God has used David, Daniel and his companions, Joseph the dreamer, and today's youth to defend the truth and save others. Through the Friendship Camp 2024 (F-Camp) and the second wave of the Voice of Youth 2024 (VOY), the Adventist Church in the Southeastern Philippines (SePUM), under the direction of Nelo Seda, Jr., Youth director, recently initiated and witnessed the baptism of 4,484 people.

What is F-Camp?

F-Camp 2024 is a regional camping event designed to develop camaraderie and spiritual growth among both Adventist and non-Adventist participants. This experience provides a week of personal development, spiritual enrichment, and community activities across 80 camp locations. Organized by Adventist Churches in the Southeastern Philippines, the event spans 230 districts from five missions across multiple provinces in the region.

Prior to the F-Camp 2024, most Adventist regional offices in the Southeastern Philippines had just completed their VOY 2024 activities despite having a busy and conflicting schedule. Many VOY attendees also participated in FCamp, seamlessly blending the two youth-oriented initiatives into a robust evangelistic effort, akin to a sturdy safety net for "fishers of men." Embracing the discipleship spirit of those who joined Jesus’ ministry, the campers adopted the theme “PINILI” or "Chosen," with the mission to be the light of the world.

Camping Experience by Missions

The Adventist Church in Southeastern Caraga Mission (SECM) organized the F-Camp, which continued to foster strong camaraderie among campers from Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur despite the unpredictable downpours. Although SECM is a newly organized entity following a recent reorganization, its ministers successfully welcomed 1,944 individuals after FCamp.

The Adventist Church in South Central Mindanao (SCMM), a mission recently bifurcated to cover the provinces of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, and the cities of Cotabato, Tacurong, and Kidapawan, successfully welcomed 813 visiting campers into the Adventist faith community across seven campsites.

The Adventist Church in Davao Mission (DM) organized seven campsites to accommodate the seven established clusters from Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao City, Digos City, the Island Garden City of Samal, and parts of Cotabato and Bukidnon. In a spirit of unity, this distinctive youth gathering led 716 individuals to embrace their faith and join the church through baptism.

The Adventist Church in Southern Mindanao Mission (SMM), covering districts in South Cotabato, Sarangani, and the cities of General Santos and Koronadal, welcomed 605 newly baptized campers across 24 campsites. Meanwhile, the Northern Davao Mission (NDM), serving the provinces of Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, and Davao de Oro, brought 406 young campers to faith, leading them to baptism and to a closer walk with Jesus.

The original article was published on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division website.