The recently concluded Earth's Final Countdown hybrid evangelistic series in Davao, Philippines, had a significant impact on the island of Mindanao, welcoming more than 6,000 newly baptized members. The hybrid campaign, which focused on spreading the message of hope and faith, has proven to be an effective tool in drawing people closer to God and assisting them in navigating life's challenges.
The weeklong series was held on March 19–25, 2023, at the Davao del Sur Coliseum in Digos City, where more than 10,000 church members gathered together to join the fellowship.
The hybrid evangelistic initiative was a rousing success, with simultaneous broadcasts on more than twenty-seven Adventist radio stations and eight television stations. The event was part of the Earth's Final Countdown series, which was organized by the Southern Asia-Pacific Division Nurture Discipleship Retention-Integrated Evangelism Lifestyle office (NDR-IEL), the South Philippine Union Conference Communication Department, Davao Mission, Hope Channel South Philippines, and Adventist World Radio (AWR Asia-Pacific).
The program's goal was to spread the message of hope and faith, with a focus on Jesus Christ's second coming. To ensure that the message reached as many people as possible, the event was broadcast on GSat channel 37, Hope TV channel 25, Panabo Cable TV channels 75/147, Bansalan Cable TV, 104.3 AWR Davao, 107.1 AWR Davao del Sur, and the Hope Channel Davao and HopeRadio Davao Facebook pages.
Pastor Timothy Saxton, AWR Asia-Pacific director, and Pastor David Bornales, executive secretary of the Adventist Church in Davao, led the main production broadcast from the Adams Center Seventh-day Adventist Church in Davao. Saxton led the first four days of the series and was followed by Pastor Kyle Allen, vice president of AWR.
The Southern Asia-Pacific Division NDR-IEL, the South Philippine Union Conference, Davao Mission, Hope Channel South Philippines, and AWR have joined forces to bring the message of hope to the Philippines' second-largest island. These organizations collaborated to reproduce the Earth's Final Countdown evangelistic series, which aimed to reach a larger audience through various media platforms.
These organizations' collaboration was critical to the event's success as they worked together to spread the message of faith and hope throughout the community. They were able to reach a larger audience than they would have otherwise by utilizing the resources of various radio and television stations. The collaboration demonstrated how different organizations can work together to achieve a common goal.
More than 1,000 people from various communities in the South Philippines were given medical and dental services as part of the evangelistic series in response to its community outreach in sharing not only the Gospel message but also Jesus' healing ministry.
“The SSD NDR-IEL office planned and proposed a massive evangelism program to involve all members and workers in the South Philippines in reaching major cities in the region and other people groups in line with our world church's Mission to Cities and Mission Refocus programs,” said Pastor Arnel Gabin, vice president and NDR-IEL coordinator for the Southern Asia-Pacific region. “This initiative is part of the division’s three major campaigns this year, intended to reach various people groups and in reaching major cities in this part of the world.”
The Earth's Final Countdown evangelistic series is a multi-day program designed to share hope and faith during difficult times. It was developed by the Adventist Church and has been used in a variety of efforts in different locations around the world. The event serves as an effective bridge-building tool, bringing the Gospel of hope and healing to people all over the world.
The pandemic has presented the world with unprecedented challenges, including restrictions on large gatherings and the closure of churches. At the height of the pandemic, Earth's Final Countdown has invited thousands of people online to listen and be encouraged by the messages of hope delivered to millions of people around the world every day. The series has served as a timely reminder of the value of faith and resilience in the face of adversity.
To date, Earth’s Final Countdown has been effective in sharing the Gospel of hope and healing with various people groups around the world, including the minorities on the island of Mindoro, Philippines, and the hundreds of rebels who decided to accept Jesus in baptism on the same island.
The program's emphasis on hope and faith is critical, particularly in today's world. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has had a variety of effects on people's lives, including social, economic, and emotional distress. Earth's Final Countdown serves as a beacon of hope for people all over the world, reminding them that they are not alone in their difficulties and there is always hope.
Earth's Final Countdown’s success is due to its ability to reach out to people from all walks of life, regardless of religious beliefs. The program is intended to convey the message of hope and faith in an approachable, relatable manner to all audiences. The program's message is not limited to any one religion but rather extends to the universal human experience of hope and resilience.
The success of the Earth's Final Countdown hybrid evangelistic series demonstrates the power of collaboration as well as the importance of spreading the message of hope and faith in difficult times.
The original version of this story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division website.