The Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) opened its Midyear Meetings on Monday, May 6, drawing leaders from its 12 regional offices and various institutions for the final midyear session of the quinquennium ahead of the upcoming 62nd General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri.
Hosted at the Life Hope Center in Silang, Cavite, the meetings will run through May 7. Delegates are focusing on strengthening the mission of the Church, outlining future initiatives, and addressing present challenges in ministry throughout the region.
Leaders from the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (GC) are also in attendance, expressing their support for the continued growth and outreach efforts in one of the world’s most diverse and complex territories. Among the guests are Pastor Audrey Andersson, General Conference vice president; Karnik Doukmetzian, General Conference general counsel; Pastor Khamsay Phetchareun, director of the Center for Adventist-Buddhist Relations; and Nilde Itin, associate director for Children’s Ministries.
Gideon’s Story: A Reflection at SSD Midyear Opening
Nilde Itin, associate director for Children’s Ministries at the General Conference, opened the meetings with a devotional rooted in the story of Gideon. Her message highlighted the biblical figure’s faith and willingness to submit to God’s call, setting the tone for two days of reflection, planning, and recommitment to the Church’s mission.
Itin portrayed Gideon as an ordinary man chosen by God for an extraordinary task—a reminder that divine calling depends not on human strength but on God’s purpose. She emphasized that God knows where His people are—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Just as God found Gideon in hiding, He also sees His children in moments of fear, uncertainty, or isolation.
She reassured leaders that God is not only aware but also present. Gideon’s doubts were met with the words, “The Lord is with you,” a promise that still stands for leaders today who may feel unqualified or overwhelmed. In struggles and prayers, God listens—welcoming even questions and doubts as openings for deeper trust.
Beyond seeing and hearing, God is watching with loving eyes, waiting patiently for each heart to respond. God never forces His call; it is always personal. Itin encouraged leaders to accept God’s invitation to mission, just as Gideon did, and to recognize that God still calls ordinary people to bring hope into communities, cities, and nations.
She reminded attendees that God knows their limitations. Just as Gideon’s excuses did not disqualify him, human weakness does not hinder divine purpose. Instead, God uses those very limitations to demonstrate His strength.
Finally, Itin underscored the unchanging nature of God. In a world of constant change, the same God who empowered Gideon remains faithful and merciful. That enduring truth, she concluded, is a steady foundation for those serving in today’s mission field.
As her message drew to a close, the devotional left a quiet but firm invitation—to trust the God who sees, is present, listens, waits, calls, equips, and never changes. It was more than a reflection; it was a call to live a life fully surrendered to His mission.