Ninety-five (95) Adventist elementary schools in the southern Philippines have launched a joint campaign dubbed "Kids for Jesus." The campaign, which ran from April 16 to 22, 2023, included students giving powerful messages in their different houses of worship. This campaign, with the subject "God's Unfailing Love," aims to encourage effective communication and social acceptance within the students' local communities.
The campaign featured student speakers carefully chosen from various grade levels who, despite being given little time to prepare, delivered riveting sermons throughout the occasion. Their well-received and coached statements struck a chord with the audience, creating an indelible impression. Furthermore, the active engagement of parents from diverse religious backgrounds contributed to the campaign's sense of spiritual fulfillment. As a result of their combined efforts, a total of 1,089 baptisms were recorded.
Dr. Alevir Pido, Education Director of the Adventist Church in the Southern Philippines (SPUC) and the driving force behind this initiative expressed her awe at how God used the young minds and thanked the instructors and students for their daily efforts. Dr. Pido emphasized that 55 percent of elementary school pupils are non-Adventists, highlighting the significance of their participation in the campaign.
Joy Glema, a sixth-grade teacher at Batu Adventist Elementary School (BAES), shared her joy at seeing the children's increased understanding of God's love. Glema saw that parents were extremely supportive of their children throughout the event, and she noticed a beneficial improvement in the children's behavior at home, where they showed more affection for their parents.
Julianne Trayvilla, a BAES student and one of the presenters, reflected on the occasion and stressed the significant lesson she learned. "I've learned that we cannot measure God's love," Trayvilla said, emphasizing the divine love's infinite nature.
In the following months, the SPUC Education Department intends to expand the campaign to academies and colleges. They hope to further touch young lives and nurture spiritual growth within the Adventist community by spreading the message of God's love and involving students from diverse educational institutions.
This campaign demonstrated the transformative power of togetherness, and faith, and gave these children the opportunity to share their spiritual insights.
Dr. Alevir Pido, SPUC Education Department