Adventist Lawyers Take Center-Stage in Evangelism and Leadership

Adventist lawyers take seriously the divine mandate to proclaim the everlasting gospel to the world and show full support to the Total Member Involvement initiative of the church during the 2nd Adventist Lawyers’ Convention in Cebu City, Philippines, on August 23-25, 2018. Highlighting the theme Called and Committed To Serve, they tackle relevant topics in order to contribute to the mission of the church and to promote better church leadership. 

Powerful testimonies are given during the Sabbath morning service. Atty. Triven Pesigan Castillo narrates how God answered his prayer to finance the construction of the church school. “If God provided a ram for Abraham, I believe He will provide a ram for me. And He did, but I didn’t expect God would give me a bigger and heavier ram.” The first day of the year, He specifically asked God to give him the special privilege of returning a six-figure tithe. And God answered his prayer. 

Atty. Herculano Tagalugin reports the active participation in evangelism of Adventist lawyers in General Santos City. He himself leads a radio program Tingog sa Paglaum (Voice of Hope) which has been running for 16 years now and has overseen the planting of 18 new churches in the Southern Mindanao Mission territory. He cites Judge Chalmer Gevieso for being active in conducting and participating evangelistic meetings, as well as actively supporting the broadcast ministry through his radio program It is legal, is it Biblical? which is regularly aired over the radio and social media and will soon be in the Hope Channel Television. Atty Tagalugin also mentions the active participation of Judge Jimmy Boco in broadcast ministry. Judge Boco’s radio program Know your rights is regularly aired in the broadcast outlets. Atty. Edsel Sala Deris – Lim led more than one hundred forty female inmates to baptism.

Atty. Lei-Maurae Estrella-Babatuan recalls how she is humbled by the fact that God is with her in difficult times as a public attorney handling almost 50 cases a day. Even when she was still a law student, she takes comfort and encouragement from the Bible, specially in Psalm 23: 4.

Atty. Silvino L. Sumagaysay Jr. reports participating in evangelistic meetings around North Philippine Union territory and even in far-away India and has led many people to baptism. 

Atty. Harlin Abayon cites two recent victories of the church: the renewal of Hope Channel Philippines’ franchise to operate for another 25 years, the recent Supreme Court ruling on Denmark Valmores, a faithful Seventh-day Adventist who stand true to his religious conviction. The Supreme Court ruling provides jurisprudence for the first time in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He challenged every lawyer present that Sabbath morning to stay committed and help the church because time is running out.

Powerful topics were tackled in the plenary, such as: Alternative Dispute Resolution: Managing Conflict Constructively; Corporate Governance: Understanding the way we do business as a church; Labor Relations and Standards: Creating A Workplace Compliant to Labor Standards; Planned Giving and Trust Services: Leaving a Legacy of Generosity; Property and Tax Compliance: Faithful Stewardship of Church Resources; and Public Affairs and Religious Liberty: Projecting Positive Adventist Identity in the Public Realm.

Atty. Josue Pierre, Associate General Counsel of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist, graces the convention with his powerful sermon and insightful lectures. “I praise God for these lawyers who are committed to the mission of the church and who are willing to support the leadership of the church,” says Atty. Rex Rosas, SSD Legal and PARL Services. Several leaders from Southern Asia-Pacific Division attend the event. Church leaders and pastors from the three Unions of the Philippines as well as church leaders from the two Unions in Indonesia and several law students, are also present during the convention.

Mamerto Guingguing II