The Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) is celebrating a year of remarkable growth and unity as leaders and members joined together to answer the call to “go into all the world, preach the gospel, make disciples, and bring healing.” Across the diverse landscapes of the SSD’s 11-country territory—from remote villages in Myanmar to bustling urban centers in Indonesia—the 2024 mission initiatives have transformed lives and strengthened communities.
Pastor Roger Caderma, president of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, highlighted the year’s progress, sharing inspiring accounts of the church’s impact across the region. This year’s initiatives reflect a coordinated, prayer-driven mission where leaders, departments, and members have worked in unity to spread the gospel and build a stronger Adventist presence, reaching more people with the message of hope and salvation.
Gospel Commission in Various Countries in the Division
In countries with unique cultural and political challenges, the church has witnessed notable growth. Myanmar, despite a predominantly Buddhist population and ongoing political unrest, saw over 800 baptisms as part of its “Living Hope Myanmar” initiative. Meanwhile,
Indonesia’s extensive “Hope for Indonesia” campaign brought in over 2,800 new members, while Malaysia’s inaugural national evangelistic effort led to more than 1,600 baptisms. In Vietnam, a series of evangelistic meetings, made possible by the mobilization of local church members, resulted in over 900 new members joining the church. According to SSD leaders, these successes are evidence of God’s guidance and the steadfast dedication of church members who have committed themselves to sharing the message of salvation.
Division’s Response to Mission Refocus
Beyond its own territory, the SSD has extended its support to other regions, embodying the Adventist Church’s global spirit of unity. Through joint evangelistic campaigns conducted outside SSD’s borders, leaders demonstrated solidarity with neighboring divisions, creating a broader sense of community within the global church. As part of the Mission Refocus initiative, 37 missionaries are preparing for deployment to more than 17 countries, extending the SSD’s missional impact even further. Additionally, the division is supporting international scholars from Kenya, Pakistan, and Ethiopia, assisting them in completing their studies to better serve the church’s mission upon their return.
Total Member Involvement
The SSD’s diverse departmental contributions have been essential to the year’s successes. Youth, lay members, women’s ministries, media, health, education, and publishing all played integral roles in the mission. Each department brought its unique strengths: youth energized local communities, lay members provided consistent support, women’s ministries offered nurturing outreach, media spearheaded digital evangelism efforts, and the health department conducted impactful community programs. The education department contributed by focusing on spiritual growth, while publishing extended the church’s reach through literature distribution. Each department’s work has helped ensure that the gospel message reaches a broad audience, with more people touched by the Adventist mission across the region.
Expanding the Church’s Reach
In addition to these efforts, the SSD undertook significant steps to improve its organizational structure to meet regional needs effectively. Several regional offices, including the North Philippine Union Conference, Central Luzon Conference, and Jakarta Conference, began bifurcation processes aimed at refining administrative focus, thereby facilitating more efficient management of local church and financial matters. This restructuring, SSD leaders report, will allow them to address the specific needs of each region with greater precision and focus.
Global Initiatives to Empower and Equip
The year has also seen a renewed emphasis on doctrinal education and leadership development within the division. In response to calls for a deeper understanding of biblical teachings, SSD appointed a new Field Secretary to lead initiatives aimed at reconnecting churches to Bible-based truths and Adventist doctrines. In tandem with this, SSD organized a series of Back to the Altar Conventions for church ministers, designed to reinforce their foundations of faith and inspire them for continued mission work. Following these conventions, the division hosted the LEAD Congress to equip church leaders with both spiritual and professional tools necessary to manage their responsibilities effectively.
Future Endeavors
Looking forward, the SSD is preparing to launch Harvest 2025, a division-wide evangelistic campaign aimed at celebrating transformed lives through God’s message of hope. The yearlong initiative will encompass various regions within the division’s territory, focusing on bringing more people into the Adventist faith and celebrating the progress of the gospel message. Leaders and members alike express gratitude for the blessings of 2024 and move into 2025 with a sense of purpose and anticipation, committed to further advancing the mission throughout the Southern Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
Pastor Roger Caderma, in summarizing the church's initiatives throughout 2024, acknowledged the significant strides made yet emphasized that the mission is far from complete. Reflecting on the year’s progress, he reminded church members that a vast field still awaits the gospel message. Pastor Caderma expressed gratitude for the year’s accomplishments as a testament to God’s guidance and reaffirmed the division’s unwavering commitment to advancing the mission. Looking ahead, he shared a confident belief that God’s work in the Southern Asia-Pacific region will only grow stronger in the coming year, inspiring even more lives to embrace the message of hope and salvation.
Pastor Roger Caderma reflected on the church's initiatives throughout 2024, celebrating the significant strides made while emphasizing that the mission remains ongoing. He reminded church members that a vast field still awaits the gospel message, underscoring both the accomplishments and the continuing need for outreach. Expressing deep gratitude for the year’s successes as a testament to God’s guidance, Pastor Caderma reaffirmed the division’s steadfast commitment to advancing the mission. Looking to the future, he shared his confident belief that God’s work in the Southern Asia-Pacific region will only grow stronger, inspiring countless more lives to embrace the message of hope and salvation in the coming year.
Edward Rodriguez
Email: erodriguez@ssd.org