A total of 559 lay delegates—259 from the Southern Luzon Philippine Union Mission (SLPUM) and 295 from the Northern Luzon Philippine Union Mission (NLPUM)—gathered at the Mountain Provinces Mission, the Seventh-day Adventist headquarters in Baguio City, for a Bi-Union Festival of the Laity. Centered on the theme “Adventist Identity: Equipped to Disciple,” the event aimed to deepen spiritual growth and empower lay members for active mission involvement.

Mobilization, Multiplication, and Mission

In his welcome message, Pastor Relino Urbi, SLPUM Vice President for NDR-IEL and Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Director, highlighted the threefold purpose of the Festival of the Laity: mobilization, multiplication, and mission. He shared that the festival began as a movement to mobilize lay members for evangelism and discipleship. Over time, it has evolved into a platform for multiplication through training and the sharing of testimonies, and for building mission partnerships that strengthen church outreach.

Pastor Urbi emphasized that laypeople play a vital role in mission-driven initiatives and are indispensable partners in fulfilling the gospel commission. More than just training and equipping, the Festival of the Laity is also a celebration of the work of lay members—ordinary church members, not pastors, who are actively engaged in ministry and mission across their communities.

Equipped Through the Word

The keynote address was delivered by Pastor Segundino Asoy, Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Director of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD), who spoke on the power of God’s Word to transform lives.

“God gave us His Word for our spiritual growth – to grow us into God’s image so we can become his effective ambassadors of the gospel. The study of the Scripture is necessary for the correct moral development of character,” he said. Underscoring the fact that truth shapes character, he emphasized that “any claimed truth that does not transform is not truth. Truth that only feeds the intellect but does not change the life is not true.”

In his lecture, Pastor Asoy further outlined how disciples remain in Christ—through daily Bible study, a prayerful life, and an intentional commitment to disciple others. “Connection is key—to Christ, and to those we are called to reach,” he emphasized. 

A Church on Mission

The call to mission continued during the Friday vespers as Pastor Daniel Malabad, President of NLPUM, delivered a message inspired by the early church in Antioch. He described a thriving church as one that is spiritual, serving, and sending. He challenged the laity with a solemn reminder, “When the church is not involved in the preaching of the gospel, the church is dead.”

Echoing this charge, Pastor Gerardo Cajobe, President of SLPUM reminded attendees of the deeper calling behind Adventist identity.  “Friends, to be a Seventh-day Adventist is not to join a religious club – it is to join a divine mission,” he said. “We are not just members – we are missionaries. We are not just believers – we are disciple-makers. We are not just hearers – we are doers.”

Reinforcing this idea, Pastor Marvin Diaz, NLPUM Ministerial Secretary presented the foundational “DNA”—of care group ministry. According to him, a care group must be living on mission – visiting homes, worshiping, and praying together. It must also be living in relationship, intentionally building meaningful connections with people. The third quality, he added, is to live incarnationally—being present and involved in the lives of those who have yet to come to God. “The success of care group ministry,” he said, “depends on our willingness to go neighboring and share the Good News.”

Firmly Rooted in the Bible

On Sabbath morning, Pastor Felixian Felicitas, SSD Field Secretary centered his message on the authority of the Scripture. He affirmed that the Bible is the foundation of both faith and practice. “Without the Bible, there is no foundation for our faith. Without the Bible, we have no foundation for what we believe,” he reminded the attendees.

He also expounded on what it means to live out the Adventist identity – a life rooted in Christ, faithful to His Word, and committed to His mission. “Identity in Christ refers to everything we become when we are in Christ. Identity in Christ designates a person that has been transformed and empowered by Christ,” Felicitas said.

As the Festival of the Laity came to a close, delegates left with a renewed sense of identity and calling. Those who shared their experiences and takeaways throughout the event expressed that they felt inspired, equipped, and connected. It is their prayer and hope that as they return to their local churches, they will live out their calling as faithful witnesses and disciple-makers—rooted in Christ, grounded in the Word, and committed to sharing the gospel.