led the congregation of the faithful filled with hope and purpose giving great weight about the passion that every leader of the church should bring -STEWARDSHIP, which meant managing our 7 T’s, Time, talent, temple (body), treasure, terrain (environment), truth and trust. It is defined as “the lifestyle of one who has a living relationship with Jesus, accepts Christ’s Lordship and working in partnership with God. “Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:2. Therefore, stewards are acting as God’s agents on earth.
Today, everyone nis reminded that position in the church is a sacred trust. Authority is never ownership but stewardship as God entrust people influence, responsibility, care of souls. Every elected role, carries heaven’s trust and must bear heaven’s character, not self-centered, with selfless love but focused on the mission. Leadership is not Lordship , but stewardship and grounded in the Bible because only provide us clarity, wisdom and leading.
He quoted Mrs. Ellen G. White’s message scribbled in 1911. “Long has God waited for the spirit of service to take possession of the whole church so that everyone shall be working for Him according to his ability—The Acts of the Apostles, 111 (1911). Pastor Adap reminded further that leadership is a responsibility and is given by God. In choosing leaders today, everyone tasked to choose should consider those being Spirit-driven and their heart and mind are in relevance with God. Corinthians 2:16 says: “But we have the mind of Christ.” Our leaders should have the willingness to help. The Spirit of service lives when we allow everything in us to be used for the glory of God.
Above all, our leader must be grounded in the Bible, as conduits of Christ’s excellence, must ponder that In the closing moments of earth’s history, God needs leaders whose characters and decisions are anchored in the Word, because in times of confusion, pressure, challenges, only the Scriptures provides stability and clarity, will teach us humbleness and provides wisdom. A leader that is not grounded in the Bible becomes opinionated and not Spirit-driven.
Relevant to the need of knowing God’s will through learning the Scriptures, he emphasized another written advise by Mrs. White. “Only those who have been diligent students of the Scriptures and who have received the love of the truth will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes the world captive.” Great Controversy 625.3.
As the delegates will be moving to the next phase of choosing SePUM leaders who will be shepherding for the next quinquennium, let us also ponder on these lines: “The path of men who are placed as leaders is not an easy one. But they are to see in every difficulty a call to prayer. Never are they to fail of consulting the great Source of all wisdom. Strengthened and enlightened by the Master Worker, they will be enabled to stand firm against unholy influences and to discern right from wrong, good from evil. They will approve that which God approves, and will strive earnestly against the introduction of wrong principles into His cause.” —Prophets and Kings, 31.
Finally, Pr. Adap’s words reverberated loudly advising all leaders qualified for various leadership roles, “The church elects, but God forms them. God called you because you are already shaped, but He is calling to shape you.”
Finally, Pr. Adap’s words reverberated loudly advising all leaders qualified for various leadership roles, “The church elects, but God forms them. God called you because you are already shaped, but He is calling to shape you.”
The original article was published in the SePUM website.