The Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church officially inaugurated the Adventist Training Center (ATC) on May 8, 2025, marking a milestone in the Church’s ongoing efforts to expand mission-focused initiatives in the region.

The center, located in Mindanao, Philippines, is the result of a redirected global offering originally designated for a hospital project in Surigao. Due to technical limitations, SSD opened a call for alternative project proposals. The Southern Mindanao Mission (SMM), with support from the then South Philippine Union Conference President, Roger Caderma, responded with a vision for a regional training center.

The proposal, prepared by then-SMM Executive Secretary Elfie Ramon Miranda and backed by then-President Rene Rosa, gained approval and led to the acquisition of a 3.4-hectare property now housing a demonstration farm, convention center, sports area, dining facility, and guest accommodations.

“This project, funded by our worldwide church through the 13th Sabbath School offering, is established to serve as a center of influence,” said SSD President Roger Caderma during the inauguration. “Through our partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), this center will provide not only skills training but also opportunities to deepen one’s relationship with Jesus.”

SSD leaders, including Executive Secretary Wendell Wilcox Mandolang, Associate Secretary Mamerto Guingguing, and Treasurer Jacinth Adap, joined church workers and guests in a thanksgiving celebration at the site. The gathering highlighted the collective efforts that brought the center to completion.

To expand the center’s impact, SSD later acquired an additional 3-hectare parcel adjacent to the original site. This expansion will accommodate a TESDA-accredited training center, dormitories, and a sanctuary, enabling a broader reach for vocational and spiritual development programs.

“This is more than just infrastructure—it’s a testimony of God’s providence and a place for developing future leaders, disciples, and mission-focused individuals,” said Mandolang in his keynote address.

The ATC is located in a popular tourist destination in the region known for its natural beauty, including seven waterfalls and the tranquil Lake Seloton. Enrile Yata, executive secretary of SMM, remarked on the center’s strategic location, noting its potential to build connections with the local community and serve as a platform for evangelism.

During the ceremony, church leaders presented plaques of appreciation to various individuals and organizations whose contributions, ranging from financial support to construction work, made the project possible.

As the ATC opened its doors, more than 100 individuals in the surrounding area had already accepted baptism, leaders said, a sign of the center’s immediate influence.

Citing 1 Corinthians 3:11, Caderma reminded attendees of the center's spiritual foundation: “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

The Adventist Training Center now highlights the collaborative mission and serves as a symbol of optimism regarding spiritual and community transformation in the heart of South Cotabato, leaders say.

The original article was published on the Southeastern Philippines Union Mission news site. Join the ANN WhatsApp Channel for the latest Adventist news.