After two years of lockdown and travel restrictions, the Southern Asia-Pacific Division decided to hold its annual mid-year meetings in May 2022. Adventist leaders during the devotional services underlined the value of living with hope and trusting God’s leading. Elder Max Langi and Pastor Rudy Baloyo, current treasurer and executive secretary of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, shared inspirational messages to attending delegates, reminding everyone of each leader’s divine responsibility.
During the two-day mid-year meeting, Adventist church leaders from SSD shared their spiritual journey and how the Lord has led them to where they are right now. Speakers reminded delegates about the value of dependence and trust in God’s leading. No matter how uncertain the future holds, our faith in God will help us be resilient and overcome challenges in leadership, decision-making, and organization.
Max Langi: Living with hope
With devastating events happening in different parts of the world, hope seems to be unclear and doubtful. However, despite the uncertainties, there are moments when we are reminded about hope and how valuable it is to hold on to it steadfastly.
Elder Langi highlights a quotation from the Spirit of Prophecy, saying, “The hope of eternal life is not to be taken up upon slight grounds. It is a subject to be settled between God and your soul for eternity. A supposed hope, and nothing more, will prove your ruin.”
Life is not an easy journey. As sin continues to cripple humanity, life will remain to be uncertain. Despite having an unclear future, we are reminded that we should not fear. We should be reminded that the Lord has led us, and His teaching will be our strength.
As Elder Langi pondered upon his retirement, he shared that age is just a number. Age comes with different perks and responsibilities. There comes a time when age becomes a burden as we encounter struggles in various aspects of life. These struggles encourage us to look forward to the blessed hope. A reminder that though this life has its limits, the blessed promise from God will remain to be alive even after death as we wait for the soon coming of our Saviour.
Langi reflects on 1 Timothy 1:13-15, “13 Even though I was once a blasphemer, persecutor, and violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love in Christ Jesus.
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
Langi reminded the delegates to accept the present and to pursue the future.
Live in the present. Enjoy God’s presence each day. Keep the past behind you, and do your best to reach what is ahead. Fix your eyes on the goal; fix your eyes on Jesus. Finish the race and win the prize through Christ Jesus.
Pursue the future. Look forward with enthusiasm and hope. God has prepared life eternal for those who accepted his salvation.
Rudy Baloyo: God’s Providence and Leading
Where we are right now is a reminder of God’s leading. As we place our confidence in God, we learn to rely on Him, no matter what circumstances we experience.
There are moments when we are not comfortable where we are placed. These experiences allowed us to grow and make adjustments that we may be able to understand and live the way God would like us to follow. These inconveniences are God’s ways of developing a spiritual character that will be utilized to further His work in His perfect timing.
God is developing patience and humility as we trust His plans for our lives. Often, trusting the Lord comes with sacrifices. When we commit ourselves to His leading, we are not entrusting our lives to God halfway but wholeheartedly. Express our trust in God, and you will see firsthand how the Lord works in so many different facets.
Baloyo shared a verse in the Bible found in Proverbs 3:5 it says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Baloyo reminisced his journey from being a hard-headed rascal to becoming a church leader for the division. Baloyo shared that these extremes in his life reveal how God is interested in leading us to where he would find us helpful. He shared that he knows that God was there to guide and remind him in every moment of his life.
“If not for God’s providence, I wouldn’t be where I am right now,” Baloyo said. “His footsteps led me to a life living in confidence to His promise,” Baloyo added.
Edward Rodriguez, SSD Communication Department