Lipa Adventist Academy buzzed with life as 340 excited and energetic children aged 10 to 14, along with their parents, gathered for the Young Harvesters for Jesus convention—a four-day discipleship event organized by the Children’s Ministries Department of the Southern Luzon Philippine Union Mission (SLPUM), under the leadership of Diovelyn Cajobe. More than just a time for fun and fellowship, the event aimed to nurture the next generation of disciple-makers.

A Joy-filled Opening

The convention opened with a vibrant parade around the LAA campus, accompanied by a marching band from Pagulingin Elementary School and a charming makeshift float—an e-tricycle creatively decorated with fruits and vegetables. From the very beginning, the atmosphere pulsed youthful enthusiasm.

During the opening program, church leaders inspired the children with messages of purpose and mission. Pastor Arnel Gabin, NDR-IEL Vice President at the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, the regional headquarters of Seventh-day Adventists in Southeast Asia reminded the young harvesters that even at a young age, they can help prepare people for the soon return of Jesus. “Be kind, send uplifting text messages, and shine for Jesus,” he encouraged. He also thanked the parents for entrusting their children to the church’s care.

Pastor Gerardo Cajobe, president of SLPUM, told the children “You don’t have to wait until you’re an adult to serve God.” He encouraged them to build friendships, discover their God-given talents, and begin using those gifts in ministry even now.

Mr. Josue Fofue, Jr. SLPUM Treasurer challenged the kids to go home with renewed joy and a fresh commitment to respond to God’s call, ready to take on new tasks in God’s field.

Learning and Growing Together

Following the opening program, the children were grouped into small units of 8 to 10 members, each facilitated by an adult mentor. Their first activity was planting seedlings in a prepared garden plot—because to truly appreciate the harvest, one must first experience planting. Throughout the convention, the children took part in a variety of interactive learning experiences, team building activities, devotional meetings designed to equip them for practical ministry and personal growth.

In the first session, they reflected on acts of kindness and service, learning how small gestures can build friendships and trust in the community. They then explored ways to share their faith through literature and media, recognizing the power of faith-based literature in spreading the gospel. The third session taught them how to participate in or even lead Bible study groups with their peers. They also learned to create short, meaningful reels for online evangelism and were encouraged to share the gospel in personal and creative ways. In the final session, they were empowered to confidently share the gospel in their own unique and meaningful ways.

Sabbath Worship and Baptism

Sabbath was a special highlight of the convention. A mass choir composed of the young participants was formed and offered a musical rendition during the hour of worship.

Dr. Cecil Ronia, Chair of the Elementary Education Department at the Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP), delivered the message during the divine hour of worship. She emphasized “choosing mentors who make God the center of their lives—those who encourage, support, and disciple others by modeling Christ-like living.” Dr. Ronia encouraged the young attendees to “imitate God and surround yourselves with Christ-minded friends, teachers, and adults who can guide you in your walk of faith.”

Although no formal call for baptism was made, one child bravely expressed her desire to give her life to Jesus. Pastor Cajobe prayed for her, and soon after, nine more children were inspired to step forward—each one moved by the Spirit and lovingly supported by their parents.

That afternoon, the LAA auditorium came alive with music as the STAR Suzuki Strings ensemble, composed mostly of children, filled the space with beautiful songs of praise under the direction of violin teacher Homer Ilao.

For the Parents

While the children participated in their sessions, special presentations were also prepared for the parents and guardians.

Pastor Jose Orbe, Jr., SLPUM Communications Director spoke about the long-term benefits of involving children in mission. He shared how such involvement deepens faith and identity, builds confidence and purpose, forms healthy, mission-minded friendships, grows empathy and servant leadership and builds habits of discipline and digital balance.

Pastor Orbe also addressed the growing concern of gadget addiction. He offered biblical insights and practical steps for parents to guide their children to find balance, connection and spiritual purpose. He emphasized the importance of reconnecting relationships, reviewing the household’s media culture, resetting boundaries with clarity and consequences, replacing with purposeful alternatives, rebuilding spiritual practices, regulating access without shaming and recommitting as a family team.

In addition, he provided a practical guide to help Adventist parents recognize and support behavioral changes to nurture faith and readiness for mission.

The sessions were well received, with many parents expressing their appreciation. Some wished there had been more time to explore the topics further. One father even remarked, “Meron palang mga ganyan? Bakit ngayon lang ito itinuturo?” (“There are really things like this? Why is it only being taught now?”), affirming the relevance and timeliness of the topics discussed.

In another session, Dr. Cecil Ronia addressed the challenges and opportunities of parenting Generation Alpha, a group she described as tech-savvy, adaptable, resourceful, multitasking, and strong team players. She introduced the acronym TECHY as a guide for parenting in the digital age. T for Teach biblical values, E for Encourage prayer and worship, C for Cultivate Christlike character, H for Holistic—emphasizing the importance of providing well-rounded support to help children face challenges in all aspects of life—and Y for Yield to God’s plan.

From the Attendees

The children’s feedback echoed the success and impact of the convention. When asked if they were excited to go home, the children responded in unison, “No.” “Saya, walang sayang. Best camping ever!” one child enthusiastically shared. Another described the event as “one of the happiest, most exciting experiences of my life” because he not only met new friends but also learned how to make new friends for Jesus. One child even quipped that she wished the camping would last an entire year, while another wrote, “I had so much fun, I hope it never ends.” Perhaps most touching was a heartfelt admission from a participant who initially didn’t want to attend: “I regret saying I never wanted to come. It was all worth it.”

One attendee, who introduced herself as a supportive mom, couldn’t help but leave a heartfelt note thanking everyone—the organizers, facilitators, media team, host, kitchen staff, maintenance crew, and all those behind the scenes—for working together to make the event a success. Toward the end of her message, she wrote, “Sepanx na,” expressing the bittersweet feeling of parting, but added that they were going home with joyful memories and valuable lessons. She closed her note with a word of encouragement to the children: “Go, Young Harvesters for Jesus!”

A Lasting Impact

Diovelyn Cajobe, SLPUM Children’s Ministries Director conveyed her gratitude and joy for the success of the convention. She emphasized that the goal of the event was to train, teach and encourage children to be involved in reaching out to their friends at a very young age. She said, “Truly, God will use these young harvesters – just like Jesus, who at the age of twelve was busy doing His Father’s business.”

The “Young Harvesters for Jesus” convention is part of the broader Harvest 2025 initiative echoing the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s call to engage every member—including children—in evangelism and mission. Through group activities, Bible-centered sessions, creative workshops, and worship experiences, the children were equipped not just to learn about Jesus—but to actively share Him with others.