While in the Philippnes for a major urban evangelistic series called Hope Manila 2014: iCare , Adventist world church president Ted Wilson and his wife, Nancy, visited Occidental Mindoro on May 6 during a one-day break from the series. In Mindoro, the Wilsons visited missionary friends who work among the Katutubos, a marginalized tribal people of the province. This supporting ministry, known as Laymen’s Ministries, is connected with the Adventist-Laymen’s Services and Industries (ASI) organization and works for the socio-economic development of the Katutubos.
Adventist World Church president, Pastor Ted Wilson and his wife, Nancy, talk to Abel Miralles who is a Bible worker for the Laymen Ministries-Philippines that organized a ministry to inmates at a prison in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. (photo by Khennjo Deles)
An aerial shot of the newly built Katutubo Excel School (high school) in Mamburao, Occidental MIndoro that will provide education and housing facility for students and staff and an education that will bring freedom in Christ. (photo by Khennjo Deles)
Laymen's Ministries runs five elementary village schools, three of which are along the coastline near to where the Katutubos live, and a high school that provides housing to students and staff. A newly constructed high school is situated on the top of a mountain. The group has also operated a dynamic prison ministry for 15 years resulting in many new believers among 15 prisons. Wilson expressed his appreciation for the work of the supporting missionaries saying,“……..you will not only provide physical light but a spiritual light to the townsfolk as they see the 'light on the hill.’"
Members of the local Adventist church in Mamburao gather around Pastor Ted Wilson and wife, Nancy, for a picture during the Wilsons' brief visit to the island of Mindoro, Philippines on May 6. Wilson came to the Philippines to preach in an evangelistic series for Hope Manila 2014, a church initiative that focuses in the metropolitan area of the country. [photo by Khennjo Deles]
Pastor and Mrs. Wilson also visited the local Seventh-day Adventist Church and had prayer with the church members. Representatives from the local church and the South Central Luzon Conference (located in the North Philippine Union of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division) joined the Wilsons for the Mindoro visit. Wilson encouraged the organized church and supporting ministries to work together for the great task of sharing the three angels’ messages. Everyone can have a part in proclaiming Christ’s soon coming!
[Gay Deles, Adventist News Dispatch]