Adventist Professionals, Entrepreneurs in South Asia Meet in Record-Setting Event

A record of more than 500 Seventh-day Adventist professionals and businesspeople, as well as church leaders from across Southern Asia and beyond met in Phuket, Thailand, August 28-31. They attended the 2025 convention of the Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries (ASi) in the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) of the Adventist Church.

Attendees included not only a large delegation from the Philippines and local representation from Thailand, but Adventist lay members from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and beyond, organizers reported.

During the four-day event, members listened and accepted reports, confirmed elected leaders, and presented their outreach and mission projects for the next 12 months. They also spend time in training, as well as in fellowship and networking under the theme “Builders of Faith: Reaping the Harvest in the Marketplace.”

Faith and Work Together

“Integrating faith and work has never been more relevant,” said Rajdeep Takeuchi, who is a missionary in Thailand and emceed the opening night ceremony. “Over the course of this convention we will explore practical ways of applying biblical principles in our daily work, cultivate ethical leadership, and impact our communities through your businesses and lay services,” she explained.

Another goal of the event, Takeuchi emphasized, was “to encourage one another and be an inspiration to one another, and to embrace a spirit of collaboration for God’s service through our work and services. May this convention inspire us to be bold, faithful, and creative, to be builders of faith in each marketplace that we serve.”

Church leaders also attended the convention, including Somchai Chuenjit, president of the Southeastern Asia Union Mission, and Roger Caderma, SSD president. Leaders of supporting ministries also attended and spoke during the event, including Steve Dickman, Outpost Centers International (OCI) president, and Andy Hunsacker, former ASi president. The keynote speaker for the weekend was Dwain Esmond, associate director of the White Estate at the General Conference (GC).

Builders of Faith

But beyond any training or time for networking, the event had a spiritual focus, said Jonathan Lamorin, outgoing president of ASi-SSD. “We are here to celebrate God’s goodness,” he emphasized.

Likewise, Robert Jay Gamboa, who works at the GC Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Department and leads Sidewalk Evangelism, reminded attendees of the implications of being “builders of faith.” This implies that members are actively spreading their faith, he explained. “It’s about intentionality . . . shaking communities, and finally, a life of trust in God,” Gamboa said. “A builder invests effort in creating something that is lasting. . . . We are creators and innovators.”

At the same time, “reaping the harvest” means that people are ready, but God’s workers have to go and “reap them for Christ.” He added, “It emphasizes evangelism, mission, and kingdom growth.”

A Mission for Everyone

Caderma, who had the keynote address on the opening night, emphasized the nature of mission and its encompassing nature. “The church’s mission is for everyone,” he told attendees. “That’s why we are here, to communicate the message that the Lord has given each one of us and to connect, which is key,” Caderma said. “Unity is strength.”

He then summarized the objectives planned for the convention. “We are here to pray, we are here to study, and we are also here to understand that this particular meeting that we have is preparing us for service,” Caderma said. “It’s a mission and a commission to all of us and not just to a few individuals. . . . So we have to communicate, [and] we have to connect ourselves to finish the work.”