Over 200 individuals gathered at Adventours in Miagao, Iloilo, from July 6–8, 2023, to commemorate the 30th anniversary and reunion of the 1000 Missionary Movement (1000 MM) in Central Philippines. The purpose was to rekindle the missionaries' zeal and commitment to the mission.
The three-day event was led by Pastor Leopold Balidiong, coordinator of 1000 MM for the Central Philippine Union Conference (CPUC) of Seventh-day Adventists, and featured numerous activities centered on the theme "The Gospel to Everyone: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow." The attendees participated in devotionals, inspiring lectures, survival and revival activities, talent night performances, and even a tree-planting effort. These experiences were intended to promote missionaries' personal development and revitalize their commitment to the mission.
Pastor Balidiong thanked the congregation for their ardent response to the call to worship. He recognized the need to rekindle their fire for the Lord's work and thanked God for the success of the medical mission and end-of-term evangelistic campaign carried out by the 60th batch of 1000 MM in Central Philippines.
"It is a blessing to behold the revival of their missionary spirits and the reigniting of their missionary zeal. I am confident that if all Always Missionaries [AM] are organized and actively engaged in the mission, much will be accomplished,” Balidiong said.
Pastor Jeon Jae Song, director of the 1000MM headquarters, conveyed his fervent desire to attend the event, emphasizing the immense significance of the gathering and the priceless insights he gained from it.
"The entrusted mission continues, expressly bestowed upon the 1000 Missionary Movement and all those who have embraced it,” Jae Song said. “Let us integrate this mission into our daily existence, allowing it to shape and define us as we move forward.”
The 30th-anniversary commemoration and reunion of the 1000 Missionary Movement in Central Philippines was a momentous occasion for missionaries to reflect on their journeys, share their testimonies, and recommit to the noble task of spreading the Gospel to all. By reigniting their passion for mission, they reaffirm their commitment to be God's messengers of hope and love until the return of Jesus.
The office of the 1000 Missionary Movement in Central Philippines demonstrated its unwavering dedication to supporting the training and dispatch of missionaries each year for the spread of the Gospel, particularly in unreached regions of the world. With their renewed zeal and strengthened sense of purpose, these missionaries will continue to make a significant impact on the lives of those they meet, disseminating the message of hope and salvation to every corner of the globe.
The original version of this story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division website.