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The Southern Asia Pacific Division (SSD) hosted the Adventist Health Professional Summit, an event designed to bring together various professionals for fellowship, prayer, and recognition, on Saturday and Sunday, September 25th and 26th using Zoom and Facebook live-stream .
SSD Health Ministries Director, Dr. Ma Rizaline Alfanoso, opened the program by greeting attendees from 14 countries in the territory. “I would like to welcome you to this virtual appreciation program... to honor our medical heroes, our medical front liners, for your priceless contribution to the comprehensive health ministry.” The program was divided into four parts- mission and service, prayer and fellowship, awarding and recognition, and inspirational lectures and sermons.
Testimonies of initiatives were shared by Dr. Elvin Alcoriza of the Adventist Medical Evangelism Network (AMEN) Philippines who said, “Our mission is to motivate, train, and equip Seventh-day Adventist physicians, dentists, and other healthcare professionals to team with pastors and members, uniting the church to restore Christ’s ministry of healing to the world, hastening His return."
Dr. Edward Nathan of AMEN Malaysia and Dr. Johannes Alexander Mamahit of Alpha & Omega Ministry Indonesia shared what their organizations were accomplishing.
Testimonies of missionary initiatives were also given by the Adventist Medical Students Network, Mental Health Resilience Podcast, MMVS Health Coach, and Adventist Mental Health Association. Dr. Zeno Charles Marcel, Associate Director for Health Ministries of the Adventist World Church, spoke and said in part, “We should be the most loving people on the planet. People will recognize...we are Jesus’ disciples when they see love and compassion. We must become frontline workers, we must become ambassadors of peace, of shalom, we must become ambassadors of hope, we share the blessed hope, through our actions and sometimes through our words. We must become ambassadors of reconciliation bringing together human beings with the loving Savior by showing what He has done for us…”
Dr. Peter Landless, Director for Health Ministries gave his message: “I appeal to you [to] keep Jesus first in your life! Surrender fully. Experience peace, joy, and assurance despite the circumstances you’re in. And He who has promised is faithful. Renew your commitment to Him today, right now! This summit is not just a get-together. It’s a time of renewal. It’s a time to refocus. It’s a time for re-evaluation! By His grace, let us not let opportunities slip away.”
Testimonies by frontliners were shared by Covid-19 ICU Unit nurses, Dwight Gadon and Alcila Fides Cas, who were caring for severe to critical patients at the Adventist Hospital of Palawan. Bible reading was done before the testimony and was followed by a prayer of comfort after each testimony. A prayer session was done in breakout rooms and a litany on “I Will Go” capped the Sabbath Program. The second day was opened with a lecture on mental health by Dr. Neda Salazar who asserted: “Christ Jesus who is our hope will definitely give us hope in times of pandemic.” The two-day event culminated with the awarding of the health professionals in the SSD territory where Dr. Alfanoso emphasized: “We certainly recognize you for making a difference!”
This article was originally published on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division’s news site.