Literature Ministry Seminary trainers and Spirit of Prophecy lecturers gathered at the Angkor Paradise Hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia, for a four-day seminar to revisit the church’s Biblical foundation. This aims to strengthen and remind delegates about establishing our faith and work in the scriptures through the Spirit of Prophecy and the Literature ministry.
Distinguished guests from the Southern Asia-Pacific Division and the Adventist International Institute of Advance Studies graced the event. They served as resource speakers for timely topics and updates on the Literature Ministry Seminary work and Spirit of Prophecy.
With a theme, “It’s our time: I Will Go as a messenger’s leader, the seminar sets the tone of the meeting to rethink and visualize concepts to adapt the publishing ministry to the kind of landscape the world is facing now. “The landscape in this generation has changed, and we need to adapt and find a way to penetrate and share Jesus,” said Pastor Howard Faigao, former General Conference Publishing director. “Our landscape might be different, but our mission is still the same,” Faigao added.
Trainers and lecturers have reviewed the Literature Ministry Seminary guidelines, strategies, and purpose. The meeting also purposed to understand the Spirit of Prophecy Coordinator’s organizational setup and their role in the church’s worldwide mission.
One of the strategies shared in conducting training for recruits to become literature evangelists was elaborated by Pastor Vivencio Bermudez. Following the LEARN strategy with stands for Literature Evangelism, Awareness Revival, and Nurture. According to Bermudez, the “LEARN strategy is one of the appropriate and effective ways to teach and impart literature evangelistic process to the local church.” This program is designed to inspire publishing leaders to present the importance of the literature ministry according to the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy.
“The LEARN Training’s objective is to make church members aware of the importance of the literature ministry in God’s plan, and thus experience revival and reformation,” Bermudez said. “It is our objective to enrich the church with the knowledge of God’s ways in using the printed page in the Old Testament, New Testament, and finally in the end time,” he added.
Presentations from the Ellen G White Estates from its branch office in the Adventist International Institute of Advance Studies presented enlightening thoughts and realizations about the Spirit of Prophecy Coordinator's role in our church and valuable insights about Ellen White's ministry during her existence.
Presenters purposed to deal with important issues surrounding this responsibility to give clarity and understanding on its fundamental objective. Discussions of the topic revolved on three points pertaining to the misuse of Ellen White’s writings and individuals highlighting the Spirit of Prophecy over the Scriptures, the necessity to educate and equip leaders and members of the church, and lastly, to establish a deeper Biblical foundation.
Dr. Bryan Tolentino, Associate Director for the Ellen White Estates in the Philippines, explains a clear definition of Ellen White's ministry and how it lifts the Bible as the primary source of knowledge that every minister and church member should uphold.
"Ellen White is part of the fulfillment of the Spirit of Prophecy written in the Book of Revelations but not "the" Spirit of Prophecy, Dr. Tolentino reiterated. "It is important that we uphold the Holy Scriptures with the support of the Spirit of Prophecy," Tolentino added.
This discussion was further reinforced by Dr. Reuel Almocera, Director of the Ellen White Estate branch in the Philippines, encouraging leaders to use the Spirit of Prophecy to amplify and lead people to the ultimate source of wisdom, which is the Bible.
"The Holy Bible is God's message to His people conveyed through the Holy Spirit interpreted through His chosen prophets," Almocera said. "The Bible is second to none and should be a book dear to us as we desire to have a deeper connection with God," Almocera added.
The meeting was concluded through a collection of testimonies and experiences from the life of Pastor Howard Faigao. He reiterated that our personal life stories would enable us to comprehend God’s intervention. He remembers the story of the Good Samaritan who promised to pay the innkeeper who extended help to the injured man and related it to our respective ministries. He said, "we may have been called to serve in different capacities and roles, but our responsibility is not greater than anyone. He called us to serve for one mission, one purpose, and when He returns, just like the Good Samaritan, He will pay for all our sacrifices and experience His salvation.
Edward Rodriguez, SSD Communication Department