Digital evangelism in Asia-Pacific thrives despite the challenges of lockdown

The Covid 19 Pandemic has led the church to venture into different avenues of ministry, and Digital Evangelism is one of them. Local churches worldwide were forced to delve into the unlimited possibilities of digital evangelism and how it can provide a highway for people to know Jesus. Adventist World Radio rallied this opportunity and utilized digital evangelism to partner with local church radio broadcasters.

After two years of being on lockdown, AWR's ongoing broadcast resulted in outstanding results, overcoming the scares of the pandemic and moving bravely to bring the gospel message to the forefront.

Adventist World Radio in the Asia-Pacific holds its quinquennial advisory after six years. AWR administration and leadership purposed to bring together administrators, communication leaders, and radio broadcasters from all four divisions (Southern Asia-Pacific Division, South Pacific Division, Northern Asia-Pacific Division, and Southern Asia Division) to learn different ministry strategies in the field, be acquainted with successful digital evangelists, and establish a network of digital missionaries within this region. Beginning July 19th until July 24th, delegates from more than 20 countries joined the advisory with the theme, Broadcast to Baptism: No Walls, No Limits, No Boundaries in Bangkok, Thailand.

Adventist World Radio Regional Director for the Asia-Pacific, Pastor Timothy Saxton said that this advisory would prepare delegates to discover various digital ministries in the field that will help them resonate with the Bible message in their respective fields of mission.

"The key point that each digital missionary should remember is to draw everyone to Jesus. The collaborative work of digital evangelism through radio, tv, print, cellphone evangelism and social media should bring people not just to the message but ultimately to Jesus Christ," Saxton said. 

Adventist World Radio leaders from the world headquarters joined the advisory to witness the developments of radio ministry in this part of the world. Adventist World Radio President Duane McKey and wife Cathy, AWR General Vice President Ray Allen, AWR Vice Presidents Kyle Allen, Cami Oetman, and Kent Sharpe, Regional Director for the Asia-Pacific Timothy Saxton, and Assistant to the President Robert Dulay and Louis Torres were all present in the advisory. The advisory features breakout sessions on a range of social media evangelism subjects, team management, establishing community radio stations, and a lot more. Testimonies from radio evangelists from different parts of the world were also highlighted at this gathering. 
 
On Saturday, Duane McKey draws attention to God's excellent work through AWR and how our network of radio evangelists is reaching out to people in the least reached areas around the world.

In his Sabbath message, McKey shared stories of people who converted and accepted Christ as their Saviour. In the past five years, several people with challenging backgrounds decided to leave their past and move forward in faith because of what they heard through a radio program in the island mountains of Mindoro.

Baptism and Ordination

Ordination is a holy ceremony of bestowing a person the high calling of God to be a minister. The Adventist World Radio Advisory featured the ordination of Asia-Pacific Regional Director Timothy Saxton. Saxton served as an Associate Speaker for White Horse Media. His passions in speaking include Righteousness by Faith, The Latter Rain of the Holy Spirit, and End-Time Bible Prophecy. Prior to full-time ministry, Tim's background was in Health Care Administration and Entrepreneurship. He was born and raised in North West, Missouri; he has three grown children, Michael, Sarah, and Hannah.

Together with leaders of the church and co-ministers from all across the world, Saxton was ordained and was prayed for as he faced divine responsibilities as a minister for Christ. 

"Ordination is not about the title that comes with it," Wendell Mandolang said, Executive Secretary of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division. "Ordination is a solemn calling to perform God's ministry to His people and prepare them for His soon coming," Mandolang added.

Samuel Saw, Associate Secretary to the Adventist World Church, explains the value and solemn meaning of being set apart and called for a higher purpose in the Lord's work. "To be ordained requires full surrender. Laying all your talents and resources to God, your life to His ministry until your last breath," Samuel explained. "Ordination means your total dependence on God and His will to rule over your life and your ministry," Samuel added.

As a result of ongoing broadcasts worldwide, five individuals surrendered their lives to God in baptism to cap the five-day advisory.

Five individuals were baptized, all coming from Mindoro, Philippines, three of which were former rebels who, after hearing God's message through AWR, decided in their hearts to learn more through Bible study.

These five newly baptized individuals are just part of more than 800 rebels and minorities who accepted Christ on the island of Mindoro, Philippines.

AWR organizers see the inspiration that an advisory imparts to its delegates. Therefore, the AWR administration purposed to have the advisory every five years to keep in touch and further expand this network of digital evangelists around the world. Bangkok having its strategic location in between countries, will be the next location of the AWR advisory.

Edward Rodriguez, SSD Communication Department