The Adventist Church in South-Central Luzon (SCLC) of the Seventh-day Adventists has been approved to reorganize and establish the Mindoro Island Mission. The recommendation has been approved by the Midyear Executive Committee and was formally announced during the recently concluded Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) Midyear meeting held at the Life Hope Impact Center in Silang, Cavite, Philippines from May 2-3, 2023.
The South-Central Luzon Conference is set to be reorganized into two territories. This is in accordance with the recommendation made by the Conference/Mission Status Survey Commission during their February 2, 2023 meeting. The reorganization of SCLC, which covers the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, and Marinduque, aims to strengthen the mission and ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the region.
Moreover, the creation of the Mindoro Island Mission is in response to the growing need for a more focused evangelistic effort in the province of Mindoro. The mission will cover the two provinces of Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro and will be led by a mission president.
According to Pastor Jasper Flores, president of SCLC, the reorganization and creation of the Mindoro Island Mission were approved after thorough deliberation and prayerful consideration. "We believe that these changes will enable us to reach more people with the message of hope and salvation, and to strengthen our impact in the communities we serve," he said.
Part of the commission’s approved recommendation as the new organization begins its operation will be limited to three executive officers, each with full departmental responsibilities, three department directors (one of them being a lady department director), three accounting staff (cashier, accountant, and auditor), and two secretaries (office secretary and administrative secretary) for the first three years of operation.
To help with the construction of the new organization's office, the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) will contribute $50,000, while the North Philippine Union Conference (NPUC) will be requested to grant $50,000. Furthermore, all conferences are recommended to grant at least PhP750,000 each and missions at least PhP500,000 each.
The reorganization of SCLC is expected to significantly impact the church's mission in the region. Church leaders are optimistic about the future and look forward to the continued growth and success of the church's mission in the Philippines.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in South-Central Luzon has been actively involved in various ministries such as evangelism, education, health, and community service. With the reorganization and the creation of the Mindoro Island Mission, the church hopes to expand its outreach and touch more lives in the region.
Edward Rodriguez, SSD Communication Department