More than 3,000 people were baptized in Butuan City, Mindanao, Philippines, on January 27 following a three-week lay evangelistic effort featuring the innovative use of digital video disk (DVD) technology.
More than 3,000 people were baptized in Butuan City, Mindanao, Philippines, on January 27 following a three-week lay evangelistic effort featuring the innovative use of digital video disk (DVD) technology. The series, sponsored by Adventist-layman’s Services and Industries (ASI), has demonstrated the vital role of both lay involvement and the use of technology in communicating the Christian message of hope, says Sharon Robberson, an assistant director of ASI.
“Evangelism is not just the province of the ‘expert,’” says Robberson, who participated in the Philippines outreach effort. “We believe that every Christian is called to ‘go and make disciples.’” She points out that most of those who preached had no prior experience with conducting an evangelistic series. “These were business men and women; people who are more comfortable behind a desk than behind a pulpit.”
More than 70 businesspeople and students from the United States took part in the series, along with local pastors and Adventist church members who hosted sites, acted as translators, and provided vital logistical support.
The nightly meetings were held at a total of 336 sites across the region; the meetings at the 34 primary sites were based on a new DVD-based evangelistic program developed by Adventist Digital Media, based in Portland, Oregon, USA.
“This was the first-time use of the DVD series,” says Robberson. “It provided a wonderful opportunity to fine-tune the series, with team leaders meeting daily to discuss the previous nights’ meeting and to suggest improvements.” She adds that their goal is to “develop something that the average layperson can use, either in their own area or around the world.”
Robberson says that the DVD series will aim to be culturally sensitive. “The DVD graphics will reflect the local people and culture of the region in which the series in being held,” she explains.
As a preliminary event, the team also conducted a Health Expo in Butuan City. Robberson says that local Filipino laypeople, Adventist church members, lay Bible workers, and pastors played an integral role at all the sites. She also points out that in the months leading up to the event, local church members and pastors prepared the way for the evangelistic program, baptizing an estimated 4,000 new believers.
