In the Philippines, Missionaries Reunite to Reignite Passion for Service

More than 200 individuals gathered in Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines, July 6-8 to commemorate the 30th anniversary and reunion of the 1000 Missionary Movement (1000MM) in Central Philippines. The purpose was to rekindle the missionaries’ zeal and commitment to the mission, organizers said.

The three-day event was led by Leopold Balidiong, coordinator of the 1000MM of the Seventh-day Adventist churches in the Central Philippine Union Conference (CPUC), and featured numerous activities centered on the theme, “The Gospel to Everyone: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.” Attendees participated in devotionals, inspiring lectures, survival and revival activities, talent night performances, and even a tree-planting activity. According to organizers, these experiences were intended to promote missionaries’ personal development and revitalize their commitment to the mission. 

Balidiong thanked the congregation for their earnest response to the call to worship. He recognized the need to rekindle their fire for the Lord’s work and thanked God for the success of the medical mission and end-of-term evangelistic campaign carried out by the 60th batch of the 1000MM in Central Philippines.

“It is a blessing to behold the revival of their missionary spirits and the reigniting of their missionary zeal. I am confident that if all Always Missionaries (AM) are organized and actively engaged in the mission, much will be accomplished,” Balidiong said. 

Jeon Jae Song, the director at the 1000MM headquarters, conveyed his fervent desire to attend the event, emphasizing the immense significance of the gathering and the priceless insights he gained from it. “The entrusted mission continues, expressly bestowed upon the 1000 Missionary Movement and all those who have embraced it,” he said. “Let us integrate this mission into our daily existence, allowing it to shape and define us as we move forward,” he added.

“The 30th-anniversary commemoration and reunion of the 1000MM in Central Philippines was a momentous occasion for missionaries to reflect on their journeys, share their testimonies, and recommit to the noble task of spreading the gospel to all,” regional church leaders said. “By reigniting their passion for mission, they reaffirm their commitment to be God’s messengers of hope and love until the return of Jesus.” 

The office of the 1000MM in Central Philippines is dedicated to supporting the training and dispatch of missionaries each year for the spread of the gospel, particularly in unexplored regions of the globe. Church leaders acknowledged that this mission-driven movement would go on.

“With their renewed zeal and strengthened sense of purpose, missionaries will continue to have a significant impact on the lives of those they meet, disseminating the message of hope and salvation to every corner of the globe,” they said.The original version of this story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division news site.